WHITEHALL, Mich. — Future planning, governance, and property rights were among the biggest topics before the Whitehall City Council on Tuesday as members used a work session and regular meeting to discuss potential charter changes, the city’s strategic plan, and an ongoing debate over Thriftwood Drive.
While council approved several resolutions during the regular meeting, many of the evening’s most significant discussions ended without action and are expected to return in the coming months.
Work Session
Council Discusses Potential Charter Changes
Council members explored several possible updates to the City Charter, including term limits, outdated election language, publication requirements, and whether the charter should undergo regular review.
Scott Brown proposed limiting council members to 12 total years of service, while other members argued voters should decide whether experienced officials continue serving. Members also discussed making the charter more consistent with board and commission policies and updating language to reflect current practices.
No action was taken.
Strategic Plan Needs More Direction
Council also reviewed a draft strategic plan developed after this year’s planning workshop. While members generally supported its direction, several said the document lacked measurable goals and did not fully reflect the discussions held during the workshop.
Council Member Tanya Cabala said the draft was too general and did not capture conversations about housing, emergency preparedness, and creating the best possible community for residents. Brown agreed, saying the plan lacked clear priorities and measurable goals.
City Manager Dan Tavernier said he will develop proposed key performance indicators (KPIs) and obtain the facilitator’s notes from the workshop before bringing the plan back to council.
Spending Policy Discussion
Brown also questioned whether Brownfield Redevelopment Authority, Tax Increment Finance Authority, and Local Development Finance Authority meetings should continue providing meals.
Tavernier explained those authorities operate under separate legal structures with their own budgets, limiting council’s ability to direct how those funds are spent. No changes were proposed.
Thriftwood Drive Debate Continues
The evening’s most extensive discussion centered on the disputed Thriftwood Drive platted right of way. During the discussion, City Attorney John C. Schrier explained the property falls into a category commonly known as a “paper road,” a roadway shown on a recorded plat that has never been developed.
Mayor Tom Ziemer revisited the issue after obtaining a legal opinion regarding whether the city has ownership rights over the platted roadway. He argued the city should preserve the public’s ability to use the property in the future and questioned how a fence had been installed without formal council action.
City Attorney John C. Schrier said state law creates a presumption that the city accepted the roadway, but decades of case law also allow nearby property owners to challenge that presumption if the city never exercised control over the property. He said formally accepting the roadway now could expose the city to litigation.
The discussion became tense as council members debated both the legal issues and the process used to obtain the legal opinion. Some questioned whether pursuing the matter served the city’s interests, while others criticized how the issue was brought back before council.
Toward the end of the discussion, Ziemer apologized if obtaining the legal letter was the wrong approach. Council Member Debra Hillebrand said the same conversation could have taken place without introducing what she viewed as a legal threat.
Council expects to revisit the issue after receiving additional legal analysis.
City Council Meeting
City Manager Shares Playhouse and Business Updates
During his report, Tavernier highlighted recent fundraising success at The Playhouse at White Lake, including multiple grants, sponsorships, and donations supporting youth programming, productions, and facility improvements.
He also announced a new Local Development Finance Authority matching grant program that will help industrial park businesses pay for qualifying life safety improvements.
Council Members Raise Communication Concerns
Council members praised ongoing improvements at the West Colby Promenade, downtown development, and the work of the Department of Public Works.
Cabala encouraged the city to continue posting cooling center information during periods of extreme heat and asked that the city’s Facebook page be monitored more consistently.
She also questioned how council learned about the upcoming July 27 town hall meeting, saying members received the information by email after the previous council meeting, limiting opportunities for discussion because of Michigan’s Open Meetings Act. Cabala emphasized her concern was with the communication process rather than the town hall itself.
Other council members viewed the event as an informational community meeting rather than a governance issue.
Ziemer again apologized for how he handled the Thriftwood Drive issue and shared a resident’s concern about tree branches blocking stop signs. Holmstrom encouraged residents to report maintenance concerns directly to City Hall so staff can respond through established channels.
Public Comment
Residents thanked city staff for addressing traffic concerns, voiced support for the upcoming town hall meeting, commented on the earlier Thriftwood Drive discussion, and thanked the city for supporting the upcoming Cruz’in White Lake event.
Council Approves Event Request and Three Resolutions
Council unanimously approved a street closure request for the July 31 Cruz’in White Lake burnout pit, established an Obsolete Property Rehabilitation District, authorized the purchase of a 2019 Department of Public Works pickup truck, and approved the sale of the final parcel in the city’s industrial park to Armstrong.
Looking Ahead
Tuesday’s meetings focused less on immediate decisions than on questions that will continue shaping Whitehall’s future. Council expects to revisit both the strategic plan and the Thriftwood Drive issue after receiving additional information, continuing discussions about long term planning, governance, and the city’s legal responsibilities.
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