County Commission

St. Joseph County’s Board of Commissioners has renewed its annual contract with Michigan State University for extension services. During the board’s meeting last week, commissioners OK’d the contract that calls for the full-time equivalent of one extension educator, whose collective duties will include field-crops expertise, program coordination and additional 4-H programs. The county will provide office space, utilities, high-speed internet …

A motion regarding an employee-assistance program for St. Joseph County’s government workers was passed during the county commission’s Jan. 19 meeting. The agreement is with Windward Employee Solutions and will provide counseling and referral services for appropriate treatment, and diagnostic and assessment services. The county’s commitment of $5,555 covers helpline and three appointments annually for its 220 employees and their …

St. Joseph County’s board of commissioners renewed contracts with three high-ranking employees Tuesday. The County administrator’s contract was extended through 2016. J. Patrick Yoder, 67, joined the county in April 2013. His new contract includes a 2 percent raise, which gives him a base salary of nearly $118,000 annually. Finance director Joni Smith, 53, agreed to a one-year contract renewal. …

Four months after verbally committing to a multi-field sports complex in the Three Rivers area, the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners followed through on its pledge. During Tuesday’s board meeting, commissioners approved a recreation facility agreement that formalizes the $2.8 million commitment. County administrator Pat Yoder said an inordinate amount of legalities had to be sorted through by the …

Two governmental entities have renewed their agreement with St. Joseph County regarding the use of its grant writer. County Commissioners last week approved contracts with the village of Centreville and Park Township for grant-writing duties by James Hissong. The entities agreed to pay about $69,000 each for Hissong’s services. County administrator Pat Yoder said Hissong and county clerk Lindsay Yoder, …

The St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners this week approved resolutions centering on funding it will provide two agencies. The commission on Tuesday agreed to allocate more than $280,000 to the Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency. Meanwhile, commissioners also agreed to provide more than $250,000 to the Community Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services of St. Joseph County. Both funding …

A few personnel matters were approved during Tuesday’s county commission meeting. Commissioners approved the hiring of Teresa Meade as Friend of the Court secretary. Her rate of pay is $14.38 an hour. Also, commissioners agreed to establish the position of office manager/document imaging coordinator. Finally, the resignation of telecommunicator Travis Helmer and termination of COA home care aide Sarah Yoder …

The first of what will likely be several public accolades bestowed upon Steve Todd occurred during this week’s St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners meeting. Todd, who is retiring next week following a career of more than 40 years with the Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency, was the recipient of a resolution approved by the five-member commission Tuesday. Todd reflected …

St. Joseph County’s Board of Commissioners will maintain its regular meeting schedule for 2016, following action taken Tuesday. Commissioners agreed to keep their twice-a-month meetings the first and third Tuesdays of the month. Start time will remain 5 p.m. Also, commissioners set their executive committee meetings for 8 a.m. the Wednesday prior to county commission meetings. Executive committee meetings are …

A new leader of the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners was selected Tuesday. Allen Balog, who represents Flowerfield and Fabius townships, and the city of Three Rivers, will lead the five-man panel in 2016 following his nomination and unanimous approval as chairman. Balog, 59, previously spent three of his four years on the Three Rivers City Commission as mayor. …