Residents urge preservation of coal tipple, seek details on public-safety millage and praise downtown hotel plans

During the June 16 public comment period at the Grand Haven City Council meeting, several residents raised separate matters including historic preservation, downtown development, walkability and the proposed public-safety millage.

Ken Formsma (317 Terrell) urged preservation of the city’s coal tipple and depot, calling them the only publicly accessible remnants of Grand Haven’s railroad history and urging the council to protect the structures as unique local assets. Formsma recounted past local efforts and funding that saved the structures, noting the Laudit Foundation and the city together preserved the tipple and depot.

Steve Birch (132 Dale Court) spoke in support of a city administration walkability grant application that was on the consent agenda. Birch said walkability is in the city’s master plan and praised the administration’s steps to implement improvements; he told council the changes can promote neighborly interaction and thanked staff and the Department of Public Works for advancing the project.

Jim Hagen (400 Lake) asked for an itemized, year-by-year list showing exactly what the proposed 2-mill public-safety millage would fund. Hagen said the city’s projected first-year revenue of about $1.8 million would not cover total public-safety expenditures and requested a detailed breakdown of how millage proceeds would be used before public meetings later this summer.

Other commenters praised the planned downtown hotel and expressed optimism that it will increase downtown foot traffic and tax base while raising parking concerns that were discussed later during the formal hotel agenda item.

The council did not respond to public comments during the call-to-audience period but proceeded to scheduled agenda business.