Mount Clemens approves SMART agreement, accepts $54,054 FTA grant for Dial‑Ride shopper route

The Mount Clemens City Commission voted to approve a funding agreement with the Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation (SMART) to continue expanded Dial‑Ride services for seniors and disabled passengers.

City administration told the commission it has been awarded a $54,054 operations grant from the Federal Transit Administration to support expanded senior-shopper service. "The purpose of the grant is to provide the continued expansion of transportation services to senior and disabled passengers through the program known as the senior shopper," city staff said. The expanded shopper route is intended to serve stores including Meijer, Kroger and Walmart. The city will provide the $27,027 local match through in-kind services and the contract will pass through SMART.

Commissioner Manser raised a routine procurement question about whether the SMART agreement contains the same provisions as a regular contract; staff replied that it does not. Manser also pointed to item 12 of the contract, a restriction on lobbying, and said he would like to see similar restrictions in all government contracts.

The commission authorized the appropriate city officials to sign the agreement on a roll-call vote. The contract authorizes the city to accept the pass-through grant and continue the Dial‑Ride senior shopper route expansion; no new local cash appropriation was reported beyond the in-kind match.