Commissioners plan to use the first and second readings to gather public input. During the September meeting, Commissioner Aaron Miller said he expects the city will hear from residents throughout the first year of the program.
The event, themed “Shine a Light on Domestic Violence,” aims to raise awareness, foster community support, and honor those who have lost their lives or been impacted by domestic violence in St. Joseph and Cass counties. Community members are invited to join in lighting candles in remembrance of victims and in solidarity with survivors and their families.
Judge Christopher P. Yates wrote in his October 14 opinion that while the changes “may seem unwise,” nothing in state law prevents the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) from implementing them. If the state proceeds as planned, the 10 existing PIHP (prepaid inpatient health plan) regions — including Southwest Michigan Behavioral Health — would be dissolved after fiscal year 2026, and the new regional entities would begin managing Medicaid mental-health funding in FY 2027.
The proposal asks voters to renew a 0.9-mill property tax for five years, from January 2026 through December 2030, to fund county emergency communication services. The measure represents a decrease from the current rate, which expires at the end of 2025, and would generate $0.90 for every $1,000 of a property’s taxable value, according to St. Joseph County Central Dispatch.
After several years of planning, research and grant writing, construction on the amphitheater is nearing completion. The grand opening event will not only mark an infrastructural milestone but serve as a showcase for local musicians.
Candidates have until the end of business on Friday, October 24, giving them approximately two weeks to complete and return their questionnaires. Watershed Voice will publish the questionnaires in the order received the week before November's election.
If adopted, the ordinance would convert curbside recycling into a city utility, and the service would no longer be optional. Residents could pay an estimated $96 per year, up from the current $25 annual charge. City Manger Andrew Kuk noted the $96 figure is tentative, depending on whether the city were to enter into a one-year or three-year contract with Borden Waste Management Services.
Co-organizer Dan Moyle said the group hopes to focus on shared values rather than political divisions. “This time we want to do more than say what we’re against,” Moyle said. “We want to promote what we’re for: freedom and dignity for every person, love of our neighbors, and hope for a better future.”
When the item last appeared before the commission in September, Commissioner Chris Abel raised concerns about language in the ordinance that restricted residents of veterans group homes from participating in recreational activities anywhere other than the backyard. The amendment returned Tuesday for its public hearing and possible adoption.
The gift, presented to SACF Executive Director Lindsay Aguilar on October 1 during GT Week — the company’s annual celebration — will help support the foundation’s work in meeting critical needs across the community.
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