Water Emergencies please call Jake Cline - (231) 383-3731

Village of Bear Lake

Village of Bear LakeVillage of Bear LakeVillage of Bear Lake

Village of Bear Lake

Village of Bear LakeVillage of Bear LakeVillage of Bear Lake
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    • Home
    • Government
      • Village Council
      • Village Meeting Schedule
      • Village Meeting Minutes
      • Village Staff
      • Village Financial Reports
      • Planning Commission
      • Planning Meeting Schedule
      • Planning Meeting Minutes
      • Documents and Reports
      • Ordinances/Resolutions/Po
      • Short Term Rentals
      • FOIA Info / Forms
      • Blight Info / Reporting
      • Zoning / Code Enforcement
      • Jobs / Volunteer
    • Hopkins Park
    • Events
    • Activities
    • History
    • Contact Us
  • Home
  • Government
    • Village Council
    • Village Meeting Schedule
    • Village Meeting Minutes
    • Village Staff
    • Village Financial Reports
    • Planning Commission
    • Planning Meeting Schedule
    • Planning Meeting Minutes
    • Documents and Reports
    • Ordinances/Resolutions/Po
    • Short Term Rentals
    • FOIA Info / Forms
    • Blight Info / Reporting
    • Zoning / Code Enforcement
    • Jobs / Volunteer
  • Hopkins Park
  • Events
  • Activities
  • History
  • Contact Us

Village Council Representatives

Village Officials

Shelly (Michelle) Lynnes

Shelly (Michelle) Lynnes

Role: Village President

Email: president@villageofbearlakemi.gov

Phone: (906)-231-7132

Term: November 2024 - November 2026


Shelly was elected President of the Bear Lake Village Council in November 2022 after having been appointed as a Trustee in 2020. Shelly and her family moved to Bear Lake after her employer transferred her to a local state office. Shelly's husband, Jack, and their family enjoy the many contacts they have made in the area and look forward to raising their family here along with staying involved in Village affairs. 

Tracy Gary

Tracy Gary

Role: Village Treasurer

Email: treasurer@villageofbearlakemi.gov 

Phone: (231) 970-2066 (Village Hall)

Term: Reappointed 2025


Tracy has lived in Bear Lake almost her entire life, so around 47 years. Tracy is married and has two children and a dog. Tracy also works in an administrative capacity for a local company.

Becky (Rebekah) Cline

Role: Village Clerk

Email: clerk@villageofbearlakemi.gov 

Phone: (231) 970-2066 (Village Hall)

Term: Reappointed 2025


Becky grew up visiting Bear Lake often to see family. Members of her family have been a longstanding part of the community who have always looked for ways to make the Village and surrounding area a better place to live and enjoy. 

Becky's hope is to learn by example and help things run as efficiently as possible for the betterment of the Village.
She, together with her husband and children, live on a small farm in Bear Lake.

Village Trustees

Daniel Heiss

Daniel Heiss

Role: Village Trustee

Email: blvillagetrustee1@gmail.com


Daniel is the 4th generation of his family to enjoy the Village of Bear Lake. Daniel was born and raised in Indiana. Daniel's family vacationed in their current home in the Village during their early years creating fond memories of the Village and the surrounding areas. Daniel is happy to now be a full-time resident of the Village. Daniel is excited to be transparent with Village issues and decisions. It is his goal to participate and vote in such a way as to be financially responsible with Village finances. 

Rodney Gee

Rodney Gee

Role: Village Trustee

Email: N/A


Rodney and his family have been Bear Lake residents for 12 years. Rodney has a full time job as does everyone on the Village Council. He has been a Village Trustee for over 5 years. Rodney chooses to serve the Village as a Trustee because he believes people need to be willing to step up to help run the Village so people's voices can be heard and play a part in the future of the Village. Rodney looks forward to continuing to raise his family in the Village of Bear Lake.  

Janene Gee

Janene Gee

Role: Village Trustee

Email: janeneblvctrustee@gmail.com


Janene has been a Bear Lake resident for 12 years. She is working hard to vote in the best interest of ALL Bear Lake residents and will continue to try and make necessary changes that improve our small town for young families and visitors alike. Janene always encourages our residents to get involved and come to meetings as the more ideas we can gather, the more insight we will have when pursuing grants and voting at meetings. Janene wants regular people involved, not just those that have a special interest in our area; those born and raised here, those that moved in and are planting roots here are all important individuals in our pursuit of making Bear Lake an even better place to live. 

Other Village Staff

Jake Cline

Jake Cline

Role: Department of Public Works (DPW) Manager

Email:  dpw@villageofbearlakemi.gov

Phone: (231) 383-3731


The role of the Village DPW Manager is to serve as the caretaker of all outdoor and operational aspects of the municipality such as the Municipal Water System, streets, Hopkins Campground and park, Cosier (Municipal) Park, beaches, storm sewer functioning and equipment maintenance. Jake takes the responsibility of serving this community and keeping its residents safe very seriously. He strives to do his job as openly and effectively as possible. 


He would like to thank everyone for the opportunity to serve you.

Jay and Janet Krause

Jay and Janet Krause

Role: Hopkins Park Hosts

Email: blhopkinspark@gmail.com

Phone: (231) 655-2038


Jay and Janet are the Park Hosts at beautiful Hopkins Park, a campground on the shores of 1,744 acre Bear Lake. Bear Lake is a well known all-sport lake in Northwest Michigan and many people visit this park for swimming, boating, and fishing along with enjoying the camping facilities at Hopkins Park. "In our opinion this is the nicest lake in this county and many other counties as well. We have campers from all over the country and around the world visiting and camping at Hopkins Park. 

We decided to become Park Hosts every summer after Jay retired.  We love camping and meeting new people and the best part is making forever friends!" - Jay / Janet

Village of Bear Lake

12016 Russell Street P.O. Box 175, Bear Lake, Michigan 49614, United States

Copyright © 2024 Village of Bear Lake - All Rights Reserved.

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ANNOUNCEMENTS

US 31 ROAD WORK 7/13-10/30/26

The MI Dept of Transportation will begin rebuilding

US-31 through Bear Lake around 7/13/26 with  completion likely by 10/30/26. For more information, see the notice under Government and then Documents. 

BRUSH PICKUP SCHEDULE 2026

Brush will be picked up on the following dates:: 

August 6, September 10

October 8

Please make sure all brush is piled neatly at the curb with the cut ends facing the street.

Go to Village Schedule