Government
Plainwell has a council-manager government: the City Council sets policy and the City Manager runs the city day to day.
Council, boards and departments
City Council
- Council membersThe Mayor, Mayor Pro-Tem and three council members
- Agendas, packets and minutes
- Meeting schedule2nd and 4th Mondays, 7:00 PM
- Code of OrdinancesHosted by American Legal Publishing
- Public notices
Boards and commissions
- Planning Commission
- Zoning Board of Appeals
- Parks and Trees Commission
- DDA, TIFA and BRADowntown development, tax increment financing and brownfield
- Board of Review
- Compensation Board
- Ransom Library Board of Trustees
- Apply to serve on a board
Departments
- City Manager
- City ClerkElections, FOIA and city records
- Public SafetyPolice and fire
- Public WorksStreets, water system, sewers and parks
- Water RenewalWastewater treatment
- Building, Planning and Zoning
- Assessor and Treasurer
- Plainwell Municipal Airport
Documents and city business
City documents
Working for the city
- Job openingsPublic Safety Firefighter (On-Call) and Community Development Manager
- Bid opportunities
- Public notices
- Elections and voting
How Plainwell is governed
Plainwell has a council-manager form of government. The City Council consists of five council members elected at large on a non-partisan basis. The Mayor and Mayor Pro-Tem are elected by the Council.
Reporting directly to the City Council, the City Manager is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the City as outlined by the City Charter, oversees the City’s long-term development plans, and prepares and administers the City budget.
The City Council meets every 2nd and 4th Monday of the month at 7:00 PM in the City Hall Council Chambers, 211 N. Main Street.
A welcome from the Mayor
Greetings!
My name is Brad Keeler. I have been on the City Council since 1994, and elected Mayor in August of 2019. It’s an honor to be an elected official for the residents in Plainwell; we’re very proud of the City services offered and the staff that makes them possible.
I have grown up in this community and have been a farmer since 1974, and now own the only farm in Plainwell. My roots are deep here in Plainwell, which is a beautiful and safe community with numerous options for shopping, recreation, cultural events, summer concerts and some of the “Best of West Michigan’s” restaurants and ice cream parlors.
Plainwell is known as the Island City simply because the Kalamazoo River must be crossed as you enter the City from any direction. Our community takes full advantage of the river with the use of our parks and riverwalk.
So I welcome you to Plainwell; enjoy a walk through town, the river, the art work and the ice cream.
Mayor Brad Keeler
