MARQUETTE, MI— The Marquette Food Co-op is enforcing behavior policies, after an onslaught of issues made staff feel like they were “under siege.”
In a Facebook post, General Manager Matt Gougeon says an increase in the number of panhandlers led to an increase in smoking and drinking on Co-op property. The Room at the Inn Warming Center and Emergency Shelter is across the street.
Shoplifting is also on the rise, but Gougeon says that’s not just isolated to the unhoused, nor is misuse and abuse of the Co-op bathroom.
He says the Co-op will work with Marquette Police, Room at the Inn, a private security firm, and contractors to enforce existing policies. The plan includes:
- Installing signage around Co-op property prohibiting soliciting, loitering, smoking, drinking, and unacceptable bicycle parking.
- Installing a locked fence/gate and an additional security light behind the kitchen and near the dumpsters.
- RATI will communicate the prohibitions to the shelter populations through meetings and street outreach efforts.
- Staff are empowered to call the police instead of mitigating individual situations of poor behavior and request an order of trespass.
- MPD consulted with the Co-op on plans and are prepared for an increase in calls to serve orders of trespass.
- The Co-op will hire short-term security personnel to aid in monitoring the store and property and to liaise with MPD, relieving some of the pressure on staff.
The Co-op will also provide seed money to the Community Foundation of Marquette County. It will be used to establish the Room at the Inn Designated Fund, which will assist RATI clients.
