County Commission

Members of the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners will open the year with four items of new business during their first meeting of 2016 this afternoon. Matters of consideration include memorandums of understanding with the village of Centreville and Park Township for shared grant-writer duties. Also on the agenda is setting the meeting dates and times for 2016 commission …

Five personnel matters were approved by the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners Dec. 15. Custodian Tara Lafler’s employment status was changed from part time to full time, while Benjamin Brandenburg was made a full-time employee at the sheriff’s department as a road patrol officer at a pay rate of $21.52 an hour. The resignation of Commission On Aging in-home …

The start of a possible addition to the county courthouse, continued development of the county’s river trail concept and a potential upgrade to the animal-control facility are a few matters St. Joseph County government officials are looking toward in 2016. The opening of a Commission On Aging senior center in Sturgis early in the year also was recognized as another …

During a moment of what he called “end-of-the-year reflection,” commissioner Rick Shaffer during last week’s county commission meeting acknowledged volunteers who comprise a number of boards and commissions. He also proposed some kind of a media spotlight featuring the workings of the various panels. Shaffer said the county has a number of openings on boards and commissions, and a media …

St. Joseph County’s 2016 fiscal year budget was passed last week, but not without some concerns from a Florence Township resident. The $16.5 million budget reflects a 2.3 percent decrease from the county’s 2015 adjusted amended budget. Tim Carls criticized the board two weeks earlier during a public hearing on what was then the proposed budget. His concern centered on …

Florence Township Supervisor Gordon Evilsizor last week issued a plea to the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners before the five-member panel acted on the county’s 2016 budget Tuesday Appearing for the fifth time in less than three months, Evilsizor once again inquired about an allowance to fix Constantine Road, a north-south route widely considered the worst road in St. …

Contracts with six of the county’s nine unions were approved Tuesday by the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners. The three-year contracts apply to the District Court Employee’s Association, the 911 Telecommunicators’ Association, and AFSCME groups with the circuit court, probate court, friend of the court and general unit. In all, the contracts affect about 75 people. Terms of the …

Several board and committee appointments were made Tuesday by the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners. Lon Huffman of Mendon and Edward Bell of Colon were reappointed to the county planning commission, while Flowerfield Township resident Joe Woodin will join the panel. Their terms will expire at the end of 2018. Three Rivers-area resident Eric Shafer and commissioner Don Eaton …

A St. Joseph County commissioner said he plans to run for Lockport Township supervisor in next year’s general election. Rick Shaffer, a 20-year commission member, said he will not seek reelection when his two-year term expires at the end of 2016. Shaffer stated he plans to remain active in the community but his main focus will be a run for …

Members of the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners plan to participate in a court-security training session, according to county administrator Pat Yoder. During last week’s commission meeting, Yoder said the idea was pitched by Sheriff Brad Balk, who planned to schedule the session for Dec. 15. The date, however, conflicts with the board’s regularly scheduled meeting. As a result, …