Local meeting primer: Three Rivers City Commission
The Three Rivers City Commission will meet Tuesday, March 3 to consider a city-wide mowing contract, water meter replacements, winter salt funding, and adding Farrand Hall Diner to the downtown social district.
As noted previously, Watershed Voice will be live-streaming the City Commission meeting on its Facebook page, and will upload the video to YouTube after. All Three Rivers City Commission meetings will be live-streamed and uploaded going forward.
The Three Rivers City Commission will meet Tuesday, March 3 to consider a city-wide mowing contract, water meter replacements, winter salt funding, and whether to add Farrand Hall to the downtown social district.
Commissioners will decide which city-wide mowing bid to select and move forward with once grass starts to grow again in the city. Bids were opened on February 19, 2026, for city-wide services. The low bidder was YardTech LLC — a company the City of Three Rivers previously contracted with for mowing during the 2020–22 seasons. Commissioners will decide whether to award the recommended low bidder the contract for a total of $108,655 annually for 2026, 2027, and 2028.
Commissioners will also consider approval of the use of additional funds allocated for water meter and meter head replacements throughout the city. $500,000 was originally budgeted to replace commercial and residential water meters and heads; however, only $300,000 was approved for use initially. Now that the project has continued and the initial funds have been expended, the remaining $200,000 is needed to continue replacing water meters and meter heads throughout the city. Commissioners will consider approving the additional $200,000.
Commissioners will decide on approving an additional $854.75 to pay for the salt delivered over the initially purchased amount of 500 tons approved by the Commission. On August 19, 2025, commissioners approved the 2025–26 winter salt purchase of 500 tons plus a 5.4% contingency — equal to 27 tons. The total salt delivered this winter was 539.4 tons, triggering the need for Commission approval for payment of the additional salt delivered.
The Commission will decide whether to add Farrand Hall’s downtown Three Rivers location as part of the city’s Social District, which permits alcoholic beverages to be consumed within designated public areas in the downtown district. Farrand Hall opened its downtown Three Rivers location in February 2026. Since opening, it has obtained its liquor license and started serving alcohol.
Lastly, commissioners will decide whether to move forward with a grant with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources at Elbert Foster Park to install a paved parking lot, playground equipment, and a sidewalk connecting the parking lot and playground, along with picnic tables and grills.
Live-streaming
As noted previously, Watershed Voice will be live-streaming the City Commission meeting on its Facebook page and upload the video to YouTube after. All Three Rivers City Commission meetings will be live-streamed and uploaded going forward.
Maxwell Knauer is a staff writer for Watershed Voice.
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