The Three Rivers City Commission will meet Tuesday, February 20 at 6 p.m. at Three Rivers City Hall (333 W. Michigan Ave.) with an agenda that includes a proposed resolution to purchase a property and lease it to the county for temporary veteran housing, and a general fund request to cover additional water testing costs.
For a full accounting of Tuesday’s agenda (as of publication time on Monday, February 19), see it below or visit the city’s website for further details.
Veteran housing
The commission will consider a resolution that would allow the city to purchase the property located at 308 S Main St. for $134,900, and enter into a five-year lease agreement with the St. Joseph County government to provide additional housing for veterans in transition.
According to city staff, the city intends to purchase the home and lease it to the county on an initial five-year-agreement, with the county being responsible to upgrade the property to meet occupancy standards. City Attorney T.J. Reed would prepare a lease agreement with the county which would then be brought back to the commission for final approval.
Water testing costs
Due to additional testing requirements for the city’s increased state-required lead copper testing, and an anticipated increase in voluntary lead copper testing, city staff is requesting additional funds from the general fund balance to cover shipping and testing costs. Shipping costs are estimated to be an additional $2,500 for the fiscal year, while testing is expected to cost an additional $10,000 for the fiscal year.
The request comes after the city recently announced it found five additional homes with lead levels that exceed the federal limit for lead contamination during its second round of testing between July and December 2023.
The announcement came six months after the city first reported it found six homes with results over 15 parts per billion (ppb), the aforementioned federal limit, during its first round of testing residents’ tap water for lead and copper. The initial round of testing included 47 homes, while the second resulted in the collection of a first and fifth liter sample from 45 sampling locations.
The city is offering free filters (faucet or pitcher style) provided by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) for anyone who has not yet received one and meets eligibility requirements. For those who already have a filter and need replacement cartridges, they are also available for qualified residents.
Three Rivers is also expanding its lead copper testing program for up to 150 locations with unknown service line material, and free in-home site visits to confirm the service line material where it enters the home.
Getting your service line inspected
If you are a City of Three Rivers water customer and would like your service line inspected or would like to learn about testing your water for lead, contact the City of Three Rivers Department of Public Services at (269) 273-1845 or visit Michigan.gov/EGLElab for a list of certified labs.
If you are a City of Three Rivers water customer and would like your water tested, contact the City of Three Rivers Department of Public Services at (269) 273-1845 to learn more.
Alek Haak-Frost is executive editor and publisher of Watershed Voice.
