Saugatuck mayor completes term — and some big projects

City Manager Kirk Harrier, right, describes the renovation to the zoning and assessing offices upstairs in Saugatuck City Hall on Monday night. From left are council members Henry Van Singel, John Porzondek and Jane Verplank.

Jane Verplank tapped the gavel Monday night to end her last full meeting as mayor of Saugatuck, a tenure she described as a time of finishing several major city projects.

Verplank will start the next city council meeting  Nov. 12, but will then relinquish leadership to whomever the council decides should be the new mayor. By tradition, the mayor serves two one-year terms.

She thanked city staff and council members — “You guys have been great,” she said.

Many key city projects wrapped up under her leadership, including the complete transfer of the 173-acre Saugatuck Harbor Natural Area to city ownership, the completion of the $4 million Blue Star Highway Bridge repair and $3.5 million road reconstruction program and the remodeling of city hall.

Verplank won’t be leaving the council. She, Mark Bekken, Barry Johnson and Bill Lint are seeking the four seats on the council to be decided in the Nov. 6 election. Terms are two years.

John Porzondek is not seeking re-election. On Monday night, he thanked all the people who helped serve his single term. He was elected in 2010.

“I will still be an earshot away,” he said. “I will find my way back.”