Update: Interviews on You Tube! 4 Candidate Snapshots The effort we ask of the City Council is no less than the effort we are asking of ourselves.

QUESTIONS

• What experience do you have working with municipal utilities, particularly electric systems?
• If you have not previously managed a municipal electric utility, how would you prepare to oversee one responsibly and develop the expertise needed to support staff and guide policy decisions?
• Communication during power outages remains an important concern for many residents. What steps would you take to improve communication systems during outages so residents receive timely and accurate information?
• Communities across the Great Lakes region are experiencing more severe weather events. How do you approach emergency preparedness and infrastructure resilience so that residents are protected and critical services remain reliable?

BALANCING GROWTH AND COMMUNITY CHARACTER TO PRESERVE AND PROTECT

Residents of Harbor Springs frequently express the importance of preserving the town’s historic character while supporting thoughtful economic vitality. Achieving that balance requires careful decision-making, clear planning, and a long-term perspective.  Harbor Springs has long valued its small scale, historic neighborhoods, and waterfront setting. Growth and change inevitably occur, but they must be guided in ways that respect the qualities that make the community distinctive. The next City Manager will play an important role in helping the city and its residents maintain this balance.  Thoughtful leadership will be needed to ensure that planning decisions, public investments, and development policies reflect both the community’s economic health and its desire to preserve the character that generations have worked to protect.

Questions

• Harbor Springs recently experience a week-long power outage and fallen trees block roads. What would you recommend city council legislates now to be prepared for potential future disasters?
• How would you approach balancing development pressures with the preservation of Harbor Springs’ character, scale, and historic identity?
• Historically, the Parks Department operated without a full-time director from 1932 until 2022, relying primarily on part-time maintenance staff. In recent years, the parks budget has increased significantly. How would you evaluate the current structure and responsibilities of the Parks Department and its capacity to meet future community needs?
• Looking ahead, Harbor Springs will continue to face questions about growth, infrastructure, and long-term planning. How would you begin the process of developing a strategic vision for the city, and what steps would you take to ensure that residents, businesses, and seasonal property owners all have an opportunity to contribute to that conversation?
• What challenges do you believe communities like Harbor Springs are most likely to face in the next decade, and how would you help the city prepare for them?

A  BRIDGE BUILDER HAS STORIES OF PROVEN COLLABORATION AND VISIBILITY

The City Manager serves at the center of many conversations—between the City Council and staff, between residents and local government, and often between differing viewpoints within the community itself. For this reason, many communities look for a City Manager who can serve as a “bridge builder,” someone capable of fostering collaboration and guiding constructive dialogue.  Strong collaboration helps ensure that difficult decisions are approached with respect, transparency, and an understanding of multiple perspectives. In communities where residents care deeply about the direction of their city, the ability to listen carefully, communicate clearly, and help people work toward shared solutions becomes an essential leadership skill.  Equally important is visibility within the community. In towns like Harbor Springs, residents often value leaders who are present, approachable, and engaged in the life of the community. A City Manager who maintains strong connections with residents, local organizations, and regional partners can help strengthen trust in local government while also ensuring that community concerns are heard and understood.

QUESTIONS 

• Can you provide a specific example where you successfully brought together diverse groups—whether internally (staff, council members) or externally (community groups or regional partners)—to achieve a common goal? How did you address differing opinions or conflicting interests to move the collaboration forward?
• How would you encourage ongoing collaboration in Harbor Springs, particularly when the community faces complex or contentious issues?
• The community expects its City Manager to be visible and engaged. How would you approach connecting with residents, attending community events, and demonstrating your commitment to Harbor Springs in your day-to-day role?
• How would you balance the demands of administrative responsibilities with the importance of remaining visible and accessible within the community?

BUDGET CONCERNS

Harbor Springs, like many communities, is facing growing budget pressures, particularly as the cost of capital projects and infrastructure maintenance continues to rise. Careful prioritization and long-term planning will be essential in determining how limited public resources are allocated.

QUESTIONS 

• Harbor Springs is facing growing budget pressures, particularly with the rising cost of capital projects and infrastructure needs. How do you approach setting priorities and making difficult spending decisions when a city’s financial model cannot support every proposed project?
• In recent years, many residents have expressed interest in refocusing municipal spending toward core responsibilities such as infrastructure maintenance, electric system upgrades, and tree safety near power lines. How important is it for City Council and city administration to understand the level of community support when considering shifts in budget priorities?
• Can you share an example from your experience where you had to say “no” to a project or initiative because it did not align with the city’s financial realities or long-term priorities?
• Harbor Springs has a Downtown Development Authority that uses Tax Increment Financing (TIF) and sometimes General Fund resources for downtown and tourism-related initiatives. How do you view the balance between investing in visitor-oriented amenities and ensuring adequate funding for essential services such as infrastructure maintenance and storm safety?
• Some residents have raised questions about how taxpayer General Fund dollars are allocated, particularly when new amenities create ongoing maintenance costs in parks or public spaces. How would you approach evaluating those trade-offs and ensuring a balanced allocation of resources?
• The city also relies in part on donor contributions for park improvements, with a portion of those funds designated for ongoing maintenance. How would you evaluate whether that model is working effectively, and how would you ensure parks are maintained while also encouraging responsible use of public green spaces?
• There has also been discussion about the operational costs associated with the Downtown Development Authority. How do you evaluate organizational overhead and ensure that administrative spending remains appropriate while still supporting staff and delivering essential services effectively?

WE HOPE THESE QUESTIONS WILL HELP HARBOR SPRINGS LOOK TO CHOOSING THE NEXT CITY MANAGER

As Harbor Springs considers candidates for this position, or chooses to wait for new candidates to be selected,  the discussion should focus on the skills and experience most important for managing the city’s unique responsibilities. When we look for things like good communicaitons skills, a good hiring process asks for demonstrated performance.