County Commission

Two weeks after approving ballot language for a May millage request being sought by the county road commission, St. Joseph County’s Board of Commissioners heard additional discussion on the issue during Tuesday’s meeting. Road commission board members John Bippus and chairman Dave Allen were on hand to give the agency’s annual report. Bippus recapped several projects the commission tackled last …

A Three Rivers resident said he plans to challenge county commission chairman Allen Balog for his board of commissioners seat in the November general election. Cody Sharpe, who plans to run as a Democrat, is seeking the First District seat, which represents the city of Three Rivers, and Fabius and Flowerfield townships. Sharpe said his primary concern is the accountability …

The first person to publicly announce his candidacy for the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners is a longtime Centreville resident and public official. Dennis Allen said he will seek the Third District seat currently held by 20-year board member and Fishers Lake resident Rick Shaffer. Shaffer has already stated he will not seek re-election for an additional two-year term. …

A courthouse addition for the county courts departments was identified as the No. 1 priority based on an informal poll during this week’s county commissioner workshop. The five-member panel over the course of an hour Tuesday revisited a number of projects either in progress or on the drawing board. Among the projects in either the planning or discussion stages, however, …

County commissioners appear deadlocked on whether to move forward with a marketing plan to encourage Chicago and its suburban residents to consider making St. Joseph County a vacation and, potentially, a permanent destination. The issue was discussed during Tuesday’s work session involving the five-member commission. As part of its goal to promote its 150 miles of rivers, the county has …

St. Joseph County’s commitment to a river trail plan is now fully implemented, as county commissioners last week approved the third of the three-phase process. In summary, the third phase emphasizes marketing. The target of marketing efforts will be Chicago adults between 45 and 70 years of age, with middle to high income. The target group will be encouraged to …

The project to bring sanitary sewer and water service to a county park in Fawn River Township moved another step forward last week. During Tuesday’s county commission meeting, commissioners approved Elkhart-based Jones Petrie Rafinski for engineering-related services centering on extending the utility services to all 43 campsites at Cade Lake Park and Campground. As part of its work, Jones Petrie …

St. Joseph County commissioners this week agreed to the hiring of a part-time receptionist for Commission On Aging. During Tuesday’s meeting, commissioners approved the agency to fill the position, which will cost an estimated $17,000. In a separate matter, commissioners OK’d the classification of a lead ranger for the St. Joseph County Parks and Recreation Department. The position is for …

The St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners Tuesday approved ballot language for a millage request being sought this spring by the county road commission. At stake May 3 will be a request of up to 2.5 mills, which would yield more than $5.4 million annually over a 10-year period. Road commission members last month approved a plan that would call …

St. Joseph County Commissioner Robin Baker of said last week he will not seek re-election to an eighth term this fall. Baker, 64, indicated his intention after he turned down the vice chairman position for Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency during its monthly meeting Thursday. Baker spent more than 25 years with the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department before retiring …