The City of Whitehall took meaningful steps in shaping its future during back-to-back meetings on April 8, 2025, including a work session centered on the search for a new city manager and a regular council meeting filled with community-focused updates and decisions.
Work Session: Laying the Groundwork for the Next City Manager
The afternoon work session marked the official kickoff of Whitehall’s city manager search, as the council met with Nate Geinzer, founder and CEO of Double Haul Solutions. The session focused on establishing a transparent and collaborative recruitment process to replace City Manager Scott Huebler, who is set to retire.
Geinzer outlined his firm’s people-first approach, which includes:
- One-on-one interviews with council members
- Community engagement surveys
- Potential stakeholder roundtables or open houses
- A comprehensive profile to market Whitehall to qualified candidates
Key Community Priorities Identified
Council members spent time outlining what they believe the next city manager must address:
- Aging infrastructure, including outdated sewer systems and costly lift stations
- Housing development, particularly affordable and diverse options
- Staffing shortages and burnout
- Downtown revitalization and business retention
- Climate resilience, in response to recent extreme weather events
- Maintenance of city assets, such as the Playhouse, marina, and parks
On the opportunity side, council members highlighted Whitehall’s natural beauty, outdoor recreation, cultural assets, and upcoming developments like the Tannery Bay expansion.
Next Steps
Geinzer expects to release a refreshed job posting and community profile by the week of April 22. The job will be posted after council review. A public input survey is also forthcoming.
Regular Council Meeting: April 8, 2025
Later that evening, the council convened its regularly scheduled meeting, with a packed agenda of community updates and financial discussions.
Playhouse Committee Delivers Strategic Recommendations
A major focus of the meeting was a presentation by Frank Brenner, representing the Playhouse Committee. The presentation covered financial trends, including a five-year average shortfall of $20,000 and a projected deficit of $44,000 for the current fiscal year.
Recommendations Were Grouped Into Four Areas:
- Budget Proposals
- Ticket and beverage price increases
- Higher rental fees aligned with other venues (e.g., Frauenthal, Ramsdell)
- Enhanced fundraising, including a May 1 kickoff event
- Operational Changes
- Targeting 180 usage days per year
- Limiting programming in January and February to reduce costs
- Adding donation boxes and branded merchandise for revenue
- City Commitments
- A request for $50,000 annually over five years to support utilities and maintenance
- Comparisons drawn to other civic investments like parks and the museum of art
- Future Planning
- Nearly all capital pledges have been fulfilled
- A proposed endowment fund could yield long-term revenue
Council Action
The council formally accepted the committee’s recommendations, noting that funding decisions will be addressed during the upcoming budget cycle.
Capital Improvements and Infrastructure
Council members raised concerns over street maintenance priorities, specifically citing the deteriorating condition of Alice Street. There was agreement to revisit the capital improvement plan during a future work session to reassess project sequencing.
Consent Agenda and Financial Transparency
The consent agenda was approved after clarification on two notable items:
- A $19,000 Motorola expense for annual body cam and video system services
- A $31,000 payment to Proudfoot Services, which included environmental tank removal at the former pizza site
Tannery Bay Public Access Plans Move Forward
The council unanimously approved a proposal from the Muskegon County Conservation District to assist with design and engineering services for the new public access site at Tannery Bay.
The district will help ensure ADA compliance and work with the city’s engineers to create a low-impact, accessible design that aligns with environmental standards.
Public Comments: Strong Support for the Playhouse
Several residents and supporters of the Playhouse spoke during public comment, applauding the work of the Playhouse Committee and expressing appreciation for the cultural value it brings. Some community members voiced concern about ongoing city subsidies, urging careful fiscal oversight. Others emphasized the Playhouse’s importance to Whitehall’s identity and economic vibrancy.
Community Announcements
- Electronics Recycling Event: Scheduled for May 24 from 2–4 p.m. at the Montague Farmers Market.
- Community Storytelling Project: A public event to support a book on White Lake’s environmental history will be held April 27 at the Book Nook.
- City Manager Survey: Residents are encouraged to participate in a survey to help guide the city manager selection process.
Leadership Transitions Recognized
The council also recognized longtime Police Chief Roger Squires, who will retire May 31. Incoming chief Brandon was introduced during the meeting. Public Works also welcomed new crew member Brian Armstrong and celebrated a promotion for Logan Thick to crew leader.
Stay tuned to CatchMark Community for continued updates on city leadership, community events, and development projects.
