Politics

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 …

A dozen people attended a public forum Wednesday in Mendon to hear more about the school district’s millage-increase request. Superintendent Rob Kuhlman and Michael Galovan, project manager from engineer/architect firm TowerPinkster, went over a detailed explanation of what’s at stake in the $9.3 million request. They said nearly three-quarters of the request will go toward building renovations and technology upgrades. …

St. Joseph County’s Board of Commissioners has agreed to renew its funding to continue its partnership with MSU Extension for 2014. During last week’s county commission meeting, commissioners agreed to allocate nearly $133,000 for the service. The funding covers salaries and services provided by one full-time and three part-time employees. In addition, the county will continue to provide telephone services …

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 …

As lawmakers have ended their work in Lansing for the year, Governor Rick Snyder admits he didn’t get everything he wanted in 2013, but he still appears satisfied. He had asked that the Legislature fund repairs to Michigan’s ailing roads this year, and while that never happened, the governor says he feels they had a very positive, constructive year. He …

The St. Joseph County Conservation District has announced a forestry workshop it is sponsoring this week. The event is 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday and features two keynote speakers: Ben Schram, forestry assistance program coordinator with the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, and Jeff Steinkraus, consulting forester. The focus of the workshop will center on qualified forestry, conservation …

Three Rivers Community Schools Superintendent Roger Rathburn has announced he plans to run for state representative next year. The 51-year-old Rathburn, who is retiring in June following a 13-year tenure as superintendent in Three Rivers, will seek the 59th District State House seat currently held by Matt Lori. Lori, who will begin his sixth and final year as state rep …

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 …