WLKM Radio 95.9 FM
Financial support for sheriff’s deputies to enhance patrol of a major route in St. Joseph County is expected to be approved next week.
During their executive committee meeting Wednesday, commissioners heard a report from board chairman Dennis Allen.
Allen shared that he and commissioner Jared Hoffmaster met Tuesday with members of a traffic-safety committee comprised of Sheriff Mark Lillywhite, Undersheriff Jason Bingaman, prosecutor Dave Marvin and White Pigeon Police Chief Bill Burgoyne.
The topic eventually focused on enhanced patrols of U.S. 131 from Heimbach Road in Park Township north to the Kalamazoo County line.
The proposal calls for $8,000 from a specially allocated fund to cover overtime costs related to the select enforcement. The allocation would cover about 50 hours of patrol conducted at various times of the day.
Bingaman said it’s not unusual for deputies to clock cars traveling in excess of 85 and 90 miles per hour on the northern stretch of U.S. 131.
The matter is headed to the agenda of Tuesday’s county commission meeting.
