Like others, Olson mentioned costs and difficulty in recruitment as other barriers to lifeguard programs. The city first narrowed it down to four people before selecting him. Shay oversaw day-to-day operations while serving as Ludington city manager with 65 full-time employees and 14 departments. No portion of this story or images may be reproduced in any way, including print or broadcast, without expressed written consent. 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. City of Ludington 400 S Harrison Street Ludington, MI 49431 Phone: 231-845-6237 info@ci.ludington.mi.us; Helpful Links. Foster grew up in Scottville, living there from the age of 4 to 16 and attended Mason County Central Schools during that time. RELATED: Could these lives have been saved by lifeguards along Lake Michigan? Janet Macunovich has been gardening, writing about gardening and teaching gardening for more than 30 years. The City of Ludington is requesting contractor bids for the construction of improvements to the area on Ludington Avenue west of Stearns Drive. 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. Name Title Email Phone Additional Phone Foster, Mitch City Manager: 231-845-6237 Steckel, Jackie . 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. 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. The West Shore Blades figure skating club hosted its fifth annual Christmas on Ice food drive and skating party at the West Shore Community College Ice Arena Sunday afternoon. He explained that New Buffalos lifeguards could give a false sense of security to swimmers while also putting themselves in danger. Return to Staff Directory. The Ludington City Council on Monday will vote on approving submitting an application for a $150,000 grant to help finance the proposed splashpad and fishing pier replacement at Copeyon Park. since 2015. Staff Directory. He received a bachelors degree in business administration and management from Ferris State University. City Treasurer The City of Ludington Treasurer's Office is responsible for the accounting and collection of all money due to the City including property taxes, water bills, special assessments, invoices and permits. Shay last served as administrator in Ottawa County from August 2021-January 2023, when he was ousted during a shakeup by the county board. They have a duty to protect their patrons.. Concerns about liability were repeatedly mentioned to MLive by managers of Lake Michigan beach communities. 1:00 John Shay, who currently serves as city manager of Ludington, was named Ottawa County's new deputy administrator on Thursday. The City Manager is appointed by, and serves at the pleasure of the elected City Council. Are there enough short-term and long-term rentals in downtown Ludington? Jackies not cheating us.. Sentinel reporter Mitchell Boatman contributed to this report. Another 37% definitely oppose or somewhat oppose the city providing lifeguards, and 19% were neutral or had no opinion. 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. Contact 911 immediately upon discovery of an overflow or backup. Hosier estimated it would cost between $100,000 and $200,000 to restart a lifeguard program. When high water kills: Drownings on Great Lakes soar in 2019, South Haven residents push for lifeguards after rash of Lake Michigan drownings, Who can close the Lake Michigan piers? These safety measures vary greatly, with some such as the sprawling Pere Marquette beach in Muskegon having very few visible life-saving items to Ludingtons smaller Stearns Park where life rings and information graphics are placed on numbered posts and a very visible emergency call box is at the waters edge. 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. The names of the candidates will remain confidential for the time being and will be published in the Daily News when they become available. Agendas and Meeting Minutes; Community Voice; Current Projects; The job was posted in international city and county management association magazines, local and regional newspapers, and across other platforms. Its time we have some serious, frank, and open discussions with the public on what we need to do. City Manager Amy Williams said she recently met with Police Chief Mark Barnett and Ludington City Manager John Shay. Study shapes, shadows, lighting. 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. Foster said the committee is searching both internally and externally. Related: Who can close the Lake Michigan piers? Both Bailey and Richards said recruiting lifeguards is their biggest challenge. The Marillats won the competition, and the foundation raised roughly $37,000 with the proceeds going toward the Ludington Area Schools' robotics program. A lot of times people wont be aware theyre in trouble, Sartini said. After the position was vacated, Vanderberg said the county would look internally and externally to fill the position. After four minutes, they will suffer irreversible brain damage and after 10 minutes, they have just a 14 percent survival rate, Benjamin said. Nine west Michigan bed and breakfasts will host the West Michigan B&B Christmas Cookie Tour Dec. 7-9 and 14-16. A rash of Lake Michigan drownings in recent years, including 19 in Michigan this year, has renewed calls for beach lifeguards. Ludington, MI - Official Website | Official Website Government Services Residents Visitors How Do I. Online Payments Notify Me COVID-19 Information Citizen Requests Weather Open Government Visit Downtown City Calendar Forms Ludington News Calendar of Events Tree Advisory Board Meeting Read on. The committee consists of Foster, Jackie Steckel, assistant to the city manager, Kathy MacLean, chair of the downtown development authority, John Henderson, fire chief, and Les Johnson, third ward councilor and chairman of the personnel and finance committee. 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. Its not easy to keep lifeguards there, officials say. Three reasons most often cited for the lack of Lake Michigan lifeguards are costs, liability and trouble recruiting. On Lake Michigan, theyre pounding you one right after the other real close together.. No portion of this story or images may be reproduced in any way, including print or broadcast, without expressed written consent. Update: Delays have been extended until 11 a.m. or later. 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. Ludington is a great community with a lot going for it. Shay starts his job on July 23, earning $123,468 per year. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. She basically got hauled out of the swim zone so quickly, Brusse said. 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). 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. See related story about MCPs claim that the council violated the Michigan Open Meetings Act. 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. Jared Sartini, a California lifeguard who grew up in the Holland area, has started an online change.org petition to bring lifeguards back to Holland State Park. Steve Wietrzykowsk has been appointed interim chief. I have a hard time believing that she would need to consistently put in 14- to 16-hour days to manage Ludington during that time.. Teams of four players can register online until 11:59PM on June 3, or until the team count of 800 teams is reached. 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. The three candidates were selected last week during a special meeting of the city council. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. 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. 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 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. But the citizens have demanded them and the risks of not having them are too great. The county waded through 188 applications before selecting Shay for the position. Ludington's form of government is council-manager, meaning the city manager, not the mayor, is the chief executive of the city, appointed by the council. 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. Shay won the position among 48 candidates. Refer to Use Policy for more information. Police Chief Timothy Kozals official last day is Sept. 2. They need to protect their visitors, Benjamin said. Her last day was Aug. 24. Once a swimmer starts struggling, they typically become submerged within a minute, he said. Then he saw people frantically trying to swim out into the lake yelling that a girl was missing in the lake, Brusse said. 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. Johns many successful years in municipal management will serve the County well.. The council awarded the bid for the citys stump grinding work to the Ludington-based company R. Bogner Tree Farms and Service. Im 100 percent confident if we had a guard on the beach that day, shed still be here today.. Recruitment and training remain the toughest hurdle for keeping guards on the beach in New Buffalo. Majestic lions, horses in mid-gallop, massive elephants with piercing dark eyes. City Council members can, as the entire council, hire the City Manager. Richards did not know how many times the lifeguards entered the water to assist swimmers in New Buffalo this season. Johns many successful years in municipal management will serve the county well.. 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. Please consider helping to fund local news. 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. 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. 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. Chance of rain 100%. In some ways, Lake Michigan can be even more dangerous to swimmers than larger oceans where lifeguards are common. 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.. City Staff View a directory of city staff and retrieve contact information. 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. I am looking forward to getting to know the residents and the community and learning more about how we can work together.. 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. 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. LUDINGTON Mitch Foster has been on the job as city manager since March 18. 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. This article is available to paid digital subscribers. He also said he doubted Steckel told the truth about the hours she worked, and said she should have to submit documentation to account for her extra hours. MCPs claim that the council violated the Michigan Open Meetings Act. 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. The Mason County Sports Hall of Fame will remain at Historic White Pine Village instead of moving into the former PNC Bank building in downtown Ludington as previously planned. 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. Due to the larger container, collection times would also be reduced from once per week to once per month. Last modified on Sunday, 10 June 2018 20:45, SUBSCRIBE TO MIBIZ TODAY FOR WEST MICHIGANS FINEST BUSINESS NEWS REPORTING. The Ludington City Council on Monday authorized the city to publish its intent to borrow up to $5 million in additional federal bonds to pay for improvements to the citys sewage disposal system, including the waste water treatment plant on Sixth Street and the main pump station at Rath Avenue. 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 Foster said, in addition to the committee, a firm has been hired that will assess the candidates. They do need to put some people on that beach," Blakney said. Muskegon generated $500,000 this year with paid beach parking at its beaches the first time the city charged to park. Title: City Manager Phone: 231-845-6237 Email. Dr. Perry Marillat lifts up his wife Wendy during their dance routine Saturday night at Lincoln Hills Golf Club. 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. He is also glad to be back in west Michigan, and specifically Mason County, where he grew up. This story is copyrighted 2019, all rights reserved by Media Group 31, LLC, PO Box 21, Scottville, MI 49454. 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. "Its a tourist town and they know thats all people do is go out there to the beach.. Jared Litwiller, of Ludington, was sworn into his new role as a part-time employee of the city immediately following city councils regular public meeting at City Hall. Ludington, MI 49431 Phone: (231) 845-1522 cartierpark.ludington@gmail.com Park Managers: Russell Soper Cartier Park is owned and operated by the City of Ludington. 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. Rain. Public comment is being sought for the meeting of the Ludington Area Small Urban Task Force Committee, which is planning road work projects for the years 2020 through 2023. City of Ludington 400 S Harrison Street Ludington, MI 49431 Phone: 231-845-6237 info@ci.ludington.mi.us; Helpful Links. Mitchell Foster is the City Manager at Ludington High School based in Ludington, Michigan. 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. City Hall Hours. A lifeguards duty is not to react to an accident, he said. Departments. 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. This story is copyrighted 2019, all rights reserved by Media Group 31, LLC, PO Box 21, Scottville, MI 49454. 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. Fire Department The Ludington Fire Department is comprised of 21 on-call/part-paid Firefighters. For more of this story, pick up a copy of the print edition of The Ludington Daily News or buy our e-edition. Have a suggestion for local roads to repair? He also worked at city as interim city manager and Downtown Development Authority director in Portland. MCSO ACTIVITY REPORT FOR THE WEEKEND OF 07/20/2018 thru 07/22/2018: 07/20 @ 6:45 AM Car/Deer crash, no injury, US10 west of Tuttle (Custer Township), 07/20 @ 7:10 AM Car/Deer crash, no injury, US31 north of Chauvez (Pere Marquette Township), West Shore Art Fair returns for golden anniversary Saturday at Rotary Park. LUDINGTON The City of Ludington is currently in the process of replacing its police chief and treasurer. That proposal, estimated to cost $70,000, eventually was scrapped for lack of funding and concerns of neighbors. 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. John Shay, who currently serves as city manager of Ludington, was named Ottawa Countys new deputy administrator on Thursday. 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. Prior to coming to Ludington, he was the director of public safety for the City of Manistee for three years. Theyre pretty common on the beaches theyre just expected.. The Ludington State Park hosted a program about reading fossils and rocks as part of Heaven and Earth Day Saturday. Ludington (/ l d t n / LUH-ding-tn) is the largest city and county seat of Mason County in the U.S. state of Michigan. She doesnt ask how many hours she has to work she just does it Whatever she said she did, she did it. There are some challenges and some pretty cool opportunities. 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. Shay was selected from a pool of 118 applicants, according to a statement from the county. WYOMING The city of Wyoming announced Monday, April 17, that John Shay will be its next city manager, WOOD TV-8 reports. Friends of Ludington State Park is hosting a celebration officially opening the new, highly accessible playground built at the Hamlin Lake beach area of Ludington State Park Thursday, Sept. 20 at 5:30 p.m. MCSO ACTIVITY REPORT FOR THE WEEKEND OF 08/31/2018 thru 09/03/2018: A 66-year-old Ludington woman died from the injuries she sustained from an accident Wednesday night at the intersection of Ludington Avenue and South Jackson Road, according to Ludington Police Chief Mark Barnett in a press release. Shay is currently the vice president of the Michigan Municipal Executives. 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, Shay said in a statement. . Staff. Community Development He is also glad to be back in west Michigan, and specifically Mason County, where he grew up. 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. 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. Departments. Hailing from Owosso in the Lansing area, and now living in Northville, Michigan, the couple has been coming to the Ludington area for years. Municipal Executives Profiles Even fewer residents responding to the survey, 42%, supported using existing city funds to pay for a lifeguard program. As lakeshore residents brace for the impending arrival of fall, the Ludington Area Center for the Arts (LACA) is adding a new and intimate performance series to its roster of events to accompany the change of season. Before that, he served as deputy county administrator. This may be done by editing the posted story or posting a new follow-up story. For example, they might move swimmers away from a hazardous rip current area. The City Manager serves as Chief Administrative and Executive Officer of the City of Ludington. Hiring a headhunter if necessary to find lifeguards is critical for beach communities, said Benjamin of the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project. Wittingen was elected as a write-in candidate in 2020, replacing Tom Ezdebski, who chose not to seek re-election. 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. But lifeguards, which city officials said cost $26,000 when they were eliminated in 2010, arent on the table, Peterson said. For this reason it is the policy and practice of this company to not delete postings. I watched Jackie Steckel walk out of here, and she was hurt, Barnett said. We are thrilled to have John Shay join the Ottawa County Team, stated Al Vanderberg, Ottawa County administrator. Even though the lifeguards are trained to an acceptable level, theyre still young and the lake is formidable, Richards said. 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 council approved paying Steckel the remaining 25 percent of the city manager wages $202 per week, or an estimated $1,414 total plus a car allowance for her seven weeks as acting city manager. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 8,076.. A harbor town on Lake Michigan, Ludington is at the mouth of the Pere Marquette River.Many people come to Ludington year round for recreation, including boating and swimming on Lake Michigan, Hamlin Lake . Employee Intranet. 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 . City Manager Mitch Foster said the city has posted the position on multiple sources with an application deadline of Sept. 20. 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. Wishing him all the best at his new position. Once you get up north things seem to slow down a bit and people are more neighborly. Capt. There are some similarities between the two towns. We have thousands of beach users at each beach every season and we find that the standard warning system and other education efforts are effective, Olson wrote. This story is copyrighted 2022, all rights reserved by Media Group 31, LLC, PO Box 21, Scottville, MI 49454. Ludington seeks new police chief, treasurer. When it comes to a drowning, lifeguards likely are their only hope.. Link: City Manager Page. Names of Ludington city manager candidates announced. These are just a few of the creatures that make up the acrylic menagerie decorating the walls of the lobby outside the performance hall at the Ludington Area Center for the Arts. Mason County Press and Oceana County Press are available for free thanks to the generous support of our advertisers and individuals. LUDINGTON The Ludington City Council has formally announced the names of the top three candidates for city manager. But more than enter the waters to save a life, Sartini said lifeguards also save them with warnings and education. Shay won the. All rights reserved (About Us). 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. Right now, were going to continue to have discussions on whether lifeguards are needed, she said. Green flags were flying, indicating favorable swimming conditions. Enter your email address to subscribe to this site and receive notifications of new posts by email. Entering into week three, hes learning many aspects of the community. Ludington Police Chief Mark Barnett also insisted on speaking not as the chief but as a resident of the city. 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. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. New members of the Ottawa County Board of Commissioners, affiliated with far-right group Ottawa Impact, moved to fire Shay during their first meeting Jan. 3 through a last-minute agenda item. City Manager Frank Peterson said hed like to resurrect a proposal for a beach warning system floated several years ago that used flashing lights, audible alarms and broadcast messages on two 30-foot towers to warn beach-goers of hazardous water conditions. Prior to coming to Ludington, he was the director of public safety for the City of Manistee for three years. Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. 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. As the services of Media Group 31, LLC are news services, the information posted within the sites are archivable for public record and historical posterity.