The Three Rivers City Commission acted favorably Tuesday evening (October 5th) on requests regarding two “Friends of” organizations.
In the first action, the commission adopted a resolution to recognize the Friends of the Three Rivers Public Library “as a nonprofit organization operating in the community for the purpose of obtaining charitable gaming licenses” came on a 6-to-nothing vote. Second District Commissioner Elbert Foster was absent because of a death in his immediate family.
Adoption of the resolution was required by the State of Michigan as part of the process to obtain a raffle license from the Charitable Gaming Division for this year’s quilt Christmas raffle to be held in late November and early December. According to a staff report from Library Director Shirley Cody and City Manager Joe Bippus, the trustees of the Three Rivers Public Library Board supported the raffle plans at their meeting on September 28th.
On another unanimous vote, the commission also approved a support letter to be included in the Friends of Riverside Cemetery application to secure 501(c)(3) status as a nonprofit entity. The letter – to be signed by Mayor Allen Balog – says:
The City of Three Rivers supports the formation of the “Friends of Riverside Cemetery” organization. We have met with the leadership and believe that they will be able to assist the City in the maintenance and care of our cemetery.
This group of volunteers has helped us perform work that the City would be unable to accomplish. There continues to be projects that need attention that the City is unable to carry out at this time due to manpower and financial considerations. We hope you will support their application for a 501(c)(3) status.
In comments directed to Ken Baker, a representative of the Friends of Riverside Cemetery, Commissioner–at-Large Daryl Griffith said, “I just want to thank you for investing your time into a very good cause here. You guys are doing some good work out there.”
Baker said, “Thank you. We’ll be back to see you in probably a month with the projects that we want to do.”
Fourth District Commissioner Carolyn McNary added her appreciation. And Balog said, “It’s great to have people like yourself in the community that will take projects like this and make things happen and make it look nice out there and it certainly does.”
