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Saugatuck council approves staff wage updates, three paid holidays and several right‑of‑way permits
Summary
At its July 22 meeting, the Saugatuck City Council unanimously approved updated staff step and wage scales with annual inflation-tied cost-of-living adjustments, added Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Indigenous Peoples Day and Veterans Day as paid holidays, appointed Nicole Bredeweg as treasurer pending background check, and approved right‑of‑way permits for a downtown restaurant and monitoring wells at 650 Water Street.
The Saugatuck City Council on July 22 unanimously approved updated staff step and wage scales, added three paid holidays to the city calendar, confirmed a treasurer appointment pending a background check and approved several right-of-way permits for downtown businesses and properties.
Councilmember Anderson moved and Councilmember Muncey seconded approval of updated step and wage scales and authorization for an annual cost-of-living adjustment each January tied to inflation. The council also added Martin Luther King Jr. Day (third Monday of January), Indigenous Peoples Day (second Monday in October) and Veterans Day (November 11) to the list of paid holidays; the measure passed on a 6-0 roll call vote.
City Manager Ryan Cummins introduced Nicole Bredeweg as his appointment for the City Treasurer/Finance Officer. The council approved the appointment, conditioned on satisfactory completion of a background check, by roll call vote 6-0.
Under separate motions, the council approved a request by the downtown restaurant listed in the minutes as "Wicks Par Bar and Grille (WPBG, LLC)" to install pavers between the curb and sidewalk along Mary Street and approved a revocable license for temporary restaurant seating in the same right-of-way. The paver approval included multiple conditions: engineer and Department of Public Works specifications must be met; the property owner is responsible for maintenance and all costs of removal if the City requires it for future work; the owner may not expand or modify the pavers beyond what the permit allows; and the City may remove pavers without prior notice in emergency situations at the owner's expense. Both actions were approved by voice vote, 6-0.
The council also approved a Revocable License Agreement allowing monitoring wells in the Water Street right-of-way for the property at 650 Water Street. That measure passed by voice vote, 6-0.
Council approved Accounts Payable in the amount of $97,398.02 by roll call vote 6-0. Several departmental status reports were submitted for the record; City Manager Cummins highlighted ongoing work on airport-property conservation easement language, trail construction and habitat restoration planning.
During committee updates, Councilmember Dean said MDOT identified archaeological and traditional cultural property sensitivity across the Tri-Community Non-Motorized Trail project area, likely adding about 60 days to review before bidding but not expected to stop construction next year. Dan Fox reported to the council on Fire District activity, including a rise in June EMS calls and increased liability-insurance costs.
In public comment, Mike Villar identified himself as a candidate for Allegan County prosecuting attorney; Mike Buck announced his retirement as Allegan County chief probate judge and spoke on behalf of Alice Bernal, who introduced her candidacy for Circuit Court Judge. The meeting adjourned at 7:56 p.m.
