City of Whitehall Council Meeting Recap – August 12, 2025

Discussion Highlights from the Work Session

City of Whitehall Council addressed a full slate of community topics:

• Deer Hunting Ordinance Changes – Discussion continued on expanding allowable city-owned hunting areas via a lottery system, with safety concerns, liability, and signage raised.
• Live Streaming Council Meetings – Council reaffirmed support for continuing livestreaming services with CatchMark, while exploring future audio/visual upgrades.
• Drinking Fountain Proposal – A local bike club wishes to install a multi-use drinking fountain in memory of a member. Funding contributions from the city will depend on the group’s fundraising results.
• Tree Tapping – Reinforced existing ordinances prohibiting tapping of city-owned maple trees.
• Social District Boundaries – Debate centered on whether to expand common consumption areas for clarity and ease of enforcement, with some resistance to including the pocket park.
• Gee Park Walkway – Zoning Board requested reconsideration of vacating a little-used section. Council sought more cost estimates and community input before deciding.
• Recreational Vehicle Parking – Previous failed ordinances were revisited, with talk of restricting RV parking on streets and in right-of-way areas to address safety and neighborhood concerns.
• Short-Term Rentals – Preliminary discussion on regulating rentals, noting Whitehall has 10–15 short-term units within about 31% overall rental housing.
• Outdoor Dining – Healthy Roots owner reiterated concerns about limited parking due to a nearby business’s outdoor dining area.

TIFA Meeting Transparency Sparks Tensions

During the “Messages from the Mayor, Council, and City Manager” portion of the regular meeting, a notable point of contention arose between Councilman Tom Ziemer and Mayor Steve Salter regarding the Tax Increment Finance Authority (TIFA) and related LDFA/Brownfield Authority meetings.
Ziemer raised concerns about how these meetings are currently held at noon, limiting public accessibility, and suggested either moving them to evenings or recording them to ensure transparency and accountability.

In his remarks, Ziemer criticized what he viewed as procedural overreach by the mayor at the July 30 TIFA/LDFA meeting, citing the mayor’s recommendation to approve $5,000 from the general fund for a downtown business’s façade project in addition to the $5,000 allowable TIFA match. Ziemer argued that such commitments from the general fund require council approval and could set a troubling precedent.

Mayor Salter countered by stating his motion was part of a normal discussion process and did not carry without council support. The disagreement underscored the broader conversation about ensuring the public can see exactly what occurs in TIFA and LDFA sessions, with Ziemer again calling for the meetings to be recorded.

Key Resolutions and Votes

During the regular meeting, council took action on several items:

1. Resolution 25-20: Live Streaming Contract – Approved renewal with CatchMark Technologies to continue streaming meetings, with future improvements to be explored. (Vote: 6–1)
2. Resolution 25-22: Signature Authorization Updates – Approved unanimously.
3. Resolution 25-23: Poverty Exemption Policy Update – Approved unanimously.
4. Access Agreement – White Lake Landfill – Granted property access for environmental monitoring.
5. Tag Day Request – Whitehall Band Boosters – Approved.
6. American Legion Road Closure Request – Approved for one block on Warner Street to accommodate a fundraising event.

Public Comment Highlights

Residents and business owners offered a range of feedback during both the work session and regular meeting:

• E (Resident) – Spoke in appreciation of City Hall employee Alyssa Severs, praising her for years of assistance in navigating city processes and community life.
• Meredith Kyper (Owner, Healthy Roots) – Reiterated that the outdoor dining setup at Pub 111 reduces customer parking availability for her business and suggested the space may not have been reapproved for the current year.
• K (Resident) – Voiced strong support for expanding deer hunting opportunities and advocated for including the pocket park in the social district common area.
• Kathy Russell (Owner, Hokey Pokey) – Raised concerns about unclear and hard-to-read social district boundary signage, noting QR codes are mounted too high for easy scanning.
• C (Resident) – Urged the city to update the City Manager’s public contact information and supported Councilman Ziemer’s comments on TIFA meeting accuracy.
• Kathy Russell (Owner, Hokey Pokey) – Defended the value of recent Playhouse productions, citing their high attendance and positive community impact.
• Tom Ziemer (Councilman) – Used public comment to challenge the mayor’s earlier account of the TIFA/LDFA funding discussion, stating that his version of events was factually accurate.
• P (Resident & Community Garden Volunteer) – Thanked the city for supporting the Whitehall Community Garden and urged compromise between Healthy Roots and Pub 111 on outdoor dining hours; also voiced support for balanced short-term rental regulations.

Looking Ahead

Council’s next steps on the TIFA transparency issue remain to be seen. With clear tension between Mayor Salter and Councilman Ziemer on procedural authority and fiscal oversight, the debate over moving or recording TIFA/LDFA meetings could become a key governance question this fall.

The parking and blocked road concerns raised by Healthy Roots regarding Pub 111’s outdoor dining setup will return for discussion at the next council work session. Council members indicated that removing or modifying the dining area would require a public hearing, meaning the issue will likely continue into the coming months before any final decision is made.

Whitehall City Council Recap – July 22, 2025