Three Rivers gives tentative support to second farmers market, pending next steps

The Three Rivers City Commission met last night, Tuesday, April 21, to discuss the closely watched farmers market proposal, advance changes to derogatory city code language regarding massage establishments, and approve budget amendments made by the city.

The full April 21 meeting was streamed live on Watershed Voice’s Facebook page and can be replayed on Watershed Voice’s YouTube channel.

While commissioners took no formal action regarding the farmers market — the agenda item was listed as a “discussion” — they came to an agreement to allow the Downtown Development Authority to revise its proposal, develop a formal “work plan,” and approve it within the organization before returning to city staff.

The market would first have to be approved by the DDA, then city staff would make their decision, which, if approved, would be the final step and the DDA could move forward with it, according to City Manager Joe Bippus.

Bippus did not state whether the city would or would not approve the proposal if revised thoroughly. However, several commissioners indicated support for a second market.

“I’d just have to evaluate the plan,” he said.

“This is not a second farmers market,” DDA Director Angela Metty said, describing it as more of an arts and crafts market while also selling produce. “It was meant to complement what already exists, not compete with it.”

The proposed market has become a broader debate over downtown priorities, city process, and whether Three Rivers can support two markets at once. Organizers say a monthly Sunday event at Scidmore Park could activate downtown on a slower day, provide another family-friendly gathering space, and create additional opportunities for vendors.

Critics, including some vendors associated with the existing Huss Project market, have questioned whether the city has enough customers and growers to sustain two markets without splitting traffic and sales. Three Rivers previously operated its own farmers market at Scidmore Park before the event was discontinued in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. After the city discontinued their market, Huss stepped in to host the event at their own venue with many of the same vendors. 

DDA board members also spoke during the meeting, admitting they were underprepared and moved too quickly, putting the city in a position to deny the request. However, they said they plan to develop a more thorough plan to present to city staff.

“I do think that we did get a little ahead of ourselves,” DDA board member Jason Ballew said, explaining that the DDA will come back with a full work plan outlining how the market would function. Ballew also asked the commission not to make any formal decisions Tuesday night.

DDA Vice Chair Charlie Wolgamood, who originally submitted the proposal, also spoke to the commission, further explaining the benefits he believes the market would bring. Wolgamood said there are families in Scidmore on Sundays that he never sees downtown and a market could help develop “social friction,” bringing people from Scidmore to the farmers market and downtown.

To this point, Commissioner Torrey Brown questioned why Sunday was the chosen day to try to cultivate downtown growth when the majority of businesses are closed on Sundays.

A number of residents also shared support for the potential market during public comment. One potential vendor said they cannot make Huss’ Saturday market but would like to sell local produce in Three Rivers. Another questioned why there was even debate about having a second market.

Commissioners discussed the matter after public comment in what was largely a logistical discussion. There was little disagreement among them over whether the market itself should exist.

At one point, Mayor Angel Johnston polled the crowd, asking those in favor of a second market to raise their hands. Nearly everyone in the audience did so. She then asked those opposed to raise their hands, and no hands raised. 

Commissioner Brown also questioned what authority the City Commission had given that the DDA had not formally agreed to pursue the farmers market project. As stated in the agenda packet, one reason city staff denied the request was because the DDA board did not take formal action to approve the farmers market and “without official approval, the project is not considered an authorized DDA activity.” The report added that “staff is obligated to implement only formally approved initiatives.” 

Commissioner Lucas Allen, who wanted the proposal brought back to the commission after city staff initially rejected it, said he would support the market.

“I’ll vote yes for it, no problem,” Allen said after responding to Commissioner Pat Dane’s comments about not wanting it on a Sunday due to church.

Johnston added her thoughts on the day’s discussion, saying in her ideal world, the market would be on Thursday so she could have everything she needs for the weekend.

“Would I like a Thursday market like we had before? Heck yes, that’d be my favorite,” Johnston said before noting that was not the proposal currently before the city.

No action was taken on the farmers market. However, the DDA is now expected to develop a full work plan and re-submit the event to city staff. If approved, the first market would likely be held on the last Sunday of next month, May 31.

Other business

Commissioners also unanimously approved a first reading of changes to Chapter 5 of the city code, removing outdated and derogatory language in the city’s massage establishment ordinance.

Among the changes were replacing the term “massagist” with “massage therapist,” updating references to state law and the Michigan Public Health Code, revising licensing language to reflect modern standards, and removing language that described “homosexual and other deviate sexual relations” in prostitution-related definitions. 

The most debated portion of that discussion was what time frame the city would place in the code restricting massage businesses from operating during certain hours. After a short debate, commissioners unanimously approved the first reading with 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. listed as restricted operating hours for massage businesses in the city.

At the end of the meeting, Commissioner Anthony Stanfill apologized to Bippus for not thanking him sooner for his efforts during the tornado response. He said he felt embarrassed that it took him this long.

“I’m sure it’s gonna be an unpopular opinion,” Stanfill began. “I thanked everybody at the city level, except for Joe and Joe, I wanted to offer an apology and say I’m sorry I didn’t say thank you for the hard work that you do.

“You can hate me for it if you need to,” Stanfill finished.

Maxwell Knauer is a staff writer for Watershed Voice.

Editor’s note: this article was updated on Wednesday, April 22 at 5:00 p.m. to properly attribute Angela Metty’s quote.