Proposal asking voters to merge Saugatuck and Douglas communities moves forward
One of the state’s first grassroot efforts to merge communities is moving ahead with plans to ask voters to consolidate Saugatuck Township and the cities of Douglas and Saugatuck.
By Sharon Hanks
One of the state’s first grassroot efforts to merge communities is moving ahead with plans to ask voters to consolidate Saugatuck Township and the cities of Douglas and Saugatuck.
R. J. Peterson, owner of Tower Marine in Douglas and president of the Saugatuck-Douglas Chamber of Commerce, says the efforts of an eight-member committee is one of the very few times a consolidation request like this will bypass the consideration of political bodies and instead be presented directly before the voters.
As one of the eight committee members, he says paperwork on the formation of the group has been filed with the Allegan County clerk so the committee can now develop and circulate petitions to initiate the consideration.
Studies suggest that taxpayers would save money by consolidating the three governmental units.
Peterson says the committee would like to put the question on the ballot as soon as possible but it might take as long as 18 months due to the complexity of state laws.
Source: R. J. Peterson, owner of Tower Marine in Douglas and president of the Saugatuck-Douglas Chamber of Commerce.
Sharon Hanks is innovations and jobs news editor at Rapid Growth Media. Please send story ideas and comments for the column to Sharon at sharon@rapidgrowthmedia.com. She also is owner of The Write Words in Grand Rapids.
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