INSIDE
Volume 3, Issue 12 August 15, 2025 Total Raised: $68,990 Lead this Legacy
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Walkerville celebrates new-look Pioneer House prior to picnic By Sharon Hallack The Oceana Echo Community Correspondent Walkerville’s 2nd annual Community Picnic and Cornhole Tournament Saturday saw many residents out for a rewarding and fun day of activities. Prior to the picnic, a ribbon cutting at the Pioneer House Museum celebrated the home’s new look after its first paint job in over 30 years. The event featured speakers from granting organizations, the Community Foundation and Great Lakes Energy, as over 20 locals looked on. Over 30 residents and neighbors enjoyed a picnic, kids activities, a 50/50 raffle, baked goods/produce sale and a cornhole tournament featuring six different teams at the Walkerville Village Park. Winners of the cornhole tournament included First Place,
The Walkerville Pioneer House celebrated its new paint job Saturday prior to the village's second annual community picnic and cornhole tournament. The Pioneer House had not received a new paint job in 30 years - above is what the house looked like prior to the refurbishment.
• Courtesy Photos
“Miss You Uncle Joe”, Second Place, “42 North” and Third Place, “Hallack Farms”. The event was organized by the Walkerville Thrives Rebuilding Community Committee. Walkerville Thrives' next meeting will be Tuesday, August 26 at 5 p.m. when they will be reviewing this
year’s picnic and begin planning their Pancake Breakfast fundraiser for the Walkerville Fire Department set for Saturday, Oct. 11. Interested community members are invited and encouraged to attend. Please email walkervillercc@gmail. com to receive regular emailed updates.
Nichole Kleiner appointed interim Hart city manager
By Claire Marshall as Hart city manager city manager, and the into her role as interim but 25-02 caused a this and explained that
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The Oceana Echo Community Correspondent HART — Rob Splane has turned over his role
to an interim manager. Nichole Kleiner, Hart’s economic development coordinator, was unanimously approved by the Hart City Council Tuesday to work as the interim city manager part-time until Sept. 8, when she will be available to perform the role full-time until a permanent city manager is hired. Double Haul Solutions, the contracted recruitment company, estimates the role will be filled permanently by late October or early November at the latest. Kleiner will be leaving her coordinator position vacant while acting as
council took some time to discuss how that vacancy will be handled, deciding to refer to the Hart Economic and Redevelopment Board’s opinion following their upcoming meeting. The council agreed that someone should take on the role for some time, Council Member Andrew Mullen pointing out the salary is already budgeted and not wanting to waste funds on an empty position. Following her approval, Kleiner was immediately sworn in by clerk Karla Swihart in front of the council. It did not take long for Kleiner to jump
manager, as she was able to provide context and offer opinion on the handling of four ordinances brought before the council for their second readings. Following the second reading, the ordinances would then move to a public hearing before finally being approved. The first readings took place in April. Ordinances 25-01 and 25-02 were made for Hart to be in compliance with the requirements for the Redevelopment Ready Community certification, which the city lost in February. Ordinance 25-01 was reviewed with no issue,
point of contention. Ordinance 25-02 would see the minimum square footage of residential buildings lowered from 720 to 400 square feet for a one-story building, and 600 to 500 square feet for the ground floor of a two-story building. Council member Dean Hodges took issue with the onestory building square foot minimum being less than the two-story ground floor minimum, which he called atypical of what he’s seen in other municipalities’ ordinances and what Hart had before. Many others on the council did not see any issue with
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these numbers were the minimum. As council member Betty Root said, “you don’t have to make them that small.” Kleiner explained the numbers were the way they are so these potential homes would fit in the category of a “tiny house.” One of the reasons Hart lost its Redevelopment Ready certification is that the State of Michigan wants communities to provide more variety in the types of residential developments available. Currently, the city has options for single-
City manager continued on page 2
Candy Cannon Free Rides and activities for children of all ages Pie Auction Family Field Day Pony Rides Book Bus 1st Responders