Three Rivers Commission begins Habitat for Humanity project, receives update on ‘Biggby lot’

On Monday, August 3, the Three Rivers City Commission held its regular business meeting. Commissioners approved initiating a property transfer to Habitat for Humanity, authorized the release of $16,457.02 in donor-restricted maintenance funds for Armstrong Park, and received an update on enforcement efforts at the 209 U.S. 131 parking lot.

The commission worked through its seven-item business agenda without the heated exchanges that have marked several recent meetings.

Habitat for Humanity

One of the evening’s most celebrated items was the proposed transfer Parcel 051-245-121-00 — a small residential lot on the southwest corner of Madison Place and Madison Street — from the City of Three Rivers to Habitat for Humanity of St. Joseph County, Michigan. Commissioners unanimously approved beginning the transfer process, allowing Habitat for Humanity to move forward with plans to build a home on the property for a qualifying family. 

“When it’s all said and done, there’s a Habitat house that we sell to a partner family through our family selection service. But then while we’re doing that, kids get the education to learn the trades,” Director Nick Metzger said, explaining how Habitat plans to utilize the St. Joseph County Career and Technical Education program to help build the home. “Which I think many of us hopefully know is a very needed thing in this county. So it helps all around. So we get to help the housing stock, we get to help a partner family, and we help the kids have hands-on service.” 

During construction, Habitat for Humanity will begin selecting a partner family. The process includes a committee of about eight people that meets twice with applicant families, conducts a home visit to assess their “need for safe and secure housing,” and then selects a partner family. Construction is expected to begin in September, while the family selection process will begin in February or March.

Mayor Angel Johnston praised the organization, and the prospective home they will build. 

“I just want to say how absolutely happy I am meeting you and getting to just have just this much input into Habitat for Humanity just fills my soul, makes me so happy.”

Armstrong Park funding

Commissioners also discussed and unanimously approved the release of $16,457.02 of “donor-restricted funds” the city holds in reserve on behalf of the River Country Sports Commission (RCSC). 

Commissioners discussed the city’s role in covering a portion of Armstrong Park’s water costs under its agreement with the RCSC. Commissioner Pat Dane explained why that is and where the money comes from. 

“They’re only giving us the water part of it because it is a city park, and they pay to water all the rest of the city parks or to mow all the rest of the city parks, and they don’t have to pay a dime to mow the sports complex,” she said. “That is all done by donated gentlemen all the time, and they mow it every week religiously. So the only thing they’re actually paying the city is actually giving any money to the sports complex for is just their donation for water, and that’s only half of it.” 

The approved funds were donated, can only be used for the sports complex, and are not General Fund revenues. The funds included: $9,253.42 for eligible maintenance expenditures submitted by RCSC and $7,203.60 for the crack filling project completed by the city for a total release of $16,457.02.

Biggby parking lot update

City Attorney TJ Reed provided commissioners with an update on the long-running enforcement case involving the parking lot at 209 U.S. 131, commonly known as the Biggby lot. 

“There is a default judgment in place, and we have got the paperwork around submitting for requests for a compliance order, so a compliance order, and that is under the International Property Maintenance Code since that is non-residential. So that is a case where we are utilizing that code for parking lot and other areas, and so we have that going to be submitted to the court with a hearing date in the Register of Actions. The property owners had contacted the court, but never showed up to their hearing. So that that is moving forward,” Reed said. 

Reed said the process could take at least six months because the city’s enforcement options must proceed through the courts.

Early voting

During commissioner comments, commissioner Dane, who volunteered at the St. Joseph County Board of Elections, expressed her disappointment for the early voting turnout in the county. 

“It was very disappointing to think that only 376 people in the whole county came out to vote in nine days. But in all regards, they don’t know what’s happening. There’s been nothing. There’s no paper anymore. There’s nothing that lets you know early voting is going on,” Dane said. 

Editor’s note: The Three Rivers Commercial-News, Three Rivers’ longstanding legacy print newspaper continues to publish weekly, and made note of early voting in its Friday, July 31 edition. Watershed Voice published a story on Friday, July 24 notifying readers early voting was set to begin the following day, and would continue through Sunday, August 2. You can support local journalism by subscribing to the Commercial-News and setting up a monthly donation to Watershed Voice.

Maxwell Knauer is a staff writer for Watershed Voice.