He is also glad to be back in west Michigan, and specifically Mason County, where he grew up. Entering into week three, he's learning many aspects of the community. The Ludington City Council Monday evening hired a new city assessor. Sonja Blakney of South Haven agrees. The citys charter currently states the treasurer and clerk are to be elected. Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. Although Steckel was offered to be paid her regular salary as assistant to the city manager plus the difference between her salary and the city managers wages, she chose instead to be paid her salary and just 75 percent of the difference in wages. We are thrilled to have John Shay join the Ottawa County Team, stated Al Vanderberg, Ottawa County administrator. Kozal began working in Ludington in May 2020, replacing Mark Barnett, who retired after serving the city for 19 years. She died the next day. It's not his first time serving in a decision-making role, as he spent 15 years as the Ludington city manager after starting his career as the village manager of Almont in Lapeer County. West Michigan has its own kind of tempo, he said. During its meeting Monday, the Ludington City Council approved additional compensation for Jackie Steckel for her time as acting city manager. It was with seven simple words that the second and final Rhythm & Dunes concert of the summer got underway Saturday at Waterfront Park. She had been at the lake with a 4-year-old she managed to get to a sand bar before disappearing about 75 feet outside of the marked swim zone, he said. He also worked at city as interim city manager and Downtown Development Authority director in Portland. Two apartment complexes are under construction at 225 W. Ludington Ave. and 200 W. Loomis St. in downtown Ludington, but the Loomis Street facility already has four stories built, while the Ludington Avenue building hasnt yet completed its first floor. City Council members have the authority and are responsible for passing municipal ordinances and budgets Qualifications City Council members must be a citizen of the United States and at least 18-years of age. When the lifeguards are called upon to help, were worried that theyre young enough that they dont understand the risk involved in risking their lives.. Municipal Executives Profiles High 57F. https://t.co/WnALTl1vRX, The city of Wyoming is such a vibrant community and Im eager to get started working with the team, Shay wrote in a statement. The Ludington City Council will consider changing its charter to allow for the city manager to serve a term of three years at a time. R. Bogner was the lowest bidding contractor at $33 per stump, and was the recommended choice by the Ludington Department of Public Works, since the city has dealt with the contractor for several years, and the stump grinding was considered satisfactory. Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. LUDINGTON Mitch Foster has been on the job as city manager since March 18. The candidate names were apparently not released to the councilors during that closed session. The public meeting will begin with an update on the search to hire a new Ludington city manager presented by Jeff Mueller, an executive recruiter for the Michigan Municipal League, who has been finding and screening applicants for the job. They need to protect their visitors, Benjamin said. And then there is Michigans unpredictable weather, which can stir up the lake within moments. The Ludington City Council will hold a special meeting at 1:30 p.m. Thursday at city hall to choose which candidates for city manager to interview at a later time. The county collected resumes for about three to four weeks, then began interviewing candidates. Wishing him all the best at his new position. Media Group 31, LLC or any of its agents have the right to make any changes to this policy. The City of Ludington is requesting contractor bids for the construction of improvements to the area on Ludington Avenue west of Stearns Drive. That proposal, estimated to cost $70,000, eventually was scrapped for lack of funding and concerns of neighbors. They do need to put some people on that beach," Blakney said. Piers can create dangerous currents and, without barriers on most of them, provide an inviting opportunity for a stroll to unsuspecting visitors four of whom were swept off piers into the water and drowned this year. Warm, overcast and a breezy day greeted the runners in the 38th Annual Ludington Lakestride Saturday afternoon along the shores of Lake Michigan. I felt like I had failed (Patterson) and I failed her family because somehow, I wasnt able to push this town I love so much hard enough to step up our beach and pier safety protocol, Daugherty told the council. That case involves a swimming pool lifeguard and the drowning death of a man with a disability. He has served as a special projects intern for the City of Evart, management intern at Washoe County, Nev., manager of the Village of Kingsley, and most recently, administrator of the Village of Winneconne, Wis. Ludingtons year-round population is about three times more than Winneconne, and even larger during the summer tourist season. No, they cannot be out in the water when red flag conditions persist, and by the time they are alerted and respond, it is too late, McGinnis said. Lifeguards at Silver Beach entered the water for a swimmer rescue/assistance once during 2020, Jill Adams, environmental property manager for the county parks department told MLive. More: Former Ottawa County administrator John Shay a finalist for Wyoming city manager, More: Ottawa County Board abruptly fires administrator, hires former GOP candidate John Gibbs. LUDINGTON The City of Ludington is currently in the process of replacing its police chief and treasurer. Departments. The committees are personnel and finance, public safety and utilities, building and licenses, and cemetery, parks, recreation and waterfront. On Saturday, Oct. 27, Macunovich will come to Ludington to conduct an all-day seminar for local gardeners. But she didnt realize the full extent of the workload shed have to do for performing both her job as acting city manager and her regular duties, assisting the city manager and the mayor. Follow this reporter on Twitter @SentinelJake. City Staff View a directory of city staff and retrieve contact information. Nowhere on Lake Michigan is the call for lifeguards louder than in South Haven, where the drowning of 13-year-old Theron Brooker-Nolan of Ann Arbor who got caught in a rip tide in July 2019 prompted citizen Kam Daugherty to start a return-the-lifeguards petition and form a citizen activist group. He then attended University of Nevada-Reno where he received a bachelors degree in political science and government and a masters degree in public administration. Its always been in the back of my head that Id really like to support the cause of getting lifeguards in my hometown just all those unnecessary deaths, Sartini said. Concerns about liability were repeatedly mentioned to MLive by managers of Lake Michigan beach communities. City Manager City of Ludington, Michigan Mar 2019 - Present4 years 2 months Ludington, MI I oversee the day-to-day operations of a full-service city with 65 full-time employees and with. Mitchell Foster is the City Manager at Ludington High School based in Ludington, Michigan. Some said later she was last seen clinging to a swim zone buoy, fighting the force of an underwater rip current, he said. Prior to coming to Ludington, he was the director of public safety for the City of Manistee for three years. Shay was replaced by former GOP congressional candidate John Gibbs. The candidates include: James Van Ess, supervisor of Tallmadge Charter Township in Ottawa County, Patrick Reagan, city manager of Crystal Falls, and Mitchell Foster, village administrator of Winneconne, Wisc. And whats the right balance? Due to the larger container, collection times would also be reduced from once per week to once per month. There are some similarities between the two towns. The grant would be from the Michigan Natural Resources Recreation Passport program, and it must be submitted by April 1 to meet the deadline for the funds to be awarded in 2020. Related: Who can close the Lake Michigan piers? Ludington City Manager Mitch Foster said the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) plans to repave Ludington Avenue and Lakeshore Drive in 2020, but he is recommending a complete reconstruction to solve the underlying road issues. The block of North William Street by House of Flavors will become a one-way street, the Ludington City Council decided Monday. Theyre pretty common on the beaches theyre just expected.. Instead of lifeguards, most Lake Michigan beaches use to varying degrees -- a combination of education about swimming dangers, water condition warning systems, life rings and other stationed rescue and safety equipment. In April, the position was vacated by Keith Van Beek, who was appointed Holland city manager. Notice should be mailed to the City of Ludington City Manager's Office at: 400 S Harrison Street Ludington, MI 49431 Phone: 231-845-6237 Failure to provide the required notice will prevent recovery of damages and filing a claim does not guarantee payment. Shay last served as administrator in Ottawa County from August 2021-January 2023, when he was ousted during a shakeup by the county board. The Ludington State Park hosted a program about reading fossils and rocks as part of Heaven and Earth Day Saturday. Staff Directory. Shay was named a finalist for Holland Township's vacant manager position in February. He said park staff are trained to respond to water emergencies and to monitor lake conditions and post warnings at park entrances, including the use of warning flags. About 1,000 people descended the on downtown Ludington area during the weekend to participate in the annual Octoberfest celebration, which peaked with a craft beer, wine and music festival in James Street Plaza Saturday afternoon. Johns many successful years in municipal management will serve the county well.. However the township ultimately chose Steve Bulthuis, former executive director of the Macatawa Area Coordinating Council, as its new manager in late February. WYOMING The city of Wyoming announced Monday, April 17, that John Shay will be its next city manager, WOOD TV-8 reports. Names of Ludington city manager candidates announced. BY MiBiz Staff Friday, June 08, 2018 01:37pm. He started looking, and saw shadowing on the lake floor, dove in and pulled out 19-year-old Jazmyn Patterson. The state of Michigan, which operates a dozen state parks with beaches along the lakeshore, had pulled all its lifeguards by 1993. No portion of this story or images may be reproduced in any way, including print or broadcast, without expressed written consent. While the police chief is an appointed position, the city treasurer is an elected position. First responders, local fire and police departments and power companies were busy Tuesday night responding to various calls across Mason County following a severe thunderstorm. Dr. Perry Marillat lifts up his wife Wendy during their dance routine Saturday night at Lincoln Hills Golf Club. With the paid parking, the city brought enforcement officers on all-terrain vehicles to Pere Marquette beach who could help respond to water emergencies, Peterson said. Police Department The MMRMA provides liability insurance to most municipalities in the state. City of Ludington City Manager Jennifer Cleaver Secretary/Treasurer Community Investment Committee Member The Law Office of J. Cleaver, PLLC Brooke Felger Safety Decals Jason Jeffrey West Shore Educational Service District Superintendent Tim Nieboer Community Investment Committee Member House of Flavors Were they life and death? Phone messages MLive left with a spokeswoman for the authority seeking comment about lifeguard liability were not returned. Other local support includes the local portion of the brownfield TIF for MSF eligible activities estimated at $1,574,302 and for EGLE eligible activities at $219,798. Ludington, Michigan, are you ready to party? Eric Sage, founder and frontman of country and classic rock tribute band Young Guns, asked as his bandmates stepped onto the Waterfront Park Pavilion stage. This story is copyrighted 2019, all rights reserved by Media Group 31, LLC, PO Box 21, Scottville, MI 49454. Its complicated, and unique in Holland. Employee Intranet. Its to prevent an accident., Bailey said Silver Beach has not had a drowning for I cant remember how many years.. SCOTTVILLE Its all about bringing families and communities together at Family AfFair, and thats exactly what area businesses, nonprofit organizations and government agencies did Saturday at Mason County Central High School. The Ludington City Council will consider changing its charter to allow for the city manager to serve a term of three years at a time. I am looking forward to getting to know the residents and the community and learning more about how we can work together.. She returned on Monday, Oct. 19, again asking for more beach safety measures, and lifeguards, and citing the drownings of three people, including Patterson, as well as unbelievable amount of close calls there this summer. Study shapes, shadows, lighting. The names of the three top candidates for city manager that the Ludington City Council selected to be interviewed were announced during the council meeting Monday night. After the hike we will have an appetizer potluck near the bridge to celebrate National Trails Day. Its time we have some serious, frank, and open discussions with the public on what we need to do. Shay has previously served as city manager in Ludington, village manager in Almont and has worked in local government for 25 years, according to a release from Wyoming. In all, Schillachi pulled 16 people out of the waters off Muskegons Pere Marquette beach. Ludington also, after about a year of effort, got approval from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to place a gate on its north breakwall that was installed this year, said Ludington City Manager Mitch Foster. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Three ways to help us: Venmo: @MasonCountyPress; Paypal: MasonCountyPress@gmail.com; Mail a check to PO BOX 21, Scottville, MI 49454. Ludington is receiving a $17 million loan from the U.S. Department of Agriculture for upgrades and expansions to aeration, filtration and storage systems at the wastewater treatment facility. The City Manager serves as Chief Administrative and Executive Officer of the City of Ludington. Shay won the. We have a veteran staff at city hall. Its critical because those communities have an obligation to protect tourists, many of them out-of-towners with no knowledge of the lakes power, he said. LUDINGTON, Mich. (AP) Sprawled like a gigantic swimming pool atop a bluff overlooking Lake Michigan is an asphalt-and-clay pond holding enough water to produce electricity for 1.6 million households. To read the full story, check out the print or E-edition of Tuesdays Ludington Daily News. And by the time you can start heading toward shore the storm and the wind is on you.. Those are questions city officials are pondering as they evaluate a proposed change to Ludingtons zoning, which would allow more short-term rentals renter stays of less than 28 days to be created downtown. Then he saw people frantically trying to swim out into the lake yelling that a girl was missing in the lake, Brusse said. The wind was ripping out of the north pretty hard, but the lake wasnt rough yet, Brusse said. City Manager Amy Williams said she recently met with Police Chief Mark Barnett and Ludington City Manager John Shay. Name Title Email Phone Additional Phone Foster, Mitch City Manager: 231-845-6237 Steckel, Jackie . LUDINGTON The Ludington City Council has formally announced the names of the top three candidates for city manager. Im 100 percent confident if we had a guard on the beach that day, shed still be here today.. The mayor serves a four-year term, and Miller will take office once the term expires on Dec. A memorial to the fallen and remembered soldiers of World War I was revitalized Thursday at Stearns Park beach in Ludington. Hailing from Owosso in the Lansing area, and now living in Northville, Michigan, the couple has been coming to the Ludington area for years. Enter your email address to subscribe to this site and receive notifications of new posts by email. Potential for heavy rainfall. Hosier estimated it would cost between $100,000 and $200,000 to restart a lifeguard program. Please consider helping to fund local news. Barnett said its important that everyone should be allowed to speak their opinions during public comment, but opinions should be stated in a courteous manner and shouldnt be used to bludgeon people and make allegations of crime without showing evidence. He received a masters degree in public administration along with a bachelors degree in political science and government from the University of Nevado-Reno. He received his Bachelor of Arts in History from Boston College and Master of Public Administration from Oakland University. Both Bailey and Richards said recruiting lifeguards is their biggest challenge. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement (updated 4/4/2023), Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (updated 1/26/2023). She basically got hauled out of the swim zone so quickly, Brusse said. Ludington City Manager John Shay currently works on a year-to-year contract. Three reasons most often cited for the lack of Lake Michigan lifeguards are costs, liability and trouble recruiting. I think well be able to demonstrate this time that its still more important to educate people about what the conditions are, Peterson said. The city first narrowed it down to four people before selecting him. Alan Wernette, Ludington State Park interpreter led the program with five participants. The council rescheduled its Committee of the Whole meeting to 6 p.m. April 15, instead of 5 p.m. Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. DETROIT (AP) A Michigan city violated the U.S. Constitution by chalking tires to enforce parking limits, but it won't be forced to refund thousands of tickets in the class-action case, a judge said. Foster said the issue of electing the treasurer and the clerk raises some considerable challenges. No portion of this story or images may be reproduced in any way, including print or broadcast, without expressed written consent. OFF SEASON Inquiries should be sent to 400 S. Harrison Ludington MI 49431 Quick Links NOAA Weather Marine Forecast Weather Buoy Water Surface Temps Ludington Charter Fishing View All The Ludington City Council will hold a special meeting at 1:30 p.m. Thursday at city hall to choose which candidates for city manager to interview at a later time. After four minutes, they will suffer irreversible brain damage and after 10 minutes, they have just a 14 percent survival rate, Benjamin said. We accept the responsibility and the obligation of the liability, he said, later adding, We dont feel a financial liability. The tours will include baking cookies from scratch and holiday lights, sights and sounds in small towns that span the west coast of Michigan from Whitehall, Hart and Pentwater, to Ludington and Bear Lake. Foster grew up in Scottville, living there from the age of 4 to 16 and attended Mason County Central Schools during that time. Prior to coming to Ludington, he was the director of public safety for the City of Manistee for three years. Tim Kozal offered job after national search After a nationwide search, the City of Muskegon says, it has found its next Director of Public Safety. The citys contract with R. Bogner has an option to renew again for up to three years. Shay oversaw day-to-day operations while serving as Ludington city manager with 65 full-time employees and 14 departments. The candidates include: James Van Ess, supervisor of Tallmadge Charter Township in Ottawa County, Patrick Reagan, city manager of Crystal Falls, and Mitchell Foster, village administrator of Winneconne, Wisc. At Silver Beach in St. Joseph, lifeguards make sure everyone is out of the water on red flag days, said Bailey, the Berrien County parks director. No one really understands that water, said Jason Brusse, who lives in South Haven and pulled a drowning victim out of Lake Michigan there in June. In New Buffalo, the city council is aware of the liabilities, but listened to the community when it wanted lifeguards after they were eliminated for one season a couple years ago due to budget concerns, said Richards, the city manager there. In some ways, Lake Michigan can be even more dangerous to swimmers than larger oceans where lifeguards are common. Even fewer residents responding to the survey, 42%, supported using existing city funds to pay for a lifeguard program. DuBOIS A City of DuBois resident asked the DuBois City Council, at its meeting on Monday night, if the city has paid a significant amount of money for the private defense of Manager John . In California, where Sartini said hes chosen lifeguarding as a career, the presence of lifeguards is just expected, he said. In that time, Mike said, theyve fallen in love with the lakeshore and its people. Cody Morgan Denton, 23, 2630 N. Sherman Road, Ludington, was sentenced in 51st Circuit Court Tuesday to 47 months minimum to a maximum of 15 years in prison on charges of breaking and entering with intent and larceny of firearms, habitual offender second offense. Reagan, who is from Muskegon, worked in Iron Mountain in 2008 as a Downtown Development Authority director and Main Street manager. Shay starts his job on July 23, earning $123,468 per year. Every year the Mason County Garden Club searches out local businesses that do an outstanding landscaping and civic beautification effort. Shay has previously served as city manager in Ludington, village manager in Almont and has worked in local government for 25 years, according to a release from Wyoming. LUDINGTON Mitch Foster has been on the job as city manager since March 18. City Council members can, as the entire council, hire the City Manager. The term expires in 2024, meaning that the city council would appoint a treasurer to serve out the current term. John Shay, who currently serves as city manager of Ludington, was named Ottawa Countys new deputy administrator on Thursday. This is one of those things that most cities the size of Ludington have changed over to appointing the treasurer and clerk, Foster said. Reagan has been city manager of Crystal Falls since 2016. It is the editors discretion to update or edit a story when/if new information becomes available. They also helped occupants of a sinking boat, she said. He said the councils decision was a misuse of taxpayer money. Johns many successful years in municipal management will serve the County well.. Sentinel reporter Mitchell Boatman contributed to this report. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. He was responsible for budgeting and finance, personnel and community partnerships, as well as communication with the media and public. According to a press release from Manistee County Sheriff John OHagen, the accident occurred on U.S. Look closely. Because the position is an elected position, even an appointed treasurer must be a resident of the city, who has lived in the city for at least one year. The Marillats won the competition, and the foundation raised roughly $37,000 with the proceeds going toward the Ludington Area Schools' robotics program. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. The Ludington City Council on Monday will vote on adopting a proposed ordinance that would formally establish and define the duties of the citys four standing committees. Sources told WGVU Tuesday that the job is being offered to Tim Kozal, who has been serving as the Chief of Police in Ludington, Michigan since 2020. High lake levels have made walking on such breakwalls and pierheads extremely risky at times, but few have anything other than warning signs to keep people off the structures that are mostly controlled by the Corps of Engineers. No portion of this story or images may be reproduced in any way, including print or broadcast, without expressed written consent. Join Spirit of the Woods Chapter of the North Country Trail Association on Saturday, June 2, 2018 at 10 a.m. for a hike on the trail starting near the Vince Smith Bridge. Ludington City Manager John Shay currently works on a year-to-year contract. City Hall Hours. The candidates are James Van Ess, Patrick Reagan and Mitchell Foster, said Interim City Manager Steve Brock, who provided to the Daily News the resumes and cover letters of the three interviewees. But a South Haven Safety Survey, conducted by Western Michigan University between October 2019 through January 2020, received more than 700 responses and found that fewer than half 44% -- of respondents definitely or somewhat supported returning lifeguards to the city. Parents, sons and daughters, observers, politicians, activists and educators were just some of the people that could be seen Saturday afternoon along West Ludington Avenue, holding signs, clapping, cheering and waving to passersby in the 90-plus-degree heat. Steckel stated in a memo to the council that she picked that wage percentage because thats what other city employees have been paid when holding the place of their superintendent. The city removed lifeguards about 15 years ago, after spending a year studying the safety, liability and logistics of keeping them, she said.
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