County Commission

Members of the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners were recognized Tuesday by a representative from the Sturgis Area Chamber of Commerce. Chamber executive director Cathi Abbs said the agency staged its annual meeting a few weeks ago. During that event, the chamber board agreed to support special-recognition awards to commissioners Allen Balog, Don Eaton, Robin Baker, Rick Shaffer and …

The contracts of three county employees were renewed for another year Tuesday. County administrator Pat Yoder, human resources director Teresa Doehring and finance director Joni Smith will receive 2 percent pay raises in 2017, when their respective 12-month contracts take effect Jan. 1. The three have operated on one-year contracts since beginning their employment with the county. Yoder, who joined …

The St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners this afternoon will stage a public hearing on the county’s 2017 budget. Two other matters of new business appear on the agenda for the 5 o’clock meeting: Economic Development Corporation’s annual report and bids for work related to courthouse entry doors. In addition, commissioners are expected to handle a nomination to the county’s …

An effort to boost energy efficiency within the county’s historic courthouse could come with a price tag of almost $30,000. Members of the county board’s executive committee were told Wednesday that Three Rivers-based Brussee/Brady submitted the lower of two bids for a job that includes switching out single-pane windows with thicker replacements. The areas targeted are at the two entrances …

Two soon-to-be-former members of the county commission were nominated to separate boards Tuesday over the objections of Commissioner Robin Baker. Don Eaton was appointed to fill an impending vacancy on the Commission on Aging Board, while Rick Shaffer was reappointed to the Parks and Recreation Commission. Both terms begin Jan. 1. They will serve in the capacity as citizens at …

St. Joseph County commissioners agreed Tuesday to renew for 2017 the board’s contract for services with MSU Extension. Commissioners approved terms of the contract, though, with the exception of language and action related to the extension’s educator position. At the request of Commissioner John Dobberteen, the $39,300 allocation for educator was pulled and the rest of the agreement was subsequently …

The St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners recently appointed three people to two different boards. Betty Taylor will serve a new term expiring in October 2019 to the Department of Human Services Board. She has served one, three-year term already. Also, two people were appointed to the Workforce Development Board. Allen Balog was re-appointed and will represent the private sector. …

Allen Balog won his fourth two-year term to the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners in Tuesday’s general election. The Three Rivers resident and former mayor of Three Rivers will join John Dobberteen as the only two incumbents returning to the five-member board in January. Representing Flowerfield and Fabius townships, and the city of Three Rivers, the 60-year-old Balog fended …

Members of the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners agreed this week to table a matter related to an infrastructure project at one of its parks. Commissioners voted Tuesday to delay approving a contract for sanitary sewer and water extension at Cade Lake in Fawn River Township. County administrator Pat Yoder said the matter was premature in appearing on the …

A Constantine resident urged county commissioners to consider an allocation in their 2017 fiscal year to making the promotion of tourism, business and industry a county function. Rebecca Shank, at Tuesday’s meeting, suggested commissioners during their budget process in coming weeks put the duties of promotion and tourism under some aspect of the county. She proposed its parks and recreation …