BERRIEN COUNTY COMMISSION ELIMINATES NILES/BUCHANAN NIGHT MEETINGS; SCHEDULES TRAFFIC STUDY

By DEBRA HAIGHT
BCR Correspondent
ST. JOSEPH – The Berrien County Board of Commissioners will hold four night meetings this spring and summer after action last week by Berrien County Commissioners. The night meetings will be at locations around the county in May, June, July and August. Weekly county board meetings are held on Thursday mornings at the Berrien County Administration Center in St. Joseph and are streamed on YouTube.
While the county board held one of their night meetings in Niles last year, this year’s night meeting schedule does not include a night meeting in either Niles or Buchanan. The night meetings will not include committee of the whole or individual committee meetings on those nights. The offsite night meetings are not available remotely.

• May 1, 2025 – New Buffalo Township Public Safety Building – 6pm (North County)
• June 4, 2025 – 19 North Froehlichs, Three Oaks – 6pm (South County)
• July 10, 2025 – Watervlient Charter Township Hall – 6pm (South County)
• August 7, 2025 – MSU Extension Office, Benton Harbor – 6pm (North County)
• No Meetings Fifth Thursdays or Holidays: May 29, July 3, July 31, September 4, October 30

The schedule was approved without comment from the board but was commented on by a resident in attendance. Adolph Peltzer of Hagar Township attends most county board meetings and continues to ask for more night meetings during the year in order to attract more residents to the meeting.
In addition to setting the night meeting schedule for the year, county commissioners updated three county policies for solicitation on county property, political activity of employees, and public speaking. The solicitation policy had last been updated in 2008, while the other hadn’t been updated since 2003.
The solicitation update prohibits the posting of signs and ads or the distribution of flyers on county property that isn’t directly connected to county functions. The new policy specifically adds political signs to the policy. People also cannot solicit for signatures on petitions within 30 feet of public entrances to county facilities.
Commissioners added language to the political activity policy. Elected officials cannot ask or allow a public employee to engage in political activities during working hours, wear badges or pass out campaign materials. In addition, no political signs, ads or flyers can be posted or distributed on county property.
The board updated the public speaking policy, delineating that statements made by elected officials, employees and citizen committee members are their own and not that of the county in general. The policy does not apply to public statements expressly authorized by law, the county board or elected officials.
Commissioners made a staff change in the prosecutor’s office. They have added a position for an additional evidence clerk/audio visual specialist to handle a growing amount of evidence that has to be processed.
The board updated the register of deeds fee schedule, adding fees for online searches to bring the office into line with other register of deeds offices and practices around the state. There will be a $1.50 fee per submission through the land records management software vendor and $1 per page for purchase of online search results.
Commissioners approved a traffic speed study, which will be done by the Berrien County Road Department for the Berrien Township intersection of Range Line Road, Snyder Road and Lake Chapin Road. Traffic in that area has increased in recent years and the intersection has seen a number of accidents. “It has become increasingly difficult for residents to negotiate left hand turns, or move into and out of the flow of traffic safely due to the increased traffic volume,” the resolution stated.
The resolution went on to note that the road department and the state police will study the data to determine whether the speed limit on those roads should be raised, lowered or kept the same.
The results of the study will be provided to the county board for a final decision on any change to speed limits. Berrien Township officials have said they will abide by the decision made by the road department.
The current speed limits are 55 miles per hour on Snyder Road and 40 miles per hour on Range Line Road. The speed limit on Lake Chapin Road varies between 40 and 55 miles per hour.
Amendments to the county’s parking policy will allow the city of St. Joseph to use the St. Joseph courthouse parking lot during the summer months. The west courthouse parking lot will be available for parking weekdays after 6 p.m. and on Saturdays and Sundays.