City Commission

Residential and commercial water bills in the village of Colon will soon feature a newly added monthly service fee of almost a dollar. Starting in March, the 89-cent-per-month fee will be added to the 630 water customers within the village limits to help generate $6,000 toward a new fire/rescue agreement between the village and township. Colon Township was paying all …

Members of the Three Rivers City Commission last week discussed a few of their goals for 2012. The casual conversation revealed that more directional signs need to be placed around the city. Commissioner Daryl Griffith said so-called wayfinding signs to instruct motorists to key places in the city and fringe areas on its borders should be considered. In addition, Mayor …

A Three Rivers-based machine shop and its request for a 50-percent industrial facilities tax exemption will be at the center of a Feb. 21 public hearing. The 6 p.m. hearing for R & H Machine Products was set Tuesday by Three Rivers Mayor Tom Lowry and members of the city commission. If granted, the 12-year request would be applied to …

A pair of employees from the Three Rivers Clean Water Plant were recently recognized for their dedication and longevity for reporting weather observations. Twenty-year veteran James Shears and Joseph Madaras, a 15-year employee, were acknowledged with plaques issued by Brentley Lothamer, representing the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. In addition, plant director James Baker accepted recognition from Lothamer for Three …

The City of Three Rivers is warning Scidmore Park supporters about a website donation scam. There are links from Facebook pages to a website not created nor authorized by the city. The illicit website encourages people to send funds to any of three prospective recipients: the City of Three Rivers, Friends of Scidmore Park, or the Three Rivers Area Community …

Village officials in Colon have indicated there will not be a Winter Festival this year. After an inaugural winter celebration took place in 2010, the one-day, end-of-January festival did not return for a follow-up in 2011 due to lack of volunteers, according to village president Tom Whitford. The idea of trying it again for 2012 was mulled last fall, but …

Three Rivers municipal officials said a home-improvement chain has expressed interest in revisiting its plans to open a store in Three Rivers. Wisconsin-based Menards is contemplating moving forward to build on land it owns on the south side of Broadway Road, just west of Big Lots. The company owns a 59-acre parcel and has had tentative plans for years to …

Three Rivers Mayor Tom Lowry and commissioners on Tuesday unanimously agreed to issue an Industrial Facilities Tax Exemption Certificate to American Axle Manufacturing. The measure means the Detroit-based company will continue with its $102 million investment in its Three Rivers plant, where expansion will include a line to create components for a passenger/crossover vehicle being developed and introduced by a …

Three Rivers Mayor Tom Lowry and commissioners tonight have scheduled a public hearing on a tax-exemption request being made by American Axle Manufacturing. The company is seeking exemption status on nearly $83 million of a $102 million investment in machinery and building improvements being proposed at its Three Rivers plant. A 12-year exemption is being sought by American Axle, the …

Municipal officials in Sturgis last week made a few modifications to the city’s policy regarding electrical shut-off procedures. City Manager Mike Hughes said the new policy will allow customers with a delinquent balance the option of entering a payment plan with the city. Also, a phone number where such a plan can be arranged will be clearly visible on an …