9-16-2025 7:04pm

The Big Questions: Saline City Council Candidates Provide Comprehensive Answers, Part One

Libby Williams Contributor

Saline, MI - Six candidates—Tremane Halsch, Bret Pollington, Matt Augnst, Miri Weidner, Jim Dell’Orco, and incumbent Jenn Harmount—are in the running for three open council seats in the upcoming 2025 fall election. In a recent questionnaire provided to candidates, five shared their vision for the community and their priorities if elected.

This first article will delve into Fiscal Responsibility, Housing Affordability, Local Business, Saline Recreation Center, Mill Pond Dam, Infrastructure & Development. Part two will cover Decision-Making & Leadership, Controversial Issues, Civility and Mutual Accountability, Community Engagement, Transparency, and Personal Statements.

What are your priorities regarding how the city’s budget should be allocated and managed?

Candidate Tremane Halsch: Every dollar in Saline’s budget should work as hard as the people who earned it. My priority is to ensure tax dollars are managed with discipline, transparency, and impact. That means three things:

Core Services First: Police, fire, infrastructure, and water must remain strong and reliable. These are the foundations of safety and stability, and they should never be compromised.

Investing in People and Growth: Budgets are moral documents. They show what a community values. We should direct resources toward housing affordability, recreation, and programs that strengthen families and support small businesses. These investments expand our tax base and make Saline a place where people want to live, work, and stay.

Efficiency and Transparency: Residents should be able to see how their money is being spent and what results it produces. I will advocate for modern digital tools that track outcomes in plain language and build trust through clarity.

To get there, we need to modernize how we budget. I support zero-based budgeting, which plans from today’s needs and priorities instead of yesterday’s habits. Paired with participatory budgeting, where residents help set priorities through community forums and digital engagement, we can build a process that is both disciplined and democratic.

The budget should not be a year-to-year scramble. It should be a forward-looking strategy that protects essentials, reflects community voice, and invests in a smarter, safer, and more sustainable Saline.

Candidate Jenn Harmount: As a current council member, I believe the city’s budget must reflect both fiscal discipline and community priorities. My top priorities include maintaining core services—public safety, road maintenance, water and sewer infrastructure—while also investing in long-term capital improvements. I supported the city’s recent capital improvement plan, which lays out a responsible roadmap for infrastructure upgrades. I also advocate for greater transparency in the budgeting process, including clearer communication tools and more opportunities for public input during budget planning.

Candidate Matt Augnst: My top priority is making sure the city budget reflects the needs of working families and maintains the essential services that make Saline a safe and welcoming community. That means prioritizing infrastructure maintenance, public safety, and services like the Recreation Center that add quality of life. I believe every tax dollar should be managed with transparency and accountability so residents can trust that their money is being used wisely.

Candidate Bret Pollington: I believe the city’s financial resources should be allocated according to the residents' desires. Now, I’m no fool. I understand that sounds like a cheap, easy line for political gain, but I genuinely mean this. I’m personally a believer in more direct democracy. Meaning, the people vote on large issues, especially when they relate to how their money is spent. I understand that there are financial and practical barriers to that, and I am not suggesting we completely upend our system of governance tomorrow, next week, or even next year.

In more practical terms, I would like to see the city take [sic] seriously the opinions of residents. For example, there is currently talk of a dog park being created in Brecon Park. The city put a survey on their website, and posters with QR codes in Brecon Park to encourage people to be involved in the decision-making on that issue. I would love to see the city make those results public, even if just the “for” and “against” numbers, and I would like the city to give a lot of weight to residential input on how to proceed, or whether to proceed with that project. I think as leaders, if we’ve done a good job laying out our plan, residential input will reflect those results. If we have not, we need to either regroup and reassess or move on.

Candidate Miri Weidner: A city budget should have a solid foundation that identifies what our goals are both short term and long term, an accurate inventory of income and costs, and a plan of how to best utilize our money to maintain and support our community. My priority with the city budget is fully understanding where our money is being used, how we can better use it and how we can ensure that we are maintaining the city’s needs with that budget.

What role should the city play in housing affordability and growth?

Tremane Halsch: Housing affordability is not just a policy point for me. It is personal. I know what it is like to come home to an eviction notice on the door. I know what it is like to see belongings on the curb even after doing everything you can. I know the feeling of relying on candles because the lights were shut off, and I know what it is like to choose between rent and groceries. Those experiences drive my commitment to making sure no one in Saline has to go through that.

The city has a real role to play in shaping growth that works for everyone. I believe we should set a clear expectation that new development includes affordable housing, working toward a benchmark of at least 20 percent of units whenever possible, using zoning tools, incentives, and development agreements.

At the same time, we have to think about affordability for the people who already live here. For longtime residents, especially seniors and families on fixed incomes, I will explore targeted relief programs and partnerships that help manage rising costs while staying within state law, including through Saline Social Services. For new homeowners, I will work with county and state partners to expand tools such as down payment assistance and first-time buyer incentives.

This way, we are not only protecting the people who already call Saline home, we are also making room for the next generation of families who want to build their lives here.

Jenn Harmount: Saline is growing, and the city must take a proactive role in ensuring that growth is inclusive and sustainable. I support zoning updates that allow for a wider range of housing types, including townhomes, duplexes, and accessory dwelling units, especially near downtown and along transit corridors. I also believe the city should work with developers to include affordable and workforce housing in new projects. Growth should not come at the expense of our infrastructure or community character, which is why I support smart growth principles and regional collaboration.

Matt Augnst: The city has a responsibility to make sure Saline remains a place where people can live at every stage of life—from young professionals and families to seniors. We should explore diverse housing options, ensure new development fits the character of Saline, and work with regional partners to address affordability. Growth should strengthen our community, not price people out.

Bret Pollington: Part of our role as city leaders is to ensure that the cost of living in our city isn’t completely unattainable, or forces hard-working people into debt or poverty to have their basic needs met. Zoning can play a major role in that. We must be comfortable with allowing more multifamily units to be built within the city, and we shouldn’t be waiting for developers to come to us. We should be seeking out developers who have mission statements that don’t begin and end with their bottom line, but that are in the business of creating sustainable, affordable housing.

Housing affordability is about more than housing, though. Part of housing being affordable is the city spending the money it has responsibly. We should be aiming for a surplus so we can consider cutting taxes to increase affordability. I’m a believer that just because we have money that we could budget for something, doesn’t mean we should. This isn’t to say that every penny we spend should only be essential spending, but that should be our primary focus, and everything else should go through a rigorous vetting process. Part of that vetting should be netting as much public feedback as possible about spending decisions, especially when they are controversial.

A current example of this would be the city last week allocating $40,000 to potential repairs to a pool heater at the Rec Center that is going to be replaced in two and a half months. I believe if residents were asked at the ballot box tomorrow how they would feel about spending $40k on repairing a pool heater that is being replaced in 2.5 months, they would likely reject that request. As city leaders, we should frame every allocation in those terms, because accountability shouldn’t happen just every election cycle. We should hold ourselves accountable to residents with every vote we cast.

Miri Weidner: We can improve on housing affordability by enacting policies that support sustainable growth for areas within Saline. By working with our zoning and planning commissions in a timely manner, we can make sure the trajectory for growth is positive and affordable.

What do you see as the biggest challenge facing our city in the next five years?

Tremane Halsch: Our biggest challenge in the next five years is how we, as a city and community, grow thoughtfully. Growth is coming. The real question is whether we let it happen to us or whether we shape it in a way that keeps Saline livable, welcoming, and strong.

Growing thoughtfully means investing in the essentials we already have such as roads, water, and public services so they are prepared for the future. It means creating space for new residents and businesses without losing the character that draws people here. And it means planning for tomorrow, not just reacting year by year. If we get this right, Saline will not just expand. It will thrive. If we do not, we risk stretching our resources thin and eroding the very qualities that make people want to live here.

Jenn Harmount: The biggest challenge is managing growth while maintaining infrastructure and quality of life. As new developments like Curtis Park Estates and others move forward, we must ensure our roads, utilities, and public services can keep pace. We’re also facing challenges with stormwater management, particularly in areas like North Harris Street, and we need to invest in climate-resilient infrastructure. Balancing development with environmental sustainability and fiscal responsibility will be critical.

Matt Augnst: The biggest challenge will be balancing growth with affordability and Matt infrastructure. Saline is a desirable place to live, but rising housing costs and aging infrastructure could put a strain on both residents and city resources. We need to plan responsibly so Saline grows in a way that is sustainable and inclusive.

Bret Pollington: I think affordability is the obvious answer, with not a lot of easy solutions. There are many factors that play into affordability that are beyond the control or reach of the city government. Because of this, we should not pretend that everything is business as usual. We can tighten our belts as a city a bit and relieve some of the pressure on all residents. Saline must grow, and it’s hard to attract new families to our tax base when they realize they can get many of the amenities of the city, including our treasured schools, but pay township taxes. If we want to attract young people and new families to live within the city limits, we have to address property taxes. If we ignore this issue, we will see declining enrollment in our schools, less disposable income to spend in our downtown businesses, and more empty storefronts.

Miri Weidner: The biggest challenge facing our city in the next five years is identifying how we can lower taxes while still maintaining healthy growth. Many of our residents are on fixed incomes - we need to use long term plans to slowly but gracefully encourage maintenance and improvements so the full costs of those improvements do not fall on the citizens of Saline annually.

How would you support local businesses and attract new ones to our community?

Tremane Halsch: Saline’s small businesses are more than storefronts, they’re the backbone of our local economy and the heart of our community. Supporting them means making it easier to start, sustain, and grow right here at home.

I already do this work as a member of Saline’s Economic Development Corporation and Tax Increment Finance Authority boards, where I focus on strengthening our business environment and ensuring that public investment benefits the whole community. As the founder of a consultancy, I’ve also helped small businesses and entrepreneurs navigate challenges, build systems, and scale their ideas into something sustainable. Those experiences shape how I see the city’s role.

I will work to expand resources for entrepreneurs by streamlining city processes, cutting red tape, and making sure business owners can access clear, simple information about permits, financing, and growth opportunities. At the same time, we should be intentional about attracting new businesses that align with Saline’s values, family-friendly establishments, innovative startups, and employers who provide good jobs and reinvest locally.

Part of this work is branding. A ‘Made in Saline’ campaign would highlight our local makers, growers, and entrepreneurs, giving them visibility and giving residents a chance to take pride in what’s built here. Pairing that with regional partnerships and smart incentives will bring in new investment while protecting the businesses that already make Saline unique. When our small businesses thrive, our whole city thrives.

Jenn Harmount: Supporting local businesses means creating spaces and systems that help them thrive. I developed and implemented a new subcommittee decision matrix process that streamlined how recommendations are evaluated and advanced to council. This process was first used in the subcommittee I served on, which proposed the Saline Social Gathering Space—a project designed to increase foot traffic downtown and support small businesses through flexible, community-centered public space. Thanks to this structured approach, the proposal moved efficiently through council and received approval. I’ll continue to advocate for efficient, transparent systems and strategic investments that make Saline a welcoming place for both new and existing businesses.

Matt Augnst: Small businesses are the backbone of Saline’s economy. I would support policies that make it easier for entrepreneurs to start and grow here—like streamlining permitting, maintaining vibrant public spaces, and investing in infrastructure that supports walkability and downtown activity. To attract new businesses, we should highlight Saline’s strengths: strong schools, a skilled workforce, and a welcoming community.

Bret Pollington: We have some incredible businesses downtown right now. Attracting more business and supporting local businesses that already exist requires a solution to the same problem. We need to attract more out-of-towners to Saline. If we can encourage more people to visit Saline, opening a business here would be a more attractive opportunity for a potential entrepreneur. We have a beautiful downtown, and I think if we developed an effective marketing campaign that targets both consumers and would-be business owners, that would have a great impact. We all know Saline is a great place to be, and we need to send that message out to the surrounding communities.

Another obvious issue is downtown business rent prices. While I’ve been out talking to community members, I’ve had residents tell me that they have tried to open businesses downtown, only to find that the rent was too high. I even heard one say that she was planning to sign a lease to move her business downtown, and when she received the lease, the monthly cost was three times what she had been quoted over the phone. While Michigan law favors landlords, there are always opportunities for municipalities to negotiate terms to encourage stabilization of rents. Because of my background, I believe I could potentially pursue some negotiation options not yet explored.

Miri Weidner: The city council can support our businesses by helping initiatives to attract potential consumers to our area. This includes being supportive with events, improving maintenance of our assets with preventative maintenance plans, and allocating additional money to improve our city as a whole in recreational areas. Our continued support of Main Street and its initiatives helps support businesses that are coming into the area, as well as making sure incentives are still available such as the one through Main Street with the Match on Main Grant.

continued in part two...