City Commission

Constantine village manager Mark Honeysett has declined a raise offered by the village council. In lieu of the raise and at Honeysett’s request, funds will instead go toward a budget allocated to the village’s police cars. The village budgets $4,800 for such expenses, but with the increased cost of gas and with Honeysett’s request, the fund will increase to $5,400. …

Constantine village officials have passed a resolution to honor recently retired police Sgt. Robert Studabaker. Studabaker on Dec. 31 ended a career that exceeded 32 years with the Constantine Police Department. Village Manager Mark Honeysett, who was one of four chiefs under whom Studabaker served, said Studabaker maintained a level of competence and professionalism that benefitted the Constantine Police Department. …

White Pigeon village employees may be in line to receive a 3 percent raise, potentially their first pay increase in three years. Village President Dan Czajkowksi said the raises were included in the village’s 2013-14 fiscal year budget presented last week. Czajkowski said another matter that merits attention is the renovation of the village’s water tower. The exterior has been …

Three Rivers Health CEO Bill Russell has unveiled a strategic plan for the hospital’s future. During the first of a series of town hall meetings, Russell last week said sustainability, quality, growth and people are critical areas on which the hospital will continue to focus. He elaborated on each area, backing up the merits of each. Russell, who also detailed …

Officials from the Michigan Department of Transportation will host an open house next week regarding the U.S. 131 Constantine bypass project. Set to take place next Monday from 5 to 7 p.m. at Constantine High School, the open house will allow the public to see the latest designs and plans related to the project, which state officials say will begin …

The Three Rivers City Commission has chosen Melissa Bliss to serve as city clerk. Tuesday’s action was taken after predecessor Lindsay Howes announced her resignation from the post to take the job as St. Joseph County grant writer. Bliss, a 35 year-old Three Rivers resident, previously worked in an administrative position for the city of Portage before she joined the …

The City of Sturgis is installing its new, portable ice-skating rink at the corner of North Monroe Street and East Chicago Road, next to Headlines Hair Design and Spa. Installation started last week and opening for skating will depend on the weather. More information will be forthcoming regarding hours of operation and when skating begins.

Sturgis residents in a neighborhood in the city’s northeast quadrant are being advised to follow a boil-water advisory, following a water-main break last week. The broken pipe was at the intersection of North Lakeview Avenue and Wilshire Drive. More than a dozen basements were flooded as a result of the water-main break, which took place in the pre-dawn hours Friday, …

The city of Sturgis has been recognized for the third consecutive year for its work to foster entrepreneurial growth and economic development. The annual honor was given following the 2012 annual eCities research project survey conducted by iLabs through the University of Michigan-Dearborn Center for Innovation Research. Sturgis was honored as a Five-Star Community, joining 27 other Five-Star and 26 …

A light agenda awaits Mayor Tom Lowry and members of the Three Rivers City Commission this evening. Approving the minutes of the commission’s Dec. 18 meeting and six matters all under the consent agenda comprise the only business before the city commission today. There are no presentations, public hearings or communications scheduled. The meeting is slated to begin at 6 …