Tagged: Portage city Council

PORTAGE, MI - With no discussion, the Portage City Council has voted for a financial agreement with Kalamazoo County over the closing of the Shaver Road district court. The agreement calls for Kalamazoo County paying Portage $70,000 a year for 10 years to cover Portage's costs by the court closing.

PORTAGE, MI - Portage water and sewer customers will have a chance to comment on the proposed 2013-14 rates at a Tuesday public hearing. The 7:30 p.m. hearing during the Portage City Council meeting calls for the Portage customer paying a 2.73 percent higher bill, or $19.40 more a year.

PORTAGE, MI - The proposed 2013-14 Portage city budget calls for a slight decrease in the average resident's tax bill, but also the discontinuation of some longtime parks and summer entertainment programs. Portage City Manager Maurice Evans presented a brief overview of the proposed city budget blueprint to the Portage City Council Tuesday night, calling it a "conservative approach" that still maintains the core services of police, fire and public works.

PORTAGE, MI - Portage may be the first community in Southwest Michigan to regulate collection or donation boxes. After a good deal of discussion the Portage City Council on Tuesday voted 5-1 to approve a collection box ordinance amendment that will regulate the 25 or so for-profit and non-profit collection boxes around town that take donations of everything from clothing to books.

PORTAGE, MI - Regulations controlling the proliferation of donation boxes in Portage are up for a public hearing at Tuesday's Portage City Council meeting. The donation box ordinance amendment has been discussed since last fall and went through Planning Commission hearings and approval.