Three Rivers commission authorizes Middle Street water design, approves fireworks permit and holds closed session on staff performance

The Three Rivers City Commission on March 17 approved design and bidding work for Middle Street water-service replacements, authorized a fireworks permit for this summer’s Water Festival and later met in closed session to discuss a staff performance matter at the employee’s request.

At-Large Commissioner Lucas Allen moved to use $16,500 from the water fund balance to pay Fleis & Vandenbrink for design and bidding services for the Middle Street water-service replacements. First District Commissioner Pat Dane seconded the motion, which carried unanimously. The authorization covers design and bidding work only; no construction contract was awarded at the meeting.

Second District Commissioner Steven Haigh moved to authorize Mayor Angel Johnston to sign the 2026 fireworks permit for the Water Festival. Fourth District Commissioner Carolyn McNary seconded; the motion carried unanimously.

The commission also approved a bundled consent agenda—including accounts, registers and minutes from various boards—and adopted the minutes of the March 3, 2026 meeting by unanimous votes.

Late in the meeting the commission voted 6-1 (opposed: Second District Commissioner Steven Haigh) to amend the agenda to add a closed session; the body met in closed session at 8:49 p.m. to discuss the performance of city staff, at the request of the employee, and returned at 9:20 p.m. According to the minutes, no decisions were made during the closed session.

All formal motions recorded at the March 17 meeting passed; recorded roll-call tallies for the contested agenda-amendment and the closed-session motion show Commissioner Haigh as the lone dissent on those items. Commissioners used the meeting to confirm minor contractual authorizations and event permitting while reserving personnel deliberations for closed session.