County Commission

Motor-vehicle offenses, including the number of drunken drivers, decreased in St. Joseph County last year compared to 2012. District Court Judge Jeff Middleton provided details during his annual report Tuesday before the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners. His news, however, came with a caveat, as Middleton said he suspects the decrease was the result of fewer law-enforcement officials on …

St. Joseph County Register of Deeds Pattie Bender provided details this week related to the development of a program using a red-flag system to identify meth houses. During her annual report presented at Tuesday’s county commission meeting, Bender said she and a team of county officials met last year with Three Rivers attorney Pat O’Malley. The focus was to discuss …

In addition to providing an annual report as register of deeds, county clerk Pattie Bender presented county commissioners a summary of her department’s operations in 2013. Bender, who will mark her 44-year anniversary as a courthouse employee later this month, said her department’s revenue report showed collections in circuit and juvenile courts were down in 2013 compared to 2012. She …

The St. Joseph County Board of Election Canvassers completed a once-every-four-years task Wednesday. According to state law, every county’s board of election canvassers must complete an inspection of ballot boxes and bags. County Clerk Pattie Bender said the task previously was performed over a two-day period, when she and the four-member board traveled to all 16 townships and the cities …

The St. Joseph County Road Commission has announced it is closing its Colon Township and Three Rivers-area garages. The move means three area foremen, including the Centreville area foreman, will be offered an early-retirement incentive. The positions will be eliminated effective May 1. Operations from Colon, Centreville, and Three Rivers garages/districts will be gradually folded into the central facility in …

St. Joseph County’s Board of Commissioners has set a time and date for a work session to meet with the county road commission. The meeting, set for 3 p.m. April 30 at the county courthouse, will center on the road commission’s millage renewal request this year and an update on road conditions in general. County administrator Pat Yoder said he …

St. Joseph County’s Board of Commissioners has renewed its contract with Fabius Township for law-enforcement services. During Tuesday’s meeting, the commission agreed to the one-year contract. The measure, which has been in place more than 13 years, calls for the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department to dedicate a car and deputy to patrol Fabius Township exclusively. Undersheriff Mark Lillywhite said …

The St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners and human resources director Elishia Arver have reached an employment agreement that will see the 5 1/2-year employee remain in her current position. The deal was made official during Tuesday’s board of commissioners meeting. Arver had turned in her letter of resignation earlier this month to county administrator Pat Yoder. Arver said she …

There’s some good news for county government and municipalities facing road-budget shortfalls in St. Joseph and Cass counties, as the Michigan Legislature has approved $215 million in supplemental road funding. State Rep. Matt Lori said $100 million of the emergency funds will go to county and municipal governments to deal with deficits as a result of the inordinate amount of …

St. Joseph County’s Board of Commissioners was asked to consider allocating funds to help townships repair crumbling roads. Del Martin, a Fabius Township resident, urged the five-member panel last week to dedicate money from its delinquent-tax fund and spread the wealth to all 16 townships in the county. Martin said a modest amount of even $50,000 to each township would …