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Coverage from across Michigan and the state Capitol with the Michigan Public Radio Network and Interlochen Public Radio.

No Merger For West Michigan Shoreline Towns

Two cities are better than one. At least, that’s what voters in both Saugatuck and Douglas decided in Tuesday’s election.

Just an hour after the polls closed, former Douglas Mayor Matt Balmer held his phone out so the crowd could hear the results. 226 yes. 385 no.  

Cheers from this group which opposed the effort, a group made up of people from both towns. They shared several bottles of champagne after the results were announced.

Saugatuck Mayor Bill Hess says the results are pretty easy to interpret.

Saugatuck people like Douglas. Douglas people like Saugatuck. But we’re different. And we wanted to stay the same,” he says.

If the merger had passed, it would’ve been the first of its kind in Michigan in 13 years.

Dan Fox is with the citizens group that backed the merger. He’s disappointed but not totally surprised. Fox says residents will have to live with the consequences of their decision – which he feels won’t be good.

“Who knows what happens two years from now when the Kalamazoo lake harbor is filling up with silt and we have no answer because two governments can’t find a way to agree on the answer,” he says. “Who know what happens when taxes go up because voters can’t afford – who knows?”

Supporters say the two towns’ identities and employees were worth keeping.