City Commission

Officials in Kalamazoo have decided to remove a park fountain featuring a European settler with a weapon in his hand towering over a Native American. The Kalamazoo Gazette reports the Kalamazoo City Commission voted 5 to 1 early Tuesday following a meeting that began Monday night on the future of the Fountain of the Pioneers in Bronson Park. A plan …

Members of the Constantine Village Council have OK’d applications for five commercial medical-marijuana facilities. Approved earlier this month, the medical-marijuana ordinance states the village may assess an annual fee of no more than $5,000 to help defray administrative and enforcement expenses associated with the operation of the facilities. Applications have been accepted for Herbal Advantage Provisioning to establish a provisioning …

The Centreville Village Council last week voted to wait a month before appointing a new member. A board seat has been left vacant with the resignation of Ken Griffith. Three candidates submitted a resident-interest form. They are Brandy Eckert, Harlie Sherman and Thomas Hagerman. Council member Jeff Johnson said all candidates have strong credentials but he moved to  appoint Hagerman. …

Members of the Centreville Village Council voted recently to raise monthly water rates. A fixed-fee increase of $3.18 plus another $1.55 per 1,000 gallons used. Those figures will increase annually, based on cost of living. A rate comparison done for council members showed their bills increasing between $5 and $10 per month under the new plan. The increase was based on …

Sturgis city staff brought a draft medical marijuana ordinance to last week’s city commission meeting for discussion and questions. The ordinance and zoning amendments will go to the planning commission for a public hearing and recommendation to the city commission Jan. 16. The ordinance would allow all five types of facilities – growers, processors, secure transporters, provisioning centers and safety-compliance facilities – …

Members of the Constantine Village Council this week reviewed the most recent draft of an ordinance allowing medical marijuana facilities to operate in the village. The council set a special meeting for 7 p.m. Tuesday, when council members will consider a resolution to permit medical marijuana facilities. Michigan’s new medical marijuana licensing system begins Dec. 15. The state will accept licensing …

A ballot featuring four unchallenged incumbents was the only matter before Three Rivers voters Tuesday. Mayor Tom Lowry, and commissioners Janell Hart, Pat Dane and Norm Stutesman all will return to serve two-year terms. Final vote totals were: Lowry, 199; Dane, 207; Stutesman, 223; Hart, 218. The 61-year-old Lowry, owner of Lowry’s Books and More, has served as mayor 18 …

A sidewalk contract purchase order will be debated by the Three Rivers City Commission this evening. The increase from $80,000 to $97,000 would be adjusted in the city’s 2018 fiscal-year budget. It involves a contract with Northern Construction Services Corporation. The change is a result of more sidewalks identified as being in need of repair or replacement than originally targeted. …

The Three Rivers Public Library Board has agreed to follow through on the purchase of the Southern Michigan Bank and Trust building. Board members said the building purchase price is $350,000. Additional funds will have to be allocated from its $1.2 million budget for first-floor renovations and improvements elsewhere in the building. The board has authorized Arkos Design of Mishawaka …

Members of the Centreville Village Council have accepted a bid for the sale of timber. Indiana Wood Products’ bid of nearly $52,000 was accepted for trees on village property behind the St. Joseph County Fairgrounds. The selective harvest will include mature trees, as well as trees that have been blown over, trees declining in health, poorly formed trees and low-value …