City Services

Efficient city services are necessary for making a strong Dowagiac. Our city government will continue to provide the services residents expect, including trash and recycling, water and sewer, street and sidewalk repair, plowing, code compliance, building safety, and many others. At the same time, we will manage city spending responsibly, maintaining a balanced budget that funds the city’s priorities while staying within our revenue limits. And we will remember to do this with sustainability and with equity throughout Dowagiac.

As the operators of its own water, sewer, and electrical utilities, Dowagiac works hard to keep the utility rates competitive and affordable in comparison to similar communities. The city has also invested significantly to upgrade the sewage treatment plant, and recently began construction on a new state-of-the-art water treatment plant.

Additionally, Mayor Lyons worked to ensure the city's water treatment and distribution system was lead-free, and helped secure a $1 million grant to replace lead pipes leading into homes, businesses, and schools in Dowagiac. In addition, Dowagiac was the only city in Michigan to provide an in-home water filtration system at no cost to everyone who requested one. To date, over 1400 water purification systems have been provided to the homes, businesses, and schools of Dowagiac.