City Commission

The Sturgis City Commission recently approved the five-year renewal of its curbside recycling with an Indiana-based company. The arrangement with Borden Waste-Away of Elkhart continues an agreement reached in 2008 and it maintains the $1.92-per-household unit price. The city pays for the curbside recycling program with a state-authorized surcharge of $2 per month, collected annually on the summer tax bill. …

Three Rivers City Manager Joe Bippus said he and a group of municipal representatives received a warm welcome from American Axle Manufacturing officials during a goodwill visit last week to the company’s Detroit-based headquarters. Bippus said the scheduled meeting provided an opportunity to thank AAM President David Dauch for the company’s commitment to Three Rivers. The Three Rivers facility is …

A trust and investment officer with Century Bank and Trust was appointed to the Three Rivers City Commission Tuesday. Jared Hoffmaster, one of three candidates to seek the post vacated with the resignation of Judy Gilchrist, was chosen by Mayor Tom Lowry and commissioners at their twice-a-month meeting this week. Danielle Moreland and Larry Matson were also seeking the seat …

Members of the Three Rivers City Commission are in line to hear a 2012 audit report during their 6 p.m. meeting today. Also on deck is consideration to filling the vacant seat of First District commissioner and a public hearing on consideration of updating the Industrial Development Authority’s tax-increment financing plan.

A few meetings in the area are slated to take place today. Sturgis Township’s Board of Trustees meets at 4 p.m., while the Three Rivers Planning Commission will assemble at 6:45 p.m. At 7 o’clock tonight, village councils in Centreville and Constantine are expected to begin their meetings.

Supporters and opponents of a proposed non-motorized trail way made their feelings clear about a 20-mile stretch of abandoned railway between Sturgis and well into Branch County. The former Indiana Northeastern Railroad Co. route is being sought as a route for bicyclists, joggers and walkers. Residents who live adjacent to the rail bed, however, have cited lack of privacy and …

The final public presentation of a non-motorized trailway master plan will be offered at 5:30 p.m. today at Sturgis Township Hall. The plan was developed in partnership between Sturgis, Fawn River, Sherman and Burr Oak townships, and the city of Sturgis, Sturgis Hospital, and the Sturgis Area Community Foundation. Centering on an abandoned railroad line from Sturgis to Coldwater, the …

The city of Three Rivers and Three Rivers Community Schools have collaborated to develop a new traffic pattern at Andrews Elementary. City officials said the section of South Street, between Douglas and Grant avenues, is now one-way in an eastbound direction only. In addition, parking is allowed only on the stretch of South Street adjacent to the school. Also, there …

Municipal officials in Three Rivers have approved a plan that will see the city gain more than six acres of land. In exchange for deeding the 6.2-acre plot behind the city’s Department of Public Services facility, Three Rivers Health would benefit from having South Health Parkway included in the municipal street category. Mayor Tom Lowry and commissioners last week instructed …

Mayor Tom Lowry and commissioners have denied a special-use permit requested by Verse By Verse Ministries for a public place of worship at a downtown location. The unanimous vote Tuesday went against a 4-1 recommendation yielded a week earlier by the city’s planning commission. Verse By Verse was hoping to establish a place of worship at 54 N. Main St., …