Sturgis commissioners unanimously approve outside investigation as tensions over Mayor Perez continue

The Sturgis City Commission voted unanimously Wednesday night to authorize an outside investigation into allegations involving several commissioners, marking the first time the sharply divided body has approved any formal action amid weeks of internal turmoil surrounding Mayor Frank Perez and the resignation of City Manager Andrew Kuk.

The investigation follows multiple failed attempts by Vice Mayor Jeff Mullins and Commissioner Aaron Miller to censure Perez or remove him from his mayoral duties during previous meetings. Those efforts stem from allegations by some commissioners that Perez and others violated Michigan law, commission procedures, and the city charter — accusations that have largely remained shielded from public discussion because they were raised during closed session meetings.

Tuesday’s vote represented a significant shift after two previous investigation resolutions failed on 4-3 votes.

Mayor Perez was absent from Tuesday’s meeting.

“Mayor Perez called this afternoon and stated that he would not be in attendance tonight. He has, I believe, it’s a son’s soccer thing in Salt Lake,” Mullins said at the start of the meeting.

Investigation resolution passes unanimously

Commissioner Aaron Miller again introduced a resolution calling for an independent investigation into potential violations of Michigan law, applicable case law, commission procedures, and the Sturgis City Charter.

Unlike the version of the proposal during their last meeting, Miller added himself to the list of commissioners to be investigated after, he said, residents encouraged him to take accountability as well.

“I have great peace about demonstrating that because I can unequivocally say I have done nothing wrong,” Miller said.

Vice Mayor Mullins, serving as acting mayor during Perez’s absence, then seconded the motion and requested his own name also be added to the investigation.

The final resolution called for outside counsel to investigate Commissioners Miller, Mullins, Perez, Richard Bir, Cathi Abbs, and former Commissioner Linda Harrington “for potential violations against specific pieces of Michigan law and its various associated case law, Sturgis City Commission Procedure, and the Sturgis City Charter.”

The investigation will also examine “all the details surrounding the entire situation” that led to the commission entering closed session on April 8 — a meeting repeatedly referenced by commissioners as central to the controversy and Kuk’s eventual resignation.

The resolution further directs outside counsel to interview City Attorney T.J. Reed, Kuk, all current commissioners, and any other individuals deemed necessary.

Before the commission voted on the measure, Abbs referenced comments Perez made during the previous meeting supporting a broader investigation involving all commissioners.

City Attorney Reed then advised commissioners, as he had the previous meeting, that he had prepared a legal opinion regarding what information from prior closed sessions could legally be discussed publicly.

Commissioners unanimously voted to enter closed session before returning roughly an hour later.

Once back in open session, Miller reread the revised resolution, saying “the heart and intent” of the proposal had changed slightly following legal discussion.

The proposal read as follows:

Commissioner Miller – Resolution 1 – May 27, 2026
A Resolution Calling for an Investigation of Wrongdoing by Certain Commissioners

“WHEREAS, there is reasonable cause to believe that there has been specific wrongdoing by certain commissioners; and WHEREAS, that wrongdoing, at the very worst, directly led to the resignation of city manager Andrew Kuk and, at the very best, played an integral part in that resignation.

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Sturgis City Commission directs that an independent investigation by outside counsel be executed that investigates Commissioners Miller, Mullins, Perez, Bir, and Abbs, as well as former commissioner Linda Harrington, for potential violations against specific pieces of Michigan law and its various associated case law, Sturgis City Commission Procedure, and the Sturgis City Charter, and specifically all the details surrounding the entire situation that was the cause and central reason to the closed session entered into by the Sturgis City Commission on Wednesday, April 8, 2026.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the investigation reveal its contents, findings, and recommendations to the Sturgis City Commission for its review, legal review, and future determination to release.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the outside counsel question the legal counsel for the City of Sturgis, city manager Andrew Kuk, all eight commissioners elected and serving on the Sturgis City Commission, and any other staff or individuals as deemed necessary by the outside counsel.”

The commission then approved the investigation unanimously.

Miller later said he intends to vote in favor of publicly releasing as much information from the investigation as legally possible once it is complete. Mullins said he would support doing the same.

Failed censure and removal votes follow

After the investigation measure passed, Miller introduced two additional resolutions targeting Perez, both mirroring failed motions from the commission’s previous meeting.

The first sought to formally censure Perez.

Commissioners ultimately voted 4-3 in favor of the censure, with Commissioners Dan Boring, Justin Wickey, Miller and Mullins supporting the resolution while Abbs, Bir and Marvin Smith voted against it.

However, the measure still failed because five votes — a majority of the commission’s nine elected seats — were required for approval.

Abbs appeared to hesitate before casting the deciding no vote.

Miller then introduced a second resolution seeking to remove Perez from his mayoral duties while allowing him to remain on the commission. That motion also failed on the same 4-3 split.

“I know that the requirement to pass something is that the majority of those elected and serving pass consideration of a motion, but I think it’s sad that a majority of those individuals here have voted to remove our mayor and it still stands,” Miller said.

“The city of Sturgis, its government as it pertains to the government and the staff itself, but also the city of Sturgis — and I use that term to refer to the entire community of the City of Sturgis and really beyond the community that the city of Sturgis affects — all collectively are the ultimate loser in all of this.”

Debate expands during commissioner comments

Earlier in the meeting, Miller criticized the commission’s handling of the search for an interim city manager ahead of Kuk’s July 24 departure date.

Earlier discussion about hiring a temporary replacement stretched on for more than an hour before commissioners directed staff to contact four potential candidates regarding a position expected to last six to 12 months, require roughly 30 hours per week, begin as soon as possible, and preferably be on-site.

“The absolute floundering of this commission to try and find a replacement on a short timeline should serve as a stark beginning reminder,” Miller said. “We’re under the two-month mark until Andrew Kuk’s effective date for his resignation. I’m not looking forward to that date.”

“We’ve lost a very capable city manager,” he added.

Commissioner Richard Bir later broke his silence on the controversy, defending Perez and pushing back against allegations made by Miller and Mullins.

“One vote does not change the way the city is ran,” Bir said. “He has committed no crime to the City of Sturgis. He has done the best job he can do, what he believes he can do.”

Bir also referenced criticism Miller made during a previous meeting accusing some commissioners of treating city staff “like garbage.”

Bir said he had previously shared photos and messages with other commissioners regarding issues he believed needed attention within city government. These messages were referenced by Commissioner Miller during their last meeting saying they contributed to the unfavorable environment that led to Kuk’s resignation. 

“[Miller said] this commissioner [Bir] also put pictures on the commission chain so all the commissioners could see,” Bir said. “That [it] was to try and embarrass him, but that wasn’t the reason. It was trying to inform all the commissioners because so many people come to a few commissioners because they know that we will do our best to try and solve the problems.

“My hope was to show the other commissioners the problem going on in the city,” Bir continued. “I worked for the city for 22 years. The problems that I saw needed to be addressed and I brought them forward to the commission, to the city manager — not to Facebook, not to the residents, not to embarrass, but to get results.”

Bir then questioned why Miller had not publicly identified him by name during earlier criticism.

“Why he didn’t call me out by name, I don’t know. He has no problem calling out Mayor Perez. So what’s that tell you? He’s a bully? Is he a racist? I don’t know.”

“That’s bull, don’t bring race into it,” one resident shouted from the audience.

The resident then asked whether the commission would reopen public comment so residents could respond to commissioners’ remarks. Mullins declined, noting public comment had already concluded earlier in the meeting.

In his closing remarks, Mullins said he fully agreed with Miller’s concerns and reiterated he lacks confidence in Perez’s leadership.

Investigation likely to prolong controversy

The outside investigation now sets up what could become a lengthy and politically divisive process as commissioners continue searching for a replacement for Kuk while remaining publicly split over Perez’s conduct and the broader direction of city government.

Many details surrounding the allegations remain undisclosed publicly because commissioners and the city attorney have repeatedly stated they are tied to confidential closed-session discussions.

Tuesday’s unanimous vote, however, marks the clearest sign yet that commissioners across the board now support at least some level of outside review into the conflict that has consumed city government in recent weeks.

Maxwell Knauer is a staff writer for Watershed Voice.