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Vol. 124, Issue #115 Thursday, May 17, 2018 75¢

City awards construction Former executive director:

Gaining ‘independence, clear
contract in excess of $2 million to separation from city’ biggest
Brussee/Brady for sports complex challenge facing TRDDA
By Alek Frost
Poppy Days Managing Editor

Proclamation THREE RIVERS — Brian Persky, Three Rivers Downtown Development

Juanita Phillips, president of the
American Legion Auxiliary, pres-
ents Mayor Tom Lowry with the
first Poppy of the season during
the Three Rivers city commis-
sion meeting on Tuesday, May 15.
Lowry also read a proclamation
making “May 18th, 19th, and 20th,
Poppy Days in our community,” and
encouraged citizens to “support the
American Legion and the Auxiliary
of Hice Shutes Post 170 in this
most worthy endeavor.” The Poppy
is the American Legion Auxiliary’s
memorial flower, “which pays trib-
ute to the war dead and aids the
living veterans and their families.”
Commercial-News/Alek Frost
Authority’s executive director from July 1, 2014 to Nov. 25, 2015, purportedly faced
many of the same challenges current TRDDA Executive Director Dave Vago has cited
in recent weeks, according to documents obtained by the Three Rivers Commercial-
News.
In an exit interview conducted in the fall of 2015, Persky rated communication
between the TRDDA and the City of Three Rivers as “poor,” and wrote that gaining
“independence/clear separation from the city” was chief among the “biggest
challenges (the TRDDA) now faces and must overcome.”
Persky was asked to rate “aspects of the job you are leaving,” and “aspects of the
organization overall” a one-to-five scale, with five being considered excellent, three
signifying average, and one meaning poor.
In the “aspects of the job you are leaving” category, Persky gave “type of work
performed,” “training received,” and “supervision received” an excellent rating. He
gave “working conditions” and “tools and equipment provided” a rating of four, and
listed “workload “and “level of input in decisions for the direction of the program” as
average. See TRDDA, page 3

By Alek Frost regarding a lawsuit filed by St. Joseph again and again, and waiting another week
Managing Editor County against the City of Three Rivers or two could definitely make that easier on

THREE RIVERS — The Three Rivers

city commission voted 5-1 in favor of
awarding the construction contract for the
city’s youth sports complex to Brussee/
Brady of Three Rivers in the amount of
$2,021,242.55 during its meeting on
Tuesday, May 15.
Mayor Tom Lowry and Commissioners
Pat Dane, Daryl Griffith, Norm Stutesman
and Alison Haigh voted in favor of
awarding the contract, while
Commissioner Carolyn McNary voted
against awarding the contract at this time,
citing ongoing court proceedings related to
the sports complex. Commissioner Janell
Hart was absent and excused for Tuesday’s
meeting.
McNary said the city doesn’t have “that
long to wait” for a ruling from Berrien
County Circuit Court Judge John Donahue
seeking return of funds provided for use in
the development of the sports complex,
and therefore the commission should wait
to vote on the construction contract until
that decision is made. On Wednesday, May
2, Donahue said he would render a
decision in “two-to-four weeks.”
Griffith said while it may seem to some
that the city is rushing the decision to
award the construction contract, it’s a
decision that’s “been at least four years in
the making.”
“It’s unfortunate that the circumstances
of the legal battles have put us in a situation
where we are under a tight deadline but we
are,” Griffith said.
“We’ve been planning this year to get
this in place as smoothly and as easily as we
can. For the bulk of (those) four years it’s
been ‘Let’s wait under two, three weeks.’
Every time it comes to us we have to wait
our minds as far as risk goes but it could
really hurt us in the end if we’re ultimately
held to the deadline in the contract. If that
doesn’t restart at the beginning of when
this decision comes down — if we’re
already in that timeline., which is a very
real possibility — that week is going to be
very critical to us getting this done in time.
So I support this.”
Lowry echoed Griffith’s sentiment
saying the decision to award the contract
this week instead of at a future meeting is
“not a quick decision,” and delaying the
decision at this point “would be pushing
the deadline.”
In other business…
•Three Rivers residents Anna Smith,
Kathy Bingaman, and Doug Bingaman
told the commission on Tuesday that they
each received hate mail after speaking out
See CITY, page 3
Road Commission approves
efficiency, replaces equipment
‘On the right track’ for its future position
By Samantha May
Staff Writer
CENTREVILLE —  The St. Joseph
County Road Commission approved
replacement of its skid-steer loader on
Wednesday, which led to a discussion on
the future position of the commission,
specifically concerning its finances,
operations and equipment.
“Just with the skid-steer alone, what the
public may not understand is that the
equipment in a service organization,
especially this one, makes the organization
efficient,” Managing Director Chris Minger
said. “Equipment must cycle in and out.
There is no way you can avoid that.”
The commissioners approved a
recommendation from Director of Fleet
and Facilities John Lindsey. The
commission’s current 2001 John Deere
skid-steer loader operates with a low-flow
hydraulic system, meaning the loader is
unable to connect to any needed
attachments. Within the last few years, the
loader required a replacement of its
motors, costing $9,000, along with
See ROAD COMMISSION, page 3

‘It is just an absolute nightmare’

Road Commission manages flood damage
By Samantha May
Staff Writer
CENTREVILLE — The St. Joseph County
Road Commission’s Director of Operations
Michael Harris presented an update on the
damage caused in the February flooding, as
well as the recent excessive rainfall, during
the commission’s meeting on Wednesday,
May 16.
Operating Manager Chris Minger said the
thousands of culverts in the county have seen
significant damage from flooding. A
minimum of 17 require replacement, but the
list continues to grow as the commission
continues to locate the failed culvert crossings.
The road crew has already replaced 10.
Minger said replacing 17 culverts estimates to
$125,000, but as the list grows, the damage
can cost up to an estimated $700,000.
“They just keep popping up. These are
probably tubes that could’ve been bad for
years and if water just trickles through them
it wouldn’t be that big of a deal, but when
water is rushed through them, it just takes
everything with it and undermines the road,”
Harris said.
“That is probably why you are seeing so
many of them now. The tubes have been bad
for a while but it has never presented itself as
a problem. We can only move so fast. We will
clean up some ditches, but then the fields are
flooded and not absorbing any water, then
everything comes out to our roads. It is just
an absolute nightmare.”
Harris said prioritizing the repairs from
flood damage causes a delay in other annual
scheduled repairs, including chip and seal.
Roads are not prepared for the Spring chip
and seal season until potholes are covered
with a cold patch.
Harris said already this year, the road crew
has laid down about 1,200 tons of cold patch
to smooth cracks and potholes, compared to
the 670 tons used this time last year. That is
equivalent to 2.4 million pounds of cold
patch.
“When you think about that number and
that it predominately gets put in one shovel
full at a time, that is incredible,” Commissioner
Rodney Chupp said. “The man hours, that is
a lot of work. The effort that the staff has put
in should not go under-appreciated.”
Harris said due to the rainfall, preparing for
chip and seal is “progressing, but not
progressing at the same time.” The road crew
may work extra hours in order to stay ahead. Success commencement
The commission can possibly receive up to The Three Rivers’ Success Virtual Learning Center held its sixth annual commencement
$100,000 through the state’s Disaster ceremony at the Three Rivers High School on Tuesday, May 15. Twenty-six graduates
Contingency Fund Grant. Although the grant received their high school diplomas: Olivia Alfaro, Ashlynn Benner, Devon Blakely, Jocelyn
would be helpful in flood damage relief, Borger, Crystyn Bryie, Emma Burdett, Madison Carr, Braylin Chase, Calvin Crespo, William
Commissioner Eric Shaffer said the county Fankhouser Jr., Jasmine Gingerich, Nicole Gordon, Kenzie Himes, Kameron Howard, Kaitlyn
commissioners need to understand the extent Houston, Erika Hudson, Vanessa Luna, Emily MacDonald, Logan Medbery, Ruby Mohney,
Delvia Ortiz, Katelyn Osborn, Trenton Russell, Lexie Wall, Brittany Warner, and Skyler
of the damage caused by the floods.
Ziesmer.
Samantha May can be reached at 279-7488 Commercial-News/Samantha May
ext. 23 or sam@threeriversnews.com.

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Commercial-News
OBITUARY
JAMES ARTHUR
CLEVELAND
James Arthur Cleveland, age
67 of Sturgis passed away
Tuesday morning May 8, 2018
at his home.
He was born Sept. 26, 1950
in Sturgis, son of the late LeRoy
and Ida June (Laughlin)
Cleveland.
Jim resided in Sturgis most of
his life with the exception of the
years he lived in Kalamazoo
and Valparaiso, Ind. He was a
graduate of Sturgis High School
with the class of 1968 and
continued his education at
North Central Michigan
College in Petoskey where he
received an Associate Degree in
Health Sciences.
On May 30, 1991 he married
Sally Barthel in Valparaiso, Ind.
Jim was a respiratory
therapist and had been
employed by Three Rivers
Health in Three Rivers for the
past 11 years. Before joining
Three Rivers Health he had
worked at the LaGrange
Hospital in LaGrange, Ind.,
Porter Memorial Hospital in
Valparaiso and the Borgess
Medical Center in Kalamazoo.
Jim was proud to have served
his country in the U.S. Navy
during the Viet Nam War from
1968-1972. He enjoyed playing
golf and working in the
outdoors and loved time spent
with family, especially his
grandchildren.
He is survived by his wife:
Celebration of
A Celebration of Life will be held for Pastor
Dwayne Swinehart, of Washington, IN, formerly of
Three Rivers. Come join the family and friends on
Saturday, May 19, 2018 at Restoration Church, 205 N.
Main St., Three Rivers from 1-4 p.m. Parking behind
church.
Music for the
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We specialize in prearrangements
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Lee Hohner ~279-5282~
Sally; two daughters: Jaimee
Barthel of Sturgis and Lauren
Rose (Joshua) Roberts of
Sturgis; one son: Robert Joseph
Barthel of Sturgis; five
grandchildren: Brock, Damian,
Tristan, Aiden and Sophia; two
brothers: Ed (Marlene)
Cleveland of Kalamazoo and
Chappy Cleveland of Denver,
Colo.; two sisters: Suzanne
Jensen of Sturgis and Jody
(Mike) Stange of Malvern, Ark.
and many nieces and nephews.
In accordance with his
wishes cremation has taken
place. A memorial service
celebrating the life of James
Cleveland will be held at 11
a.m. Friday, the Radiant Life
Church in Sturgis. The Rev.
Ryan Bibb will officiate.
The Hackman Chapel of
Hackman Family Funeral
Homes, 114 S. Nottawa St.,
Sturgis, MI 49091, 269-651-
2331 is entrusted with the
arrangements.
The family suggests those
wishing to make a memorial
donation in Jim’s memory
consider Hospice of Sturgis, the
American Lung Association
1475 East 12 Mile Road,
Madison Heights, MI 48071 or
the Southwest Michigan
Cancer Center, 200 N. Park St.,
Kalamazoo, MI 49007.
The obituary is also at www.
hackmanfamilyfuneralhomes.
com where personal messages
of support may be left for the
family.
Life
WWW.WRCIRADIO.COM
Gabe Adams
ROAD COMMISSION
Continued from page 1
maintenance on multiple
electrical issues.
Lindsey recommended a
larger skid-steer/track
loader, which has the ability
to load materials into trucks
and run attachments,
including a forestry
mulching head included in
the recommended purchase.
The final purchase totals to
$78,363.15, which includes
the forestry mulching head,
a 33 percent MiDeal
discount, and the trade
value for the 2001 skid steer.
A brand new loader totals
to about $300,000, while in
the commission’s approved
purchase the loader costs
CITY
Continued from page 1
about the forced resignation
of Three Rivers Downtown
Development Authority
Executive Director Dave
Vago, a resignation Vago has
since rescinded.
All three received faux
certificates in the mail
featuring their name and
derogatory language like
“Dumb (expletive) of the
Year” or “Dip (expletive) of
the Year.” Smith and the
Bingamans brought the
certificates to show the
commission and condemned
the behavior.
Smith said that whoever
sent her the certificate could
meet her at L.A.’s Coffee Café
on Wednesday afternoon to
discuss the issue.
TRDDA
Continued from page 1
Persky said the workload was
“definitely a high amount but
somewhat expected,” and rated
“salary” as a two, stating that his
salary could have been better
“but I understand our budget
restraints.”
When asked to rate certain
aspects of the organization
overall, Persky rated “training
opportunities” as excellent, gave
“support of work-life balance” a
n e ar l y $65,000.
Commissioner Rodney
Chupp said he appreciates
Lindsey’s “for ward
thinking.”
Minger said strategic
equipment purchases and
the commission’s ongoing
match allocation program
with local townships, puts
the commission “on the
right track” to making a
difference in the county.
“There is not enough
money now, there is not
enough money in the future.
I don’t know if we are going
to catch up, but we are going
to make a difference,” he
said.
During Tuesday’s meeting
the city commission also…
•Approved the Wildcat
Drain for US 131.
“ The Michigan
D e p ar t m e nt of
Transportation is completing
engineering plans for the
reconstruction of US-131.
The intersection at M-60 and
US-131 will be revamped as
part of the project. During
the planning process MDOT
discovered that a drainage
ditch/culvert, at the south
border of the city will need to
be upgraded to handle the
water runoff. MDOT will
pay for the upgrade to the
drain but has requested that
the City petition to create a
county drainage district that
rating of four, and listed
“employee orientation” as
average. He gave “recognition
for a job well done” a rating of
two and wrote that the board/
city was “critical of small
things,” and that he thought the
evaluation “could’ve gone
better.” Persky also gave
“communication with board” a
rating of two, saying it “needed
improvement with several
members.” And lastly, as
mentioned previously, Persky
rated “communication with
city” as poor, stating that it
“needs major improvement” as
the city and TRDDA are “rarely
on the same page.” He also rated
“administrative policies/
procedures” as average, urging
the TRDDA to “strive to be a
more independent board and
organization.”
In addition to listing
“independence/clear separation
from city” among the biggest
challenges the organization
faces, Perksy also listed “debt/
financial support,” “board/
committee support & (active
involvement from both),” as
well as “merchants’ attitude vs.
city and vice-versa.”
In closing, Persky said the
“director can’t be bagged down
with small stuff,” and needs
“support, respect, and
cooperation from city hall.” He
also stressed patience, and
urged the city and the
organization to “trust the
process.”
“We have a strong foundation
here and I truly believe in your
leadership moving forward.
Just continue to support the
new director, lean on them and
the (Michigan) Main Street
(Program),” Persky wrote.
Following Tuesday’s Three
Rivers city commission
meeting, the Three Rivers
Commercial-News reached out
to City Manager and TRDDA
Board Member Joe Bippus for a
response to Persky’s exit
interview, and the striking
similarities between Persky’s
statements and those of Dave
Vago.
Bippus said many of the
Today
“(...) There is still a lot of
work yet to do, but I believe
this road commission, and a
lot of others, are on the right
track. We just have to soldier
on and do the best that we
can with what we have. Like
our legislators have told us,
t he y c ompl e tely
underfunded local road
commissions, so it is up to
us to find different ways to
stretch our dollars as far as
we can, and that is what we
are doing.”
Currently, 10 out of 16
townships are involved with
the commission’s match
allocation program. Minger
said he encourages anyone
will be responsible for
maintenance of the drain in
the future,” City Manager Joe
Bippus wrote in a letter to the
commission prior to the
meeting.
•Awarded the 1204 Fifth
Street demolition project to
Roberts Brothers Excavating
for a total purchase order of
$10,374.60 and 208 E.
Michigan Ave demolition
project to Bolle Contracting
LLC for a total purchase
order of $11,404.60.
•Approved the bid with
Asphalt Restoration Inc. of
Kalamazoo for Broadway
crack filling and microsurface
for $56,366.20.
•Approved the proposal
with Asphalt Restoration for
issues that exist between the
city and the TRDDA are due to
the nature in which the two
have to interact and conduct
business, likening their
relationship to a “three-legged
race.”
“It’s like a three-legged race
— you have to work together to
accomplish a goal. The DDA is
a component unit of the city —
we handle all of their HR, their
finances, insurance, we assist
them with maintenance, if they
have an employee that doesn’t
show up we step up and take
care of it — if somebody gets
sick, can’t handle their job or
quits,” Bippus said.
“They come to us for
additional money, which we are
supporting them with. As a
matter of state law the city
manager is on the board, so we
have to be involved as a board
member, and sometimes that
confuses people (as to whether)
I’m a board member or am I the
city manager? And I’m both.
That can come across as the city
overtaking stuff but mainly I’m
just talking as a board member.
Realizing that I’ve been at this
for over 20 years, I know what
it’s like to work with boards, I
know there are differences of
opinion — I’ve never been the
chairman of the board, I was on
the executive board and I was
recently voted off of the
executive board — which is
fine.
“I haven’t been critical of the
board but I recognize that
they’re volunteers — they can
only go so far with how much
time they have to put into
things and their commitment,
they often have to give up
another job or family activities
to do this and so they rely on us.
But when you have two groups,
there’s always some kind of
control question, and my take
on it is let them go and do as
much as they can without
getting the city, themselves or
anybody else in liability or
trouble.
“Oftentimes they deal with
public funds, they deal with tax
dollars, and so we’re responsible
Thursday, May 17, 2018 – 3
who has a concern with a
local road to contact their
township board, in order to
possibly add the road to
next year’s match allocation
list.
In other business...
• The commission
received 21 applications for
the Managing Director
position in lieu of current
director Minger who will
retire in September. All
applications must be
submitted before June 1.
Samantha May can be
reached at 279-7488 ext. 23
or sam@threeriversnews.
com.
Fifth Avenue microsurface
and crackfilling for $19,685.
•Approved the bid with
Reith Riley for the Fifth
Street mill and fill for
$62,803.
•Approved the bid with
NCSC for Day Drive
Reconstruction for
$464,874.85.
•Approved change order
No. 3 with JC & Sons for tree
removal for $39,446.25.
•Set a public hearing for
the user ordinance fee update
for June 5, 2018.
Alek Frost can be reached
at 279-7488 ext. 22 or alek@
threeriversnews.com.
for those tax dollars and how
they’re spent. Like the mayor
mentioned tonight, we’re also
responsible for the Open
Meetings Act and to make sure
we do things appropriately, and
so that’s difficult to stay up with
because board members change
and you don’t realize how
quickly they are changing and
all of a sudden what has been a
common practice — a new
person has no idea what you’re
talking about. And so you
become a teacher, an instructor
and you’re trying to give
direction in those instances.
“But from my perspective,
we, the city, have enough on our
plate to do everything, so the
better (the TRDDA board)
functions on their own, the
more they can handle on their
own, the better it is for all of us.
And when they get stuck or
start wobbling or start having
problems, we will usually step
in and try to back them up. And
that’s how it is. But if they do
want to something that isn’t
appropriate — a lot of people
coming from the outside don’t
realize that the way the
government has to do things is
different from the way they
operate in their own business
— whether they’re a private
business owner or whether they
work for a corporation, we have
to stop them and say ‘No, there’s
a process we have to do.’ And
sometimes that just rubs people
the wrong way, they just want to
act, and it looks like we’re just
trying to be enforcing rules and
we’re just trying to stifle them,
and it’s really not, we’re just
trying to be appropriate and do
things right.
“All of us make mistakes,
board members, the city, we all
have issues, we all have things
we probably regret or that we
could do better or do differently
— the point is we just have to
get over those things and move
on.”
Alek Frost can be reached at
279-7488 ext. 22 or alek@
threeriversnews.com.