By James Windell
After three new council members were sworn in, the South Haven City Council got down to business in taking on issues necessary at the first city council meeting of the new year on January 5, 2026.
One of the first items of business was to appoint a new mayor pro-tem. Councilmember Jeff Arnold, from Ward 2, was the designated choice for the position and he was approved as the mayor pro-tem for 2026.
There were three other issues on the agenda under New Business which were dispatched with relative speed. The first of these issues was a request from the City Manager to pass a resolution to update the Poverty Tax Exemption, Special Assessments Poverty Tax Exemption, and the updated Poverty Guidelines for 2026.
In introducing the request for passage of two resolutions, City Manager Kate Hosier told the City Council that passing these resolutions related to the Poverty Tax Exemption is “standard business for the first of the year.”
The Poverty Tax Exemption (also called the “Hardship Exemption”) is a Michigan program under MCL 211.7u that allows qualifying low‑income homeowners to receive a full or partial exemption from property taxes on their principal residence. A local Board of Review can grant property tax exemptions ranging from 25% to 100% if the homeowner meets certain eligibility requirements. Each local government must adopt their own policies.
Resolution 2026-01 was a resolution updating state-required poverty level income standards for special assessments, while Resolution 2026-02 was a resolution updating state-required poverty level income standards for property tax exemptions.
Hosier said that the city staff was recommending a level 15% above federal poverty guidelines, and she explained that “By law, we cannot go below that.”
A motion was made to adopt both resolutions. There was no discussion and both were unanimously passed.
Next on the agenda for the City Council was Resolution 2026-03. This resolution was to appoint a Board of Review, establish a rate of compensation for the Board, and set a meeting schedule for this year.
According to Hosier, this resolution was also typical business for the start of the year and that appointing a Board of Review, setting compensation, and determining meeting dates were all required by state law.
City staff recommended that the following members be appointed to the Board of Review: Elaine Shumaker, Mark Reece, Kilby Brandt, and Patti Owens. It was also recommended that each member and alternate member of the 2026 Board of Review would be compensated at a rate of $50.00 for attending the March Organizational Meeting, $100.00 per day for each day the member sits in session for hearing of appeals, and $25.00 for attending the July meeting, and $25.00 for attending the December meeting.
Resolution 2026-03, naming these members and setting the above rate of compensation, was passed with no discussion and no opposition.
The third item of business was to introduce an ordinance to amend Section 62-27 of the Code of Ordinances for the City of South Haven.
City Manager Hosier began discussion of this recommendation to amend the city’s ordinances. “It has been brought to our attention that there is an ordnance on the books that prohibits an individual from serving on the Planning Commission and any other board,” Hosier said. “We currently have one member who serves on the Planning Commission, Larry Heinig, as well as on the Construction Board of Appeals.”
Hosier said that she was recommending that the ordinance be changed so that individuals would not be prohibited from serving on the Planning Commission as well as on other boards or commissions. City Attorney Dave Eberle explained that other cities have had a similar ordinance but repealed it. The reason he said was to allow greater flexibility in making appointments to boards.
Councilman David Flack said that he was concerned about repealing the specific prohibition because it might lead to a lack of diversity in appointing people to serve on boards. Other council members seemed to agree with Flack’s position.
After discussion, it was decided that the issue would be on the agenda for future city council meetings so that it could be re-introduced and given greater consideration.
