City Commission

Three Rivers Mayor Tom Lowry said he received comments from residents earlier this month regarding the city’s polling place being inside a church. Lowry said the concerns centered on people having to go into a church to cast a vote. The city commission in 2009 consolidated polling places to Riverside Church as a money-saving measure. Voting locations were previously scattered …

The Sturgis City Commission has agreed to relocate the city’s historic depot building from its current location on Main Street to 400 W. Chicago Road. The decision by city officials this week come after years of discussions related to the relocation. Because it is considered a historic building, the choice was to move the building rather than renovate it. City …

Ken Malone and Robert Hile were re-appointed Monday as mayor and vice-mayor for the city of Sturgis. The action took place during the commission’s organizational meeting. In addition, Michael Austermann and Charles Huber were sworn in as city commissioners. Austermann ran unopposed last week for the Precinct 1 seat vacated by David Smith, who announced his retirement from the board …

Three Rivers City Commissioner Carolyn McNary was selected as mayor pro-tem for the second consecutive term. The action came during Monday’s organizational and administrative-review meeting, when Mayor Tom Lowry and at-large commissioner Linda Gearhart were sworn in for two-year terms. They fended off challenges during last week’s general election to claim their seats on the board. For Lowry, it starts …

A longtime Three Rivers city employee and community icon has passed away. Ken Baker, who served in a variety of roles for the municipality, died Tuesday evening following a long battle with kidney cancer. He was 71. Baker started his career with the city as a patrol officer for the Three Rivers Police Department. He was later promoted to sergeant …

Tom Lowry will serve two more years as mayor of Three Rivers, as he defeated Larry Nichols in Tuesday’s general election. Lowry, 57, topped the 58-year-old Nichols, 268 votes to 206. Over the course of two tenures, Lowry has served as mayor for 14 years. Meanwhile, Linda Gearhart won the commissioner-at-large position Tuesday and will start a two-year term to …

A write-in candidate for the Sturgis City Commission topped an incumbent during Tuesday’s general election. Precinct 2 commissioner Karen Stephens fell short in her attempt to serve two more years, as she was beaten by Charles Huber, 39 to 15. Four other candidates in Sturgis ran unopposed and will return to the nine-member city commission.

Members of the Sturgis City Commission last week approved tax-break requests for three businesses. The requests for Industrial Facilities Exemption Certificates were granted to Mayer Tool and Engineering, Americraft Carton and Burr Oak Tool. Mayer Tool’s request was for a 12-year abatement of almost $55,000 on the purchase of new equipment. Americraft Carton sought $6.2 million was for new equipment …

Constantine residents north of Locust Street are being advised to expect interruptions in their water service throughout the day today. Village officials said the anticipated interruption is the result of work on the water main on Broad Street, near the intersection of North Washington. The work is necessary for modifications to the road as a part of the work related …

Constantine village and township plan to reimburse more than $200,000 owed to a former manufacturing plant following a reassessment of its property taxes. Village officials this week were told Rexam Closure Systems appealed its 2011 tax assessment. The assessment was $11.2 million but reduced to $4.5 million following its appeal. As a result, the village and township owe a total …