Although last Tuesday’s elections brought some changes to the Sturgis City Commission, the controversial group of commissioners will have to work together twice more before a new commission is sworn in. The newly elected commissioners won’t be sworn in until their December 9 organizational meeting. During that meeting, commissioners will also decide their next mayor and vice mayor.
The Sturgis City Commission will meet this Wednesday, October 28 at 6 p.m. in city hall. Commissioners will consider renewing a contract for the city’s cross-connection control program, which helps the city comply with EGLE requirements, and a consulting agreement with Camas to evaluate options for the future of the Sturgis Dam. Since the commission's last meeting, former Sturgis HR director Sonia Burkhead revealed herself as the anonymous source from the investigation into Mayor Frank Perez and other commissioners. We take a closer look at her statement, and how it relates to the timeline of previously reported events.
The impact grants, made possible by the generosity of local donors and charitable funds, will be used for a variety of projects and causes, including $30,000 toward a larger building for Rooted of St. Joseph County, and $10,000 for free crisis response and deescalation training for first responders countywide, among others.
Commissioners decided they need to set a special meeting date down the road to allow for more firms to be reached out to and a Request for Proposal (RFP) be created and sent out by the city. They unanimously agreed to table the agenda item and set a special meeting date for December 8, at 6 p.m. with a location to be determined.
Lucas Allen, Three Rivers At-Large Commissioner candidate filled out our questionnaire, here are his answers.
The Three Rivers City Commission will weigh which firm will conduct the search for its new city manager when it meets tonight, Tuesday, October 20. City Manager Joe Bippus will step down on January 14, 2027 after more than two decades at the helm. Mayor Angel Johnston, who has been critical of Bippus since she was elected last November, expressed frustration with the lack of options presented to conduct the search, and added the city should take its time selecting Bippus' replacement.
Sturgis City Commissioner Aaron Miller says "there can be no coincidence" between the reported actions of Mayor Frank Perez, and the resignation of former City Manager Andrew Kuk. “I have watched a long history of commissioner mistreatment of Mr. Kuk that culminated in these events," Miller told Watershed Voice. "It has not just been this one event. His resignation was announced on the same night that the details of the secret meeting all spilled out before the entire commission, shortly after Mr. Kuk learned about the various details as well. There can be no coincidence."
A group of local musicians will present an evening of music by Woody Guthrie at the Riviera Theatre and Bar in Three Rivers on Saturday, October 24 at 7:30 p.m. Proceeds will benefit The Huss Project, a community center owned and operated by Three Rivers nonprofit *culture is not optional.
The November election is quickly approaching with just over three weeks before Election Day on Tuesday, November 3. In preparation, Watershed Voice sent out questionnaires to candidates in local and statewide races. Although some local elections are uncontested, those candidates also received questionnaires.
“We’re talking about a sizable portion of our communities that need support, need to be able to find community, and need folks out there that are advocating for them,” Executive Director Gerik Maverick said. “We have been working with schools for just over a decade. We work with healthcare systems on training to make sure folks are able to get resources. We’re working with the area agency on aging on some very exciting new projects.”
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