The Three Rivers City Commission will meet for a regular business meeting this evening at 6 p.m. at City Hall. Commissioners will consider Rural Heritage Partnership grant applications, the transfer of 124 Middle St., hold the second and final hearing on the city's user fee schedule, and make appointments to various city boards. City documents currently list 23 board vacancies.
The investigation follows multiple failed attempts by Vice Mayor Jeff Mullins and Commissioner Aaron Miller to censure Mayor Frank 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.
Former Cass County Prosecutor Victor Fitz announced Wednesday he is joining the Branch County Prosecutor’s Office after resigning from his elected position earlier this month. Fitz’s departure comes alongside the resignations of the office’s remaining assistant prosecutors, leaving all six attorney positions in the office vacant or in transition. Thursday morning, Cass County Circuit Court Judge Mark A. Herman appointed attorney Sarah E. Scoggin as interim prosecuting attorney.
The renovation of 104–106 N. Nottawa Street will convert the historic structure into a fully restored, structurally sound building that will serve as the future home of the Sturgis Area Community Foundation’s offices. It will also create shared gathering space for nonprofit organizations, community leaders, businesses, and partners from across St. Joseph County. The project is the first major investment of the newly established SIA Community Impact Fund, a charitable fund held at the foundation dedicated to supporting community and economic development throughout the county.
The Sturgis City Commission will meet Wednesday, May 27 amid ongoing internal turmoil within city leadership. During the commission’s last two meetings, Commissioners Aaron Miller and Jeff Mullins have attempted to censure and remove Mayor Frank Perez over alleged illegal conduct, though many details remain unclear to the public because discussions occurred during closed session meetings. The dispute has created a divide between what commissioners say they know privately and what residents have been told publicly. Commissioners are expected to discuss the search for an interim city manager, consider multiple land-related items, and make annual board appointments Wednesday. The meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. at Sturgis City Hall.
Investigators say 24-year-old Timothy Johnson of Benton Harbor was walking on M-152 in Silver Creek Township when he was struck and killed by an unknown vehicle. The incident remains under investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact the tip line at 800-462-9328 or visit the county's website.
Commissioners applauded Finance and Administration Director Bobbi Schoon for preparing what several described as a strong budget. During the public hearing, only two residents commented — one raising concerns about road conditions and another asking what provisions the city had made for people experiencing homelessness. As the meeting came to a close, Commissioner Torrey Brown and Mayor Angel Johnston engaged in a heated exchange over resident complaints about water quality.
City staff has been directed to draft a formal policy governing media access to the city's audio-visual system, a policy the Three Rivers City Commission could consider adopting as soon as their next regular meeting on June 2. Watershed Voice asked City Manager Joe Bippus on April 9 for permission to connect directly to the city’s audio system in an effort to improve the sound quality of its livestream. Bippus responded April 14 and denied the request. “I think it would be best if you found another option for improving your sound quality,” Bippus wrote in an email to Watershed Voice. “If I allow you access, I have to allow anyone else access to our system. I don’t think that is a good idea for the city.” Tuesday’s vote reversed that position and formally began the process of establishing a policy that would permit media access.
St. Joseph County voters will decide a number of competitive federal, state, and local races when they head to the polls for Michigan’s August 4 primary election. Three Rivers voters in the city’s 2nd District will also have a competitive local race. Josh Hoeppner, Maurice D. Kelly, and incumbent Steven Haigh are seeking the seat. Because the office is nonpartisan, the top vote-getter in the primary will advance according to the city’s election rules.
About 30 people, most of them Dowagiac residents, attended State Rep. Brad Paquette’s virtual town hall Thursday to discuss Hyperscale Data's proposed expansion plans. The town hall opened with a presentation from Anderson Economic Group COO and Director of Public Policy and Economic Analysis Sarah Thiele, who outlined what she described as the economic benefits data centers can bring to local communities. Her presentation was met with sharp criticism from attendees, who questioned the assumptions behind the report and raised concerns about transparency, environmental impacts, and what they described as misleading public statements from Hyperscale Data.
A NOTE FROM OUR EDITOR
Become a monthly donor today
A monthly donation of $5 or more can make a difference.
