County Commission

The St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners this week approved two independent-contractor agreements. CSZ Services of St. Johns was tapped to provide commercial and industrial appraisals for the county’s Land Resource Centre and Equalization. The work is to be performed for appraisals as determined appropriate for inclusion in the county’s 2017 equalization study by the equalization director of the St. …

A proposed plan to address some costly projects at three county parks was endorsed by a Park Township resident at Tuesday’s St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners meeting. Holly Stephenson stated during citizen comments that the county’s recent discussion about potential improvements at Covered Bridge Farm and Plumb Lake parks, and Cade Lake Park and Campground would be worth the …

St. Joseph County Commissioners this week are expected to approve a letter of support for a grant to be submitted by the county’s conservation district. During last week’s Executive Committee meeting, commissioners fielded a request from conservation district director Carolyn Grace. She sought and ultimately received the backing of county commissioners for a tally of road crossings she and her …

Funding to cover major projects at three county parks might be financed through the sale of bonds. Members of the county commission’s Executive Committee agreed Wednesday to consider the option to support nearly $1.4 million in proposed projects at Covered Bridge Farm and Plumb Lake parks, and Cade Lake Park and Campground. Parks and recreation director Jaymes MacDonald said the …

A Sturgis-area resident with deep roots to the local Republican Party organization was chosen to serve a six-year term to the St. Joseph County Road Commission Board. County commissioners Tuesday announced Sherman Township resident Rod Chupp will take the seat held the past 10 years by David Yunker. Commissioner Dennis Allen was a member of the selection committee assembled to …

Several board and committee appointments were made by members of the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners this week. Reappointed Tuesday to the County Agricultural Preservation Board were commission representative Dan Czajkowski of White Pigeon to a one-year term; agriculture representative Roger Gentz of Mendon Township to a three-year term; and township representative Carroll Parmeter of Flowerfield Township to a …

A possible millage sought later this year by the county’s E-911 Central Dispatch agency is off the table. Central Dispatch Director Dennis Brandenburg broached the subject during the commission’s Jan. 11 executive committee meeting. The proposed millage, which would have appeared before voters in May, would have sought up to four-tenths of a mill. It would have generated up to …

Members of the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners approved two annual appropriations Tuesday. Commissioners allocated nearly $290,000, an amount it had budgeted, to the Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency to finance a portion of the agency’s annual operations. Financial transfers will be administered quarterly. The motion also squared the annual $1-a-year rent the agency pays to the county for …

Anyone wishing to address the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners now has one fewer opportunity per meeting. Following brief discussion Tuesday, the five-member panel approved a revision to the rules that spell out protocol at the commissioners’ twice-a-month meetings. A bylaw approved in 1994 that allowed for citizen comment twice a meeting – once near the onset and again …

Despite concerns about the cost for security and an inconvenience for county staff, St. Joseph County commissioners appear likely to stick with a later start time for its twice-a-month meetings. The issue of a 6 p.m. start time was discussed by commissioners during last week’s executive committee meeting after commissioner Kathy Pangle made a motion Jan. 3 to change the …