With the exception of four churches, the entire city is zoned single-family residential. There is no commercial development. First incorporated as a village in 1958, the consistent goal of city government has been to maintain a rural atmosphere, with large lot size and as little disturbance of the natural environment as possible. For new construction, the minimum lot size is 2.5 acres of buildable land. Most of the city is heavily wooded, on moraine topography with many slopes and wetlands and three small private lakes.
City government is disarmingly simple - there are no city employees and no direct city services.
The only city properties are one undeveloped park and a parcel donated for a city hall, for which there is no need. An array of consultants provides the necessary professional services. Contractual arrangements with neighboring cities cover police and fire protection. Roads are maintained by independent contractors. Almost all properties have water wells and individual septic systems.