The St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners has approved an employment agreement with Lindsay Howes to serve as grant writer. The unanimous action came Tuesday (January 15th) in response to a recommendation from the Interview Committee consisting of Commissioner John Dobberteen, Sturgis City Manager Mike Hughes, Three Rivers City Manager Joe Bippus, and Human Resources [...]
The St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners has given the go-ahead for an ‘advocate dog’ in the St. Joseph County Prosecutor’s Office. In action Tuesday (January 15th), the board approved an Advocate Dog Ownership and Use Agreement with Linda Baker, Victim Advocate in the Prosecutor’s Office, who will be responsible for the dog. The purpose [...]
Words of appreciation, hugs and even some tears were ingredients of Tuesday’s (January 15th) St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners meeting, the last such meeting for County Administrator Judy West-Wing who will retire from her position January 23rd after 30 years of service to the county. The activity came toward the end of the meeting [...]
John Bippus, chairman of the St. Joseph County Road Commission, is slated to present a ‘Road Commission Update’ during the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners meeting on Tuesday (January 15th). Other items of New Business include the following: Request to Fill Vacant Friend of the Court Account Clerk Position Request to Fill Vacant Corrections [...]
Commissioners John Dobberteen and Robin Baker were elected Wednesday (January 2nd) to serve as chairperson and vice-chairperson, respectively, of the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners in 2013. The filling of the leadership posts came at the outset of the board’s first meeting of the New Year. The session was also the first meeting of [...]
The end of 2012 brings the retirement of Terry Katz, a veteran journalist who has worked in recent years at the Sturgis Journal. There, among other things, she has covered the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners and the Sturgis City Commission. As noted by Jef Rietsma in a story about Katz in Saturday’s (December [...]
The St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners will meet at 5 p.m. Wednesday (January 2, 2013) for their annual Organizational Meeting. The meeting will be held in the Commission Room of the Historic Courthouse in Centreville. The initial board meeting of the New Year will include the election of a chairperson and vice-chairperson, the setting [...]
‘Transition’ was an underlying theme of Tuesday’s (December 18) meeting of the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners, the final gathering of the seven-member board which will be reduced to five on January 1, 2013 as the result of redistricting following the 2010 Census. In fact, the transition was evident just prior to the start [...]
There’s a light agenda for the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners meeting on Tuesday (December 18), the last regular meeting of the board in 2012. Two items appear under New Business: Memorandum of Agreement with Michigan State University for 2013 Set Date for January 2013 Board Meeting and Executive Committee. Three resolutions are on [...]
“Overall, I’ve got to tell you that I’m really pleased with the partnership.” These were the words Ken Jones, president of the St. Joseph County Economic Development Corporation (EDC) board, used to sum up the working relationship with Kalamazoo-based Southwest Michigan First in 2012. The comments came as Jones presented the EDC’s annual report for [...]
The St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners has adopted the county’s 2013 Budget. The action came on a 6-to-nothing vote Tuesday (December 4). Commissioner Don Eaton was absent. Adoption of the budget came after action on two amendments proposed by Commissioner John Dobberteen – one to exclude Nottawa Park from the budget, the other to [...]
“We just really need to slow the train down, get a plan together, and then move forward with a plan consideration.” These are the words of Rick Shaffer, chairman of the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners, in commenting on moves by the board Tuesday (November 20) to step back from action taken November 5th [...]
Tuesday’s (November 20th) meeting of the St. Joseph County Commissioners will include a public hearing on the proposed budget for 2013. The board is also slated deal with one item of Old Business – a motion to reconsider a motion approved November 5th to spend up to $10,000 for architect and attorney fees to foster [...]
The St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners will hold a public hearing on the 2013 Budget on Tuesday, November 20, 2012 at 5:05 p.m. Action to set the public hearing came during the board meeting Monday (November 5). The hearing will be held in the Commission Room of the Historic Courthouse in Centreville. County Clerk [...]
The St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners has authorized spending up to $10,000 for architect and attorney fees to foster development of a Sturgis Senior Center. The action came in conjunction with an update item Commissioner Don Eaton suggested adding to the agenda for Monday’s (November 5) board meeting. For more on the story from [...]
There’s a relatively light agenda for the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners meeting slated for 5 p.m. Monday (November 5th), a day earlier than usual because of the General Election on Tuesday. There’s one item of Old Business: PropertyInfo Sofware Agreement – Addendum No. 1. Three items of New Business are listed: Animal Control’s [...]
Thirty employees of St. Joseph County were recognized during Tuesday’s (October 16) meeting of the County Board of Commissioners. In launching the awards portion of the session, Board Chairman Rick Shaffer said, “This is one of my favorite commission meetings.” Shaffer – assisted by Commissioner John Dobberteen – announced the names of the employees honored [...]
The St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners has approved a request for funds to enhance the St. Joseph County Area Narcotics (SCAN) unit to deal with the methamphetamine problem in the county. Tuesday’s (October 16) approval of the funding request followed action October 2nd in which the board approved identical “Memorandum of Understanding” (MOU) documents [...]
Employee Service Recognition is among the items on the agenda for the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners meeting on Tuesday (October 16th). Items of New Business include the following: Apportionment Report Request for Funds for S.C.A.N. Proposal Labor Agreement with AFSME (Circuit Court FOC Unit) Commission on Aging – Retention Policy for In-Home Aide [...]
The St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners has approved a budget amendment sought by County Prosecutor John McDonough to hire a part-time employee until December 4th. The board approved the request during its meeting on Tuesday (October 2). The request came in conjunction with the impending departure of Assistant Prosecuting Attorney T.J. Reed. Reed will [...]
