Local meeting primer: Sturgis City Commission

The Sturgis City Commission will meet this Wednesday, February 11, at 6 p.m. at Sturgis City Hall. Commissioners will revisit two proposed ordinance changes from their last meeting—burning regulations and promotional display rules—and consider several new business items, including a Drinking Water State Revolving Loan Fund (DWSRF) project plan related to lead service line replacement, hiring a construction manager for the Sturgis Electric Center project, and the decertification of a portion of S. Park Street.

The city’s previous DWSRF project plan, approved in 2021, has expired, prompting city staff to pursue funding tied to the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. That funding “must be used in 2027 and can only be used for lead service line replacement,” according to the city manager’s report. City staff say the funding could “turbocharge our lead service line replacement program before 2037.”

Commissioners will decide whether to approve a new contract with Fishbeck Inc. for professional services to develop and submit a new DWSRF project plan, at a cost of $29,800.

Commissioners will also consider adding a construction manager to the Sturgis Electric Center project. City staff say the move would provide design feedback and help “avoid issues and added costs during construction.” Hiring a construction manager would add $342,069 to the project cost. Commissioners will consider a bid from AVB Construction for the role.

City Engineer Barry Cox is recommending the city decertify a portion of S. Park Street—from Albert Avenue south to Forest Avenue—because it does not meet width requirements for Act 51 local street funding. Decertifying a street removes it from eligibility for certain state road funds but does not vacate it as a public right-of-way.

The section of roadway is “basically an alley,” Cox wrote in an email to Watershed Voice. “Its overall width excludes it from being an Act 51 certified street segment. We are trying to clean up a mistake which was made long ago.”

Cox said the street would continue to be maintained in a manner similar to other gravel or paved alleys, and he expects minimal change in how it is maintained going forward.

Other business

Commissioners will hold a first reading on a proposed Deferred Retirement Option Plan, or DROP, which would allow certain retirement-eligible city employees to continue working while their pension benefit accrues in a separate account.

Under the current system, an employee retires, stops working and begins collecting their pension. Under the proposed DROP program, an employee who is eligible to retire could choose to continue working. Their pension benefit would be calculated and frozen, with that amount accruing in a DROP account while they remain employed. When the employee later retires, they would receive their pension going forward, along with the accumulated funds in the DROP account.

Wednesday’s discussion will be a first reading only; no final vote on the DROP program is scheduled yet.

Residents may comment on agenda items in person as they are taken up during the meeting. Public comment on items not listed on the agenda is scheduled earlier in the meeting, before the commission begins new business.

Maxwell Knauer is a staff writer for Watershed Voice.