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Council tables intergovernmental code-enforcement agreement amid questions over authority and cost
Summary
Ferrysburg staff proposed an intergovernmental agreement to share a code enforcer with Spring Lake Township and the Village of Spring Lake (estimated city share ~$6,000/year, 8 hours/week); council debated enforcement authority and whether non-police staff can issue citations under Michigan law and voted to table the item pending a city-attorney opinion.
Ferrysburg — The City Council on Jan. 20 tabled an intergovernmental agreement (IGA) that would share a single code-enforcement position among Ferrysburg, Spring Lake Township and the Village of Spring Lake.
Staff said the shared enforcer would work set hours across the three jurisdictions with the city’s portion of the cost expected to be about $6,000 annually and roughly eight hours of the enforcer’s time assigned to Ferrysburg each week. Concerned council members questioned the value of hiring a separate "yard cop" for tasks staff already perform and said enforcement frequently requires sheriff involvement to collect required identifying information.
Council member Cook and others asked whether a non-police employee can issue municipal infractions; council member Cook referenced Michigan Compiled Law 608.707 as the statute that can permit non-police employees to issue municipal infractions but said the city attorney had not yet provided a final opinion. Staff said the city currently issues 3–5 citations a year after multiple written notices, and that the proposed arrangement aimed to speed up follow-up and compliance.
After extended discussion about the role’s duties, enforcement logistics and cost-effectiveness, the council voted to table the IGA until the city attorney returns a legal opinion clarifying whether the position could be empowered to issue citations and what enforcement pathway would be required.
The tabling preserves the council’s ability to reconsider the IGA after staff provides the requested legal guidance and any clarifications on hours and cost-sharing.
