By Scott SullivanEditorSaugatuck City Manager Ryan Heise has resigned for “personal reasons and opportunities for professional development” on heels of an unexplained three-week absence.“It became widely known six months ago,” said Mayor Lauren Stanton, “that Ryan had intentions to relocate his family to the Stillwater, Minn. area where his wife’s family resides and was considering Read More…
News
STR freeze plan may draw heat
By Scott SullivanEditorSaugatuck short-term rental discussions may come to a head Thursday, Feb. 29, when city council weighs placing a 6-month moratorium on new rental licenses in the R-1 Residential district.Council’s workshop last Wednesday brought a spirited crowd to debate the planning commission’s Feb. 15 recommendations.What might change? Per the city: Build UpThe city’s 2023 Read More…
City discusses Hubbard Street parking lot, 4-day work weeks
By Gari Voss The City of Allegan Council spent time wrestling through the Study Session and Regular Council meeting balancing needs and opportunities related to special funding. As the Council heard the requests for addressing large improvement projects, examined the laundry list of project expenses, and the possible grant funding that would cover large portions Read More…
Only 980 residents take advantage of early voting
By John RaffelCorrespondent ALLEGAN – Voting in the presidential primary during the state’s firstventure into early voting yielded sparse participation in the county.“The low turnout set off alarm bells for the budgets of local governments that must staff polls with trained, paid workers during the early voting days,” Allegan County Commission chairman James Storey said. Read More…
Construction manager takes part in Hillside activities
Every once in a while, a community member steps up and becomes a integral part of a school. Steve McCaskey, a Project Superintendent for Owen, Ames, Kimball, has gone above and beyond his duties for the construction company and become part of the Hillside Learning Center family.Over the past year Hillside has undertaken a number Read More…
Group to address county’s lack of housing
Led by a coalition of non-profits and government entities including Allegan County Community Foundation, Community Action of Allegan County, Allegan Area ESA, United Way of Ottawa and Allegan County, OnPoint, and Allegan County government, Bowen National Research was commissioned to do a comprehensive housing assessment for Allegan County. The assessment report was published in the Read More…
Almena Township Board asks for Supervisor’s resignation
By Paul GarrodStaff Writer ALMENA TWP. – With no contact from the Almena Township supervisor to the Almena Township Board since early last December, the Almena Township Board at its Wednesday, Feb. 21, meeting, approved a resolution requesting his resignation.In the resolution, the township board said Supervisor Bill VanTassel “is not available to the public, Read More…
Metzger named new probate judge
LANSING – On Feb. 13, Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced the appointment of Susan Metzger to the Van Buren County Probate Court. It was one of four appointments announced by the governor.Metzger is a solo practitioner with a primary practice of domestic relations mediation and arbitration. Additionally, she is contracted with the Van Buren County Courts for the Juvenile Court and a defense Read More…
Paw Paw Township receives MSHDA grant
By Paul GarrodStaff Writer PAW PAW – Newly appointed Paw Paw Township Supervisor Tom Palenick announced on Monday, Feb. 26, that Paw Paw Township was the recipient of a recent MSHDA grant Under the Housing Readiness program. Palenick had applied for the grant two weeks ago.“Two weeks ago, we applied for a MSHDA grant Under Read More…
Nearly 20 fire departments battle late Feb. 25, blaze near Marcellus
The late Sunday night, Feb. 25, structure fire at 51540 M-40 Highway, Marcellus, that destroyed Tri-Star Molding facility, a custom plastics injection molding company, saw nearly 20 area fire departments from two counties battle the blaze. Paw Paw and Mattawan fire departments were two of the many fire departments that assisted in fighting the Cass Read More…