SAUGATUCK, MI (WHTC-AM/FM, Oct. 23, 2024) – Perhaps stung by accusations of campaign finance violations ahead of the November 5th General Election, and claims of not being transparent enough in its decision making, the Saugatuck City Council is rolling out the welcome mat to its constituents.
The Lakeshore community sent out its customary advance email on Tuesday about a late Wednesday afternoon city council workshop, but unlike other such notices, which are mostly in text, the city had a illustrated invitation in which, “Your participation is valuable!”
Among the items to be discussed, but with no official action taken, is a request to approve an on-premises tasting room permit for the Noble Twist Tap House off of Culver Street, as well as a proposed conservation easement for the eastern portion of the old airport property in Saugatuck Township that the City of Saugatuck owns. This past May, the City Council approved an agreement with Holland’s Outdoor Discovery Center to create a trail head and parking area on the site off of 63rd Street and 134th Avenue, along with developing trails and signage, as well as efforts to combat invasive species and restore the area’s habitat.
Part of that agreement is the potential for creating that conservation easement. The ODC has come up with a proposal for 45-plus acres of the 170-acre site that has a steep grade, as well as being in a floodplain with wetlands already in place.
Both of these proposals should be put up for a final vote at the next business meeting on October 28.
Last week, public comment during a special council meeting implied that the governing panel had already decided to appoint Joe Clark over four other hopefuls for a vacant council seat before the candidates had a chance to make personal presentations, while Allegan County Clerk Bob Genetski issued a press notice about alleged campaign finance violations in the November 5th General Election race, saying that such allegations must be sent to the Michigan Secretary of State’s office for investigative review, not his office.
The 4 PM Wednesday Saugatuck City Council workshop is in the second floor meeting room of Saugatuck City Hall (102 Butler St.). The online link to the meeting agenda and supporting documents is here.
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