County Commission

The St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners approved a few personnel matters during last week’s meeting. Landon Hackenberg’s status as a corrections officer was changed from full time to part time, while corrections officer Travis Balk was moved from part-time to full-time employment. Balk will be paid an hourly rate of $18.60. Jay Parker was hired by the sheriff’s department …

St. Joseph County’s Board of Commissioners last week approved a revised Community Mental Health resolution originally authorized during its Jan. 6 meeting. County administrator Pat Yoder said the county on Jan. 6 made its annual appropriation to the county’s Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services. The amount was more than $257,000. Yoder said an additional $90,000 to rectify a previous …

Pat Yoder, who holds St. Joseph County’s highest, non-elected position, was given a $10,000 raise last week. Two weeks after commissioners agreed to renew Yoder’s contract for 2015, his salary for the 12-month period was set at $115,000. He is also given a vehicle allowance of $6,000 annually. The matter was addressed during last week’s county commission meeting. Yoder, who …

A few personnel matters were approved during last week’s St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners meeting. Erin Goff was hired as community corrections coordinator at more than $18 an hour, while Travis Balk was hired as a part-time corrections officer at a rate of more than $16 an hour. Also, a pay increase of 29 cents per hour was approved …

The St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners this week approved funding allocations for improvements at a pair of county-operated parks. Commissioners during Tuesday’s meeting agreed to grant parks and recreation director Jaymes MacDonald financial support to purchase and install two handicap-accessible docks at Cade Lake Campground. In a separate matter, funding was made available for adding personnel to collect daily …

After adjusting their executive committee meeting schedule over the past six months, members of the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners appear to have finally settled on a mutually agreeable day. Commissioners decided Tuesday to stage the twice-a-month committee meeting at 8 a.m. every Thursday before a commission meeting. While the 8 a.m. start time has been consistent for several …

Three advisory board appointments were made Tuesday by the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners. Jeffery Baker was reappointed to a four-year term on the county’s veterans’ affairs board; Mendon resident Lon Huffman was granted another three-year term to the Southcentral Michigan Planning Council; and Three Rivers-area resident Lola Gross was reappointed to a three-year term on the county’s board …

The St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners last week made its annual appropriation to the county’s Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services. Commissioners budgeted more than $257,000 to the Centreville-based agency. County administrator Pat Yoder said the agency this year will be allocated an additional $90,000 to rectify a previous accounting error. As a result, $86, 817 will be transferred …

Members of St. Joseph County’s AFSCME general unit will continue to have the option to work four, 10-hour days. County commissioners last week approved the concept after it was offered for the balance of the year in 2014 starting in May. County administrator Pat Yoder said based on his observations and feedback, the opportunity worked well. The option is available …

John Dobberteen will head the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners for the third consecutive year. The unanimous decision was made Tuesday at the commission’s first assembly of 2015. Dobberteen, whose jurisdiction covers the city of Sturgis and Fawn River Township, is starting his 17th year on the commission. This will be his seventh year overall as chairman. The nomination …