Three Rivers City Manager Joe Bippus retiring in 2027

During last night’s Three Rivers City Commission meeting, longtime City Manager Joe Bippus announced he is retiring from the position, effective January 14, 2027. Bippus made the announcement during the city manager’s communications portion of the October 7 business meeting. 

“It’s been fun, but I’m going to move onto something else,” Bippus said, adding that he will meet with Mayor Angel Johnston to begin the process of selecting his successor, and commissioners will decide the specifics of that process at future meetings. 

Bippus served as Police Chief beginning in 1997 before accepting the role as city manager in 2000. He was born and raised in Three Rivers and is the longest serving city manager in the city’s history. Bippus shared a letter thanking everyone who has been a part of his tenure and outlined some of his achievements. Bippus said he plans to stay in the city and that he’ll be around city hall. 

“After 30 years, I believe it is time for someone else to carry the torch,” Bippus wrote in his letter. “I am proud of what we accomplished together. I am grateful for the opportunity to have served, and I am excited to watch Three Rivers continue to grow and evolve in the years ahead.” 

Bippus, however, has been a controversial figure during his tenure as city manager. He was heavily criticized for his use of Public Act 425 agreements to acquire land for expansions, and served as a police officer in the Village of Schoolcraft while employed as the city manager in Three Rivers, working more hours in Schoolcraft then what he initially reported to the commission.

Mayor Johnston, who has been critical of Bippus since beginning her time in office, calling him out during public meetings on a number of occasions, shared a statement with Watershed Voice regarding last night’s announcement. The full statement reads as follows:

“I appreciate City Manager Joe Bippus’s 30 years of service to the City of Three Rivers and wish him well as he prepares for retirement in January.

Thirty years represents a significant commitment to our community, and I recognize the experience and dedication he has brought to his work with the City.

At the same time, this transition gives Three Rivers an important opportunity to look ahead. I am excited to begin writing the next chapter for our city, and I believe that chapter should be shaped with the voices of our residents at the table.

Because there is not currently a succession plan in place, a common approach is to appoint an interim city manager to provide continuity and keep the city’s operations moving while the Commission conducts a thorough search for our next permanent city manager. That will allow us to take the time necessary to identify the right person for Three Rivers without creating a gap in leadership or day-to-day administration.

As we begin that process, I plan to host listening sessions with members of the community to hear what residents want and need from our next city manager. I want to hear what people value, what they believe needs to change, and what qualities they believe our next city manager should bring to the position.

When I ran for mayor, I asked the people of Three Rivers to help me write the next chapter of our community together. This is one of those moments when that invitation matters. Our next city manager will play an important role in that chapter, and I want our community to have a voice in what it looks like.

I am looking forward to listening, working together, and writing the next chapter of Three Rivers’ future together!”

Former Three Rivers Mayor Tom Lowry, who served in that role for over 20 years — the majority of Bippus’ tenure — said he is disappointed in Bippus’ decision and fears for the future of Three Rivers. 

“I’m very disappointed. He should’ve hung on longer,” Lowry told Watershed Voice. 

Lowry added that his frustrations come from a distrust in the current mayor. Lowry said while he disagreed with the longtime administrator many times, especially when Bippus simultaneously served as a police officer in Schoolcraft and city manager in Three Rivers, he wishes Bippus held off retiring to see the city through what Lowry characterized as uncertain times.

Johnston defeated Lowry in the November 2025 general election receiving 63% of the vote to Lowry’s 35%. The campaign grew contentious as Johnston became increasingly critical of Lowry and his tenure, while several of the 13-term incumbent’s social media posts drew criticism of their own leading up to Election Day.

Maxwell Knauer is a staff writer for Watershed Voice.