County Commission

All seven members of the St. Joseph County Transportation Authority Board were reappointed to serve two more years following action this week by the county commission. The terms of every board member expire April 1, prompting the county commission to act on the reappointment Tuesday, their last meeting before the first of the month. Returning to the transportation authority board …

The St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners last week approved appointments to the agricultural preservation board and the Community Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services Board. Constantine-area resident Henry Miller was renamed to the Ag. Preservation Board for a three-year term. County Commissioner Don Eaton, meanwhile, was reappointed for a one-year term. In addition, five people were appointed to the …

The St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners will field six matters of new business this afternoon. The agenda for today’s 5 o’clock meeting features a public hearing regarding the potential adoption of the river trail master plan, a resolution to amend the county’s 9-1-1 service plan, a request to fill a part-time clerk position and a request for the use …

The next step for a water trail master plan will be a discussion by county officials next week. Representatives from St. Joseph-based Edgewater Resources announced the master plan will be a part of the agenda during next week’s St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners meeting. Though the public comment stage of the process has already passed, additional questions or comments …

An amended contract between St. Joseph County’s Board of Commissioners and the county’s E-911 Telecommunicators’ Association was approved Tuesday by commissioners. According to terms of the amendment, new hires will be required to undergo telecommunications training and be paid $12.88 an hour during training; upon completion of training, full-time employees will be placed on the current wage scale; and benefits …

Approval of a sheriff’s department personnel change was the most noteworthy matter of business during Tuesday’s St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners meeting. In advance of Capt. Tim Schuler’s impending retirement, commissioners OK’d the department’s request to fill his position. Subsequently, the commission agreed to hire Kitty Buchner to succeed Schuler. Buchner, who has served as administrative secretary and is …

St. Joseph County’s Board of Commissioners this week agreed to a change in program description related to the Michigan State Housing Development Authority Community Development. The amendment to the funding award calls for the county to use community development block grant funds for the Homeowner Rehabilitation and Emergency Repairs program. The project will include administrative costs. St. Joseph County will …

Four personnel matters were approved Tuesday by the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners. Mark Harter was brought aboard as a full-time park ranger at $15.90 an hour. Meanwhile, Linda Wyckoff and Virginia Soule were hired as home-care aides with a pay of $10.70 an hour. Also, Melton Powell was hired as a chore worker for $9.50 an hour. The …

St. Joseph County’s Board of Commissioners last week approved a mediation agreement with a former employee. Without discussion, commissioners approved a motion that awards $150,000 to Anita Trayling, who previously served as an appraiser in the equalization department. County administrator Pat Yoder said Trayling’s position was dissolved in 2009. She subsequently took a temporary position with the prosecutor’s office but …

The St. Joseph County Road Commission was thwarted two weeks ago in an attempt to secure a loan from the county to help offset costs of building repairs and upgrades. Road Commission chair John Bippus appeared before the county executive committee to inquire about $1.5 million the road commission would like to borrow to conduct repairs at its headquarters west …