2017 OUTLOOK: BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

By DEBRA HAIGHT
BCR Correspondent
ST. JOSEPH – 2016 was an eventful year for Berrien County and 2017 begins
with a number of issues still unresolved or waiting more action. County
commissioners face decisions in coming weeks and months on items such as a
proposed new county animal ordinance and a plan to improve transportation
offerings in the county.
The 12-member Berrien County Board of Commissioners meets in committee
and as a whole on most Thursday mornings at the Berrien County
Administration Building in St. Joseph. A small number of night meetings are
scheduled in other parts of the county during the year.
The 2017 board of commissioners features some new faces. While several
incumbents were unopposed in their bids for re-election in November, there
was one open seat decided in the third county board district and incumbents
were defeated in the first, ninth and 12th districts.
In the third commissioner district representing part of the Benton Harbor
area, Democrat Don Meeks succeeds Marletta Seats who gave up the seat to
run for the 79th state house district seat. The first district also has a new
representative as Dave Vollrath defeated William Smith in the primary and
then won the November election.
In the ninth commissioner district representing Three Oaks and New Buffalo,
longtime Commissioner Andy Vavra, a Democrat, was defeated by Republican
Ezra Scott. The 12th commissioner district which covers the Niles area saw
another upset as newcomer Republican Michael Majerek defeated Democrat
incumbent John Klimek.
One of the first issues commissioners will face is a proposed new animal
control ordinance. A public hearing on the ordinance had been set for mid-
December but was postponed to let the new county board handle it. A draft
of the proposed ordinance is available on the county’s website,
www.berriencounty.org.
The purpose of the new ordinance is to provide animal control for the
protection of persons, animals and property within the county as well as to
provide for the Berrien County Animal Control Department, the county shelter
and the duties and responsibilities of department staff.
The ordinance also regulates licensing and vaccination of dogs, the
confinement, impoundment and redemption of dogs and other animals, the
seizing, killing and euthanizing of dogs and other animals and the possession
of wild animals.
Commissioners will also likely be asked to take more action on the formation
of a Berrien County Transit Authority. They endorsed the idea of forming such
an entity in December.
Area leaders have been looking for ways to improve public transportation
opportunities in the county for a number of years. A 2014 Public
Transportation Consolidation Feasibility Study made a number of
recommendations including forming the authority.
The study’s overall goal has been the consolidation and provision of transit
services through one countywide program. Leaders involved in the
development of the program believe that the formation of one countywide
program is the most efficient and effective way to provide public
transportation in the county.
The resolution approved by county commissioners last month is expected to
lead to county officials gathering input from local governments and service
providers. County staff will then prepare and present the necessary
implementation process for actually forming the authority.
Questions remain as to what effect such an authority would have on local
public transportation services such as the Dial-A-Ride programs in Niles and
Buchanan. In Buchanan, City Manager William Marx said his city is keeping an
open mind about the proposal and has the hope it will be an opportunity to
expand people’s access to public transportation.