Welcome to the City of South Haven

City Embarks on a Multi-jurisdictional Coast Planning Effort

The City of South Haven, South Haven Charter Township, and Casco Township have partnered with Land Information Access Association (LIAA) for a series of joint workshops on Planning for Coastal Resilience. Deliverables include a public education and engagement process, flood scenario mapping, a shoreline erosion analysis, and vulnerable population mapping and data, all compiled into a published chapter of information that can be added to each community’s Master Plan. The kickoff meeting is planned for Wednesday, October 28, 2020 at 6:00 p.m. and will include key staff members, local officials, interested stakeholders and community residents. Meeting participants will be encouraged to watch a coastal resilience presentation by the Coastal Resilience Team partners prior to attending. The initial meeting will review the details of the online presentation and offer the opportunity for participants to discuss existing conditions in the South Haven/Casco Township community. The link to the open meeting can be found on the city’s website and on the agenda link below:
https://southhavencitymi.documents-on-demand.com/Document/cc201f1b-2515-eb11-a316-000c29a59557/cc201f1b-2515-eb11-a316-000c29a59557

2020 State General Election

The 2020 State General Election will be held on Tuesday, November 3 with in-person voting hours of 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. City of South Haven residents will be voting in the City Hall basement at 539 Phoenix Street, South Haven. Absentee ballots for City residents are available upon written request from the City Clerk’s office. City voters may drop off their ballots inside City Hall ballot box or outside City Hall payment drop box. City hall continues to be open to the public from the hours of 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. However, the exterior payment drop box may be accessed at any time. The photos below show the exterior payment drop box for reference:
https://southhavencitymi.documents-on-demand.com/document/edb8f2c8-ba04-eb11-a311-000c29a59557/10-2-2020%20BALLOT%20DROP-K.HOSIER

The City Offers Halloween Guidance

The City of South Haven has been receiving inquiries from residents whether Halloween will occur this year in light of COVID-19. As a reminder, Halloween is not a city sanctioned event, but rather a nationally recognized holiday. Other than announcing the suggested hours between 5pm - 7pm, the City has no further involvement.

For entire press release, click here.read more >

The South Haven Area Recreation Authority Awarded Funds for Land Acquisitions

The South Haven Area Recreation Authority (SHARA), in collaboration with the Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy, were one of 18 projects awarded $17.2 million dollars for land acquisitions through the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund. The $2,262,000 award will help fund a 47-acre addition to the Pilgrim Haven Natural Area. The project property will add 1,000 feet of Lake Michigan coastline and help critical dunes.

City Joins South Haven Rotarians For Tree Planting At Stanley Johnston Park

President Dan Thompson and members of the South Haven Rotary Club along with City Manager Kate Hosier and Arborist Aaron Priebe planted two Autumn Brilliance Serviceberry trees in historic Stanley Johnston park. They are an early spring-flowering tree, truly a plant for all seasons: it has beautiful spring flowers, handsome green leaves, striking orange to red fall color and silver bark. The Rotary club works with Priebe in determining locations for the annual project. This year's trees replace two deteriorating spruces near the Johnston Park formal garden along Dyckman Avenue. South Haven has been recognized as a Tree City USA by the Arbor Day Foundation for the past 16 years.

https://www.wsjm.com/2020/10/22/south-haven-rotarians-plant-trees/

South Haven Awarded Cares Money

The City of South Haven and South Haven Area Emergency Services (SHAES) were awarded grants related to Coronavirus Relief Funding through the Michigan Department of Treasury. Both organizations were awarded grants through the First Responder Hazard Pay Premiums Program (FRHPPP) and the Public Safety and Public Health Payroll Reimbursement Program (PSPHPR). Under the FRHPPP, the City and SHAES was awarded monies to provide hazard pay to first responders. The City received $19,000 and SHAES received $47,000, all of which was distributed as hazard pay to the organization’s first responders.

For entire press release, click here.

Citizens are invited to "sign up"

City Website Email Notification

The City website offers users the opportunity to receive email notifications as soon as information is posted to the website. This includes notifications for meeting agendas, minutes, and city documents, as well as urgent notifications such as watermain breaks, road closings, weather-related emergencies, and boil water alerts.
In order to receive notifications, users must sign up at the bottom of the Home Page at "Sign up here for email notifications" and click on "SIGN UP". The "Subscribe to Email List" page will appear with instructions.
Click here to read the City's current notification methods.

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Friends Good Will Splashpad Receives Pledges

The Rotary Club of South Haven was a major donor in support of the construction of the city's splashpad. Rotary president Dan Thompson presented a check as the final payment on the club's $17,500 pledge to Mayor Scott Smith and City Manager Kate Hosier. The pledge included $10,000 from the club, $4,000 from the Rotary District 6360 Foundation and $3,500 from the District 6360 Karl Sandelin Grant program. The splashpad is intended to provide a safe place for kids, especially when Lake Michigan conditions are not conducive for swimming. The splashpad depicts the South Haven-based Friends Good Will, a replica of an 1800s sailing schooner that's featured at the Michigan Maritime Museum. Mr. Tom Renner captured the moment and the photo is at the link below:
https://southhavencitymi.documents-on-demand.com/document/e7194d48-2515-eb11-a316-000c29a59557/10-23-2020%20ROTARY%20SPLASH%20PAD%20DONATION%20-%20T.RENNER

City Appoints New Zoning Administrator

The City of South Haven is pleased to announce that Travis Sullivan has accepted the position of Zoning Administrator for the City of South Haven. Travis will stay in his current position as the city’s City Clerk until the finish of the November election.

To view entire press release, click here.read more >

City Resumes Final Project Work on Center Street

Wednesday, October 14th, Kalin Construction will resume work on Center Street to correct some items that were deemed unacceptable at the conclusion of the Center St project in May. The work will proceed until the end of October or early November depending on the weather. Most of the work should only cause some minor inconveniences with the loss of a couple of parking spaces or small sections of the sidewalk being closed.

To view full public notice, click here.read more >