Benton Harbor, St. Joseph, St. Joseph Township Moving Toward Harbor Authority Creation

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The elected leaders of St. Joseph, St. Joseph Charter Township, and Benton Harbor have all agreed to form a joint work group to set in motion the creation of an authority for the Twin Cities Harbor. At a joint meeting Wednesday, the two city commissions and one township board each unanimously approved a resolution to get started with the work group. St. Joseph Township Manager Denise Cook told WSJM News it was positive to see all in agreement.

“It was a great feeling,” Cook said. “I’ve not been in the room when all three communities were like that before, and it was a real positive experience. I’m glad to see that we are working as a region now.”

The work group will make recommendations for the form of an eventual authority charged with planning for the development of the harbor. Benton Harbor Mayor Marcus Muhammad told us it’s important for the three communities to work together on shared interests.

“I think it was a watershed moment,” Muhammad said. “I think we’re more disconnected than divided, and I think that tonight showed that, that we all have maybe different interests in some respects, but what we have in common supersedes our minor differences.”

Berrien County Community Development Director Dan Fette said a good place for the authority to start would be to talk dredging. Eventually, the authority could decide on matters related to planning and economic development. St. Joe Mayor Mike Garey said all three have a stake in the harbor.

“If we’re able to find a governing body, then three communities can really work on the river and address the maintenance of the river,” Garey said.

Each elected body now has 30 days to appoint four representatives for the work group. Then the work group will have 120 days to make its proposal for the form of the authority.