By James Windell
On the agenda for the last South Haven City Council meeting on Monday, May 5, 2025, was the selection of a Prosecuting Attorney for the City.
Mark A. Manning has been South Haven’s prosecuting attorney for many years, however, he announced he was ready to give up the position several months ago.
“The City has had an independent prosecuting attorney since the late 1990’s when former City Manager Al Vandenberg hired Attorney Mark Manning,” explains City Manager Kate Hosier. According to Hosier, Manning has handled blight and zoning code complaints as well as violations of city ordinances.
On February 11, 2025 a Request for Proposals for Prosecuting Attorney Services was published by South Haven city staff, and the RFP requested law firms to respond by March 14.
The city received two submissions to become the new prosecuting attorney for South Haven. One was from Bloom Sluggett, a Grand Rapids law firm with experience in representing governmental and public agencies, and the second was from Bauckman Thall, Seeber, Kaufman & Koches P.C., a Portage law firm, with experience in working with courts. Bloom Sluggett already provides the City Attorney services to South Haven.
During the April 7, 2025, South Haven City Council meeting the council discussed the two law firms that submitted proposals for prosecuting attorney. Although there was no opposition to the hiring of a prosecuting attorney for the city, there was discussion of the two RFPs for the position. The vote by City Council members ended in a tie and, thus, no prosecuting attorney was selected.
At this most recent City Council meeting, the council was asked to appoint Bloom Sluggett to perform prosecution services for the City. The firm of Bauckman Thall had sent a letter to the City on April 22, 2025 withdrawing their proposal because they had recently purchased another law firm in northern Michigan and would not be able to offer the services originally proposed. That left Bloom Sluggett as the only law firm submitting a proposal to perform prosecution services.
In introducing the issue and indicating that Bloom Sluggett was the only option, City Manager Kate Hosier said, “I suggest we get this done.”
After discussion in which City Council member Mary Hosely expressed discomfort with the fact that if Bloom Sluggett was selected the firm would be providing both City Attorney services as well as handling Prosecuting Attorney services, the Council voted to approve Bloom Sluggett.
