By Jef Rietsma
A request to hire a deputy clerk for the county court’s civil division was approved Tuesday, by a slim margin.
A 3-to-2 vote resulted in an exception to the county’s hiring freeze and granted the request made by district court administrator/magistrate Tabitha Wedge.
The $60,000-a-year position was discussed at length at the commission’s executive committee meeting last week. As they did then, commissioners this week maintained reasons for and against the request.
In the end, support of chairman Dennis Allen, Jared Hoffmaster and Kathy Pangle carried the motion.
The job was included in the county’s 2021 fiscal-year budget, according to finance director Angie Steinman.
County considers roof repair at COA facility
By Jef Rietsma
Journal Correspondent
St. Joseph County commissioners will decide next week whether to approve a budget amendment necessary to fix a leaking roof at a county facility.
At their executive committee meeting Wednesday, commissioners were brought up-to-date regarding a roof leak over the atrium at the Three Rivers Commission on Aging property.
County finance director Angie Steinman said the correction initially was slated to be a budgeted item for 2021. Commissioners, however, decided to take a wait-and-see approach.
But Steinman said there is sufficient fund balance in the COA account to cover the project.
A Centreville-based health and wellness facility is prepared to assist with COVID-19 immunizations, if circumstances warrant.Officials from Covered Bridge Health advised St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners they are willing to step in if Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency becomes too overwhelmed with the vaccination process.At their meeting Tuesday, county commissioners agreed to provide $10,000 in funding and accept the offer from Covered Bridge director Rick Shaffer.Board
Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency, in conjunction with Honu, will offer no-cost, drive-through COVID-19 testing noon-3 p.m. Jan. 19 in Three Rivers.The event will take place, weather permitting, at St. Joseph County Transit Authority, 810 Webber Ave.Free testing will be done on a first come, first-served basis and is available to Michigan residents with a state-issued identification card.Residents may be tested, with or without symptoms, and minors may be tested if they