A Sturgis city commissioner plans to step down next month, and the next step in the process to open an extreme weather center was greenlit Wednesday by the Sturgis City Commission.
Jeff Mullins
On Wednesday evening Sturgis city commissioners adopted the budget for the fiscal year 2023-2024 in an 8-1 vote, with Commissioner Richard Bir as the lone dissenting vote.
In a tense 5—4 vote Wednesday evening, Sturgis City Commissioners voted to raise the 2023 millage rate to 11.6818, which is the maximum allowed by the State of Michigan without a vote of the electorate.
Newly-appointed Second Precinct City Commissioner Emmanuel Nieves was sworn in during Wednesday evening’s Sturgis City Commission meeting. The commission had previously voted unanimously 9-0 on April 26 to appoint Nieves to the seat left vacant by former Second Precinct Commissioner Travis Klinger.
Wednesday night’s Sturgis City Commission meeting was the last for Commissioner Travis Klinger, who announced his resignation on March 8. A newly appointed commissioner will finish Klinger’s term, and will be sworn in on May 10.
Sturgis city commissioners Wednesday voted 8-1 in favor of the city’s planning commission developing a recommendation regarding urban chickens within city limits, with Commissioner Robert Hile as the lone dissenting vote.
Lauded for his dedication to the City of Sturgis and consummate professionalism, Andrew Kuk was offered Sturgis’ city manager position following a 7-1 vote by the Sturgis City Commission.
At a Sturgis City Commission meeting Wednesday proceedings included an award for the city’s wastewater treatment plant, an update on the needs of the unhoused in the community, and new developments with the Sturges-Young Center for the Arts, among others.
A new law will soon go into effect, and Sturgis Hospital will be categorized as a Rural Emergency Hospital (REH). Sturgis Hospital Interim CEO Jeremy Gump was in attendance at a Sturgis City Commission meeting Wednesday to provide an update on the transition.
The Sturgis City Commission bid farewell to City Manager Mike Hughes, who has served Sturgis for over 17 years, at its regular meeting Wednesday. Hughes is pursuing a new career with a local company, and the city is actively looking for Hughes’ successor.