Tagged: Portage city Council

PORTAGE, MI - After several years of being off the Portage City Council, Nasim Ansari says he would like to come back. Ansari became the first candidate to file and announce his candidacy for the Portage City Council in the Nov. 5 elections. He is seeking a four-year term.

PORTAGE, MI - He still has the energy, the support of his family and colleagues and a vision of better things to come for his city. Those are some of the reasons four-term Portage Mayor Pete Strazdas will seek a fifth term in the November elections.

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.