The Benton Harbor City Commission voted Dec. 16 to permit restaurants and bars to sell alcoholic beverages before noon on Sundays, approved a $521,000 contract for phase 2 renovations at the Bobo community center, and appointed City Manager Alex Little to serve as the city’s representative on the local transit board to ensure city representation at imminent federal meetings.

The policy change on Sunday alcohol sales was presented by Commissioner Sharon Henderson as an economic-development measure intended to help restaurants compete and to broaden the city’s commercial tax base. City staff clarified the ordinance applies to restaurants and bars and does not apply to convenience stores or liquor stores. Commissioner Clark Griffin asked for—and received—this clarification from staff: “This does not apply to convenience stores and liquor stores. Right?” The commission approved the resolution by roll call; Commissioners Henry, Isom, Warren, Henderson and Mayor Mohammed voted in favor while Commissioners Kennard and Clark Griffin voted no.

The commission also approved a contract with Regal Construction to begin phase 2 of renovations at the Bobo community center. City management said phase 1 addressed the roof and windows to stop water infiltration and that phase 2 will focus on interior repairs including bathrooms and cleaning as funds allow. The manager and chair stated the contract amount is $521,000, to be paid through a community center grant from the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity and an Environmental Justice Impact Grant from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy. The manager also noted ongoing litigation related to a larger $20 million community change grant and a possible additional $3 million intended for broader revitalization; the commission voted to proceed with the phase 2 contract.

On a separate, more contentious item, the commission appointed City Manager Alex Little as the city’s official representative to the Dollarhide (transit) board for an interim one-year term through Oct. 1. Several commissioners argued the appointment should be tabled until newly elected commissioners could be seated in early January; others, including the mayor, said the transit board faces an urgent funding and management decision and the Federal Transit Administration and county officials required an authorized city representative at imminent meetings. After legal clarification about the effective dates of resignations and appointments, the commission voted to appoint the city manager to ensure the city would be represented.

Other formal actions taken at the meeting included approval of regular meeting minutes from Dec. 11, 2025, adoption of the consent calendar and passage of the accounts payable listing after a brief request from Commissioner Juanita Henry to review certain line items. The commission entered closed session under the Open Meetings Act and, upon return, voted to accept a recommended “option A” discussed in that closed session before adjourning.

The meeting included public comment covering several topics. A resident raised questions about the status of a regional dredging authority for River dredging; Glenda Wissnack described problems she found after a state-backed lead-reduction project at her home—failed electrical inspections, a removed hot water heater, water leaks discovered behind a wall panel and concerns about permit access and contractor accountability. The commission’s clerk and staff also reported a post-election audit for Precinct 3 was completed by the county and distributed the 2026 committee assignments for commissioners and citizen representatives.

Votes at a glance
- Minutes (Dec. 11, 2025): Approved (motion carried).
- Accounts payable listing: Approved (motion carried).
- Consent calendar: Approved (motion carried).
- Resolution permitting sale of alcohol before noon on Sundays (restaurants and bars only): Approved (roll-call recorded support from Commissioners Henry, Isom, Warren, Henderson and Mayor Mohammed; Commissioners Kennard and Clark Griffin voted no).
- Contract with Regal Construction for phase 2 community center renovations ($521,000; funded by state community center grant and an Environmental Justice Impact Grant): Approved (roll call recorded in favor).
- Appointment of City Manager Alex Little to the Dollarhide board (interim through Oct. 1): Approved following debate and legal clarification.
- Closed-session recommendation (“option A”): Accepted after closed session.

The commission expects to continue follow-up on the community center litigation, the transit arrangement, and resident repair and permitting complaints in future meetings.