Politics

Discussions regarding budget requests from various county departments started Tuesday, when members of the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners staged the first of what could be a number of workshops related to the county’s 2013 fiscal-year budget. The three-hour special session featured a thorough review of requests from various departments. Though no concrete decisions were made, recommendations were tentatively …

The millage amount to be levied for St. Joseph County’s 911 Central Dispatch service in 2013 will be half a mill, one-quarter of a mill less than what voters authorized in August. Millage amounts to levy next year for four county agencies were set Tuesday by the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners. While the county’s roads, transportation and commission …

The St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners has agreed to support the formation of a program that will add personnel to the St. Joseph County Area Narcotics unit. The decision was made Tuesday at the request of Undersheriff Mark Lillywhite, who said the initiative will involve training and bringing on to the SCAN unit one officer from the Three Rivers …

State Sen. Bruce Caswell plans to stage in-district office hours in St. Joseph County this week. Caswell will be at the Covered Bridge Diner from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Wednesday in Centreville. Caswell said the opportunity is an informal gathering where the public is invited to raise issues relevant to his legislative duties. Meanwhile, State Rep. Matt Lori will host …

A recount conducted Friday by the St. Joseph County Board of Election Canvassers confirmed Gordon Evilsizor’s primary-election win as Florence Township supervisor. The recount was sought by incumbent Tom Young, who has served the past 10 of his 19 years on the township board as its supervisor. The election-night tally showed Evilsizor with a three-vote margin, 65-62. Following last week’s …

A listing of candidates for the Constantine Village Council contains inaccurate information on the St. Joseph County website. Constantine Township Clerk Marti Brown said she has been in touch with County Clerk Pattie Bender regarding the erroneous information. Bender is currently at the state’s county clerk’s convention and indicated the information on the website would be corrected by Monday. In …

Florence Township Supervisor Tom Young has filed paperwork to seek a recount, following his three-vote defeat in last week’s primary election. County Clerk Pattie Bender said the hand recount was requested Wednesday and will be conducted at 10 a.m. Aug. 24 in the second-floor conference room at the county courthouse. Young was defeated, 65-62, by Gordon Evilsizor in the Aug. …

Members of the Sturgis City Commission have approved the municipality’s 2012-13 fiscal year budget. Featuring projected revenue of about $7.5 million and operating expenses close to $6.4 million, the budget represents an increase of about half a percent from 2011-12. During Wednesday’s commission meeting, city manager Mike Hughes said the city has taken every step it can to keep expenses …

Mayor Tom Lowry and members of the Three Rivers City Commission have agreed to name a new city street in memory of a community activist and long-time employee of Three Rivers Community Schools. During their regularly scheduled meeting earlier this week, Lowry and commissioners agreed to name a road in memory of Suzy Warner, who passed away in April. Warner …

Two county millage renewal requests and an additional renewal request in White Pigeon Township were approved during Tuesday’s primary election. The countywide votes saw the St. Joseph County Commission on Aging earn a six-year renewal of three-quarters of a mill. In addition, three-quarters of a mill renewal for six years was granted to the county E-911 central dispatch. Both renewals, …