Elected Officials
The Mayor
Nick J. Shelton Mayor
The Mayor is elected to a 4-year term. The Mayor is the official head of the City for ceremonial purposes, maintaining civil order, and other responsibilities required by law. The Mayor votes only when required to break a tie vote of the Council.
Hello, and thank you for visiting the Niles City website. My name is Nick Shelton and I am honored to serve as your mayor.
If you’ve been to Shelton’s Farm Market in the past 30 years, we’ve probably crossed paths. I started bagging groceries when I was 5 and worked in different capacities over the years. The experience has taught me a lot about leadership, the importance of working well with others, and the ultimate key to success – taking care of and helping people.
I am a graduate of Brandywine High School and earned my degree in Economics & Management from Albion College in 2008. Following my heart, I returned to Niles to be a part of the family business and to be closer to my parents, grandparents, and six siblings. It is in Niles where I met the two loves of my life, my fiancée, Allison Hayes, and her amazing daughter, Emery. Returning to Niles was the best decision I've ever made.
Living in the City of Niles has been a game-changer for me. I’ve fallen in love with our downtown and surrounding neighborhoods. When I’m not working in my yard, you can find me biking along the riverfront, visiting with my aunt Kim and cousin Katie (both small business owners in Downtown Niles), enjoying a movie at Wonderland, picking up a slice from Pizza Transit, Front Street Pizza Pub, or CJ's Pizza, drinking a pint at The Brass Eye or The Tavern, singing karaoke at The Nugget, and caffeinating with a cup of coffee from Brew Ha Ha or Gabrizio. I’ve discovered that our city has a lot to offer, and I know we’re just getting started.
As Mayor, it is my goal to positively impact the City of Niles, and to be a champion for the people of our city. I am confident that our experienced City Council and I will accomplish a lot over the next several years. But your help is crucial.
I encourage you, as Niles residents, to get involved. Come to meetings. Call and email your council members and me. Join a committee. Shop local businesses, attend city events, care for your Niles properties, and love your city. After all, if we don't love Niles, how can we expect outsiders to?
The future of Niles is now, and I am so happy to be a part of it. I am looking forward to the days, weeks, months, and years ahead! I look forward to hearing from you and encourage you to contact me. I want to know your concerns and your suggestions for the improvement of Niles. Thank you!
Email: mayor@nilesmi.org
Phone: (269) 683-4700 x3100
City Council
The City Council is the governing body of the City of Niles. The Council is composed of eight members elected at large. Each resident has two council members who represent the ward/voting precinct in which they live. To learn more about your voting precinct/ward location and to determine who your council representative is, view the Ward and Precinct Map on the City Clerk's Election page.
The City Charter delegates authority to the Council. In the determination of city policies and setting standards for service, the Council has the authority to appoint the city administrator, adopt the annual budget, enact city laws (ordinances), levy taxes, and authorize contracts and agreements.
The actions of the Council are accomplished by ordinance, resolution, or motion. Ordinances are adopted or amended according to the procedures shown under "Public Hearings."
Councilmember
Gretchen Bertschy, 1st Ward 
I am a graduate of Niles High School and received my undergraduate degree in Education from Manchester College and earned my Master’s Degree from Andrews University. My first teaching job was at Oak Manor Elementary School, but I’ve also taught at Ring Lardner and Cedar Lane schools I was principal at St. Mary’s Elementary School. I currently do not teach.
I’ve served on the Board of Directors for the Niles-Buchanan YMCA and was a five-year member of the Niles Service League. I truly enjoy the neighborhoods in the 1st Ward and am very humbled to be serving in that ward alongside Georgia Boggs. There are so many wonderful people working to make Niles a great community and I appreciate and am happy to be a part of those efforts.
Email: gbertschy@nilesmi.net
Phone: (269) 683-4700 x3101
Councilmember
Georgia Boggs, 1st Ward
Hi, Welcome to the Niles City Website. My name is Georgia Boggs and I have been serving on this council since 1995 as a Council Member of the First Ward. I was formerly employed by the Niles Community School system as a coordinator for the Drop Stop program.
Some of my hobbies include golfing, music, reading and working in my church. I am also a member of several local and national organizations. I am a graduate with a dual degree in business administration and marketing. I have over 20 years of volunteer experience in our community.
Email: gboggs@nilesmi.net
Phone: (269) 683-4700 x3102
Councilmember
Amanda Dunnem, 2nd Ward
As the most recently Elected Official in the City of Niles, I’m proud to welcome you to this webpage. Let me introduce myself as someone who was born in the Niles area and who has lived in the Second Ward all of my adult life.
I have worked in healthcare for nearly 20 years and most recently in hospice care for 12 of those years. I am the National Section Leader for CNAs with the National Hospice and Palliative Care Association. I also served on the Michigan Home Care and Hospice Public Policy Committee for 3 years and was a member of the Michigan Volunteer Coordinators Association for 2 years. My community service activities include volunteering with the Niles Apple Festival parade for 11 years and, through my employment, I also volunteered at the Niles Riverfest for several years.
I have also been an advocate for hospice and palliative care both in Lansing and in Washington, DC for many years, personally visiting state and federal lawmakers and attending professional conferences to advocate for improved laws and funding. I’m also an advocate for mental health and advocate often at state and federal levels for caregivers of those with mental illness.
Niles is the city I love; it is my home. I enjoy living here with my husband and daughter. My passion in life has been to help and to serve. I am honored to serve and to represent the constituents of the 2nd Ward and I look forward to hearing from you.
Email: adunnem@nilesmi.net
Phone: (269) 683-4700 x3103
Tim Rogers, 2nd Ward
Welcome to the City of Niles Elected Officials Page. I am Tim Rogers. I have been in and out of Niles my entire life. My parents were raised here and many of my relatives lived here. I am a retired Fire Battalion Chief and Licensed Paramedic. I had my career in Baytown, Texas with experience in Emergency Management, Public Education, Fire Code Inspections, and Fire / EMS Operations. I have experience in coalition building working with diverse groups to reach goals.
I retired after 34 years and moved to Niles to be closer to my parents who live here. I have been a member of the Utility Board until I was elected. I believe that the public as a whole does not get a fair picture of what the City does to keep Niles a great place to live and work. I want to try to communicate better what the City does and why. I also want to show our residents what they can do to help keep Niles a place that people want to visit and live in.
Email: trogers@nilesmi.net
Phone: (269) 683-4700 x3104
Councilmember
William Weimer, 3rd Ward
My wife Marie and I are the parents of 7 children and we have 8 grandchildren. I am a lifetime resident of the City of Niles who is currently employed at Tyler Refrigeration. In 1989 I retired from National Standard Company. I served as a volunteer for the Southwestern Michigan Community Ambulance Service for more than 10 years. I am a very active member of Huntley Baptist Church and I also minister at Leisure Valley Campgrounds each holiday weekend.
I hope you have enjoyed viewing the City of Niles Website. Please visit it often to learn more about our city.
Email: wweimer@nilesmi.net
Phone: (269) 683-4700 x3105
Councilmember
Charlie McAfee, 3rd Ward
Hello and Welcome to the Niles City Elected Officials Webpage. I am Mrs. Charlie McAfee, one of your 3rd Ward Council Members. My husband Hulan and I have 8 children - 4 boys and 4 girls.
I am proud to be your council person. I've worked as a public servant on and off since 1972 at both the state and local levels. I look forward to working with the Niles City Council to help make Niles the best little city in Berrien County. I promise to always keep the welfare of our citizens at the forefront of all decisions that we make so that Niles can remain the beautiful city that it is and to ensure that we provide good housing and a good quality of life for all of our citizens.
I hope to help make a difference in the lives of our families and friends. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to serve you.
Email: cmcafee@nilesmi.net
Phone: (269) 683-4700 x3106
Councilmember
Michael Thompson, 4th Ward
I was born in Katana, Kivu Province, Peoples Democratic Republic of Congo. My parents, Quintin and Melvina Thompson, were missionaries there and returned permanently to America when I was 6. I have three siblings (two brothers and a sister) who also live in Niles and all of them are active in the local community. With the exception of the time overseas with my parents on the mission field, and 4 years active duty in the Marine Corp, I have lived my whole life here in Niles.
I was born with Legg Perthes Disease and was unable to walk, without pain, unless assisted with crutches or a wheelchair until I was 10. I mention this so that I can sing the praises of the local Shriner Foundation. Without their assistance in the 1970’s my future would most certainly have been far different than how it actually turned out! The Shriners Foundation has helped thousands of children, like myself, without charging a single family for their services (so much for government being necessary for affordable healthcare). I am a self-employed entrepreneur and investor. I also work part time as a carpenter at my brother's business Advanced Hardwood Flooring.
Freedom is simply the right to be left alone (Not the right to do whatever you want, whenever you want, as some people misunderstand the term.), while Liberty means the right to be left alone by government. If there is less government interference in our lives when I leave office, than there was when I first arrived, I will consider my term a glowing success!
I would like to leave the reader with this simple thought. Personal power equals personal freedom. If you have more of one, you will always have more of the other (No government intervention required). Increasing personal wealth is the cornerstone to this strategy. If you are not saving at least 10% of all you earn, you are no better off than a slave living for what his master gives him to eat and live. Always remember to pay yourself first!
If you have not already done so, I would suggest everyone read the book, “The Richest Man in Babylon” by George S. Classon. It is a book written in parables which means it is not only educational but also entertaining. Becoming wealthy is a lot like knowing someone’s name. Sure, you could spend a lifetime trying to guess correctly but it’s a whole lot easier if someone just told you the answer! That is what the book will do for you, give you the answer as to how one becomes wealthy.
Email: mthompson@nilesmi.net
Phone: (269) 683-4700 x3107
John DiCostanzo, 4th Ward
Greetings, I am John DiCostanzo, recently appointed to represent the fourth ward of our wonderful city. My wife Denise and I moved here with our two sons in 1988, consciously selecting the City of Niles to be our “home town”. We relocated here from Long Island New York where we grew up in the shadow of New York City. The improvements in our “quality of life” have been many but I will explain a few highlights.
The move enabled us to own twice the house for half the price. At present the property taxes on the home we sold are 3.4 times what we pay for our home in Niles! The quality and responsiveness of the services provided by the City of Niles are equivalent and in some respects better. We are especially pleased by the reliability of the utility services. We receive an excellent value for our tax and utility dollars! I feel that many lifelong residents of Niles don’t fully appreciate these comparative economic realities.
One area where our city falls short is property value appreciation. This is a reflection on the state of our local economy, including availability of employment opportunities, the quality of our schools, and the state of our housing stock among other factors. The home we owned on Long Island has appreciated 120% since 1988 vs. 92% for our home here in Niles. I believe we can do better than that in the future.
My involvement in city government has enabled me to be more aware of many of the efforts that are already focused on making such improvements, including the small accomplishments along the way that may go unnoticed by many citizens. My objective as a member of City Council is to advocate for policies and investments that will deliver continuous improvement of the value we receive from our tax and utility dollars, as well as those that will attract new businesses to invest and improve our employment opportunities. Frequently these initiatives need to be done in cooperation with our neighboring communities so we need to maintain and improve our relationships with our neighboring local governments, leveraging our combined cooperative resources.
This Website is your portal to the City Government. Please take advantage of the wealth of information that is provided and feel free to contact me or the appropriate city staff members with your questions and concerns.
Email: jdicostanzo@nilesmi.net
Phone: (269) 683-4700 x3108
