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DOWAGIAC — The Dowagiac City Council addressed a variety of issues during its Monday meeting at City Hall, including public comment on its park and open space plan, a decision regarding a dilapidated property and the return of PrideFest next year.

The council unanimously agreed to open a public comment period for the 2025-2030 Park & Open Space Plan. A public hearing date of January 13, 2025 was set. 

“Since July, the [Dowagiac] Planning Commission has been working with the Southwest Michigan Planning Commission on updating our recreation plan,” said Assistant City Manager Amanda Sleigh. “The process included updating demographic and technical information within the plan, but also an extensive public input process.”

Public input was gathered through a public meeting held at the Middle School and through an online survey, which garnered almost 300 responses, a response Sleigh called “an overwhelming success.” 

The information gathered was analyzed and the Planning Commission used that as guidance in setting Goals and Objectives and an Action Plan. During their meeting on December 2 the Planning Commission reviewed the final draft of the plan and voted to present the plan to the City Council to open the public comment period and set a public hearing. 

The city now has a plan available to review on its website (https://www.cityofdowagiac.com/news_detail_T11_R177.php). Public comments may be submitted in writing to Sleigh, and the public hearing on the plan will take place at 7 p.m. Monday, Jan. 13 at Dowagiac City Hall.

City, homeowner reach agreement on dilapidated property

The owner of 210 Courtland Street now has six months to repair a number of building code violations or demolish the building after the City approved a resolution to authorize its demolition if that timeline isn’t met. The property, which was damaged in a fire in May 2023, has been deemed “a dangerous structure constituting a public nuisance.” 

Owner Emily Evans spoke before Council and provided a status update on efforts to bring the property up to code, stating that many repairs are either already underway or scheduled. Mayor Lyons stressed the importance of communication with the City, stating, “The last thing we want to do is find ourselves six months from now with the job half done and you’ve lost everything and have to take it down. That serves nobody’s purpose.” 

Prior to the vote approving the resolution, Ward 2 Councilperson Laura Desilets said to Porter, “I don’t want to vote on something if you are not for sure that it’s going to be done in six months because I don’t want you to lose this house or your money.” 

Porter replied, “Yes,” when Desilets asked her if she was positive that she had the funds to complete the repairs.

Annual PrideFest returns to Dowagiac in June

The city council unanimously approved OutCenter of Southwest Michigan’s request to host the PrideFest event at the Dowagiac District Library Event Pavilion on Saturday, June 14. 

The event there will once again feature sponsor, non-profit and artisan booths, activities for children, food trucks, a DJ and live entertainment.

Speaking in support of the event was OutCenter Program Director Gerik Nasstrom, who stated that the inaugural Dowagiac PrideFest last June attracted more than 800 attendees and 40+ vendors, many of them local and regional. 

Dowagiac resident Jack Crouse also gave comments supporting the event, saying, “Although I’m not part of that particular community, I attended last year’s event. It was peaceful. It was happy. It went well. There were no problems whatsoever, nothing to be concerned about… We’re a constitutional republic. As you know, the Constitution tells us that we’re all entitled to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. There were hundreds of people pursuing their happiness, so I’m here to support the event.”