(STURGIS) - The Sturgis City Commission received an update Wednesday on an upcoming investigation.
City Attorney T.J. Reed shared that he has been contacted by the firm which will be doing the investigation into members of the Commission. Reed says Miller Johnson has been engaged to do the investigation and have contacted his office. Reed says he anticipates in the next couple of weeks Miller Johnson will be scheduling interviews with whoever they feel is appropriate to interview, and he has made his office available for those.
Commissioner Rick Bir asked that since Miller Johnson is paid by the City to handle union negotiations, they are tied to the City, and the agreement was to have an outside source do the investigation. He asked if this was okay to do. Reed says this is a different department in Miller Johnson, and a service they provide to their clients. Reed says the investigation will be done by attorneys in a different department with no access to this City file.
During their May 27 meeting, the City Commission voted unanimously to have an outside council investigate Commissioners Aaron Miller, Rick Bir, Cath Abbs, Vice Mayor Jeff Mullins, Mayor Frank Perez and former Commissioner Linda Harrington.
The resolution, presented by Miller, asks that the investigation look into all the details surrounding the entire situation that was the cause and central reason for the closed session held by the City Commission on April 8, 2026. The resolution also asks the investigation to reveal its contents, findings and recommendations to the Sturgis City Commission for its review, legal review and future determination to release.