County Commission

A planning, assessment and feasibility study related to a proposed addition to the county courts building in Centreville was approved last week. County commissioners agreed to the $72,500 cost to tap the expertise of the National Center for State Courts. The Denver-based agency will spend the next six months analyzing the county’s needs in advance of what will potentially be …

County commissioner Don Eaton is questioning a number of matters related to operations of the Community Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services of St. Joseph County. At the conclusion of Tuesday’s county commission meeting, Eaton said he would like to utilize the services of a consultant with expertise in studying mental health agencies, their budgets and their overall operations. Eaton …

The first step toward a major upgrade at Nottawa County Park was taken Tuesday. Members of the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners approved a proposal for a sewage-disposal-system design. The measure means the park is potentially on its way to having sewer service and running water. Currently, restroom amenities feature only pit toilets. Jaymes MacDonald, director of the county’s …

A Colon resident who spent decades organizing the annual Walk For Warmth fundraiser was honored Tuesday by the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners. Nancy Percival, who indicated this past February’s Walk For Warmth would be her last, received a resolution from the county commission recognizing her dedication to the event. Walk For Warmth, staged for years at the county …

Remonumentation contract agreements with three different companies highlight the agenda for today’s St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners meeting. The contracts are likely to be signed with Mostrom and Associates, Car and Associates, and Keiser Land Surveying. Also on the agenda is the county’s annual equalization report. In addition, a Nottawa Park Campground attendant agreement with Denise Franklin, and an …

St. Joseph County Human Resources Director Teresa Doehring was appointed last week to serve as the county’s Freedom of Information Act coordinator. During Tuesday’s county commission meeting, county administrator Pat Yoder said the appointment puts the county in compliance with statutory changes requiring such a position be filled. There is no additional pay for the role. Doehring has worked for …

A pair of funding requests from the St. Joseph County E-911 Central Dispatch was approved by county commissioners last week. The agency was allotted $4,128 for security cameras to replace black-and-white cameras that are 15 years old, and $74,200 was granted to repair and make improvements to the Centreville communications tower. County administrator Pat Yoder said the upgrade for security …

The St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners this week was introduced to someone they’ll be seeing more frequently later this year. Lindsay Oswald, who last week was appointed to serve the remaining 18 months of Pattie Bender’s term as county clerk and register of deeds, was presented by Circuit Court Judge Paul Stutesman. Oswald will start her appointed term July …

St. Joseph County Drain Commissioner Jeff Wenzel said 2014 was another good year for his office. Addressing the county’s board of commissioners, Wenzel said with the additional duties of administering soil-erosion permits, the office is keeping busy and maintaining a high profile in the county. The office in 2014 issued 147 permits and more than 600 inspections were conducted over …

Plans to begin pursuing a major addition to a portion of the St. Joseph County Courthouse were approved Tuesday by members of the county commission. The idea calls for a two-story addition to the west side of the current courts building. Each floor of the proposed rectangular-shaped addition would exceed more than 7,000 square feet and be designated for circuit, …