County Commission

The St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners last week gave approval to fill a few open positions. A candidate for the job of deputy probate register will be pursued, as it was vacated due to the retirement of Bonnie Walter. Her last day of work was Friday. The vacant position of juvenile neglect/abuse specialist, which has been open for a …

The St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners agreed to keep its meetings at 5 p.m. the first and third Tuesdays of the month. The matter was resolved during Tuesday’s meeting. The exceptions to the 2014 schedule are the first meetings in August and November, which will be moved one day earlier to not conflict with primary and general elections. On …

John Dobberteen will head the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners for the second consecutive year. The unanimous decision was made Tuesday at the commission’s first assembly of 2014. The meeting had been postponed one week due to inclement weather Jan. 7. Dobberteen, whose jurisdiction covers the city of Sturgis and Fawn River Township, is starting his 16th year on …

St. Joseph County Commissioner Robin Baker said he has been attending township meetings within his district and has been asked about contracting for additional police coverage. During the commission’s committee of the whole meeting Dec. 13, Baker said township officials within his jurisdiction continue to have discussions about the matter. Baker said he is being asked if the sheriff’s department …

Members of the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners wished their constituents a Merry Christmas and offered thanks to county workers for a job well done in 2013. During the close of Tuesday’s meeting – the final commission meeting of the calendar and fiscal year – commission chairman John Dobberteen also thanked Pat Yoder for staying on as the county’s …

Nearly 1,500 jobs and $53.8 million in new, private investment were announced in St. Joseph County in 2013. The figures were included in the Southwest Michigan First 2013 annual report presented by Ken Jones last week before the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners. The 12-month period marks the first full calendar year the St. Joseph County Economic Development Corporation …

The St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners made a number of appointments and reappointments during Tuesday’s twice-a-month meeting. Commissioners appointed Kathy Humphreys as chief deputy treasurer. She replaces Vicky Anders, who is retiring next month. Eric Shafer was reappointed to another term on the St. Joseph County Road Commission. Shaffer’s new term starts Jan. 1 and concludes at the end …

St. Joseph County’s 2014 fiscal-year budget was approved by the five-member St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners Tuesday. More than $16.7 million was set aside for county operations in 2014, an increase of more than $1.6 million from the amended 2013 fiscal year budget of $15.1 million. Joni Smith, St. Joseph County’s director of finance, said in addition, the county …

St. Joseph County administrator Pat Yoder will shed his “interim” label at the start of the year. Yoder, a 65-year-old Sturgis resident, was given a one-year contract Tuesday to serve as the full-fledged county administrator. He has been serving in an interim basis since April, following the January retirement of Judy West-Wing. Yoder will receive a $105,000 base salary for …

Adams Excavating will provide snow-removal and plowing services for St. Joseph County again this winter. The St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners last week renewed a contract for the winter services at the courthouse parking lot, the parks building and animal-control parking lot, and the sheriff’s department/central dispatch parking lot. Scott Adams, a Centreville resident, will provide his services when …