County Commission

The budgeting process for St. Joseph County finance director Joni Smith became a little less complicated Tuesday. Members of the county’s board of commissioners agreed to change the fiscal year for Commission On Aging to the calendar year. The move makes the Jan. 1-Dec. 31 fiscal year consistent with the county’s and other agencies. Commission On Aging previously operated on …

Mendon resident Kathy Pangle pulled off the upset of the night Tuesday in defeating incumbent Don Eaton to District 2 of the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners. Tuesday’s primary election pitted Eaton, a six-year board member, against Pangle and Mendon resident Chad Behrends. Pangle’s 660 votes represented 60 percent of the votes cast in the five-township district that is …

Dennis Allen emerged Tuesday as the victor from a field of three candidates in the race for County Commission District 3. The seat, being vacated by Rick Shaffer, will be decided in November, when the 60-year-old Allen will face Democrat Tim Carls of Florence Township. Allen received 881 votes, 432 more than fellow Centreville resident Heather Bright. John Hyden garnered …

The courthouse tragedy in Berrien County earlier this week drew the bulk of attention during Wednesday’s St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners’ executive committee meeting. The situation garnered more than a half hour of discussion, which concluded with Undersheriff Mark Lillywhite and Sheriff Brad Balk indicating their plan to seek additional funds from commissioners to better secure the county courthouse. …

St. Joseph County Commissioner Rick Shaffer this week presented a gift to his peer, commissioner John Dobberteen, in recognition of Dobberteen’s years of service. Shaffer said he is finding himself in a reflective mood as his tenure as a commissioner comes to a close at the end of the year. On that note, he said Dobberteen has been an 18-year …

St. Joseph County Commissioner Don Eaton had sharp words for a Florence Township official who complained Tuesday about the state of Constantine Road. Gordon Evilsizor, who has regularly chastised commissioners for their lack of supporting a plan to fix the balance of Constantine Road through Florence Township, repeated his concerns during the citizen-comment portion of the agenda. Eaton said it …

Some minor but important changes to the county’s fund-balance designations were made by commissioners Tuesday. Finance director Joni Smith said one of the two moves provides assurance that the county won’t have to borrow money when treasurer Judie Ratering conducts the annual delinquent-tax process. The delinquent-tax process needs $6 million every year to cash flow itself, Smith said, so keeping …

The 2015 annual audit and a county millage-rate request are among the items of new business to be fielded this afternoon by the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners. Other matters before the commission include a request for a new position for community corrections, a request to establish an online survey and fund-balance designations. The meeting starts at 5 p.m. …

St. Joseph County Treasurer Judie Ratering in 2015 collected more than $33 million from local treasurers. The figure was one of many Ratering provided during a recent county commission meeting. Ratering said the funds were disbursed twice each month to the taxing entities. In addition, her office has recently settled with all townships and cities, and is prepared to pay …

A St. Joseph County commissioner has proposed an efficiency study related to the county’s road commission be conducted. Don Eaton during a recent commission meeting said the concept would involve a short-term committee to participate in the potential study. He said areas such as the road commission’s budget, operations, efficiencies and roads would be prudent starting points for the analysis. …