City of Keego Harbor

08/26/2026

August has been a busy month at Keego Harbor City Hall, with several important efforts moving forward around redevelopment, modernization, and environmental stewardship.

Earlier this month, our four major boards — City Council, Planning Commission, TIFA, and Parks & Recreation — came together for a joint strategic planning session. The goal was straightforward: establish a shared vision for Keego Harbor’s future and better align the priorities, resources, and energy of each board around making that vision happen. A Final report is expected to be presented by October.

Last week, City Council also approved two significant service modernization initiatives.

1. We're modernizing our public meeting process to make agendas and minutes easier to prepare, access, and navigate.

2. We're also moving our BS&A municipal software to the cloud — laying the groundwork for more online payments, better access to property information, and online permitting and inspection scheduling for residents, businesses, and developers.

And City Council and the Planning Commission continue to refine a stormwater quality ordinance focused on reducing harmful runoff into Keego Harbor’s lakes and waterways while establishing practical standards for future development. A final draft could return for consideration in September.

Every journey includes small steps, and we hope these are steps forward toward a welcoming & responsive Keego Harbor.

08/20/2026

Curious about potential of adding solar to your house? Oakland County, Michigan Government is hosting a event at Craft Brew City in Farmington Hills on 9/15 between 6-8 p.m. Check out the story for more details:

08/13/2026

Last night, members of the Keego Harbor City Council, Planning Commission, Tax Increment Finance Authority (TIFA), and Parks & Recreation Commission came together for a joint strategic visioning session focused on the future of our community.

Through thoughtful discussion and collaboration, participants identified four key pillars of the vision that will help guide future decision-making, investments, and community priorities:

🌊 Protect and Promote Our Natural Resources – Care for the lakes, waterways, trail systems, parks, and natural assets that make Keego Harbor unique, and increase opportunities for all residents to connect with our natural assets.

🤝 Smallness as Closeness – Embrace the connected, neighborly character of a small town while benefiting from our location in the heart of Oakland County.

🏪 Welcome Business Investment – Foster an environment where local businesses can thrive and new investment is encouraged.

🏡 Enhance Quality of Life – Support the services, amenities, and community experiences that make Keego Harbor a great place to live, work, and visit.

This session marks the beginning of a shared effort to align priorities across boards and commissions and turn community goals into meaningful action. Thank you to everyone who participated and contributed their ideas, energy, and commitment to Keego Harbor's future.
Thank you to Representative Noah Arbit for attending last night's strategic planning session!

08/05/2026

We estimate 641 unofficial ballots cast yesterday, Keego Harbor recorded its highest August primary turnout by total ballots cast in the past 10 years—more than 200 additional voters compared to the August 2024 Primary and nearly 30% voter turnout.

A huge thank you to our dedicated election inspectors and Interim City Clerk, who worked together through a long day to make this election a success.

If you see one of our election inspectors around town, please thank them for their service. Interested in helping with the November election? We'd love to have you on the team—contact City Hall to learn more! (Note - still smiling after a 16 hour day!)

08/04/2026

☀️ Good morning, Keego Harbor!

The sun is shining over City Hall, and we're seeing a steady stream of voters participating in today's Primary Election. Here are a few reminders before you head to the polls:

🗳️ 1. Vote in only one party's primary.
Michigan's primary ballot requires you to select candidates from one political party only. Voting across multiple party sections will invalidate the partisan portion of your ballot.

📍 2. Verify your voter information.
If you're a new resident, recently moved, heading to college, or aren't sure where you're registered, check your voter registration and polling location through the Michigan Voter Information Center before coming to City Hall. https://mvic.sos.state.mi.us/

📝 3. You can still register and vote today.
Michigan offers same-day voter registration. If you're eligible but not yet registered, visit the Keego Harbor City Clerk's Office with proof of residency, register to vote, and cast your ballot today.

👏 4. Say thank you!
Our election inspectors and City staff have been hard at work preparing for today's election and are committed to ensuring every eligible voter has the opportunity to cast their ballot. If you see them today, please take a moment to thank them for their public service.

Polls are open until 8:00 p.m. We look forward to seeing you at the polls!

07/31/2026

A reminder for next week! City of Keego Harbor City Hall operations will be limited on Tuesday for election support.

07/30/2026

Roll call for the end of a busy July in Keego!

Here's a quick top 5 of highlights from July's Council meetings:

💧 1. Water Quality Ordinance
Council reviewed a draft water quality ordinance presented by the City's engineering consultant, HRC. The discussion centered on protecting water quality and public health while being mindful of barriers for businesses. The conversation will continue in August.

📋 2. Sign Ordinance Update
After months of work by the Planning Commission, Council adopted a comprehensive update to the City's sign ordinance to modernize regulations and provide clearer standards for residents and businesses.

🏛️ 3. Rules of Procedure
Council approved a complete update to its Rules of Procedure, making it easier for residents to understand how City Council meetings are organized and how the public can participate.

💻 4. Modernizing City Services
Council received updates on potential modernization of the City's financial software and agenda management system. Discussions focused on balancing improved public services and operational efficiencies with the financial investment required. Additional information is expected in August.

🤝 5. Mayor Pro Tem Appointed
Congratulations to Councilmember Cristina Gabarda Elsen who was unanimously appointed by her colleagues to serve as the City's Mayor Pro Tem.

City of Keego Harbor News, Keego Harbor Parks and Rec, Joel RossCorine Streng

The Keego Harbor City Council is committed to conducting the public's business in a fair, transparent, and efficient manner. The Council's Rules of Procedure establish the framework for how meetings are conducted, how agenda items are considered, how public participation is accommodated, and how Cou...

07/27/2026

The water is calm and open under the Willow Street bridge this morning as crews opened up for canal access over the weekend! The bridge is expected to open up for traffic again by the end of the week. Joel Ross, Corine Streng, Cristina Gabarda Elsen, City of Keego Harbor News, Keego Harbor Parks and Rec

07/24/2026

🇺🇸 The Primary Election is 11 days away: Tuesday, Aug. 4
🗳️ Early voting starts tomorrow, July 25

Everything you need to be Election Day-ready is in our handy guide below ⤵️

✳️𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐋𝐘 𝐕𝐎𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆✳️
Keego Harbor voters: cast your ballot early starting tomorrow! Locations are open daily July 25 – Aug. 3.

Regional Early Voting Site #9
West Bloomfield Township Public Library
4550 Walnut Lake Road
West Bloomfield, MI 48323

Central Early Voting Site #19
Waterford Oaks Activity Center
2800 Watkins Lake Road
Waterford, MI 48328

Hours:
Mon, Tue, Wed, Fri, Sat, Sun: 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Thurs: Noon – 8:00 p.m.

✳️𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐃𝐀𝐘 𝐕𝐎𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆✳️
Tuesday, August 4
Keego Harbor City Hall (the City's only polling location)
7 a.m. – 8 p.m.

✳️𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐈𝐍𝐅𝐎✳️
Verify your voter registration, view a sample ballot, check your absentee ballot status, and verify your polling location by visiting the Michigan Voter Information Center: https://mvic.sos.state.mi.us/.

✳️𝐐𝐔𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒✳️
Anything else you want to know? We're here to help! Ask us here, or check out https://www.keegoharbor.org/departments/elections/index.php to learn more about voting in Keego Harbor and contact the City Clerk.

07/21/2026

Big news: the City of Keego Harbor has officially adopted its 2026 Master Plan! This sets a long-term vision for growth, housing, transportation, & economic development for decades to come.

Built through years of resident input, the plan is all about preserving what makes Keego Harbor special—our tight-knit community & waterfront character—while opening the door to new opportunities.

What's in the plan?
🚶 A more walkable, connected Cass Lake Road corridor with inviting streetscapes & gathering spaces
🏡 Expanded housing choices to help families put down roots at every stage of life
🏗️ Smart redevelopment of underused sites into new housing, businesses, & public spaces

"This plan reflects years of community conversation about what residents want Keego Harbor to become," said Mayor Joel Ross. "It provides a clear direction for future investment while safeguarding the character and sense of community that make Keego Harbor special."

What's next: implementation. Over the coming years, the City will work on modernizing zoning, developing corridor design standards, preparing for the 2028 Cass Lake Road reconstruction, & pursuing redevelopment and grant opportunities—all guided by this shared vision.

📖 Read the full story: keegoharbor.org/news