Faced with the need to eliminate the shortfall in revenue versus expenses for its sewer utility, the Constantine Village Council has approved another sewer rate increase. The action came on a 4-to-3 vote Monday evening (February 18) on a recommendation from the Sewer Ad Hoc Committee to accept the most recent study proposed by Fleis [...]
WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Fred Upton (R-St. Joseph) made the following statement in response to the President’s rejection of the Keystone XL pipeline project. Upton and fellow House Energy and Commerce Committee leaders Wednesday (January 18th) outlined new plans to move forward on the job-creating Keystone XL pipeline, scheduling a hearing one week from Wednesday [...]
Members of the budget committee of Constantine Village Council itemized a proposal package, which has a March 31st deadline, at a third committee meeting held Tuesday (March 15th). The meeting was also attended by Village Manager Mark Honeysett, Village President MacKenzie Strawser, and Village Clerk Ruth Strawser. A public hearing needs to be held, with [...]
‘Occupy Wall Street’ protests in New York and other cities around the United States continue in the wake of the current lackluster economy, high unemployment and other negative economic issues. David Korten, author of a number of books including Agenda for a New Economy, has weighed in on the subject and expressed support for the [...]
Washington, DC – Congressman Fred Upton (R-MI) voted in support of the three Free Trade Agreements (FTA), South Korea (H.R. 3080), Panama (H.R. 3079) and Columbia (H.R. 3078). The South Korea FTA passed the House by a vote of 278 – 151. The Panama FTA passed the House by a vote of 300 – 129. [...]
Glen Oaks Community College is among the potential players in the proposed ‘Economic Development and Innovation Partnership’ between St. Joseph County and Angola, Indiana-based Trine University. Dr. Gary Wheeler, president of Glen Oaks, discussed the proposal and its relationship to the college during “A River Country Conversation” interview with Bruce Snook of the River Country [...]
WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Fred Upton (R-MI), Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, released the following statement Wednesday (January 19th) upon House approval of H.R. 2, legislation to repeal Obamacare: “Today’s repeal vote is a first step toward compassionate, consumer- and competition-driven health care reform. We will use every tool at our disposal [...]
A proposed ‘Economic Growth and Innovation Partnership’ between St. Joseph County and Trine University was in the spotlight Thursday evening (April 21st) during a nearly two-hour meeting at the St. Joseph County Intermediate School District building near Centreville. Approximately 80 people were on hand for the session that featured a presentation by Michael Bock, Vice-President [...]
If the Constantine Village Council moves forward with a recommendation from the Sewer Ad Hoc Committee, village residents and businesses will experience a 40 percent combined water and sewer rate increase beginning with the next billing in April. In action Monday evening (March 19th), the council accepted the most recent rate study proposed by Fleis [...]
Tuesday evening’s (April 5th) Three Rivers City Commission meeting provided the forum for a brief introduction to the ‘Tea Party,’ one of the players on the national political scene including the budget debate now raging in Washington, D.C. Jeff Brown of Sturgis spoke during the ‘General Comments’ portion of the meeting and said, “I’m helping [...]
WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Fred Upton (R-St. Joseph) praised Tuesday evening’s (December 13th) House passage of the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act (H.R. 3630). Among other things, this legislation extends payroll tax cuts and unemployment benefits while preventing scheduled cuts to Medicare payments for physicians. H.R. 3630 also seeks to spur job [...]
Representatives of the City of Three Rivers, the Townships of Fabius, Lockport and Park, and the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners gathered at City Hall in Three Rivers late Saturday morning (April 23rd) for a ‘Community Development Meeting’ to consider ways to cooperate in providing services – and the conversation that took place during [...]
Revitalization of the former Village Square Shopping Center and its transformation into The Shoppes at MarketPlace North is nearing the finish line. This rather substantial economic development project was set in motion in October of 2010 when Tom Meyer and his son, Aaron Meyer, joined forces to purchase the bulk of the property in the [...]
With the economic downturn continuing and winter approaching, efforts are underway to address the growing problem of homelessness in St. Joseph County through a weekend homeless shelter in Three Rivers.
The St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners will conduct the second public hearing on the ‘Trine University Economic Growth Proposal’ Tuesday evening (July 26th). The hearing will be the focus of a special board meeting in the Commission Room of the Historic Courthouse in Centreville, beginning at 6:30. Commissioners agreed to schedule the hearing during [...]
The Constantine Village Council has decided to draw upon the experience and expertise of a former trustee and past chairman of its Sewer Ad Hoc Committee as it deals with sewer-related issues. In a unanimous action Monday evening (January 16th), the council approved the appointment of Scott Chiddister to serve on the committee. Trustee Gary [...]
Lansing – The Michigan House Thursday (April 28th) approved legislation to simplify the state’s tax structure to increase competitiveness in attracting job providers. “Michigan needs to grow out of this jobs deficit,” said House Speaker Jase Bolger, R-Marshall. “To help job seekers we need to make Michigan a more competitive place to provide a job. [...]
Nearly one-third of Southwest Michigan manufacturing jobs are auto-related WASHINGTON, DC – The auto industry supports more jobs than any other manufacturing industry in the United States and its recovery has been one of the brighter spots in the economy since the recent recession. Appearing Wednesday (April 10) before the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and [...]
To the Editor: Is St. Joseph County going to the dogs? You might have thought so if you’d attended the County Commission meeting Tuesday, June 21. At least 50 persons came to support the creation of an Animal Control Advisory Board. After the applause, they all got up and left! With the bulk of business [...]
“It’s kind of like a ‘chapter two.’” This is how Rick Shaffer, Chairman of the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners, characterized the situation regarding efforts to bolster economic development in the county following the August 8th announcement by Trine University that it was stepping back from its ‘Economic Growth and Innovation Proposal’ for partnering [...]
