Three Rivers City Commissioners Clayton Lyczynski and Alison Haigh questioned whether Three Rivers Downtown Development Authority Chair Andrew George should be reappointed during Tuesday’s commission meeting. Lyczynski cited George’s involvement in a suit filed against the city concerning a petition to place a marijuana ordinance on last November’s ballot, questioning George’s “integrity” and “desire to do what’s best for the city.”
Tom Lowry
The Three Rivers City Commission approved the hiring of former Kalamazoo City Clerk Stephen French to fill its clerk vacancy left by Melissa Bliss, who left the city for a deputy clerk position with St. Joseph County earlier this month.
After a lengthy discussion Tuesday, the commission and city staff were satisfied with French’s explanation of his checkered past.
At the tail end of an hour-long Three Rivers City Commission meeting Tuesday, City Manager Joe Bippus announced City Clerk Melissa Bliss had tendered her resignation.
Following a regular meeting of the Three Rivers City Commission Tuesday night, representatives of several city boards and staffs held a joint meeting and presentation on current planning and development activities in the city. The meeting is required going forward as part of something called the Redevelopment Ready Communities process (RRC), which is a program of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC). The RRC process is designed to help municipalities around the state improve their processes, laws, and planning documents to better facilitate and manage development.
During the City of Three Rivers’ annual Organizational Meeting Monday evening, City Commissioners approved a measure to sell the former Carnegie Library building to the Carnegie Center for the Arts (CCA) and to excuse the Three Rivers Woman’s Club (TRWC) from any remaining obligations regarding its current lease of the building. Mayor Tom Lowry cast a “no” vote for the sale.
Three Rivers Health (TRH) has signed a letter of intent to join northern Indiana-based Beacon Health System. Pending final approvals, the agreement would take effect in the spring of 2021. In a press release Tuesday, TRH said the new partnership “will provide expanded access to care across our region.” TRH operates a 60-bed hospital in Three Rivers serving St. Joseph County, Kalamazoo County, and surrounding areas.
On behalf of American Axle and Manufacturing (AAM), the City of Three Rivers will be applying for a grant to help fund an expansion project at the company’s Three Rivers plant. At a regular meeting of the Three Rivers City Commission Monday, commissioners approved the measure after a public hearing. In cooperation with Southwest Michigan First (SWMF), which is helping coordinate the project, the city will be applying for a Federally-funded Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) through the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC). Commissioners also improved changes to zoning language that will permit multiple single-family homes per parcel of land in R4 residential districts.
Three Rivers City Commissioners approved a motion Tuesday to proclaim the city as the “Center of the Universe.”
First District County Commission candidate Andrew George announced earlier this week that he has received the endorsement of Governor Gretchen Whitmer. George’s campaign received word of the endorsement by email from a gubernatorial staffer on Tuesday.
As the online news magazine Watershed Voice enters the third quarter of its first year in business, staff and volunteers are making a push to ensure the online news magazine has solid footing to remain in business and grow. This Saturday, October 10, they plan to hold a drive-thru fundraiser at the Huss School parking lot at Eighth and Broadway Streets in Three Rivers.
This week is Banned Book Week, and both Lowry’s Books and More and the Three Rivers Public Library (TRPL) are recognizing its significance. Banned Books Week serves to bring attention to the cause of fighting censorship.
Downtown Three Rivers experienced an above-average crowd on its sidewalks over the weekend. Following a declaration establishing Saturday, September 26 as Downtown Day by Governor Gretchen Whitmer a few weeks ago, the Three Rivers Downtown Development Authority and Main Street Program (TRDDA) joined downtown merchants, the Michigan Downtown Association, and other communities across the state in hosting festivities.
The Three Rivers City Commission continued a contentious discussion over the sale of the former Carnegie Library building Tuesday.
TRiM leaders Mike Curtis and Lisa DeVine recently installed new artwork to a signboard over one of the storefronts belonging to Lowry’s Books and More. The panel features a row of colorful bookends in relief, designed to look like a full bookshelf.
Three Rivers City Commissioners voted Tuesday evening to draft marijuana ordinance language for the first available ballot next year. If passed, the ordinance would permit the establishment of a set number of marijuana retail businesses inside the city.
Wendy Hochstedler, a former Three Rivers City Finance Director who was fired and subsequently settled a lawsuit with the City has pled guilty to embezzlement from the City of South Haven in court.
Petitioners and city officials confirmed a lawsuit has been filed against the City of Three Rivers during the regular Three Rivers City Commission meeting on Tuesday.
Following a request by City Attorney J. Patrick O’Malley, Three Rivers City Commissioners voted Monday to retain special counsel regarding two marijuana-related petitions. O’Malley said the firm of Miller Canfield is handling a number of such petitions around the state, which would place permitting marijuana establishments in cities on local November election ballots.