COA

Despite concerns from a pair of commissioners, a plan to allocate $2.6 million toward construction of a senior center in Sturgis was approved Tuesday. The funding marks a major step in what has been a four-year process to build such a facility to benefit seniors on the east side of the county. Proponents of a new Sturgis site have said …

A Portage-based company was hired this week to fulfill a component toward potential construction of a Sturgis senior center. Members of the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners agreed Tuesday to work with Cornerstone Construction Management. The company will provide services related to design, bidding and construction. Total cost of the deal is $78,000. County Administrator Pat Yoder said the …

Two unrelated matters of business were approved Tuesday by the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners. Commissioners endorsed an agreement with Florida-based MGT of America for cost-allocation plan services. County administrator Pat Yoder said the agreement is geared toward the county’s Friend of the Court and Juvenile Court departments to reimburse their expenses through the state. Also, the employment of …

The St. Joseph County Commission on Aging wishes to remind residents that a survey geared toward the population in the northern region of the county has gone live. As a way to gauge feedback from residents 55 years of age and older, the agency has produced 20,000 copies of the survey. The questionnaires may be found in government buildings, libraries, …

The St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners has agreed to work with an Ohio-based firm to prepare a study of potential locations for a new senior center. As a result of last week’s vote by commissioners, Lifespan Design Studio will evaluate three potential locations for a new Sturgis senior center. The $11,000 approved for the undertaking will provide commissioners opinions …

The Community Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services Board of St. Joseph County has issued a notice regarding its annual public hearing next month. Though the public is invited to attend any monthly meeting, the September meeting is typically when clients and the public attend to provide feedback or raise issues regarding services and all other relevant matters pertaining to …

A consultant to review possible locations for a senior center in the Sturgis area is being considered by the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners. Though no action on the matter was taken during Tuesday’s meeting, commissioners during last week’s executive committee meeting heard from Lynn Coursey, Commission on Aging director. She said senior-center development is a niche market and …

Members of the St. Joseph County Commission on Aging have agreed to urge the county’s board of commissioners to move forward with plans for a proposed senior center in Sturgis. During their meeting last week, COA board members discussed the proposed Sturgis location and agreed it is needed as a replacement for the current facility on North Jefferson Street. County …

Margaret Shultz has been elected as chairperson of the St. Joseph County Commission on Aging (COA) Board of Directors. Shultz, former Community Resources Coordinator for the Department of Human Services (DHS) in St. Joseph and Cass counties, retired from that position last July after 38 years with DHS. She is now serving in a part-time capacity as the Volunteer Services …

The St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners has endorsed submission of the Area Agency on Aging (AAA) FY 2014-2016 Multi-Year Plan to the Michigan Commission on Services to the Aging for final review and approval. The action came Tuesday (June 18) following a presentation by Laura Sutter, AAA Coordinator with the Branch-St. Joseph Area Agency on Aging (IIIC) housed with …