County Commission

During their final meeting of 2014 Tuesday, the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners made reappointments to six different panels. Returning for three-year terms to the Animal Control Advisory Board are Suzanne Lee, Laura Barley and Rick Shaffer. John Bippus was approved to continue on as a member of the St. Joseph County Road Commission Board. Bippus, who is currently …

The employment of Teresa Doehring as human resources director was formalized Tuesday, when the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners agreed to terms of her contract. The 40-year-old Doehring, a Mendon resident, will be paid $65,000 annually and given four weeks of vacation time. She begins the job Jan. 6. Doehring replaces Elishia Arver, who stepped down from the post …

The St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners has set the date for its first meeting of 2015. During Tuesday’s proceedings, commissioners set the meeting for 5 p.m. Jan. 6. At that time, the five-member board will set the full meeting schedule for the balance of the year. The board currently meets at 5 p.m. the first and third Tuesday of …

Members of the Sturgis City Commission expressed specific concerns this week about the proposed senior center slated for the east side of town. Nonetheless, the $2.6 million project remains on task for a groundbreaking in the spring. Jonathan Rambow, representing designer Slocum Architects of Kalamazoo, said plans for an 11,000-square-foot building, located about 350 feet south of the existing Doyle …

Ownership of Nottawa Park is expected to revert to St. Joseph County, according to county administrator Pat Yoder. Located on the east side of Sand Lake in Nottawa Township, Nottawa Park was turned over to Nottawa Township’s Board of Trustees in 2012. Yoder said the county board is expected to vote Tuesday on whether to take over ownership again. The …

St. Joseph County administrator Pat Yoder has recommended a Mendon woman to fill the role of county human resources director. During Wednesday’s committee-of-the-whole meeting, Yoder nominated Teresa Doehring to fill the position left vacant since last month. Elishia Arver stepped down from the post to take a human resources job in the private sector. Yoder said the committee – which …

The second of two candidates for the position of St. Joseph County human resources director is expected to confirm an interview date this week. County administrator Pat Yoder said the two finalists were chosen from a group of four people interviewed for the post. A total of 26 people applied for the job, which has been vacant since Elishia Arver …

Barring any major modifications in the next week and a half, St. Joseph County’s board of commissioners is expected to approve a 2015 fiscal year budget of almost $16.5 million. The proposed budget is 11.6 percent less than the 2014 budget, which is about $18.6 million. Finance director Joni Smith said three requests were made for new personnel in 2015, …

Three personnel matters were approved during Tuesday’s St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners meeting. Kelly Stapert has been hired as part-time Commission on Aging in-home services assistant at $11.79 an hour. Nancy Franovich has been hired as part-time Victim Services clerk at $11.73 an hour. In addition, Glenn Dane has been hired as Commission on Aging sub driver at $9.27 …

An annual event that will observe its 30-year anniversary next year in St. Joseph County was promoted during Tuesday’s county commission meeting. Colon resident Nancy Percival addressed commissioners regarding the Community Action-sponsored Walk For Warmth. The fundraiser’s biggest annual event takes place Feb. 28 at the Three Rivers Community Center. Percival said funds raised through the one-mile walk provide assistance …