This story is copyrighted 2019, all rights reserved by Media Group 31, LLC, PO Box 21, Scottville, MI 49454. Every year the Mason County Garden Club searches out local businesses that do an outstanding landscaping and civic beautification effort. 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. It was during perhaps the deadest part of the year as far as city hall is concerned, February to early March, Rotta said. He explained that New Buffalos lifeguards could give a false sense of security to swimmers while also putting themselves in danger. It agreed to take up the case of Estate of Tschirhart v. City of Troy after the state Court of Appeals ruled that a community only is liable if the lifeguard shows substantial lack of concern and directly contributed to an individuals injuries. 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. 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. Foster said he would like to have a new police chief in place by the Nov. 14 meeting of the city council. There are some challenges and some pretty cool opportunities. Shay was named a finalist for Holland Township's vacant manager position in February. 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. Just like if a house is burning, youd expect firefighters would show up. 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. The 2018 Ludington Gus Macker 3-on-3 Charity Basketball Tournament has extended the registration deadline to June 3, 2018. In some instances, untrained bystanders risked and at times lost their lives in futile rescue attempts. Ludington, MI - Official Website | Official Website Jackies not cheating us.. The impact of the vehicle caused the pole to snap and lean on top of power lines. Return to Staff Directory. City Hall Hours. John Shay named Ottawa County's new deputy administrator He received a bachelors degree in business administration and management from Ferris State University. This story is copyrighted 2019, all rights reserved by Media Group 31, LLC, PO Box 21, Scottville, MI 49454. 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. Lake Michigan is as dangerous or more dangerous than the ocean because storms come up so quickly, Torregrossa said. Mason County Press and Oceana County Press are available for free thanks to the generous support of our advertisers and individuals. Other equipment will be replaced as well, including pumps, blowers, valves, pipes and the motor control center. Hard to say, said Schillachi, who was a beach captain for about five of the years he worked as a lifeguard between 2000-09. 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. Ludington seeks new police chief, treasurer. The MMRMA provides liability insurance to most municipalities in the state. But more than enter the waters to save a life, Sartini said lifeguards also save them with warnings and education. He is also glad to be back in west Michigan, and specifically Mason County, where he grew up. Emergency call stations, information kiosks, social media posts, lifejackets and life rings are other safety measures Olson mentioned in an email to MLive. Professional Management The purpose of MME is to foster and encourage the personal and professional development of its members in order that they may better serve their communities and to promote, encourage, and preserve high ethical standards for municipal executives. RELATED: Could these lives have been saved by lifeguards along Lake Michigan? Trees and power lines were knocked down from the City of Ludington to Riverton, Custer, Hamlin and Branch townships. Entering into week three, he's learning many aspects of the community. If you look just down the road, the City of Scottville appoints its clerk and treasurer.. This years competition features entries from Todd and Brad Reed Photography, Ryan Reed, Rachel Gaudette, T.J. MANISTEE A 20-year-old Pentwater man died and a 23-year-old Ludington man was critically injured when they were struck by a car Tuesday afternoon in Bear Lake. Wittingen was elected as a write-in candidate in 2020, replacing Tom Ezdebski, who chose not to seek re-election. We will be setting the next generation up for success.. groups Facebook page has more than 830 members. 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. Ludington seeks new police chief, treasurer. "Its a tourist town and they know thats all people do is go out there to the beach.. More than 14,000 people have since signed the petition, and the effort calling itself the South Haven Lifeguards in Full Effect or L.I.F.E. 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 . He has served as Ludington city manager for 15 years. That case involves a swimming pool lifeguard and the drowning death of a man with a disability. Fiscal responsibility, civic engagement, economic development and infrastructure were some of the issues discussed by primary candidates Tuesday evening during a public forum for primary candidates at the Ludington Area Center for the Arts. They do need to put some people on that beach," Blakney said. Ludington City Manager John Shay currently works on a year-to-year contract. The city of Ludington is contributing an Obsolete Property Rehabilitation Act tax abatement for 12 years, estimated to be worth $1,825,802. In January, Steckel was appointed to serve as the acting city manager until the new city manager, Mitch Foster, was hired and began work. 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. 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. Wyoming hires ousted Ottawa County administrator Shay as city manager No portion of this story or images may be reproduced in any way, including print or broadcast, without expressed written consent. Due to lightning and approaching thunderstorms, The Ludington Gus Macker 3-on-3 basketball tournament has been delayed again, this time until 11 a.m. After eight years of working with the City of Ludington to make it a reality, the Ludington Fire Department saw ground broken Wednesday evening for a new fire station that will be located on Tinkham Avenue behind the Lakeshore Resource Network. Departments | Ludington, MI - Official Website The decision to place the PNC building for sale was made at the nonprofit organizations most recent board of directors meeting in late October, said Vic Burwell, president and co-founder of the Mason County Sports Hall of Fame. On Lake Michigan, theyre pounding you one right after the other real close together.. He also worked at city as interim city manager and Downtown Development Authority director in Portland. Shay starts his job on July 23, earning $123,468 per year. Police Department Ludington is a great community with a lot going for it. Instead of lifeguards, Lake Michigan communities have instituted a variety of lifesaving measures primarily the posting of rip current warning signs, making life rings and life jackets available, and using a warning flag system. She doesnt ask how many hours she has to work she just does it Whatever she said she did, she did it. Connect with the definitive source for global and local news, By RILEY KELLEY | Daily News Staff Writer, By Riley Kelley | Daily News Staff Writer, Colton Mokofsky | Daily News Staff Writer colton@ludingtondailynews.com, By COLTON MOKOFSKY | Daily News Staff Writer | colton@ludingtondailynews.com. 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. A lot of times people wont be aware theyre in trouble, Sartini said. 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. Shay won the position among 48 candidates. Look closely. After four minutes, they will suffer irreversible brain damage and after 10 minutes, they have just a 14 percent survival rate, Benjamin said. Sewer Backup | Ludington, MI - Official Website He was responsible for budgeting and finance, personnel and community partnerships, as well as communication with the media and public. A year after he left, Muskegon eliminated its lifeguard program, citing finances as the reason. Theyre pretty common on the beaches theyre just expected.. Follow this reporter on Twitter @SentinelJake. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. She died the next day. Two communities still have lifeguards on Lake Michigan Silver Beach in St. Joseph and New Buffalo Beach. ArtPrize 2018 is in full swing in Grand Rapids through Oct. 7 and several Ludington natives are showcasing their own unique pieces of art for the festival. The council approved changing the traffic flow to make one block of North William Street between Ludington Avenue and West Court Street a northbound, one-way street for vehicles. Staff Directory. MEDC approves developments in Grand Haven, Ludington 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. Potential for heavy rainfall. Recruitment and training remain the toughest hurdle for keeping guards on the beach in New Buffalo. Scottville's Lee Schwass was the top overall winner of the half marathon with a time of 1 hour, 21 minutes, 39.85 seconds. City Manager Mitch Foster said the city has posted the position on multiple sources with an application deadline of Sept. 20. FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP) The northern Arizona city of Flagstaff has been chosen as the site for a new plant for manufacturing parts for electric vehicles, city officials announced Thursday LUDINGTON, Mich. (AP) A coal-fired ferry that carries people and cars across Lake Michigan between Michigan and Wisconsin has been sold A proposed housing development saw its preliminary plans approved by the Ludington City Council Monday night, but not before some of the discussion became heated during the councils regular meeting hosted via the video-conference application Zoom. Employee Intranet. That proposal, estimated to cost $70,000, eventually was scrapped for lack of funding and concerns of neighbors. They also helped occupants of a sinking boat, she said. A search committee will narrow down the candidates. Hiring a headhunter if necessary to find lifeguards is critical for beach communities, said Benjamin of the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project. Enter your email address to subscribe to this site and receive notifications of new posts by email. A rash of Lake Michigan drownings in recent years, including 19 in Michigan this year, has renewed calls for beach lifeguards. That person could then chose to seek election. During its meeting Monday, the Ludington City Council approved additional compensation for Jackie Steckel for her time as acting city manager. Mitchell Foster is the City Manager at Ludington High School based in Ludington, Michigan. His parents, Dave and Jody Foster, owned Fosters Market. The three candidates were selected last week during a special meeting of the city council. Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. 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. There were 65 students with diplomas or were GED exam qualifiers from Mason County to use the Mason County Promise. Winneconne is located in between Lake Winneconne and Lake Butte des Morts near Oshkosh and Manitowoc in WInnebago County. Related: When high water kills: Drownings on Great Lakes soar in 2019. Former Ottawa County administrator John Shay a finalist for Wyoming city manager, Ottawa County Board abruptly fires administrator, hires former GOP candidate John Gibbs, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. At some point in the recent past, our insurance carrier has helped us understand that theyre more of a liability than they are a help, he said. DETROIT (AP) Lawyers who argued that a Michigan city violated the U.S. Constitution by chalking tires have successfully turned the case into a class action potentially affecting thousands of parking tickets. MCSO ACTIVITY REPORT FOR THE WEEKEND OF 05/18/2018 thru 05/20/2018: With election season looming, A Few Friends for the Environment of the World (AFFEW) and Bridge Magazine are joining forces to give Mason County residents a chance to have their voices heard by candidates vying for seats in November. During its meeting Monday, the Ludington City Council approved additional compensation for Jackie Steckel for her time as acting city manager. Mayor & City Council | Ludington, MI - Official Website They need to protect their visitors, Benjamin said. 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. 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. Van Ess has been Tallmadge Township supervisor since 2005. At that meeting, the councilors went into closed session to review the top 10 out of 37 candidates under consultation of a representative of the Michigan Municipal League. 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. He said he wants to the citys government to be more open about how it communicates with the residents, much of which will take place with a greater social media presence. According to a press release from Manistee County Sheriff John OHagen, the accident occurred on U.S. All three of the top candidates for the position of Ludington city manager have agreed to be interviewed by the city council on Jan. 24, said Interim City Manager Steve Brock. City Manager Amy Williams said she recently met with Police Chief Mark Barnett and Ludington City Manager John Shay. Alan Wernette, Ludington State Park interpreter led the program with five participants. Reagan, who is from Muskegon, worked in Iron Mountain in 2008 as a Downtown Development Authority director and Main Street manager. 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. 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 LUDINGTON Mitch Foster has been on the job as city manager since March 18. Wyoming City Council said it hopes to approve an employment agreement by mid-May. However, Kozal is currently using up paid time off and was sworn in Monday, Aug. 29, as the City of Muskegons director of public safety. 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. The council, mayor, and staff in the city are all great people and the citizens are wonderful.. The presentation was in connection with a proposed amendment to the citys recycling contract with Republic, which is expected to be addressed at the next council meeting, Biolette said. 1:00 John Shay, who currently serves as city manager of Ludington, was named Ottawa County's new deputy administrator on Thursday. Enter your email address to subscribe to this site and receive notifications of new posts by email. Prior to coming to Ludington, he was the director of public safety for the City of Manistee for three years. Ludington, Scottville, PM Twp. to take action on establishing Ludington to extend city manager's term? | AP News I am looking forward to getting to know the residents and the community and learning more about how we can work together.. Drowning victim Jazmyn Patterson was her daughter, and Blakney believes leaders in South Haven need to do more to protect both residents and visitors. 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. Media Group 31, LLC or any of its agents have the right to make any changes to this policy. Ludington | AP News Also on Monday, the council heard a presentation from Matt Biolette, Republic Services municipal services manager, about the rising costs of recycling. The council approved the dates of two fundraiser events Footsteps for Families on May 25 at Rotary Park and Blessing of the Boats on June 1 at the Ludington Municipal Marina. The block of North William Street by House of Flavors will become a one-way street, the Ludington City Council decided Monday. Municipal Executives Profiles 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. We will be making a succession plan a high priority. While Ludington has beach officers who patrol the beach, the lack of available lifeguards and training for them as well as liability concerns expressed by the Michigan Municipal Risk Management Authority has prevented a lifeguard program from being pushed forward, Foster said. The City Manager administers and coordinates various functions of City government as stated in the City Charter and supplemented by policies established by the City Council. In the public comment period, resident Tom Rotta criticized the council for paying Steckel retroactively, since prior to starting the work, she had agreed to the wages. LUDINGTON, Mich. (AP) A coal-powered passenger steamship on Lake Michigan that's the last of its kind in the U.S. will stop using coal to fuel its historic engines once its operators settle on an alternate power source. I am very excited to begin work as Ottawa Countys next Deputy County Administrator and to join a dedicated team of public servants, providing excellent public services in a cost-effective manner, said Shay in a press release. 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. 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. Even though the lifeguards are trained to an acceptable level, theyre still young and the lake is formidable, Richards said. Previously, Mitchell was the Village Administrator at V Read More Contact Mitchell Foster's Phone Number and Email Last Update 3/19/2023 5:57 PM Email m***@ci.ludington.mi.us Engage via Email Contact Number (231) ***-**** Engage via Phone Mobile Number HAMLIN TWP. Its to prevent an accident., Bailey said Silver Beach has not had a drowning for I cant remember how many years.. Departments. Board of Directors United Way of Mason County "The city of Ludington is excited and appreciative of the MEDC's decision to provide matching funds under the Public Spaces Community Places program for the city's From West End to Best End project," said Ludington City Manager John Shay. Its time we have some serious, frank, and open discussions with the public on what we need to do. Chance of rain 100%. The term expires in 2024, meaning that the city council would appoint a treasurer to serve out the current term. Link: City Manager Page. Once you get up north things seem to slow down a bit and people are more neighborly. The project will reconstruct the area to be more multiuse and better suited for pedestrians and for hosting events, said Heather Tykoski, City of Ludington community development director. 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. Ultimately, the final decision is up to the city manager. He received his Bachelor of Arts in History from Boston College and Master of Public Administration from Oakland University. Thats going to be a big change but a good one. Congratulations to John Shay! The City of Ludington is requesting contractor bids for the construction of improvements to the area on Ludington Avenue west of Stearns Drive. The mayor, instead, helps guide the council and presides over city council, which is comprised of six councilors who each represent one of the six city wards and a councilor-at-large. Scottville to end joint police agreement with Ludington 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. Another 37% definitely oppose or somewhat oppose the city providing lifeguards, and 19% were neutral or had no opinion. 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. He had served as Ludington city manager for 15 years. Its complicated, and unique in Holland. 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. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. We are thrilled to have John Shay join the Ottawa County Team, stated Al Vanderberg, Ottawa County administrator. Ludington City Manager John Shay currently works on a year-to-year contract. From 2013 to 2015 he was Kingsley, Michigans village manager. 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. The state of Michigan, which operates a dozen state parks with beaches along the lakeshore, had pulled all its lifeguards by 1993. Ludington city manager ready for challenges, glad to be back in west Hosier estimated it would cost between $100,000 and $200,000 to restart a lifeguard program. For the years 1988-1997, the United States Lifesaving Association recorded fewer than 100 drownings at mostly ocean but some non-ocean beaches guarded by lifeguards, with more than three-quarters occurring during hours when the beaches were unguarded. 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. Agendas and Meeting Minutes; Community Voice; Current Projects; Wishing him all the best at his new position. Among those who provided comments on the survey were 25 percent who expressed concern about lifeguard efficacy, 21 percent who referenced individual responsibility and 16 percent who were concerned about liability concerns. Theyre seen as a necessary function of public safety, said Brian Bailey, director of Berrien County Parks which operates Silver Beach. 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. Mitchell Foster, ICMA-CM - City Manager - City of Ludington, Michigan West Michigan has its own kind of tempo, he said.