By Scott Sullivan
Editor
An Oct. 5 forum among seven candidates for four 2-year Saugatuck City Council seats saw all agree they love the city but voice varied views on its progress or lack thereof.
On the ballot Nov. 8 will be incumbents Scott Dean and Lauren Stanton, plus challengers Catherine Simon and Jane Verplank (both former mayors and longtime council members), Gregory Muncey, Mark Miller and Helen Baldwin.
Not running are 40- and 8-year council veterans Mark Bekken and Ken Trester, respectively.
The Holland League of Women Voters sponsored and hosted the nearly two-hour session at All Saints’ Episcopal Church and posted forum videos now available online at lwvholland.org.
Current mayor pro-tem Dean, now a Michigan Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) department employee, and Stanton, co-owner of Retro Boat Rentals, argued council inclusiveness and transparency had improved during their two years in office, leading to Blue Star Trail progress and new city staff less beholden to a power few.
They and Miller cited past staff and council members contesting a Saugatuck Public Schools bond request and setting up city for Dune Ridge development lawsuits regarding in particular four floating homes in its private marina on the Kalamazoo River’s west side visible from Wicks Park.
Running with them as a team, based on lawn signs and members’ acknowledgement, are physician Mark Miller and retired accountant Helen Baldwin. Both generally voiced concurrence with current council actions but their own views too.
Maplewood Hotel owner Simon said she was looking for a council encore based on petition signers calling for a change from the current council.
Verplank, whose Inn of Saugatuck sits across Butler Street from Simon’s home/business, cited her commitment to public safety based on her long status as Saugatuck Township Fire District board chair among other positions held.
Both expressed concern about council settling Wicks Park Bar and Grill expansion litigation, overriding planning commission counsel, and a 3-story condo proposal at 640-650 Water Street pulled from the zoning board of appeals docket just before a scheduled Aug. 11 public hearing.
“Saugatuck is losing its ambience,” Verplank said. “Our parking problem’s bad already. If there’s no place to park, there’s no reason to come here,” she went on.
Muncey, also a longtime downtown resident, ex-business owner and Saugatuck-Douglas Area Business Association administrator, cited his knowledge gleaned having met many residents whose diverse views inform his thinking.
“To me there is no side, only Saugatuck,” he said.
All noted unresolved short-term rental issues and the need for protecting resources. Miller called for resolving a seeming dichotomy between progress and heritage through better overall long-term planning “where we want to be.”
All thanked the League for sponsoring the forum, those attending and noted absentee ballots are out already.
Sunday, October 06, 2024
