County Commission

Recycling event a success

Two semi-trailers were filled with electronics during Saturday’s twice-a-year recycling collection at the St. Joseph County fairgrounds. Sponsored by the St. Joseph County Solid Waste Committee, the collection drew a steady stream of traffic during its four-hour window, according to committee member Pat Kulikowski. The event also netted 13,800 pounds of household hazardous waste, 193 tires and 1,500 pounds of …

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New supervisor position

The five-member St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners this week approved a request for a new supervisor position at Central Dispatch, as sought by its director, Jon Uribe. Uribe on Tuesday explained the new position is for the day shift, which has been operating without a supervisor. He said the measure would create an additional position, but a current telecommunicator …

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Commission meeting tonight

A slate of annual reports tops the agenda for today’s St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners meeting. Reports on tap today will center on the Friend of Court, Circuit Court, County Clerk, Juvenile Court and District Court. In addition, commissioners will review and consider renewing law-enforcement agreements between the sheriff’s department and separate contracts for exclusive patrol arrangements with Fabius …

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Contract terminated

Sturgis-based Michigan Agency with Choice has terminated its contract with Community Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services of St. Joseph County. The decision was made based primarily on the agency’s refusal to reinstate services for people with disabilities, according to John Carmichael, director of business development of GT Independence, the parent company of MAWC. Liz O’Dell, Community Mental Health executive …

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Grant awarded to Conservation District

The St. Joseph County Conservation District received confirmation of its annual allocation for river clean-up projects. Provided by the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality and the Great Lakes Commission, the $2,750 grant awarded to the Centreville-based organization will allow it to fund transportation and materials necessary during seven river and river bank clean-up events this summer. The first is slated …

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County Board meeting

A number of St. Joseph County residents expressed concerns over a variety of subjects during Tuesday’s St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners meeting. The focus of most comments revolved around potential plans to build a senior center in Sturgis and a proposal to market St. Joseph County as a retirement destination to retirees in the Chicago market. Points were made …

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First County Board meeting

Pat Yoder’s first St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners meeting Tuesday was a quick but uneventful experience. Yoder, who took over as county administrator Monday, sat in on his first county commission meeting in 20 years, as he previously held the position from 1990 to 1994. The 63-year-old Yoder was hired for the job after Judy West-Wing retired in January. …

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Awards presented at meeting

Four awards were presented during Wednesday’s 65th St. Joseph County Conservation District annual meeting. A committee of Conservation District officials chose Mendon Township residents Roger and Ann Gentz as recipients of the Soil and Water Steward award. The couple last year was Environmentally Verified through the Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program. Flowerfield Township farmer Mark Proxmire was presented the Livestock …

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People appointed to boards

A number of people were appointed or reappointed to various county boards Tuesday. The St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners agreed to reappoint Dennis Bradley to the county’s Jury Board for a six-year term. Action by commissioners also will see the St. Joseph County Transportation Board served for two more years by Allen Balog, Charles Thompson, Joseph Haas, Aaron Cullifer, …

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Residents ask to meet with commissioners

Two Sturgis residents asked members of the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners if they would be willing to meet one-on-one to discuss plans for a proposed senior center in Sturgis. Lois Ware and Bob Holt said they weren’t happy with the lack of answers during past meetings with representatives from the county’s Commission on Aging. They said the proposal …

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