Sturgis Commission approves compost site changes amid price hike frustrations from local contractors

The Sturgis City Commission met Wednesday, March 25 approving a series of changes to the city’s compost site, drawing frustration from local contractors who rely on the site for their businesses, raising concerns about steep price increases.

Commissioners also heard the city’s first-quarter financial report and approved a letter of intent tied to a future $13 million electric generation project.

The largest portion of the meeting focused on proposed compost site policy changes, which drew concerns from residents who use the site for commercial work.

One resident said the city raised prices by more than 400% for commercial users without phasing in the increase.

“It’s not our fault and we shouldn’t have to bear the burden that the city has decided not to increase the price for 18 years, so now you’re going to put that all on the business owners who take care of this town and make it look nice?” said Noah Hahn, who owns a lawn care business in the city.

The updated commercial rates are $750 for businesses within the city and $850 for those outside city limits, with additional vehicles costing $50 each.

“I can tell you, the commercial landscapers that are within this town, that service this town, we don’t want to lose our passes,” Hahn said. “That’s our lifeblood to be able to get our job done.”

Commissioner Cathi Abbs said the commission aims to support local businesses and is “pro-business.”

“You can say you’re pro-business, and I get it, but when we get the sticker shock of a 400% increase, it doesn’t feel that way to me walking in,” Hahn replied.

Commissioners and staff acknowledged the increase may be difficult for some users but said the changes were necessary.

“It is the city’s fault for not updating it yearly,” Commissioner Richard Bir said, referring to the fee structure.

The policy changes include adding a $10 fee for large residential loads of four cubic yards or greater — roughly equivalent to a full pickup truck bed — limiting non-resident passes to those within St. Joseph County, restricting logs and branches to 6 inches in diameter, and changing site access hours.

Commissioners ultimately approved hours from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., extending the originally proposed 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. window in response to public feedback.

Commissioners also cited ongoing misuse of the site as a reason for the changes.

Bir described witnessing residents dumping prohibited materials in less visible areas of the site, including behind brush piles. Director of Public Services Thomas Sikorski said those types of issues are what the policy changes aim to address.

Sikorski added that Sturgis still provides broader access to its compost facility than some neighboring communities and pointed to stricter alternatives used elsewhere.

“Is it 100% perfect? We can still fine tune it,” Sikorski said. “Otherwise there are alternatives.”

Commissioners unanimously approved the compost site policy changes. Commissioner Boring was absent.

Other business

City Controller Sadie Griffin presented the commission with the city’s first-quarter financial report.

The report shows general fund revenues of about $2.05 million and expenditures of about $2.46 million through the first quarter, with spending exceeding revenue by $409,813. 

Total operating expenditures represent 23.7% of the annual budget, with most departments tracking near expected levels for this point in the fiscal year. Most revenue sources are on track or slightly below projections, though some state revenue is lagging due to the timing of Local Community Stabilization Authority payments. 

Property tax revenue totaled about $869,000 for the quarter, up from about $824,000 during the same period last year. 

The city’s general fund has roughly $955,000 in cash on hand and a total fund balance of about $2.9 million. 

The airport fund reported a roughly $17,000 loss for the quarter, which staff attributed primarily to higher wages and communication expenses. 

Commissioners also approved a letter of intent to move forward with a potential $13 million project to install three natural gas–powered reciprocating engines at the Fawn River Road substation.

City staff said the location was selected due to access to a high-pressure gas line and said the letter of intent is needed due to increased demand and longer lead times in the electric utility industry. The letter of intent is non-binding and does not commit the city to the project.

The Sturgis City Commission typically meets at 6 p.m. on the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month at Sturgis City Hall.

Maxwell Knauer is a staff writer for Watershed Voice.