BERRIEN COUNTY 2027 MDOT PROJECT TO BLOCK ACCESS TO COURTS AND JAIL, COMMISSIONERS CONCERNED

By DEBRA HAIGHT
BCR Correspondent
ST. JOSEPH, MI – Last week, the Berrien County Board of Commissioners withdrew a proposed resolution supporting an upcoming $25 million construction project from their meeting agenda. That project on MI-63 in the city of St. Joseph, which will affect a number of county facilities, is still on hold after questions came up earlier this month.
Earlier this month Berrien County Commissioners heard details about the upcoming infrastructure project from Michigan Department of Transportation representative Jonathon Smith. While the proposed project isn’t scheduled to start until the fall of 2027, some commissioners are skeptical about taking a stand on the major project.
The project will include major infrastructure repairs on Main Street in St. Joseph as well as nearby side streets. Main Street is also MI-63 in the city and Ship and Port Streets serve as the I-94 Business Loop. The Berrien County Administration Center is on Main Street, while the Courthouse and Jail are on Port Street.
Smith said the work will include the reconstruction of the entire length of Main Street from Central Avenue to the Blossomland Bridge. “We’re replacing everything under the road too including the storm and sanitary sewers and the water mains as well as traffic signals and streetscaping,” he said. “The concrete goes back to the 1950s.”
He noted that MDOT and St. Joseph city officials have worked together on planning the project and keeping the public informed. He said people’s concerns have centered on pedestrian safety, which has been addressed by expanding crosswalks and putting in more traffic islands.
Streets will be fully closed during the construction with detours offered. Construction in the full detour areas will start in the fall of 2027 after Labor Day and be mainly completed by Memorial Day of 2028. Partial shutdowns and detours will start in the spring of 2027 and be done by the fall of 2028.
County Commissioner and Administration Committee Chairman Jim Curran of Niles Township was the first to talk about the support resolution for the MDOT project and said most of the administration committee has questions. In all, three of four administration committee members have not signed the proposed resolution.
His main concerns center on whether the county assumes any liability by signing the resolution, whether it’s been done before or would it set a precedent, and whether the resolution would make the county responsible at all for what is a city and MDOT project.
Commissioner Sharon Tyler of Niles agreed. She cited all the questions and concerns involved with the recent South 11th Street/U.S. 12 Corridor project and said she plans to oppose the resolution.
Tyler said while she’s not against the St. Joseph project, she doesn’t think the county should take any action. “Even if we don’t have any liability,” she said, “People will still think they can sue us…people would think we’re responsible.” She also noted that the county courts will have to shift trials to the Niles courthouse.
County Sheriff Chuck Heit said that moving trials to Niles is the least of his concerns. “This is going to affect the county, not just the city (of St. Joseph),” he said. “Moving trials is the least of my worries. My worry is having 24-hour access to the sally port for the jail. That is a huge concern during this project, we need to stay involved.”
Overall, county officials said they have a variety of concerns about the project and its current proposed design. In addition to the effects the construction will have on the courts, they said having access to the county jail, including water and sewer services, is a major concern. They are also concerned about maintaining access to the county administration center.
The board’s next meeting will be Aug. 7 at the MSU Extension Center on Hillandale Road in Benton Township. It will start at 6 p.m. and is the last scheduled night meeting for the year.