A 4.7-acre piece of land adjacent to Rawson’s King Mill Park was acquired by the county for $50,000 following Tuesday’s action. Securing what was labeled “the Plair parcel” ensures adequate septic-field needs and sufficient parking will remain available for guests visiting the county park.

John Pence, parks and recreation director, said the land purchase was important because the gentleman’s agreement the county had with the Plair family regarding parking could have been jeopardized if a new owner declined to offer the space for parking.

The county was aided by Rawson’s owner Eston Rawson, who contributed $15,000 toward the county’s purchase of the Plair parcel.

During Tuesday’s Board of Commissioners meeting, County Administrator Judy West-Wing said there have been occasions when county employees had to seek board approval to travel to workshops in nearby Elkhart and Mishawaka in Indiana.

The new policy has been amended, now calling for board approval if the destination exceeds 150 miles. The distance is in effect regardless if travel is outside of Michigan.

Commissioners called the new policy acceptable and agreed it will simplify plans for employees whose business takes them to those nearby counties in Indiana.

By unanimous approval Tuesday, King was granted permission to set up shop at Cade Lake County Park, Meyer Broadway Park, and Nottawa Sand Lake Park.

King and his portable business, Weenie Kings, are regular fixtures in the Three Rivers Library parking lot. Various events at the parks for which King was granted permission to operate, are scheduled through late October.

Giving his annual report before St. Joseph County’s Board of Commissioners on Tuesday, McDonough said while trafficking of cocaine in the Three Rivers area has been on the downturn, St. Joseph County still ranks in the top five in the state for meth-production.

The 30-year-old McDonough said he plans to petition county, city, village and township officials in the next year, asking for their support in approving ordinances that would make over-the-counter drugs that contain ingredients used to produce meth available only by prescription.

A few statistics McDonough noted include a decrease in the number of felony convictions in 2009 compared to 2008. There were 1,034 felony warrants request in 2009, an increase of five from 2008. And the county in 2009 authorized 150 charges of drunk driving, up from 146 the year before.

Wenzel, who gave his annual report to the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday, said heavy rain in the fall of 2008 and an abundance of snow in early 2009 resulted in the county’s water table reaching a level it hadn’t exceeded in nearly 50 years.

As a result, Wenzel said complaints of flooding were numerous last year.

Also in 2009, special-assessment districts were established for Lake Templene and Corey Lake, though the assessments required an extensive amount of labor and negotiating, Wenzel said.

One of the biggest accomplishments in 2009 was the inspection of 11 dams, the first time the dams had been inspected in three years, he said. The results of all inspections were filed with the Department of Natural Resources and Environment.

            EEE is a virus that typically affects horses and can be spread to humans from the bite of an infected mosquito. Three human cases in Southwest Michigan this summer resulted in all three requiring hospitalization.

            The press release does not indicate where in the county the infected horses were located or the fate of the animals.

            As a precaution, the department is encouraging residents to reduce their exposure to mosquitoes. Repellant, wearing long pants and long-sleeve shirts all are simple but effective precautions, the agency stated.

During their monthly meeting, the board decided to not honor the request of health officer Steve Todd. Todd said the agency would like to retain a high-caliber of employees and slight salary increases would be a prudent manner to keep employees from looking for jobs elsewhere.

Board members, including St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners representatives Mike Dunlap and David Pueschel, said now is not the best time to ask for raises due to the state of the economy.

Community Mental Health of St. Joseph County will soon permanently be referred to as Community Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services of St. Joseph County.

Members of the CMH board this week agreed to the revised name. CMH executive director Liz O’Dell said the change reflects a critical service provided by the agency and is important enough to be included with the mental health-related services it also provides.

            Jarratt was charged in May with embezzlement over $50 by a public official. Details of the case have not been released. The case will be prosecuted by Cass County Prosecutor Victor Fitz, as St. Joseph County Prosecutor John McDonough indicated his working relationship with Jarratt and her office would pose a conflict of interest.

            The case will be heard in St. Joseph County before Circuit Court Judge Paul Stutesman.

            The ceremonial ribbon-cutting comes just in time for the local United Way’s annual “Donut Drive,” which kicked off this morning in downtown Centreville. United Way supporters distributed donuts to motorists as a way of saying thank you to the community.

            Other communities will see Donut Drives later, including Sturgis on Monday.

            The St. Joseph County United Way is also looking for items to be donated to its annual silent auction event at the St. Joseph County Fairgrounds.

            St. Joseph County United Way Executive Director Kelly Hostetler may be reached at 467-9099.