BERRIEN COUNTY OFFICIALS ARE SEEKING PUBLIC INPUT ON THE COUNTY’S FUTURE PLANS

By DEBRA HAIGHT

ST. JOSEPH – Berrien County officials are seeking public input on the county’s future plans. Meanwhile, local residents continue to react to measures put in place to combat the current COVID-19 pandemic. People have voiced opposition at both governmental and community meetings.

With the county’s future plans, residents have the chance to offer their input this month and take a survey available on the county’s www.berriencounty.org website. The link to the survey is https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/BerrienCountyPlanning

Berrien County Community Development Director Dan Fette said the survey is part of both the Berrien County Planning Commission’s current efforts to update the county’s master plan and the Berrien County Board of Commissioners’ strategic planning.

Fette noted that the county has hired the Grand Rapids-based William & Works planning firm to help the planning commission with the master plan. He said the survey is expected to close by the end of September. Planning Commissioners will use that and other information to update the master plan, a process that will take nine to 12 months.

He noted that there will be additional opportunities for resident input as each chapter of the new master plan is developed and reviewed by the planning commission. The goal of the master plan is to provide guidance related to future development in the county over the next 10 to 20 years.

Fette also noted that the survey results will help guide county commissioners as the update the county’s strategic plan. The county hired consultant Jim Hettinger to help prepare the strategic plan.

Fette said the goal is lay out Board of Commissioner goals for the next five years including perhaps most importantly what the county’s spending priorities will be for the $30 million the county is getting in American Rescue Plan Act funds.

“Jim is wrapping up his research and awaiting the results of our community survey,” he said. “So, we’re expecting Jim’s report in the next month or so.”

The county isn’t alone in facing decisions on how to spend ARPA funds. Municipalities in the county are also debating what they will spend their monies on as they also wait to hear final guidance from the federal government on qualifying expenditures.

This week, Berrien County Commissioners are expected to act on a resolution expressing their displeasure over the Berrien County Health Department’s institution of a mask mandate for area schools. In August, commissioners had passed a resolution supporting the health department’s mission.

The large turnout of parents and other area residents at last week’s county board meeting appears to have swayed several commissioners to change their views. Last week’s meeting was held outdoors at Shadowland Pavilion at Silver Beach County Park in St. Joseph and drew over 100 residents.

At the conclusion of the three hour meeting, commissioners said they are reconsidering that August resolution. Board vice-chairman Ezra Scott said he is not in favor of mask mandates and would prepare a resolution to rescind the one done on Aug. 26.

Other commissioners spoke of also taking a no confidence vote in Interim County Health Officer Courtney Davis and perhaps the entire department.

Mask mandates were also a topic of discussion at the South County Republican Club program on Sunday in Buchanan. People listened to remarks by County Board Chairman McKinley Elliott as well as Aimee Williams Foster of Berrien County Parents for School Freedoms. Veteran Luke Andresen also spoke against mandates.

Elliott said the county board’s hands are tied in terms of actually reversing the health department’s mask mandate since it is an authority the health department has under state law.

He advised people to contact their state representatives and state senators to express their displeasure about the health department mandates. He also suggested that a ballot initiative could also be another way residents can fight back.

“The legislature didn’t grant county boards any power over the health departments,” he said. “Let your state representatives and senator know of your concerns and sign a ballot initiative. A ballot initiative is probably the most linear route and the most likely to succeed.”

He said legislators need to know people’s concerns to change the law and add checks and balances to the power of health departments and county health officers. “I’ve suggested having a 28 day window on such orders like what the governor has before the legislature steps in,” he said.

Elliott acknowledged that a lawsuit has been filed against the county over the mandates and noted that he and other commissioners have been admonished not to speak about the lawsuit.

People in attendance asked Elliott and other commissioners to not hire Davis as the permanent county health officer, but he said it would be illegal to say she can’t apply or be hired ahead of time. He added that while some have advocating firing health officers who order mandates, he doesn’t think it’s legal to fire someone for following the existing law.

“The sick feeling you got when you heard about the order is the same feeling we had,” Berrien Springs resident and school board member Eric Stoub said. “We will give you grief and ask you to push our disdain toward Lansing. We don’t have the power you do in Lansing. It should be crystal clear to everyone how upset Berrien County is with this order.”

Elliott said the best way for people to stand up is to get an initiative on the ballot since the possibility of getting the governor to sign a change in state law regarding health department powers is unlikely.

Foster said her groups and others have been organizing on Facebook in recent months to protest lockdowns and mandates. “We’ve done lawful protests and contacted legislators,” she said. “It doesn’t matter if board members themselves are nice, if they’re not willing to take a stand, they’re going against the moral fiber of society.”

“This effort is unprecedented, but the attacks on our children are unprecedented,” she added. “Legislators need to take the power back for us. We are asking people to get involved on the local level.”

Andresen, who said he’s running for Berrien County sheriff next year, said he wasn’t sure of any leader has the “guts or balls” to stand up. “If you’re not standing up, you’re complicit in this criminal behavior,” he said. “… Kids are struggling, don’t do this to the kids. Just like with D.A.R.E., just say no.”