By DEBRA HAIGHT
BCR Correspondent
ST. JOSEPH – At their regular meeting last week, Berrien County Commissioners continued to push for state leaders to reach agreement on dispersing federal monies to aid small businesses hurt by the pandemic. They also hired a new county parks director and heard updates about this year’s county road work and rural broadband efforts.
The resolution approved by the county board calls on Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and leaders in the state legislature to come together so small businesses can get financial assistance. Commissioners passed resolutions earlier this year to support restaurants and for the state to ease pandemic restrictions and take a more regional approach.
Commissioners had been working on the latest resolution for the last few weeks with input from Southwest Michigan Regional Chamber President Arthur Havlicek. Organizations like the Chamber have been pushing for state leaders to do more to help businesses.
The resolution passed last week notes that state officials have yet to come to agreement on distributing all of the billions of dollars in federal aid given to the state. The state received nearly $5 billion in federal COVID relief funds three months ago and is set to get another $10 billion from the latest aid bill signed into law in March.
The resolution noted that Whitmer vetoed all $555 million the state legislature with bipartisan support had earmarked for small business relief efforts. A second attempt by the legislature to get aid to small businesses was also vetoed by Whitmer on March 26.
“Whereas, Lansing still has not found a path forward on fully appropriating the $5 billion it already received; and whereas, if there is one thing state leaders should agree on, it is getting help to the struggling small businesses in our state,” the resolution stated.
The resolution noted that “Whereas, it is imperative these funds be disbursed to job providers who are still fighting for solvency and survival … Now, therefore, be it hereby resolved that the Berrien County Board of Commissioners urges the Governor’s Administration to reach a compromise with the Michigan Legislature and their recommended relief initiatives.”
After the resolution was approved unanimously, commissioners asked County Clerk Sharon Tyler to forward the resolution to the Governor’s office, the State Legislature, all Michigan counties and the Michigan Association of Counties.
Last week’s meeting also featured the appointment of Jill Adams as the new County Parks Director. She succeeds Brian Bailey who retired last year but who has stayed on to help out since then. Bailey is expected to stay on a few more months to assist Adams in her new role.
Adams has been with the department for over 20 years, with positions ranging from overseeing the recycling program and managing Silver Beach County Park.
Personnel and Human Services Committee Chairman Bob Harrison reported that Adams was the unanimous choice of the interview team assembled to fill the director vacancy. Her appointment is effective April 12. Her annual salary will be $71,296.
“She’s been with the county for over 20 years, all of you know her,” Harrison said.
“That’s going to be phenomenal for the county,” Commissioner Ezra Scott said. “I’ve worked with and sat on boards with Jill. She’s so professional and knowledgeable. It’s a win-win-win for the county, for the employees at the parks department and for her.”
“I am so pleased,” Commissioner Mamie Yarborough said. “She’s a magnificent lady. She’s done so much with recycling, she does such excellent work. I’ve seen her in the summer with young people, she has such a wonderful rapport with people of all ages.”
County Administrator Brian Dissette thanked the board for voting to appoint Adams. “I want to thank the board for their vote to affirm Jill,” he said. “It has been an absolute pleasure to work with her the last six or seven months.”
Administration Committee Chairman Jim Curran reported on upcoming projects being done by the Berrien County Road Department in 2021 in connection with area townships. The committee met with road department project engineer Kevin Stack earlier last week and a resolution about the work will come to the county board in coming weeks.
An estimated 50 miles of road work is scheduled for 2021. Some roads will get a two-inch asphalt overlay, others will get a scratch and seal treatment and still others will get a three-fourths inch overlay of asphalt.
Roads to see work this year include Bell Road in Niles Township, Paw Paw Avenue in Coloma Township, Dean’s Hill Road and Pokagon Road in Berrien Township, Hillandale Road and Pipestone Road in Sodus Township, Lakeside Road in Chikaming Township, East Galien-Buchanan Road in Buchanan Township and Three Oaks Road in Three Oaks Township.
Projects being done with federal dollars include the Napier Avenue Bridge in St. Joseph Township and the Walton Road Bridge in Buchanan Township.
Commissioners heard from Bob Hance, the president and CEO of Midwest Energy in Cassopolis. Hance reported that his firm participated in a recent FCC auction for the rural digital opportunity fund and won the auction for rural broadband work in Berrien County.
“We got $37 million and are obligated to spend $150 million to serve 40,000 folks including a good portion of Berrien County,” he told commissioners.
Commissioner Teri Freehling said the effort to bring more broadband internet service to rural areas of the county is being boosted in a number of areas. Not only is there the Midwest Energy project, there are funding opportunities available with the latest federal pandemic relief bill as well.
The county has also been working with a nonprofit organization to conduct a rural broadband survey this year. She said that those results will give everyone a more accurate view of where more rural broadband service is needed.
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