The Constantine Village Council listened to a water and sewer report which recommended raising user rates at a council meeting Monday evening (December 19th). In July 1996, Constantine entered in a 20-year agreement to pump waste to Three Rivers Waste Water Treatment Plant.  Costs to the Village to do so were raised unexpectedly by 55 percent in June, 2011. [...]

With an eye toward the September 10th date for this year’s Constantine Harvest Festival, the Constantine Village Council has approved a motion to organize a standing community – Cool Cities – “for the purpose of organizing festivals and other activities to benefit the Village of Constantine.”  The motion also identified the “initial members” of the [...]

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 [...]

Three Rivers Fire Chief Dan Tomlinson appeared before the Constantine Village Council Monday evening (August 6) to distribute a handout with information on LifeCare Ambulance Service. He compared the EMS services provided by LifeCare and the Three Rivers Fire Department. LifeCare has provided ambulance service in St. Joseph County since 1996. Tomlinson said he has [...]

The proposed sale of a small parcel of village-owned land on East Water Street will be the subject of a public hearing during the Constantine Village Council meeting Monday evening (April 15). Charles and Joelen Zimont are proposing to purchase eight feet of land adjacent to the west edge of their property at 280 East [...]

“I’d like to see ‘em keep ‘em.” These words from Trustee Bob Brewer capture the essence of sentiments expressed by members of the Constantine Village Council Monday evening (August 15th) during which James Connelly and Anita Moore asked to be allowed to retain the rabbits they have at their residence at 340 White Pigeon Street.  [...]

Residents at 340 White Pigeon Street asked the Constantine Village Council to reconsider fining them for having more than three “pets” at the council meeting Monday evening (November 21st). James Connelly and Anita Moore currently have 10 rabbits – “with babies” – and three dogs at their residence, and maintain the rabbits are emotional support animals (ESA).  The [...]

The Constantine Village Council – acting as the community’s Planning Commission – has approved a Special Use Permit to allow an apartment in the rear portion of a building at 1201 South Washington Street. The action came Monday evening (May 2) following a public hearing on the matter in which there were no citizen comments. [...]

The Constantine Village Council has adopted an ordinance “to provide for the appointment of both the village clerk and the village treasurer instead of having both elected positions.” The action came on a 6-to-1 vote during the council meeting Monday evening (October 1).  Village President MacKenzie Strawser cast the dissenting vote. In a memo to [...]

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 [...]

President Pat Weiss updated the Constantine village council Monday evening (December 17) on the status of the proposed bypass along U.S. 131. Weiss said she attended a December 11 meeting of 35 Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) representatives, and contractors at the MDOT office in Kalamazoo. “All properties necessary for [...]

The Constantine Village Council has adopted two resolutions regarding Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund (MNRTF) grants for Riverview Park.  The actions came during the council meeting Monday evening (June 20th). The resolutions accept the terms of Project Agreements for the park improvement project and land acquisition. The park improvement project includes the construction of a [...]

Trustee Gary Mathers, Chairman of the Sewer Ad Hoc Committee, commented at the Constantine Village Council meeting Monday evening (February 6th) that his committee had more questions than answers following a review of a problem with money being drained from the sewer fund. A rise in Village water-sewer rates was projected at an earlier council meeting, to [...]

Constantine Village Manager Mark Honeysett predicted there will be additional expenses to maintain the sewer line between Constantine and Three Rivers Waste Water Treatment Plant (WWTP) at a Monday evening (May 6) meeting of the village council. Honeysett presented council members with two photos of the damaged areas, and a memorandum from plant superintendent James [...]

Two agenda items produced considerable verbal sparring during the Constantine village council meeting Monday evening (March 21st). Village Manager Mark Honeysett was in one corner while Village President MacKenzie Strawser and her sister, Village Clerk Ruth Strawser, occupied the other corner. The bouts focused on recommendations from Honeysett for the appointment of persons to serve [...]

There’s a light agenda for the Constantine Village Council meeting scheduled for Monday evening (May 21). The agenda lists one item of Unfinished Business:  Housing Discrimination Complaint – 340 White Pigeon Street. Two items appear under New Business: Resolution for MDOT SAAC (Sturgis Area Ambulance Committee) update. The meeting will get underway at 7 p.m. [...]

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 [...]

What to do about a malfunctioning severe weather siren near a trailer park on the south side of the village was a topic for discussion during the Constantine Village Council meeting Monday evening (September 19th). Village Manager Mark Honeysett identified two options: Replace the siren with a comparable unit at a cost of $5,900, realizing [...]

The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) and the soon-to-be-constructed US-131 bypass of Constantine were in the spotlight again during the Constantine Village Council’s first meeting of the New Year Monday evening (January 7th). After adding ‘MDOT’ to the Unfinished Business portion of the agenda, Village President Pat Weiss reported information she had received via e-mail [...]

Residents of the Village of Constantine will have a chance to weigh in on whether the village clerk and treasurer should be appointed, rather than elected, during a public hearing scheduled for the next Constantine Village Council meeting on Monday, September 17th. In action Monday evening (August 20th), the council voted 6-to-1 to set the [...]