The conversation surrounding a possible merger of the Hart and Pentwater Fire Departments into the West Michigan Fire Authority continued at the May 26 meeting of the Hart City Council. Oceana County Emergency Manager Troy Maloney and Hart Fire Chief Dwight Fuehring were in attendance to present the council with drafts of the fire authority budget and an intergovernmental agreement between the relevant departments.
The budget draft includes two full-time, 40-hour per week assistant fire chiefs, who will double as fire marshals and perform routine inspections throughout the county. These additions are expected to help alleviate staffing shortages between the departments as, said Maloney, “we’re still struggling, especially [during] daytime, with volunteers. [Which], as a whole, is down across the nation for firefighters.”
Maloney expressed that the draft budget is not a far departure from what the combined departments currently operate under at $925,000. As for Hart’s contribution, there are two possible numbers, dependent on whether the Village of Pentwater is included in the authority as its own entity or under Pentwater Township and considering the village’s assessed value and possible call volume. If the Village of Pentwater contributes directly, Hart pays $74,587.71. If not, the contribution increases to $78,242.36. The village will provide a clear answer about its status at their June 18 meeting.
Considering the agenda’s later line item approving the city’s current agreement with the still-existing Hart Fire Department, Mayor Amanda Klotz asked Maloney how the current contribution of $64,797 factors into the possible fire authority’s requested contribution. According to Maloney, if the authority is approved and formed, Hart would pay the difference, coming in at either $9,790 or $13,445 extra at a later date. “But for that slight increase, you’re getting a full-time, benefited employee in your community," Maloney stated.
It would also remain up to Hart as to how the city funds the authority, whether through the general fund or a millage.
Later in the meeting, the council unanimously approved the Hart Area Fire Department’s annual request of $64,797 in accordance with the city's agreement.
Other passed items included several ordinances regarding a year’s moratorium on data center development, lot split limitations, use of pervious surfaces, native vegetation planting, and tree planting, maintenance and removal.
The council also received a draft from City Manager Nichole Kleiner of the 2027 city budget. This follows much discussion over the past several months on the state of the city’s revenue, expenditures and costly upcoming projects, such as necessary improvements to the city’s water infrastructure.
Other priorities in the draft budget include seeking a public safety millage for long-term sustainability, downtown redevelopment and housing initiatives, financial stabilization, deficit reduction, cybersecurity and a new website. Specific planned projects include the replacement of lead service lines, Safe Routes to School development, deck repair at the Hart Commons, City Hall improvements, and cabin demolishment and rental refurbishment at John Gurney Park. Also under continued planning are the MDOT-required State Street Turnback improvements, to be completed prior to 2030.
Kleiner took a moment to commend the city’s department superintendents, who “have been very heavy-handed in budget planning… We sat down with each superintendent and went through every line…it’s wonderful that they’re aware and know how to manage [their individual departments.]”
According to this draft, the city is expected to end 2027 with $116,000 in revenue, should $400,000 in revenue come in from the water tower antennae rental. The budget will be presented for adoption at the upcoming June 9 regular meeting.
The council also heard from Trey Choice, the new director at the Starting Block Inc., at public comment. Choice introduced himself and reintroduced the nonprofit organization to the council. The Starting Block is a nonprofit regional kitchen incubator and entrepreneurial center, which Choice explains aids small businesses from “idea to complete licensing and selling their project.” Their clients primarily include food-service entrepreneurs, Summit Laboratories and office space rentals.
With the recent budget discussions, the city has been reevaluating covering the Starting Block’s city utility costs, leaving the organization to consider future operations. Despite this, the Starting Block remains steadfast in their desire to provide for the community. Said Choice, "It's a very important facility here for the community, and we are coming up on the crossroads deciding where we want to go next…moving forward, it seems that the city is wanting to maybe move away from [their building management] and have the nonprofit itself operate the facility.”
Kleiner was in attendance at the organization’s most recent board meeting and informed the board that the city council requested a presentation in the next several months from the Starting Block regarding the organization’s state and present needs. Council member Andrew Mullen, also at the board meeting, spoke positively of the Starting Block’s future, “It was exciting to see that there’s acknowledgment of changes needed and a desire to not just close doors and call it done. I think everybody has a deep desire to maintain what we have, because it is special.”
