Teams of four players can register online until 11:59PM on June 3, or until the team count of 800 teams is reached. Theyre really part of the first-responder culture, Sartini said. Contact 911 immediately upon discovery of an overflow or backup. Its complicated, and unique in Holland. 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. Ludington, Michigan - Wikipedia 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. All rights reserved (About Us). And then there is Michigans unpredictable weather, which can stir up the lake within moments. Every year the Mason County Garden Club searches out local businesses that do an outstanding landscaping and civic beautification effort. In New Buffalo, the recruitment process begins for the next season right after the current one ends. Barnett, she said, had requested that all the police personnel become employees of Ludington and that the Ludington Police Department provide patrols in Scottville. He estimates he has saved 200 people during the five years hes worked as a lifeguard. I am very passionate about sustainable cities and people may not like the conversation but we are going to have to have them if we are going to be economically solvent over the next couple of generations. This is one of those things that most cities the size of Ludington have changed over to appointing the treasurer and clerk, Foster said. Brian Keith Petro was sentenced to one year of jail, two years of probation and other punishment by 51st Circuit Court Judge Susan Sniegowski for possession of methamphetamine Tuesday at the Mason County Courthouse. While the police chief is an appointed position, the city treasurer is an elected position. Police Department City Staff View a directory of city staff and retrieve contact information. 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. I think well be able to demonstrate this time that its still more important to educate people about what the conditions are, Peterson said. Even fewer residents responding to the survey, 42%, supported using existing city funds to pay for a lifeguard program. While Ludington has beach officers who patrol the beach, the lack of available lifeguards and training for them as well as liability concerns expressed by the Michigan Municipal Risk Management. However the township ultimately chose Steve Bulthuis, former executive director of the Macatawa Area Coordinating Council, as its new manager in late February. City of Ludington 400 S Harrison Street Ludington, MI 49431 Phone: 231-845-6237 info@ci.ludington.mi.us; Helpful Links. But more than enter the waters to save a life, Sartini said lifeguards also save them with warnings and education. 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. Her last day was Aug. 24. Other local support includes the local portion of the brownfield TIF for MSF eligible activities estimated at $1,574,302 and for EGLE eligible activities at $219,798. From Jan. 29 to March 17, Steckels typical work days were 14 to 16 hours, and she had to use her personal vehicle to attend daily meetings for the city, she stated. The project will reconstruct the area to be more multiuse and better suited for pedestrians and for hosting events, said Heather Tykoski, City of Ludington community development director. Van Ess has been Tallmadge Township supervisor since 2005. Departments. 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. Muskegon taps Lundington Police Chief as next Director of Public Safety City Manager Mitch Foster said the city has posted the position on multiple sources with an application deadline of Sept. 20. City Manager Mitch Foster said the city has posted the position on multiple sources with an application deadline of Sept. 20. Steve Wietrzykowsk has been appointed interim chief. Sewer Backup | Ludington, MI - Official Website 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 . Foster said he would like to have a new police chief in place by the Nov. 14 meeting of the city council. A year after he left, Muskegon eliminated its lifeguard program, citing finances as the reason. He received his Bachelor of Arts in History from Boston College and Master of Public Administration from Oakland University. The lake-lowering process is expected to take four to eight weeks, depending upon precipitation during this time. 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. Concerns about liability were repeatedly mentioned to MLive by managers of Lake Michigan beach communities. Study shapes, shadows, lighting. When it comes to a drowning, lifeguards likely are their only hope.. 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. The job was posted in international city and county management association magazines, local and regional newspapers, and across other platforms. DETROIT (AP) Lawyers who argued that a Michigan city violated the U.S. Constitution by chalking tires have successfully turned the case into a class action potentially affecting thousands of parking tickets. Were they life and death? Phone messages MLive left with a spokeswoman for the authority seeking comment about lifeguard liability were not returned. Rain. Warm, overcast and a breezy day greeted the runners in the 38th Annual Ludington Lakestride Saturday afternoon along the shores of Lake Michigan. I am looking forward to getting to know the residents and the community and learning more about how we can work together.. Update: Delays have been extended until 11 a.m. or later. Foster said major projects include the completion of updates at the water treatment plant, the start of updates at the waste water treatment plants, the re-build of the west end of Ludington Avenue and the Copeyon Park splash pad. He started looking, and saw shadowing on the lake floor, dove in and pulled out 19-year-old Jazmyn Patterson. We have a veteran staff at city hall. 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. The county collected resumes for about three to four weeks, then began interviewing candidates. Contact | Ludington, MI - Official Website Three reasons most often cited for the lack of Lake Michigan lifeguards are costs, liability and trouble recruiting. Its complicated, and unique in Holland. After the position was vacated, Vanderberg said the county would look internally and externally to fill 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. First responders, local fire and police departments and power companies were busy Tuesday night responding to various calls across Mason County following a severe thunderstorm. Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. 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. Related: Who can close the Lake Michigan piers? While Ludington has beach officers who patrol the beach, the lack of available lifeguards and training for them as well as liability concerns expressed by the Michigan Municipal Risk Management Authority has prevented a lifeguard program from being pushed forward, Foster said. New county administrator makes calls on and off the field See related story about MCPs claim that the council violated the Michigan Open Meetings Act. Piers can create dangerous currents and, without barriers on most of them, provide an inviting opportunity for a stroll to unsuspecting visitors four of whom were swept off piers into the water and drowned this year. Look closely. Shay also served as village manager of Almont for five years. Staff Directory. They get good compliance from swimmers, he added. LUDINGTON, Mich. (AP) Louis Martinez will never have to embellish the proverbial fish story after confirmation that he set a new state record for the largest Chinook salmon ever caught in Michigan. Shay was selected from a pool of 118 applicants, according to a statement from the county. Mayor & City Council | Ludington, MI - Official Website And by the time you can start heading toward shore the storm and the wind is on you.. Daugherty appeared before the South Haven City Council about a year ago asking it to return lifeguards to the citys North and South beaches. 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. This years competition features entries from Todd and Brad Reed Photography, Ryan Reed, Rachel Gaudette, T.J. MANISTEE A 20-year-old Pentwater man died and a 23-year-old Ludington man was critically injured when they were struck by a car Tuesday afternoon in Bear Lake. The block of North William Street by House of Flavors will become a one-way street, the Ludington City Council decided Monday. Following Fridays closed session, with no discussion, the council took action to request interviews from its top three. 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. Connect with the definitive source for global and local news, By RILEY KELLEY | Daily News Staff Writer, By Riley Kelley | Daily News Staff Writer, Colton Mokofsky | Daily News Staff Writer colton@ludingtondailynews.com, By COLTON MOKOFSKY | Daily News Staff Writer | colton@ludingtondailynews.com. Ludington seeks new police chief, treasurer. . The council awarded the bid for the citys stump grinding work to the Ludington-based company R. Bogner Tree Farms and Service. Ludington is a great community with a lot going for it. Parents, sons and daughters, observers, politicians, activists and educators were just some of the people that could be seen Saturday afternoon along West Ludington Avenue, holding signs, clapping, cheering and waving to passersby in the 90-plus-degree heat. Enter your email address to subscribe to this site and receive notifications of new posts by email. DuBois, PA (15801) Today. The grant would be from the Michigan Natural Resources Recreation Passport program, and it must be submitted by April 1 to meet the deadline for the funds to be awarded in 2020. We all know what kind of worker Jackie is, said Planning Commissioner Kaye Holman. We are thrilled to have John Shay join the Ottawa County Team, stated Al Vanderberg, Ottawa County administrator. Scottville's Lee Schwass was the top overall winner of the half marathon with a time of 1 hour, 21 minutes, 39.85 seconds. John Shay, who currently serves as city manager of Ludington, was named Ottawa Countys new deputy administrator on Thursday. 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. Enter your email address to subscribe to this site and receive notifications of new posts by email. In some instances, untrained bystanders risked and at times lost their lives in futile rescue attempts. 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. Slow down. Shay was named a finalist for Holland Township's vacant manager position in February. Employee Intranet. They have a duty to protect their patrons.. The 2018 Ludington Gus Macker 3-on-3 Charity Basketball Tournament has extended the registration deadline to June 3, 2018. Alan Wernette, Ludington State Park interpreter led the program with five participants. Ludington, MI - Official Website | Official Website The Ludington Senior Center hosted a week-long open house ahead of Christmas last week as a way to show the community not only what is available, but what could be, too. Michigan Municipal Executives 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 . City Manager Amy Williams said she recently met with Police Chief Mark Barnett and Ludington City Manager John Shay. Specific Duties & Responsibilities A lifeguards duty is not to react to an accident, he said. Departments | Ludington, MI - Official Website Its to prevent an accident., Bailey said Silver Beach has not had a drowning for I cant remember how many years.. Shay will replace former deputy county administrator Keith Van Beek, who became Hollands city manager earlier this year. The city of Ludington is contributing an Obsolete Property Rehabilitation Act tax abatement for 12 years, estimated to be worth $1,825,802. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Click here to sign in or get access. That proposal, estimated to cost $70,000, eventually was scrapped for lack of funding and concerns of neighbors. You have to have eyes on the water in real time, he said. She died the next day. Were competing with McDonalds thats paying $15 an hour, said New Buffalo City Manager David Richards. We feel an emotional liability to both the swimmers and the lifeguards.. City of Ludington City Manager Jennifer Cleaver Secretary/Treasurer Community Investment Committee Member The Law Office of J. Cleaver, PLLC Brooke Felger Safety Decals Jason Jeffrey West Shore Educational Service District Superintendent Tim Nieboer Community Investment Committee Member House of Flavors 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. Right now, were going to continue to have discussions on whether lifeguards are needed, she said. 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. Follow this reporter on Twitter @SentinelJake. City Council members can, as the entire council, hire the City Manager. We will be setting the next generation up for success.. At the north end of the park sits a large stone with a plaque inscribed with the words, These elms were planted by the Auxiliary of Edwin H. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources announced that beginning Monday Ludington State Park will begin the annual process of lowering Hamlin Lake to its winter water level. Due to the larger container, collection times would also be reduced from once per week to once per month. High 57F. Foster has been village administrator of Winneconne, Wisc. Ludington City Manager John Shay currently works on a year-to-year contract. Instead of lifeguards, Lake Michigan communities have instituted a variety of lifesaving measures primarily the posting of rip current warning signs, making life rings and life jackets available, and using a warning flag system. City of Ludington 400 S Harrison Street Ludington, MI 49431 Phone: 231-845-6237 info@ci.ludington.mi.us; Helpful Links. The Marillats won the competition, and the foundation raised roughly $37,000 with the proceeds going toward the Ludington Area Schools' robotics program. Ultimately, the final decision is up to the city manager. Staff. It seemed like a calm day and Brusse was out on the water in a small boat when he noticed sirens and flashing lights on a bluff. Why most Lake Michigan beaches don't have lifeguards despite repeated A search committee will narrow down the candidates. The county waded through 188 applications before selecting Shay for the position. Jackies not cheating us.. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Muskegon was just one of many beach towns that decided to forego lifeguards in the last few decades. They are great people but there is going to be some significant turnover in the next five or six years as people retire. Our infrastructure needs outweigh the amount of revenue this city brings in, and has for many years. 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. He received a masters degree in public administration along with a bachelors degree in political science and government from the University of Nevado-Reno. 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. Shay has previously served as city manager in Ludington, village manager in Almont and has worked in local government for 25 years, according to a release from Wyoming. Cartier Park Campground | Ludington, MI - Official Website LUDINGTON Mitch Foster has been on the job as city manager since March 18. 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.. 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. Two communities still have lifeguards on Lake Michigan Silver Beach in St. Joseph and New Buffalo Beach. Shay starts his job on July 23, earning $123,468 per year. At that meeting, the councilors went into closed session to review the top 10 out of 37 candidates under consultation of a representative of the Michigan Municipal League. 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. The state of Michigan, which operates a dozen state parks with beaches along the lakeshore, had pulled all its lifeguards by 1993. From 2013 to 2015 he was Kingsley, Michigans village manager. This story is copyrighted 2019, all rights reserved by Media Group 31, LLC, PO Box 21, Scottville, MI 49454. Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. Congratulations to John Shay! Related: South Haven residents push for lifeguards after rash of Lake Michigan drownings. Once you get up north things seem to slow down a bit and people are more neighborly. Shay is currently the vice president of the Michigan Municipal Executives. Theyre pretty common on the beaches theyre just expected.. Staff Directory Ludington, MI CivicEngage This may be done by editing the posted story or posting a new follow-up story. HAMLIN TWP. WEST OLIVE Ludington city manager John Shay has been hired by Ottawa County to serve as the lakeshore municipalitys deputy administrator. During the worst of the nine summers that Marcus Schillachi worked as a beach lifeguard, he pulled 10 struggling swimmers from Lake Michigan. Other equipment will be replaced as well, including pumps, blowers, valves, pipes and the motor control center. Winneconne is located in between Lake Winneconne and Lake Butte des Morts near Oshkosh and Manitowoc in WInnebago County. Scottville to end joint police agreement with Ludington Ludington mayor candidate profile: Mark Barnett 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. All three of the top candidates for the position of Ludington city manager have agreed to be interviewed by the city council on Jan. 24, said Interim City Manager Steve Brock. Beachgoers dont realize the power of a 4- or 5-foot wave, meteorologist Mark Torregrossa explained in MLives documentary video The Deadliest Great Lake., Out on the ocean, you might have 6-foot waves, but theyre spread apart, Torregrossa said. In California, where Sartini said hes chosen lifeguarding as a career, the presence of lifeguards is just expected, he said. He had served as Ludington city manager for 15 years. The Ludington State Park hosted a program about reading fossils and rocks as part of Heaven and Earth Day Saturday. Wishing him all the best at his new position. Due to lightning and approaching thunderstorms, The Ludington Gus Macker 3-on-3 basketball tournament has been delayed again, this time until 11 a.m. After eight years of working with the City of Ludington to make it a reality, the Ludington Fire Department saw ground broken Wednesday evening for a new fire station that will be located on Tinkham Avenue behind the Lakeshore Resource Network. After four minutes, they will suffer irreversible brain damage and after 10 minutes, they have just a 14 percent survival rate, Benjamin said. It is the editors discretion to update or edit a story when/if new information becomes available. Then he saw people frantically trying to swim out into the lake yelling that a girl was missing in the lake, Brusse said. But the citizens have demanded them and the risks of not having them are too great. No, they cannot be out in the water when red flag conditions persist, and by the time they are alerted and respond, it is too late, McGinnis said. John Shay named Ottawa County's new deputy administrator Link: City Manager Page. Media Group 31, LLC or any of its agents have the right to make any changes to this policy. Related: When high water kills: Drownings on Great Lakes soar in 2019. Staff Directory Ludington, MI CivicEngage Hard to say, said Schillachi, who was a beach captain for about five of the years he worked as a lifeguard between 2000-09. It agreed to take up the case of Estate of Tschirhart v. City of Troy after the state Court of Appeals ruled that a community only is liable if the lifeguard shows substantial lack of concern and directly contributed to an individuals injuries. LUDINGTON, Mich. (AP) A coal-powered passenger steamship on Lake Michigan that's the last of its kind in the U.S. will stop using coal to fuel its historic engines once its operators settle on an alternate power source. 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. According to a press release from Manistee County Sheriff John OHagen, the accident occurred on U.S. The impact of the vehicle caused the pole to snap and lean on top of power lines. The term expires in 2024, meaning that the city council would appoint a treasurer to serve out the current term. Sources told WGVU Tuesday that the job is being offered to Tim Kozal, who has been serving as the Chief of Police in Ludington, Michigan since 2020. Its wrong to accuse people of stealing from the city never having to submit a shred of evidence of the crimes youre alleging., Barnett added, It just seems wrong to me, and it seems like we can interact without being hateful, and I would challenge all of us to do that.. There were 65 students with diplomas or were GED exam qualifiers from Mason County to use the Mason County Promise. 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.