Two Council Vacancies Offer Cedar Springs Residents Chance to Serve Their Community

CEDAR SPRINGS — The Cedar Springs City Council is accepting applications to fill two vacant council seats.

On April 9, 2026, the council voted unanimously to accept the resignations of Brayden Marvel and Alice Rudy. Marvel stepped down after moving with his family outside the district. Rudy’s resignation came as a surprise during the meeting, when she asked the council to accept her resignation, citing personal and family reasons. Council members offered statements of appreciation for both officials before voting to accept their departures.

The vacancies leave two open seats with terms expiring in November 2027 and November 2028. City officials have opened an application process to appoint replacements who will serve the remainder of those terms.

Applicants must be residents currently living within the Cedar Springs city limits and must be able to provide a utility bill as proof of residency. Interested candidates should submit a resume, cover letter explaining their interest in serving, and a completed Boards and Commissions application. Applications will be accepted through April 27, 2026, and may be submitted to City Manager Darla Falcon by email at manager@cityofcedarsprings.org or by mail to PO Box 310, Cedar Springs, MI 49319.

Public interviews with applicants are scheduled for 6 p.m. Thursday, May 7, 2026, during a special meeting at the new City Hall, 130 Muskegon St. The Boards and Commissions application is available on the city’s website, www.cityofcedarsprings.org, or in person at the current City Hall, 66 S. Main St.

City leaders emphasized the importance of civic engagement and maintaining a full council.

“We need residents who are willing to make a difference and take an active role in shaping our community, rather than limiting their involvement to social media commentary,” mayor Lisa Atchison said. She added that council service provides an opportunity to participate in informed discussions, vote on issues affecting the city and make a meaningful difference in local government.

Council member Rose Powell said the council chamber is where substantive decisions are made.

“This is the place to deal with the facts, not Facebook,” Powell said. “It’s where we deal with the laws, the budget, and we have a fabulous city staff that helps us. It’s our wonderful little city and we want to keep it that way.”

City Manager Darla Falcon said a full council is essential to the city’s operations and policy direction.

“Being a city council member is so important,” Falcon said. “We need a full board, and the different ideas that sets policy for the whole town. It’s important for my staff and I to have a full board so they can all have different opinions about what we’re putting in policy, we get our direction from them. They set the policies and my staff and I carry them out.”

With two seats now open, the city says the appointments will play a key role in ensuring continued community representation in the months and year ahead.