By DEBRA HAIGHT
BCR Correspondent
ST. JOSEPH, MI – Last week’s Berrien County Board of Commissioners meeting featured discussion and action on a number of topics, as well as life saving award honors to Berrien County Sheriff’s Deputies.
Sheriff Chuck Heit and Undersheriff Greg Sanders presented the lifesaving awards to three deputies and also honored a reserve deputy who is retiring.
Sanders recognized Deputy Cameron Neubecker, who received a commendation for his actions on November 7, 2025 when he jumped in the Paw Paw River to pull a subject to shore going through a mental health episode. The individual was then transported to the hospital for further care.
Next, Sanders honored Deputy Sam Whittaker, who received a commendation for his quick response and actions in helping a cyclist that crashed her bicycle in New Buffalo Township on August 23, 2025.
Sanders recognized Deputy Sabrina LaRatta, who was not at the meeting but received a commendation for her actions as a member of the Berrien County Dive Team on May 28, 2025. LaRatta dove to recover an individual who drowned in New Buffalo. This was at night with very limited visibility making the conditions very challenging to dive in.
Heit concluded the ceremony by thanking and presenting a retirement badge to Reserve Deputy Ken Jewell for his 30 years of service to the Sheriff’s Office. “These are four noteworthy examples of the deputies putting their mission to service members of our community before themselves,” Sanders said.
With the county administrator search, county commissioners continue to take steps to hire a search firm. County Commissioner Jon Hinkelman reported that the board will be asked this week to approve a resolution hiring the Michigan Leadership Institute to conduct the search. That organization was recommended by the Michigan Association of Counties. Hinkelman said the cost for the search is expected to be $9,560 with direct expenses not to exceed $1,250.
Commissioner Robert Harrison said the personnel and human services committee which he chairs is moving forward with developing a job description for the county administrator position. He said the position will be posted on the county’s website once the Michigan Leadership Institute is hired and the job description done.
Also last week, commissioners heard an update on the sale of property the county owns in Three Oaks. The county had signed an agreement to sell 36 acres of land to a developer late last year. The land in question is part of the Schwark Drain District which the county has been trying to sell for more than a decade after a previous development failed.
Community Development Director Dan Fette told commissioners that Edwin Allen Homes, the developer, have told the county that they only want to buy only the part of the parcel that is developable, acreage of about 12 acres. They will still pay the original sale price of $305,000. The amended purchase agreement will soon go before the county board.
Commissioners last week debated what they want to do with the remaining 24 acres. While some said that the land should be donated to the village of Three Oaks, others said they felt that it shouldn’t just be donated but come with a price.
“I’m really disappointed that we’re moving forward in that direction,” Commissioner Julie Wuerfel said. “We bailed Three Oaks out of that property and took a big hit on the sale of it to Edwin Allen and just to then turn around and donate it back. There should be some kind of dollars coming from Three Oaks; they need to have some sort of investment.”
Fellow Commissioner Teri Freehling noted that the possible donation of the rest of the acreage to Three Oaks is just starting to be discussed with no final decision made. “They have heard the concerns from this board, the donation is not necessarily free,” she said.