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Munising accepts City Manager Olson’s resignation; commission authorizes manager search funding
Summary
City Manager Olson confirmed he will resign to relocate to West Michigan; the commission accepted his resignation with regret, authorized a search committee and approved seeking proposals with an initial $10,000 budget for professional recruitment assistance.
City Manager Deon Olson told the Munising City Commission he is resigning so his family can relocate to West Michigan, and the commission voted to accept his resignation and begin a professional search for a successor.
Olson said, “My family has an opportunity to relocate back to West Michigan … and I am subsequently resigning,” and offered at least 90 days’ notice and a willingness to assist with a graduated transition schedule to keep city projects on track.
Why it matters: Olson has led city operations for about a decade; commissioners praised his service and emphasized the importance of a deliberate recruitment process for the next chief executive. Commissioner prun said Olson had taken a “big chance” when hired and credited him with successful stewardship of infrastructure and finances.
What the commission did: On a motion to accept the resignation “with regret” the commission carried the motion (no individual roll-call tallies were recorded in the transcript). The body also moved to appoint a search committee consisting of the mayor, a commissioner and the city clerk and authorized the city manager’s office to seek proposals for professional recruitment assistance with an initial budget of $10,000 from Olson’s departmental budget; commissioners discussed that actual costs could exceed $10,000 and asked staff to solicit multiple proposals.
Discussion highlights: Commissioners and staff recommended using experienced consultant services (the Michigan Municipal League was discussed) to handle advertising, candidate screening, community profile work and applicant outreach. Commissioners noted the city’s competitive position—recent infrastructure investment, strong finances and a stable workforce—could attract candidates, but also warned searches can be lengthy and occasionally expensive.
Next steps: Staff will solicit proposals for recruitment services and return with cost estimates; Olson said he would remain on the job through at least the 90-day notice period and could provide part-time transitional support if needed. The commission indicated it would set the formal search timeline and interview process at future public meetings.
