County Commission

Leaders of a steering committee behind the proposed development of a 17-field sports complex in the Three Rivers area have a little work to do if they wish to receive a financial allocation from St. Joseph County. The matter of funding for property acquisition was discussed by St. Joseph County commissioners during their executive committee meeting Thursday. County administrator Pat …

St. Joseph County commissioners last week heard from two people regarding an excessive number of obstructions in area rivers posing hurdles for canoers and kayakers. Grant Wolf, representing the recently launched St. Joe H2O website, said video footage is planned to be shot this fall, and he would prefer to not have it feature images of blocked waterways. Meanwhile, John …

St. Joseph County Commission on Aging officials stated last week they will continue to allocate nearly $17,000 for senior mental-health services next fiscal year. But, they told the county’s mental health agency not to count on any additional funding. Lynn Coursey, COA executive director, said her agency’s 2015-16 budget continues the mental-health-services allocation despite recent concerns over St. Joseph County …

The July retirement of chief prosecuting attorney Chuck Herman has led to a series of promotions within the department. St. Joseph County commissioners Tuesday approved the promotion of Erin Harrington from assistant prosecuting attorney level II to chief assistant prosecuting attorney. The position pays an annual salary of about $68,500. Josh Robare was tapped to take Harrington’s previous position. Robare …

Two weeks after county commissioners voted to begin the process of removing three members from the Community Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services Authority Board of St. Joseph County, the matter came to a head during Tuesday’s meeting. Despite strongly worded opinions from attorney John Gretzinger, representing CMHSAS board members Gaylene Adams, Larry Walton and Barb Parker, county commissioners voted …

Three members of the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department were granted permission to travel out of state for training. The St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners agreed Tuesday to allow TJ Baker, Mark Lillywhite and Kitty Buchner to attend for five days a conference in New Orleans. The trio will be gone in early November to participate in a conference …

A complaint for declaratory judgment regarding the attempt to dismiss three members from the Community Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services Authority Board was filed Wednesday in St. Joseph County Circuit Court. The action comes on the heels of a CMHSAS special board meeting Monday, during which its members directed Grand Rapids-based attorney John Gretzinger to file the declaratory judgment …

The St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners this week agreed to a contract with Richard Dell, who was hired to serve as campground attendant at Cade Lake County Park for a period to end no later than Oct. 19. In other personnel matters Tuesday, county officials announced the resignations of district court deputy clerk Cynthia Mostrom and part-time courthouse security …

Three members of the Community Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services Board of St. Joseph County were removed Tuesday by the county commission. Board president Barb Parker, and members Larry Walton and Gaylene Adams were cut from the 12-member panel after a 3-1 vote. Board president John Dobberteen abstained and Robin Baker cast the dissenting vote. There was no discussion …

Six people were recently reappointed to serve on the St. Joseph County Commission on Aging Board. County commissioners agreed to reappoint Allen Balog, Barbara Fisher, Charles Thompson, Dawn Everett, Jim MacTavish and Joseph Heivilin. Their terms will expire June 30, 2017. In an unrelated matter, county commissioners approved permission to fill the position of probation officer following the resignation of …