Sturgis city commissioners on Monday approved a $1.6 million agreement for St. Joseph County’s commitment to fund a major share of a proposed $2 million softball complex.

This marks the second multi-million-dollar allocation Sturgis has received from the county’s delinquent tax revolving fund to finance a public project here. St. Joseph County Commission on Aging is set to open a new $2 million services center April 1 near Doyle Community Center. The county paid for that project using part of an accumulated fund balance that had exceeded $18 million in payments and penalties collected countywide from delinquent property taxes.

County commissioners also have allocated more than $2 million from the same fund to help pay for a new public sports complex for the Three Rivers area.

Several of Sturgis’ surrounding townships endorsed the city’s application for county funds. The county agreement requires that softball participants who live in the county but outside the city of Sturgis will not be charged higher non-resident fees.

In September 2015, Sturgis commissioners approved a resolution requesting county funding for a multi-diamond complex with restrooms located on city-owned property on Lafayette Street, near Sturgis Middle School.

It would replace the current Spence Field, which officials have labeled “obsolete.”

In addition to county funding, the city has pledged $200,000.

Atlantic Packaging, a business located adjacent to Spence Field, has indicated an interest in expanding on that property. City officials have said Atlantic Packaging could kick in $200,000 for the project to acquire the land.

Some county residents have expressed objections to use of county delinquent tax fund reserves for the three projects, saying the money is not being allocated countywide and could be better spent repairing local roads.

Proponents argue the projects will amplify St. Joseph County’s appeal to new residents and the sports complexes can be used to attract large tournaments that will mean additional tourism revenue.

Also on Monday, commissioners approved a $349,389 contract with Vanguard Utility Services and Utility Metering Solutions, of Owensboro, Ky., for installation of hundreds of high-tech water meters that will communicate readings wirelessly to the city’s central billing operation.

It’s part of a major upgrade in Sturgis’ utility metering program that will eliminate on-site meter readings and give the city and customers more information about service demands.

About 35 percent of old electric meters already have been replaced with new devices Officials say all electric and water meters should be upgraded to the new wireless technology by March 2017.

In other city news, Sturgis Police Department on Monday announced that the intersection of Cottage Street and South Fourth Street is to be closed today through Thursday, for sewer work.

Corky Emrick contributed to this report.

 

Source : sturgisjournal.com

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