Government

Two incumbents on the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners have filed paperwork in order to seek re-election. Commissioners Don Eaton and John Dobberteen are the first to declare for their return to what will be a five-member board in 2013. The seven-seat panel will be reduced as a result of redistricting performed by the St. Joseph County Apportionment Commission. …

Members of the Police Officers Labor Council in Three Rivers agreed to a new contract with the city, following action Tuesday. City manager Joe Bippus said the union agreed to concessions that include a reduced rate of pay for holidays and unused vacation time. Bippus said the three-year agreement includes raises of 2 percent the first year and 1.5 percent …

The St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday approved an out-of-state travel request for two employees. According to a memo from Undersheriff Mark Lillywhite, deputies Tim Barnes and Brandon Dahl will attend a Drug Enforcement Agency “Clan Lab” state and local certification school April 16-20 at the FBI training center in Virginia. The invitation-only class was offered to the …

Three Rivers Mayor Tom Lowry and city commission members have OK’d a plan to offer early retirement to municipal employees who qualify for the option. During Tuesday’s meeting, finance director Cathy Lawson noted that as many as six of the city’s 57 full-time employees would qualify for the early-retirement incentive. If accepted, a recipient would receive a one-time payout of …

  Members of the Three Rivers City Commission earlier this week rejected a plan to act as the municipality’s zoning board of appeals in matters related to so-called Big Box retail developments. Following an informal consensus Tuesday, Mayor Tom Lowry and commissioners decided to field such matters. The issue was raised in light of concerns that the city’s ZBA has …

Sturgis police joined members of the Southwest Enforcement Team in uncovering hazardous waste from several methamphetamine laboratories Tuesday night at a residence in Sturgis. Sturgis police said a search warrant was executed for a 207 S. Maple St., a residence raided for drug-related activity in 2008, police said. The residence was vacant when it was entered Tuesday. A specially trained …

Mayor Tom Lowry and members of the Three Rivers City Commission agreed Tuesday to gather more input from municipal staff and its legal advisor before taking action relevant to an ongoing issue with the Three Rivers Public Library Board. At the conclusion of Tuesday’s commission meeting, Commissioner Daryl Griffith said he remains open to the idea of removing library board …

  Any Three Rivers resident interested in serving on the city commission has through April 13 to submit a citizen-interest form. Mayor Tom Lowry and commissioners on Tuesday accepted the resignation of Ken Baker, who stated in his letter of resignation that his ongoing battle against cancer prevents him from remaining on the commission. Forms are available at city hall …

Three Rivers officials said beginning Thursday, River Road will be closed to through traffic for at least a six-week period for infrastructure work. City crews plan to work on the remainder of the water main under River Road to be replaced and extended to serve properties at the east end of the city. The detour will be from 9th Street …

The Three Rivers Fire Department has announced that seasonal testing of the city’s weather sirens will begin at 12:05 p.m. Saturday. Chief Dan Tomlinson said the sirens will be tested the first Saturday of the month, through October. He said sirens will not be tested if severe weather is in the forecast.