County Commission

A detour was set up on Pulver Road last week, as crews prepare to replace the Rocky River bridge. Located between Burlew Road and M-216 in Flowerfield Township, the bridge will be replaced this spring by Allegan County-based Milbocker and Sons. The same company will also be charged with replacing the Floating Bridge Road bridge, also spanning the Rocky River …

The 2014 Centreville Covered Bridge Days community celebration will remain at its familiar location downtown. The St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners last week approved a request from Covered Bridge Days organizers to use the courthouse lawn to stage the annual event. Approval was given for June 20 through June 22. In an unrelated matter at last week’s meeting, commissioners …

The St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners has approved a new position at the sheriff’s department, where a diversion program is expected to better meet the needs of people requiring mental-health service evaluations. During Tuesday’s meeting, commissioners approved the position of director of assessment. The specialist’s salary will come out of a $350,000 grant administered by the state to the …

Two budget amendments were made at last week’s St. Joseph County Board of Commissioner’s meeting. Commissioners agreed to a $4,030 adjustment from the county’s general fund for an animal-control shelter study. The study will focus on a needs assessment to be performed in coming months. In addition, more than $11,200 was amended from the information technology improvement fund for the …

Road commission boards in St. Joseph and Cass counties have agreed to a restructuring that will involve each entity being governed by their own manager. During a joint meeting Jan. 29, current manager Christopher Bolt recommended each agency continue to collaborate on sharing services in accordance with an agreement reached in 2010. Bolt, however, said in the face of numerous …

The St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners has renewed a five-year lease agreement with 911/Central Dispatch. During last week’s commission meeting, commissioners approved the agreement for 911/Central Dispatch to continue using the 4,000-square-foot space at 620 E. Main St. The annual rent is $788. When St. Joseph County’s 911 was formed in the 1990s, it constructed its headquarters. The county …

The St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners last week adopted a revised policy regarding the weather-related closure of county offices and buildings. In light of a two-day closing earlier this month due to snow and cold, the commission last week agreed that the decision to close county government will be made with input from the county board chairman, road commission …

The snowstorm that brought St. Joseph County to a standstill earlier this month came with a substantial price tag. Christopher Bolt, engineer/manager for the St. Joseph County Road Commission, said it’s estimated the agency spent nearly $225,000 during the seven-day period that began with the start of the storm Jan. 4. An average winter week will cost the agency about …

The St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners last week approved the sheriff department’s request to submit a Marine Safety Program grant application. The request is for more than $65,000 through state and federal sources, and allows the department to continue to man its seasonal Marine Patrol division in 2014. If approved, the grant would fund the services of one full-time …

The St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners last week gave approval to fill a few open positions. A candidate for the job of deputy probate register will be pursued, as it was vacated due to the retirement of Bonnie Walter. Her last day of work was Friday. The vacant position of juvenile neglect/abuse specialist, which has been open for a …