County Commissioners honored Al Balog Tuesday, whose term officially ends later this month. Balog decided to forgo a reelection campaign this year, opting instead to run for 59th District State Representative in 2020, ultimately falling to Steve Carra.
Allen Balog
Jack Coleman, who recently ran for the seat of 59th District Representative in the Michigan legislature, has a new position in St. Joseph County. At a regular meeting Tuesday evening, the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners (BOC) appointed Coleman to an upcoming vacancy on the St. Joseph County Road Commission (SJCRC). Coleman will replace John Bippus in the position, which turns over after January 31.
Following an Executive Committee meeting Tuesday, members of the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners held their second workshop to plan the 2021 Fiscal Year budget. At the previous workshop, held two weeks prior, commissioners sought to address a significant potential shortfall, and directed County Administrator Teresa Doehring and Finance Director Angie Steinman to ask each of the county’s various department heads to submit their own savings proposals.
Following an Executive Committee meeting Wednesday morning, the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners held a workshop to start planning the 2021 fiscal year budget. For the last several years, the county has operated under a balanced budget, but only by making up shortfalls through drawdowns from the Delinquent Tax Fund (DTF). This year, possible revenue impacts from the ongoing pandemic and a slowed economy brought the imbalance to the front of many of the commission’s conversations about money.
A judge has blocked a ban on the open display of firearms at polling places issued recently by Michigan Secretary of State (SOS) Jocelyn Benson. Several current and prospective public officials discussed the ruling on social media Tuesday.
At a regular meeting of the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners Tuesday, commissioners approved the hire of two new employees for the Sheriff’s Department, making an exception to a current hiring freeze. They include a position in road patrol and one in the corrections department that is responsible for courthouse security.
Wendy Hochstedler, a former Three Rivers City Finance Director who was fired and subsequently settled a lawsuit with the City has pled guilty to embezzlement from the City of South Haven in court.
At its regular meeting Tuesday, the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners responded to remarks by Tim Carls in a public comment period early in the meeting concerning the county budget.
During an Executive Committee meeting Wednesday morning, members of the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners discussed ways to address likely budget shortfalls for the remainder of 2020, as well as for the next two fiscal years.
In Episode 8 of Keep Your Voice Down, Doug and Alek are joined by fellow Watershed Voice Podcaster Michael “Hogey” Hogoboom to discuss last week’s primary election results, what November’s ballot will look like, and of course, Taylor Swift’s new album, which Hogey has plenty of opinions about. The trio also discusses the NBA and NHL bubbles, the Three Rivers DDA, Three Rivers Community Schools’ Board of Education and Charles Thomas’ latest piece on what he misses most about Three Rivers.
The St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners passed a resolution Tuesday that permits the county to establish contract details for the sale of a building to Covered Bridge Healthcare.