County Commission

The validity of the Community Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services of St. Joseph County Board could become a topic of discussion by county commissioners this week. Commissioner Robin Baker inquired during Wednesday’s county commission executive committee meeting about interviews with prospective new members and reappointments of three current members. Baker said applicants to the CMHSAS Board need to be …

Litigation regarding the proposed development of a multi-sports athletic complex in the Three Rivers area has forced county officials to make a few amendments to its facility agreement. During Wednesday’s county commission executive committee meeting, commissioners agreed to vote on the amendments at next week’s board meeting. County administrator Pat Yoder said time-sensitive dates had to be revised because of …

Reimbursement for college tuition will become an easier process for county employees, pending action taken by the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners. A matter discussed during this week’s county commission executive committee centered on making the process of applying for reimbursement an easier procedure, Pat Yoder, county administrator, said a few of the likely changes include a provision that …

St. Joseph County appears ready to part ways with its longtime medical examiner, John Robertson. The issue was discussed during Wednesday’s county commission executive committee meeting, where prosecutor John McDonough proposed aligning with a Kalamazoo County-based source for M.E. services. McDonough introduced Joyce deJong, medical examiner of Kalamazoo County and three other counties. She is also pathology chair and professor …

The St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners recently approved the submission of three grant requests to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. In all, the requests amount to more than $150,000, not including more than $100,000 county-required matching dollars. County grant writer James Hissong said the first was an appeal to the DNR’s trust fund for development of two accessible …

St. Joseph County’s E-911 Central Dispatch fell short of a goal in 2015 but the objective remains a work in progress, according to agency director Dennis Brandenburg. Presenting his department’s annual report to county commissioners last week, Brandenburg said his No. 1 goal in 2015 was to staff central dispatch fully. Regarding accomplishments last year, Brandenburg said the agency received …

A quote for work related to the development of a septic system and restroom at Nottawa Park at Sand Lake was awarded last week by the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners. County administrator Pat Yoder said a $12,000 quote was received from Jones Petrie Rafinski of Elkhart for engineering services to complete the project and ready it for construction. …

A federal grant in excess of $900,000 was awarded this week to support funding of a new health clinic for low-income and indigent St. Joseph County residents. Monte Bordner, chair of the Covered Bridge Healthcare of St. Joseph County board, said the $910,000 grant will allow the agency to continue services it offered under the name St. Joseph County Health …

St. Joseph County’s rivers are in store for a major clearing, as commissioners this week approved a $15,000 request for removal of deadfall. Conservation district director Carolyn Grace said the funds are necessary to address a number of trees that fell over and into the river during the fall and winter months. Grace said various stretches of the county’s six …

A memorandum of understanding with the city of Three Rivers was approved this week by the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners. The matter centers on shared maintenance of a proposed non-motorized pedestrian trail from South Health Parkway in Three Rivers to Meyer Broadway Park in Fabius Township. Specifically, the agreement calls for each entity to address litter, weed control, …