County Commission

Anticipating a loss of parking with a likely addition to the west side of its courts building, the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners is hoping to secure a new parking area at a nearby parcel. Members of the county board during a work session last week agreed to continue discussions with a property owner at 205 Dean St. in …

The prospect of a new county animal shelter facility remains a possibility, as members of the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners revisited the issue during a work session Tuesday. Commissioner Rick Shaffer, a member of the animal control advisory board, said he favors a new building over refurbishing the current building. Meanwhile, Commissioner Don Eaton, who has visited facilities …

St. Joseph County officials agreed to move forward with the idea of potentially funding new ball fields in Three Rivers and Sturgis. During a board of commissioners work session Tuesday, board members debated the merits of funding tournament-caliber athletic fields in Three Rivers and Sturgis. A trio of Three Rivers officials – mayor Tom Lowry, city manager Joe Bippus and …

Funding for a Sturgis senior center – now being called the Commission on Aging Enrichment Center – continued to be a source of debate during a board of commissioners work session Tuesday. At the onset of discussion, county administrator Pat Yoder laid out a few scenarios regarding funding for the $2.6 million project. Concepts he offered were a one-time county …

St. Joseph County Clerk Pattie Bender issued to the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners her 24th and final annual clerk’s report Tuesday. As she wrapped up her four-minute report, an emotional Bender called her 45 years as a county employee a great ride that has included 385 elections, thousands and thousands of meetings, and everlasting friendships. A lifelong Centreville …

Several Sturgis representatives and county commissioner Allen Balog said they won’t commit to a proposed new senior center until they see anticipated rent and operating costs for the $2.6 million site. During last week’s commission on aging meeting, Lynn Coursey, COA executive director, called it premature to discuss the rent St. Joseph County will charge the COA for the space …

St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners Chairman John Dobberteen said a trip to France earlier this month has given him a new perspective of Memorial Day. During the chairman’s report portion of last week’s meeting, Dobberteen said he has visited a number of military cemeteries through the years, but a stop at the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial was unequal …

The first sign of change as a result of county clerk Pattie Bender’s impending retirement was seen last week, as Lindsay Oswald took Bender’s seat at the dais and recorded the minutes of Tuesday’s county commission meeting. Oswald will have two more opportunities to perfect the task before Bender calls it quits June 30. Oswald, a 35-year-old Lockport Township resident, …

Approval to fill two positions at the sheriff’s department and authorization to a change in employment status for three Juvenile Day Treatment Program monitors was issued by the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners Tuesday. The action means the sheriff’s department can proceed with filling a full-time corrections officer spot and a full-time road patrol position. Also, the employment status …

A planning, assessment and feasibility study related to a proposed addition to the county courts building in Centreville was approved last week. County commissioners agreed to the $72,500 cost to tap the expertise of the National Center for State Courts. The Denver-based agency will spend the next six months analyzing the county’s needs in advance of what will potentially be …