County Commission

The St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners has approved a plan to issue paychecks to county employees by direct deposit or through a payroll debit card only The measure will be implemented with the April 12 payday for the two-week pay period ending April 8. Finance director Joni Smith said no longer hand-delivering checks to employees will save staff in …

St. Joseph County’s search for a new administrator resulted in an unexpected selection Tuesday. J. Patrick Yoder, who held the position from its inception in 1990 until 1994, has accepted the job, which is the highest, non-elected position in county government. A native of Suttons Bay, the 63-year-old Yoder met with commissioners during a work session to discuss his potential …

The St. Joseph County Animal Control Advisory Board had a long list of accomplishments in 2012, its first full year. Former board chairperson Lynda Molter presented the panel’s inaugural annual report to members of the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners Tuesday. Molter said a major accomplishment was the animal shelter getting rid of its gas chamber, a euthanasia chamber …

St. Joseph County’s former administrator, Judy West-Wing, ended her 30-year career with the county Wednesday. The 54-year-old Centreville resident announced over the summer her plans to retire this month, in part to spend more time with her family, including her 10-year-old daughter. With the county’s 2013 budget approved last month and other loose ends tied up this month, West-Wing said …

St. Joseph County’s Board of Commissioners has agreed to hire Lindsay Howes as the county’s grant writer. Howes, who has most recently served as Three Rivers city clerk since 2007, was approved to the position Tuesday by the five-member commission. A 32-year-old Three Rivers resident, Howes will be paid $50,000 a year, with $30,000 of the salary paid by the …

St. Joseph County Administrator Judy West-Wing was honored Tuesday by current and past members of the county’s Board of Commissioners. The session was West-Wing’s last, as she is retiring next week and ending a 30-year tenure as a St. Joseph County employee. Current commissioners were joined by former members Eric Shafer, John Bippus, Larry Walton and others as West-Wing was …

The St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners has given the green light to the use of a trained dog for therapeutic and calming purposes. Commissioners on Tuesday OK’d an agreement with Linda Baker, victims’ rights coordinator who works for the county prosecutor’s office. Baker said three other counties in the state have dogs used for victims or witnesses who need a …

In a housekeeping matter Wednesday, the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners agreed to keep its twice-a-month meetings at 5 p.m. the first and third Tuesdays of the month. Also, executive committee meetings – during which matters on the county commission meeting agenda are discussed in detail – will remain at 8 a.m. the Friday before a county commission meeting. …

Sturgis resident and former mayor John Dobberteen was selected Wednesday to succeed Rick Shaffer as chairman of the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners. By unanimous vote, the 53-year-old Dobberteen was chosen to preside over the five-member board for 2013. As chairman, Dobberteen’s primary duty will require him to facilitate the board’s twice-a-month meetings. Dobberteen, a plumbing inspector, joined the …

St. Joseph County’s Board of Commissioners has decided to not pursue a request by newly sworn-in District Court Judge Rob Pattison for new carpet in his office. Commissioners last month looked at three vendor quotes and reviewed the state of the current carpet. Ultimately, commissioners agreed the wear of the carpet in heavy foot-traffic areas was noticeable but no worse …