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He used to want the books open. Now he voted to close them.

In 2020, Ken Johnson said $195,000 in gift cards was spent the wrong way, and he asked for an outside audit. In 2026, he voted to let the city manager spend about $2.8 million on Third Street Wharf without bringing each job back to the Commission for standard approval.

This is the same man, six years apart, looking at the same kind of problem and doing the opposite thing.

In 2020, Ken Johnson was a city commissioner, not the mayor. Then-city manager Frank Peterson had spent $195,000 on gift cards from local restaurants to support them during pandemic lockdowns. That money came out of a city fund, and the Commission never voted on it. The city attorney, John Schrier, said that spend was not allowed. Johnson's answer was to ask for an outside audit, which means a person who does not work for the city goes

Experienced designer chooses Muskegon for Scandinavian-inspired 5-story building

Downtown

Dustin Sommer told The Commission his five-story building at 118 W. Clay is meant to activate the economic corridor between Pine and Western. A minimalist design is purposeful, inspiring future tenants to see neighborhood businesses as amenity extensions of the building.

Experienced designer chooses Muskegon for Scandinavian-inspired 5-story building — 118 W Clay Rendering

Dustin Sommer, founder of The Development Studio, is building a place to live simply, where tenants are inspired to leave the apartment and explore their neighborhood. He shared his vision at the September 22 City Commission Meeting. His plan for 118 W. Clay is forty apartments over small shops: 12 studios, 21 one-bedrooms, and seven two-bedrooms. Sommer says he thinks about the project the way he would if he lived there.

Sommer shares his vision for Clay Street

The design is modern, Scandinavian, and minimalist. Efficient layouts that will likely include laundry in the units. Excluding amenities like

The Missing Minutes — City Staff left big money off the recap

Government

The city recap covered honors, a federal housing report, a Lakeside park, and a school gym. It skipped a $2.8 million wharf vote that lacked agenda packet supporting documents, and two tax deals on the same Clay Avenue building.

The Missing Minutes — City Staff left big money off the recap — Commissioner German stands alone, seeking greater transparency and accountability

🚩 RED FLAG 🚩

City Manager Jonathan Seyferth's purchasing flexibility at 3rd Street Wharf had no supporting documents in the agenda packet — and the city recap did not mention that it was pulled from consent, the discussion, or the outcome of the vote

City staff put out a short recap of the September 22 City Commission Meeting, claiming residents can "Stay informed on what’s happening at City Hall, without needing to watch the entire meeting." The staff-made recap covers four, relatively inconsequential items in a meeting that ran more than three hours. Check out The Missing Minutes below for

$2.8 MILLION for 3rd Street Wharf — Mgr. Seyferth wants to skip the usual bid votes

Government

Yes consent vote would let the city manager hire vendors with grant money without bringing each contract back for a Commission vote, so work can finish by December 31.

$2.8 MILLION for 3rd Street Wharf — Mgr. Seyferth wants to skip the usual bid votes — City of Muskegon Manager Seyferth

🚩 RED FLAG 🚩
Manager Seyferth's agenda item has no supporting documents in the agenda packet****

Consent item: give the city manager temporary power to spend state grant money on 3rd Street Wharf without a separate Commission award on every bid. No supporting documents attached.

Millions in state grant money has to be spent by December 31, 2026. Staff says that is about 14 weeks, holidays included. They asked the state to push into 2027 and are not confident they will get it, especially with a change in administrations coming. If grant money is

Froebel closing needs a paper fix — city keeps the schoolyard

Government

Consent vote would update the Samaritas purchase agreement to the new lot lines before a September 29 closing on the building and parking, 46 units.

Froebel closing needs a paper fix — city keeps the schoolyard — Dibs on that schoolyard

Consent item: fix the Froebel purchase paperwork so Tuesday’s deal matches the new lot lines.

The lot split is done. Closing with Samaritas is on the form for September 29. This closing is the school building and parking — 46 units. The buyer named in the packet is Samaritas Affordable Living Froebel LDHA LP. The amendment is Addendum 2 with the updated legal description for 417 Jackson.

The city is keeping the vacant schoolyard on purpose. Samaritas wants a later second phase. Staff say state scoring is better if the city still owns that ground when the next

City keeps the Nelson gym — $1 a year, plus the monthly bills

Government

Consent vote would lease about 12,000 square feet in the old Nelson School from the housing developer for 10 years so Parks can keep indoor rec there.

City keeps the Nelson gym — $1 a year, plus the monthly bills — Future housing

Consent item: keep the old Nelson gym as city rec space after the school becomes housing.

The landlord on the motion is GenCap Nelson Limited Dividend Housing Association. The housing reuse takes the building; the city wants the indoor rec instead of losing the gym. Space is about 11,990 square feet — gym and related rooms. Uses on the form: open gym, teen nights, Parks programs, events, community rentals.

Term is 10 years. Base rent is $1 a year. The city pays its share of common-area and operating costs. Staff estimate that share at $999

He used to want the books open. Now he voted to close them.

Experienced designer chooses Muskegon for Scandinavian-inspired 5-story building

The Missing Minutes — City Staff left big money off the recap

🚩 RED FLAG 🚩

$2.8 MILLION for 3rd Street Wharf — Mgr. Seyferth wants to skip the usual bid votes

🚩 RED FLAG 🚩
Manager Seyferth's agenda item has no supporting documents in the agenda packet****

Froebel closing needs a paper fix — city keeps the schoolyard

City keeps the Nelson gym — $1 a year, plus the monthly bills

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🚩 RED FLAG 🚩

🚩 RED FLAG 🚩 **Manager Seyferth's agenda item has no supporting documents in the agenda packet**

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Popular Tags

Government

Housing

Parks

Waterfront

Zoning

🚩 RED FLAG 🚩
Manager Seyferth's agenda item has no supporting documents in the agenda packet****