No loan from county for Road Commission

The St. Joseph County Road Commission was thwarted two weeks ago in an attempt to secure a loan from the county to help offset costs of building repairs and upgrades.
Road Commission chair John Bippus appeared before the county executive committee to inquire about $1.5 million the road commission would like to borrow to conduct repairs at its headquarters west of Centreville as well as build a new barn for its fleet of trucks.
County administrator Pat Yoder said commissioners urged Bippus to seek input on the plan from township supervisors before the county would consider offering the loan. Township leaders have consistently bemoaned the state of several county-owned roads, and dedicating money to facilities instead of road improvements might be disconcerting to township officials, Yoder said.
Bippus indicated the road commission anticipates a source of one-time revenue when it puts up for sale properties it owns near Three Rivers and in Colon Township.
Nonetheless, a temporary funding source from the county appears to be a moot point for the time being, Yoder said.