County Commission

A veteran member of the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners was recognized by his peers this week. During Tuesday’s county commission meeting, board chairman Dennis Allen presented Allen Balog with a plaque and accolades recognizing Balog’s two-year stint as board chairman. Allen said Balog, 61, was worthy of the recognition. The plaque issued to Balog read: “Presented to Allen …

Meeting dates and time for the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners will remain unchanged in 2018 from last year. As a matter of housekeeping at Tuesday’s first meeting of the year, commissioners agreed to keep their meeting schedule at 5 p.m. the first and third Tuesdays of the month. Its executive committee schedule will also remain the same; commissioners …

Dennis Allen will serve as chairman of the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners in 2018. Commissioners agreed Tuesday to appoint the 62-year-old Allen head of the five-member panel. He replaces, Allen Balog, who was named vice chairman. Allen, who is starting his second year on the board, said he appreciates the confidence of his elected peers. Allen, whose district …

The opening of a new Commission On Aging headquarters with senior housing tops the county’s highlights in 2018, according to its board chairman. Commission chair Allen Balog said there’s plenty of good to look forward to in 2018, but personally he is most excited about a plan by COA director Tim Stoll to convert the former Three Rivers Inn into …

The St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners was on the receiving end of compliments for its commitment to its parks and recreation department. During the “Citizens Comments” portion of the Dec. 19 county commission meeting, a half dozen people approached the podium and complimented the board for a job well done in 2017. The praise came in contrast to the …

St. Joseph County’s board of commissioners has approved amendments to the bylaws of the Veterans Affairs Board. During last week’s meeting, commissioners agreed to the changes that include dropping the requirement calling for at least one board member to have served in WW I. The bylaw was changed to read “… at least one member shall represent a congressionally chartered …

St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners Chairman Allen Balog said he owes no apology to anyone claiming the county overpaid for a piece of land developed this year into a park. Furthermore, Balog said the allegation that the county was too generous in its purchase price because it was bought from a former county employee is wrong. Balog’s statements stem …

St. Joseph County’s board of commissioners have approved a dedicated millage to fund the parks and recreation department. Tuesday’s action means an additional one-quarter of a mill will be imposed countywide in 2018. Over its four-year life, the millage is expected to generate about $485,000 annually. Commissioners said the move will ease constraints on the general fund while helping parks and …

Teresa Doehring’s employment as county administrator will become official when the board of commissioners next week is expected to formally present her a contract. But a detail of the agreement hit a sticking point during Wednesday’s executive committee meeting. Committee chairman Allen Balog said Doehring will transition into the county’s highest, non-elected position created by Pat Yoder’s retirement. Doehring will …

St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners, St. Joseph County itself, and the agency that oversees mental-health and drug-abuse services in the county are among the defendants named in a lawsuit filed last week. The five-member county board as well as Community Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services of St. Joseph County Board were named in the suit filed by former …