Traverse City Mayor Amy Shamroe will serve another term while three new faces will join the city commission following Tuesday’s election – including Laura Ness, Lance Boehmer, and Kenneth Funk. Voters also approved proposals to enshrine an ethics ordinance in the city’s charter and to spend up to $3 million over the next five years from the city’s Brown Bridge Trust Fund (BBTF) on park projects. Voters, however, rejected a proposal to use the BBTF as a city interfund loan source. In Fife Lake, meanwhile, all but one in a slate of millage proposals passed at the polls.

Traverse City Commission Race
Three current Traverse City commissioners will drop off the board following Tuesday’s election, including Mark Wilson and Mi Stanley – who didn’t seek reelection this year – and Tim Werner, who lost the mayoral race against Amy Shamroe. Shamroe will be sworn in for a second two-year term as mayor at next Monday’s commission meeting. Joining her will be Laura Ness, Lance Boehmer, and Kenneth Funk, who won three open commission seats – in that order of votes – from a field of five candidates (Mary Mills and Peter Schous also ran but were not elected). The three new commissioners will serve four-year terms on the board.

The mayoral race marked the first time in a decade that two sitting members of the city commission contended for the role. Shamroe served as city commissioner for eight years prior to being elected mayor in 2023. She previously told The Ticker she sought another term to continue work on initiatives underway such as the city’s strategic plan, housing and homelessness projects, mobility improvements, and collaboration between the city and Grand Traverse County. 

“I’m very grateful to the voters of Traverse City for electing me again,” Shamroe said Tuesday. “I’ve worked really hard these last ten years to be a fair and reasonable voice on the commission. We have three new commissioners coming on who have been very engaged throughout the election process, so we’re in a good position to start getting things done.” Werner did not return a request for comment.

Ness has served as chair of the City of Traverse City and Garfield Township Recreational Authority and Hickory Hills Advisory Committee and president and co-founder of the nonprofit Preserve Hickory. Boehmer is director of enterprise sales at software startup Motive and serves as secretary on the Bay Area Transportation Authority (BATA) board of directors. Funk is a firefighter and paramedic with the Traverse City Fire Department. Also serving on the city commission are Heather Shaw, Jackie Anderson, and Mitch Treadwell, whose terms all expire in 2027.

Traverse City Ballot Proposals
City voters Tuesday approved two of three proposals on the ballot. Voters overwhelmingly backed a proposal to enshrine an ethics ordinance in the city charter. City commissioners recently approved a new ethics ordinance, which applies to all city staff and elected officials and outlines expectations for ethical behavior – ranging from conflicts of interest to nepotism to preferential treatment to improper use of position. Commissioners planned to follow the new policy either way, but the charter amendment now enshrines a requirement for the city to maintain an ethics ordinance going forward.

Voters also approved using up to $3 million from the city’s Brown Bridge Trust Fund (BBTF) over the next five years for park projects. The BBTF hosts funds generated from oil, gas, and mineral rights on city-owned land, specifically the Brown Bridge Quiet Area. The principal of that fund can only be spent with voter approval. It has a balance right now of just over $11.3 million. Investments will go toward categories including Lake Shore Stabilization; Brown Bridge Quiet Area; Hickory Hills Mountain Bike Trail Design & Development; Park Essentials; Park Experiences; Trees; and Pickleball & Tennis Court Reconstruction at Slabtown Corner. Funds can also be spent on improving access to parks, specifically Boardman Lake Loop Trail Access, Bryant Park Access, and ADA improvements in city parks.

Voters rejected a second BBTF proposal that would have allowed the city to use up to $5 million from the BBTF principal as a revolving loan fund for interfund loans when recommended by the city treasurer and approved by the city commission. Shamroe said she heard from constituents that the concept was “confusing.” She added: “It’s not to say that the idea isn’t a good one, or couldn’t be brought back – but that would depend on the people.”

Fife Lake Proposals
Finally, Fife Lake voters approved five of six millage-related issues on the ballot Tuesday. Approved proposals included fire equipment, ambulance, fire protection, police services, and general operating funds requests. However, voters rejected a sixth request – a proposal to address a Headlee rollback and restore the countywide voted allocated millage from 0.7562 mills up to the previously authorized rate of 1.000 mills.

Pictured (top, left to right) Amy Shamroe, Laura Ness, Lance Boehmer, Kenneth Funk