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Sturgis City Commission meetings will remain as electronic gatherings, at least for now.
Commissioners on Wednesday received a report from city manager Michael Hughes and attorney Roger Bird that, with recent changes to COVID-19 restrictions in the state, the board had the option of returning to in-person meetings. In the report, Hughes sought commission direction about how to schedule future meetings.
The current provision, Public Act 254 of 2020, allowing government entities to hold virtual meetings for any reason, expires March 31. Following mandate relaxations effective March 5, up to 25 may be present in the same room. The public may attend the meeting in person, subject to all applicable masking and distancing requirements, according to the state. For public attendance to be permitted beyond 25 people, the gathering must be designed to ensure that every person can avoid mingling or engaging in physical contact with people outside their household.
Sturgis Journal
The Sturgis City Commission is looking to return to in-person meetings, with the topic being on the agenda of the virtual meeting, set for 6 p.m. Wednesday.
With recent changes to COVID-19 restrictions in the state, the city attorney and Sturgis City Manager Michael Hughes will present information on the city’s ability to hold public meetings and potential restrictions for those meetings.
In his recommendation to the commission, Hughes said he will seek commission direction on how to schedule future meetings.
Renovations are being planned for the Sturges-Young Center of the Arts. A recommendation will go before the commission Wednesday that the commissioners consider a bid waiver for and a design contract with Frederick Construction for the Sturges-Young main floor restroom project design for $24,750.
Sturgis Journal
Sidewalk repairs and construction, as well as street improvements, were topics that dominated the Sturgis City Commission meeting Wednesday.
Sidewalk repair
Barry Cox, engineer for the city of Sturgis City, provided information about the projects during public hearings set up for each, as well as discussion with the city commission.
The city’s engineering department is launching sidewalk repair and new special- assessment districts for Vinewood Avenue and East Congress Street, in accordance with the public sidewalk construction policy, approved by the city commission in 2011.
For the special assessment districts being proposed, a letter was sent to each property owner listed in the preliminary assessment roll, notifying them of the public hearing date and estimated assessment cost.
Sturgis Journal
Fundraising efforts to upgrade Sturges-Young Center for the Arts are underway, as part of a multiple-year timeline of goals and projects.
Last week, Sheila Bolda, executive director at Sturges-Young, presented an update to Sturgis City Commission regarding the “Road to Restoration” fundraising campaign. It included information about current projects, upcoming fundraising goals and strategies, capital projects and long-range goals.
Bolda said that, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, “2020 didn’t result in a lot of fundraising.” However, at the same time, the pandemic provided the perfect reason” to pursue one project in particular: long-overdue restroom upgrades, complete with touch-free fixtures, Bolda said.