City Hall Administrative Staff

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The staff at Scottville City Hall is responsible for all the important administrative work that keeps the city operating. Their duties include managing finances and taxes, overseeing elections, maintaining city records, assessing properties for tax purposes, and more.

Scottville City Hall is lead by the City Manager and includes the treasurer, clerk, and assessor. You can find contact information for all administrative staff below.

Scottville City Hall — (231) 757-4729 (main)

 

Administrative Staff

City Manager

The “commission-manager” form is the system of local government that combines the strong political leadership of elected officials in the form of a commission or other governing body, with the strong managerial experience of an appointed local government manager. The form establishes a representative system where all power is concentrated in the elected commission and where the commission hires a professionally trained manager to oversee the delivery of public services.

Appointed by the City Commission, the city manager is the chief administrative officer for the City of Scottville. The city manager is primarily responsible for the efficient administration of all city departments; the enforcement of city laws and ordinances; the appointment of city department heads, with the consent of City Commission; to fully advise the commission on policies, affairs, financial conditions, and the needs of the city; the enforcement of any franchises, contracts or agreements and the recommendation and administration of an annual city budget.

Treasurer

The Treasurer is responsible for all financial activities in the city, with two main areas of responsibility: finance and treasury.

The main activities of the department include:

  • Overseeing financial policies and procedures
  • Investing all city funds
  • Maintaining the city’s accounting records
  • Managing the annual audit
  • Receiving all city revenue
  • Paying all city bills
  • Preparing the annual budget w/ City Manager
  • Payroll
  • Water/Sewer Billing
  • Equipment Billing and MDOT Trunkline Reporting
  • Maintains City Tax Roll and Coordinates Summer/Winter City Taxes

Annual Budget

The City of Scottville is required by law to adopt an annual budget. The City has a June 30 fiscal year end and the City Charter requires that the budget be adopted each year no later than the second week of May. The budget process begins in January with the various departments submitting their budget requests. Administration then compiles the requests and makes the necessary adjustments and recommendations to create a balanced, responsible budget.

The manager’s proposed budget is then presented to City Commission, typically in late March. The Commission then holds a work session to discuss the budget and convenes a public hearing to receive input. Issues are discussed and the council directs the administration to make any necessary changes, prior to voting on its adoption. The budget reflects City Commission goals as articulated in the city’s Master Plan and supports the services city resident’s desire.

Capital Improvement Plan

The City of Scottville annually adopts a five-year Capital Improvement Plan (CIP). The CIP is intended as a forward-looking projection of upcoming capital projects. The current year items in the CIP are also included in the annual budget.

This document encourages the city to be proactive and look out at what projects/needs are on the horizon. However, it is a planning tool only, and all projects will ultimately be approved by City Commission if they are to move forward. The plan is a living and breathing document and changes as the needs of the city and its infrastructure change. The main areas in the CIP are general government, parks, streets, buildings, water and sewer, and motor pool.

Annual Financial Audit

The City of Scottville is required by law to have an annual financial audit. The city’s independent certified public accounting firm is Brickley, DeLong, CPAs. The city’s fiscal year ends June 30. The audit typically starts in mid-August and is completed in one week. A report to council on the audit results and findings is typically presented to the City Commission during a regular meeting in early October.

The purpose of an annual audit is to express an opinion as to whether the financial statements are fairly presented, in all material respects, in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). The audit is conducted in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States and includes tests necessary to enable the auditor to express this opinion.

Kathy Shafer has been the City Treasurer since June 2016 and is a member of the Michigan Municipal Treasurers Association. She can be reached by email at [email protected] or 231-757-4729

 

Clerk

The Scottville City Clerk is Kelse Lester. The office also periodically employs 8-10 temporary workers as election inspectors. This office shares staff and duties with the City Treasurer. Its responsibilities include:

  • Accounts receivable
  • Archival city documents
  • McPhail Field Activities and Banner Program
  • Rental Registration
  • Election Management
  • Employee Records
  • General ledger \ accounting
  • Preparation of council minutes
  • Publishing ordinances and board vacancies
  • Voter Registration
  • Cemetery Records and Plots

Local Elections

The city clerk is responsible for administering all federal, state, county and local (including school) elections held in the City of Scottville. In addition, the city clerk maintains City of Scottville voter registration records through direct access to Michigan’s Qualified Voter File (QVF) system in cooperation with Michigan’s Secretary of State

Kelse Lester has been the Scottville City Clerk since April of 2019 and is a member of the Michigan Association of Municipal Clerks. She can be reached at  [email protected] and 231-757-4729