BY SCOTT SULLIVAN
EDITOR
Where did Saugatuck City Manager Ryan Heise go? Council and staff have been mum on his whereabouts since naming planning and zoning head Ryan Cummins interim manager Feb. 6 at a special meeting.
“Ryan Heise,” said Mayor Lauren Stanton, “remains out of the office and the city council, consistent with the city charter, have appointed Ryan Cummins as acting city manager until further notice.
Heise was named manager in December 2020 after serving as village administrator of Egg Harbor, Wisc. His absence comes less than a year after council gave him a positive annual evaluation and $10,500 pay raise to $110,500 a year.
“Our evaluation,” then Mayor Scott Dean said, “found Ryan exceeding expectations by most measures and I was pleased that we were unanimous in our decision.
“The city has great faith in Ryan and his team at City Hall,” Dean added, “and our action sends a clear message that Saugatuck is determined to compete for and retain the best talent in the state.”
Cummins — city hall’s “other Ryan” — was hired as planning, zoning and project management director in August 2022. He is also a Grand Haven City Council member.