WHITEHALL — The Whitehall city council approved the purchase of two 2026 Ford F-350 trucks - one for the Department of Public Works and the other for the parks department - at Tuesday's regular meeting.
The original motion called for DPW to receive the 4x4 truck and the parks department to use the 4x2 because the parks department truck would mostly be used for relatively light work such as garbage pickup. However, during council discussion, the council agreed that it would be worth the extra $3,690 - the difference between the two trucks' cost - to have another 4x4 available. Council member Jeff Holmstrom pointed out that in case of a weather emergency like the June 2024 storms that damaged many houses and brought down trees in the White Lake area, it would be a positive for the city to have another well-equipped truck available to help with cleanup efforts.
The council also unanimously approved the purchase of a new International HV507 plow truck to be used during the winter. The truck will cost a total of $236,072 after accounting for costs to outfit the vehicle for snowplowing, and it will replace a 2006 model year truck from which the city got nearly 20 years of use. The city had budgeted $240,000 for the purchase.
Unanimous approval was also given to a road closure request on Hanson Street for the Cruz In parade, set to return this year for its July 25 event after last year's Cruz In was changed to a stationary show in Montague for safety reasons. The closure will allow for the creation of a "burnout box," said Cruz In committee member Doug Boardwell during public comment. There cars will be permitted to do burnouts for a fee - a Facebook post made by the committee Tuesday night said the fee would be $20 - that will help cover some costs. During discussion, Boardwell said that businesses in the Whitehall social district were aware of the request and were planning to host those who would like to watch the burnouts from the North Mears Promenade.
The "burnout box" will be the only area in which burnouts will be permitted, and the cars whose drivers do the burnouts will then reunite with the rest of the parade route where Hanson intersects with Colby Street.
The council discussed other community happenings during the meeting. Holmstrom complimented the White Lake Community Gardens, which are now running on the former tennis court adjacent to city hall. He called the current garden a great start and looked forward to it hopefully covering the entire former court as it continues to grow.
Council member Tanya Cabala brought up the upcoming senior center dinners, which the council green-lit earlier this year as part of the city's senior millage allocation. The dinners are intended to provide food and, more importantly, community conversation among local seniors and will be free for seniors to attend. The dinners' dates have not yet been finalized, but could occur this September and in March 2026. City manager Scott Huebler said the budget did not set constraints on when during the fiscal year the dinners take place.
Mayor Steven Salter thanked Hope Bible Chapel volunteers for walking the parade path and picking up loose garbage after the July 4 parade last Friday and shared positive feedback he'd received about the fireworks show that evening. He said the fireworks show was slated to return in 2026 for the 250th anniversary of the country's founding and the committee would be working to secure donations to pay for the show over the next year.
