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Sturgis City Commission

Sturgis Commission approves compost site changes amid price hike frustrations from local contractors

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Sturgis
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March 26, 2026

One resident said the city raised prices by more than 400% for commercial users without phasing in the increase. “It’s not our fault and we shouldn’t have to bear the burden that the city has decided not to increase the price for 18 years, so now you’re going to put that all on the business owners who take care of this town and make it look nice?” said Noah Hahn, who owns a lawn care business in the city.

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Latest in Sturgis City Commission
Local meeting primer: Sturgis City Commission
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Sturgis
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March 24, 2026

A quarterly finance report, compost site rule changes, and a letter of intent on three electric generators round out the Sturgis City Commission’s agenda for its meeting on Wednesday, March 25.

Sturgis provides storm aid to neighbors, approves arts center entryway project
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Sturgis
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March 11, 2026

The City of Sturgis suffered very little damage from the storms. City staff reported during Monday’s meeting that minor damage occurred at the city’s hydroelectric facility, where a unit was knocked offline. “It went right over the dam,” one city staff member said during the meeting. Sturgis’ most significant involvement following the storm came through the aid and resources it provided to neighboring communities.

EV Chargers, Road Projects Highlight Sturgis Commission Meeting
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Sturgis
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February 26, 2026

Commissioners agreed to direct city staff to move forward with an electric vehicle charging station using leftover funds from a 2024 Revitalization and Placemaking (RAP) grant. The city completed its downtown improvements under budget, leaving approximately $151,207 in remaining funds. According to staff, electric vehicle charging infrastructure was the only remaining eligible use for the excess funds.  The proposal includes installation of up to two dual-port Level 2 ChargePoint stations in Parking Lot 11 across from City Hall and the Sturges-Young Center for the Arts. Commissioners said the location is intended to encourage visitors to charge their vehicles while supporting downtown businesses within walking distance of the lot.

Local meeting primer: Sturgis City Commission
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Sturgis
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February 24, 2026

The commission will revisit electric vehicle charging stations initially removed from the city’s Revitalization and Placemaking (RAP 1.0) grant project due to placement and budget concerns. The city received a $942,500 RAP grant in 2024 and completed downtown improvements under budget, leaving $151,207.62 in remaining funds.  According to staff, electric vehicle charging infrastructure is the only remaining eligible use for the leftover funds. The proposal would install up to two dual-port Level 2 ChargePoint stations in Parking Lot 11 across from City Hall and the Sturges-Young Center for the Arts. The project must be completed by June 30, 2026 and would require final compliance confirmation from the Michigan Economic Development Corp.

Sturgis City Commission approves burning ordinance, lead line funding plan, and Electric Center construction manager selection
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Sturgis
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February 12, 2026

Public Services Director Barry Cox presented an opportunity for the city to pursue federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding administered through the state’s Drinking Water State Revolving Loan Fund. Cox said the funding could “turbocharge” Sturgis’ lead service line replacement program ahead of the state’s 2037 deadline.

Local meeting primer: Sturgis City Commission
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News
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February 10, 2026

The Sturgis City Commission will meet this Wednesday, February 11, at 6 p.m. at Sturgis City Hall. Commissioners will revisit two proposed ordinance changes from their last meeting—burning regulations and promotional display rules—and consider several new business items, including a Drinking Water State Revolving Loan Fund (DWSRF) project plan related to lead service line replacement, hiring a construction manager for the Sturgis Electric Center project, and the decertification of a portion of S. Park Street.

Sturgis City Commission advances new burning rules, directs next steps on Doyle Center roof
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Sturgis
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January 29, 2026

The most contentious item on the agenda was the Burning Ordinance First Reading, a proposed update to the city’s Fire Prevention and Protection chapter that, according to the city manager’s report, has not been revised since 1969.

Local meeting primer: Sturgis City Commission
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Sturgis
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January 27, 2026

A first reading of proposed updates to the city’s burning ordinance is also on the agenda. The ordinance, which falls under Fire Prevention and Protection in the city code, has not been comprehensively revised since 1969, according to the city manager’s report.

Watershed Voice: Year in Review
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News
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December 30, 2025

Before our three-week publishing pause, Watershed Voice invites our readers to take a look back at the past year in local news. For Watershed Voice, it was a year marked by change, as we transitioned from one staff writer — Najifa Farhat for the first half of the year — to another, Maxwell Knauer, for the second half of the year. No matter the author of our stories, we aimed to bring prompt, fact-based, independent reporting to Southwest Michigan. Here’s a look at some of our favorite, most impactful, and most-read stories of 2025.

A NOTE FROM OUR EDITOR

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