Local Government Shared Services

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Private Sector Stakeholders

The following business leaders made significant financial contributions to make this study possible.

Amy Heisser, Alcoa Howmet
Chris McGuigan, Community Foundation for Muskegon County
Steve Wisneski, Creative Benefit Systems
John Workman, Eagle Group
Larry Hines, Hines Corporation
Park Kersman, Lorin Industries
Jim Fisher, Louis Padnos Iron & Metal Company
Roger Spoelman, Mercy Health Partners
Mike Olthoff, Nichols Paper & Supply
Steve Olsen, Northern Machine Tool
Jon Rooks, Parkland Properties
John Essex,  Port City Group
Ed & Dan Kuznar, Quality Tool & Stamping
Scott Musselman, Sand Products Corp.
Harry Knudsen, Self-employed

Public Sector Stakeholders

City of Montague
City of Muskegon
City of Muskegon Heights
City of North Muskegon
City of Norton Shores
City of Roosevelt Park
City of Whitehall
Fruitport Township
Muskegon Township

Feasibility Study for Shared Services Media Coverage

Consolidation of water services puts the focus on city of Muskegon filtration plant
Published: Wednesday, July 20, 2011, 10:13 AM
By Dave Alexander | Muskegon Chronicle
http://www.mlive.com/news/muskegon/index.ssf/2011/07/consolidaton_of_water_services.html

Consultant recommends area municipalities consolidate water, police, fire and waste departments
Published: Wednesday, July 20, 2011, 10:02 AM     Updated: Wednesday, July 20, 2011, 11:11 AM
By Dave Alexander | Muskegon Chronicle The Muskegon Chronicle
http://www.mlive.com/news/muskegon/index.ssf/2011/07/consolidate_muskegon_water_and.html

Editorial: Shared, relentless action: Consolidation study starting point for change
Published: Wednesday, July 20, 2011, 8:24 AM
By Paula Holmes-Greeley | The Muskegon Chronicle The Muskegon Chronicle
http://blog.mlive.com/chronicle/opinion_impact/print.html?entry=/2011/07/editorial_shared_relentless_ac.html

Editorials: Consider consolidation: Muskegon has a golden opportunity to rethink police, fire services
Published: Wednesday, July 06, 2011, 8:13 AM
By Paula Holmes-Greeley | The Muskegon Chronicle The Muskegon Chronicle
http://www.mlive.com/opinion/muskegon/index.ssf/2011/07/editorials_consider_consolidat.html

Letters: Muskegon Heights needs a wake-up call
Published: Wednesday, June 29, 2011, 6:21 AM
By The Muskegon Chronicle The Muskegon Chronicle
http://www.mlive.com/opinion/muskegon/index.ssf/2011/06/letters_muskegon_heights_needs.html

Editorial: Avoiding a water hazard: A joint water system will improve service, reduce costs
Published: Sunday, June 19, 2011, 9:03 AM
By Paula Holmes-Greeley | The Muskegon Chronicle The Muskegon Chronicle
http://www.mlive.com/opinion/muskegon/index.ssf/2011/06/editorial_avoiding_a_water_haz.html

Muskegon elected officials ask for community support for new shared-service ventures
Published: Friday, May 27, 2011, 2:10 PM     Updated: Tuesday, May 31, 2011, 1:27 PM
By Dave Alexander | Muskegon Chronicle The Muskegon Chronicle
http://www.mlive.com/news/muskegon/index.ssf/2011/05/muskegon_elected_officials_ask.html

Muskegon chamber consultant praises existing local government shared services; says 'political will' needed for future efforts
Published: Sunday, May 22, 2011, 5:52 AM     Updated: Sunday, May 22, 2011, 8:48 AM
By Dave Alexander | Muskegon Chronicle The Muskegon Chronicle
http://www.mlive.com/news/muskegon/index.ssf/2011/05/muskegon_chamber_consultant_pr.html

Editorials: Consolidation confrontation: As local study nears completion, hard work begins
Published: Friday, May 20, 2011, 1:12 PM
By Paula Holmes-Greeley | The Muskegon Chronicle The Muskegon Chronicle
http://www.mlive.com/opinion/muskegon/index.ssf/2011/05/editorials_consolidation_confr.html

Shared Services: Water and fire consolidations are difficult issues awaiting Muskegon's local government officials
Published: Friday, May 20, 2011, 10:32 AM     Updated: Friday, May 20, 2011, 10:43 AM
By Dave Alexander | Muskegon Chronicle The Muskegon Chronicle
http://www.mlive.com/news/muskegon/index.ssf/2011/05/shared_services_water.html

Shared Services: Current Muskegon-area local government list impressive
Published: Thursday, May 19, 2011, 2:29 PM     Updated: Thursday, May 19, 2011, 2:53 PM
By Dave Alexander | Muskegon Chronicle The Muskegon Chronicle
http://www.mlive.com/news/muskegon/index.ssf/2011/05/shared_sevices_current_muskego.html

Shared Services: Consultant tells Muskegon governments job well done but now get back to work
Published: Thursday, May 19, 2011, 11:32 AM     Updated: Thursday, May 19, 2011, 3:45 PM
By Dave Alexander | Muskegon Chronicle The Muskegon Chronicle
http://www.mlive.com/news/muskegon/index.ssf/2011/05/shared_services_consultant_tel.html

Dave Alexander: Hey, doesn't that 'One Kent' thing sound vaguely familiar?
Published: Sunday, April 03, 2011, 8:27 AM
By Dave Alexander | Muskegon Chronicle The Muskegon Chronicle
http://www.mlive.com/opinion/muskegon/index.ssf/2011/04/hey_doesnt_that_one_kent_thing.html

Editorials: Reforming government: West Michigan should respond quickly to governor's request
Published: Wednesday, March 23, 2011, 7:46 AM
By Paula Holmes-Greeley | The Muskegon Chronicle The Muskegon Chronicle
http://www.mlive.com/opinion/muskegon/index.ssf/2011/03/editorials_reforming_governmen.html

Joining forces: 2011 is a critical year if government consolidations are to progress
Published: Thursday, March 10, 2011, 6:11 AM     Updated: Thursday, March 10, 2011, 10:30 AM
By Dave Alexander | Muskegon Chronicle
http://www.mlive.com/news/muskegon/index.ssf/2011/03/analysis_2011_is_a_critical_ye.html

Editorial: Building their case: Heights officials to meet with state officials on deficit
Published: Thursday, March 03, 2011, 8:11 AM
By Paula Holmes-Greeley | The Muskegon Chronicle The Muskegon Chronicle
http://www.mlive.com/opinion/muskegon/index.ssf/2011/03/editorial_building_their_case.html

City of Muskegon officials concerned about financial prospects of neighboring communities
Published: Saturday, January 22, 2011, 5:13 AM
By Dave Alexander | Muskegon Chronicle
http://www.mlive.com/news/muskegon/index.ssf/2011/01/city_of_muskegon_officials_con.html

Editorial: It's about taxes: Community shared services plan will go forward
Published: Wednesday, December 08, 2010, 7:00 AM
By Paula Holmes-Greeley | The Muskegon Chronicle The Muskegon Chronicle
http://www.mlive.com/opinion/muskegon/index.ssf/2010/12/editorial_its_about_taxes_comm.html

Muskegon Area Chamber of Commerce study on shared services in jeopardy
Published: Saturday, November 13, 2010, 5:07 AM
By Dave Alexander | Muskegon Chronicle The Muskegon Chronicle
http://www.mlive.com/news/muskegon/index.ssf/2010/11/muskegon_area_chamber_of_comme_2.html

Editorial: A matter of survival
Published: Sunday, August 29, 2010, 7:16 AM
By Paula Holmes-Greeley | The Muskegon Chronicle The Muskegon Chronicle
http://www.mlive.com/opinion/muskegon/index.ssf/2010/08/editorial_a_matter_of_survival.html

Muskegon Township, Muskegon Heights concerned about shared-services study
Published: Monday, August 23, 2010, 10:46 PM
By Muskegon Chronicle staff The Muskegon Chronicle
http://www.mlive.com/news/muskegon/index.ssf/2010/08/muskegon_township_muskegon_hei.html

Firm hired to study municipal cooperation among seven Muskegon County communities
Published: Tuesday, July 20, 2010, 6:00 AM
By Dave Alexander | Muskegon Chronicle
http://www.mlive.com/news/muskegon/index.ssf/2010/07/firm_hired_to_study_municipal.html

Municipality Contact Information

The local governments that participated in the study plan to hold a series of town hall meetings so area residents can get involved in the decision making process that lies ahead. We all need to be involved in the conversation and demand accountability; this report will not sit on the shelf, but instead will serve as a road map to making Muskegon County a community that continues to lead.

“It will be the political will of the individual leaders and community members that will determine if the combining of these services becomes a reality for the benefit of our County’s economy and its citizens.” - Jim Fisher, manager at Louis Padnos Iron and Metal

City of Montague
231-893-1155
Mayor Kevin Erb: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
John French, City Manager: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

City of Muskegon
231-724-6705
Mayor Steve Warmington: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Bryon Mazade, City Manager: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

City of North Muskegon
231-744-1621
Mayor Chris Witham: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Dennis Stepke, City Manager: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

City of Norton Shores
231-798-4391
Mayor Gary Nelund: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Mark Meyers, City Administrator : This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

City of Roosevelt Park
231-755-3721
Mayor Susan M. Lumley: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Anthony Chandler, City Manager: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

City of Whitehall
231-894-4048
Mayor Mac Hatch: Email not available
Scott Huebler, City Manager: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Fruitport Charter Township
231-865-3151
Supervisor Brian Werschem: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

City of Muskegon Heights
231-733-8999
Mayor Darell Paige: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Natasha Henderson, City Manager: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Muskegon Charter Township
231-777-2555
Supervisor David Kieft: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Click here for a complete listing of municipalities including staff and council members contact information >>>  

About the Consultant

Mark Nottley is the principal of Municipal Consulting Services LLC. He has been a municipal management consultant since 1985, beginning his career as a senior governmental consultant with the firm of Coopers & Lybrand. Since that time, he has conducted or managed the completion of hundreds of governmental consulting projects focusing on financial, human resources and operational issues.

During his consulting career he has also served as Manager, Local Government Consulting for the firm of Plante & Moran, founder and director of the Michigan Municipal League’s consulting practice and as a principal for the firm of Rehmann Robson. He holds a Master Degree in Public Administration from Wayne State University and is certified as a Senior Professional in Human Resources by the Society for Human Resources Management.

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