Joseph Gacioch Appointed Keego Harbor City Manager

Keego Harbor, MI – The Keego Harbor City Council unanimously appointed Joseph Gacioch as City Manager at its September 17 meeting. Council members and residents praised the progress made over the past several months and expressed optimism about the community’s future.

Gacioch has served as Interim City Manager since early June through his civic consulting company, Gacioch Civic Advisory. He brings 16 years of city management experience serving Royal Oak, Ferndale, and Ypsilanti.

“I have come to appreciate the character of this close-knit lakes community,” Gacioch said. “There is tremendous opportunity to advance the community’s and Council’s goals for downtown redevelopment and enhance our quality of life by celebrating our natural features and our central place in the Lakes region.”

“The community is looking forward with optimism, and we believe Joe’s experience and enthusiasm can help us take meaningful steps toward the future we envision,” said Mayor Pro Tem Cristina Elsen. “We also know we can’t do it alone. Building stronger relationships with our neighboring communities, our school district, and partners across the region will help us achieve more together. When we work together, we can lift all boats.”

In his new role, Gacioch will also serve as the community’s first dedicated Tax Increment Finance Authority (TIFA) Director. The authority’s priorities include revitalizing the Cass Lake corridor as Keego Harbor’s downtown and advancing the community’s vision for Dollar Lake as a vibrant, connected waterfront destination.

“Building strong relationships with developers and our business community, while tackling blight, is essential to moving Keego Harbor forward,” said Council member Corine Streng, the Council’s TIFA liaison. “We can do better by raising our professional standards in how we plan, communicate, and follow through. That commitment sets a higher standard for our community and helps create a city we can all take pride in.”

“The City, TIFA, Planning Commission, and Parks and Recreation Commission have united around a common vision—one that celebrates our natural assets, embraces our development potential, and sets high standards for our community,” Gacioch said. “I’m excited to work with a community that knows what it wants to achieve and is committed to doing the work to get there.”