The Three Rivers City Commission will convene for a regularly meeting Tuesday, August 1 at 6 p.m. at Three Rivers City Hall (333 W. Michigan Ave.). The topics of discussion for the evening will include a resolution to apply for the Community Development Block Grant for the downtown outdoor amphitheater, as well as a recommendation from the planning commission regarding overnight street parking regulations. 

Sturgis City Commissioners heard a presentation regarding the potential construction of a “tiny home village” during a regularly scheduled meeting Wednesday evening. The Sturgis Housing Commission has been in discussions with city staff on this project, and are proposing a development of clustered single-family housing at 208 N. Prospect St. The location is currently a vacant parcel owned by the Sturgis Housing Development Corporation.

Three Rivers City Commissioners received an update Tuesday evening from the Three Rivers Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) regarding the July 7 force main break at the Constantine Street Lift Station. The break spilled approximately 500,000 gallons of untreated wastewater from the WWTP at the intersection of Constantine Street and Broadway Street near the St. Joseph River.

The Three Rivers City Commission appointed Bobbi Schoon as the city’s new finance director/treasurer in a unanimous vote Tuesday evening. Currently serving as the Three Rivers Public Library (TRPL) Director, Schoon must now acquire additional municipal accounting skills for her new position, and has already met the prerequisites to be accepted into those training programs. 

The Sturgis City Commission provided “forward momentum” Wednesday by voting to approve the development of an agreement between Sturgis Hospital and a potential buyer. The current outstanding debt service on bonds issued by the City of Sturgis for improvements to the hospital stands at $8,567,631.25, which is being considered in any deal the hospital might make. The hospital has had extensive negotiations with Asker Corp. and “minimal” discussions with a second, unnamed potential purchaser.

Following weeks of financial struggles, Sturgis Hospital Interim CEO Jeremy Gump spoke to the Sturgis City Commission Wednesday to provide an update on hospital operations, as well as the process of finding an organization to acquire the hospital. Though the hospital continues to function tenuously day-to-day, Gump indicated time is running out for the facility.