BERRIEN COUNTY SHERIFF DEPT’S OPIOID TREATMENT PROGRAM A SUCCESS

By DEBRA HAIGHT
BCR Correspondent
ST. JOSEPH, MI – Berrien County Commissioners tackled a number of subjects at their weekly meeting last week and also received the annual report from Berrien County Sheriff Chuck Heit.
“As we reflect on another year of service, it is with great pride that we present our Annual Report for 2024,” Heit said. “This report provides an in-depth look at the commitment, achievements, and challenges faced by the Berrien County Sheriff’s Office over the past year.”
The Sheriff’s Office has two main divisions: the jail division and the enforcement division. In addition, the Emergency Management/Office of Homeland Security department oversees the school resource officer program the office offers to area schools.
The Sheriff’s Office budget totaled $31.94 million for the 2024 fiscal year. The office receives funding from a number of sources including the county general fund and the Michigan Department of Corrections.
The office started a new program last March for jail inmates called Medically Assisted Treatment to reach inmates with substance abuse problems. The program uses a variety of therapies to help treat people’s opioid addiction.
“We extend our gratitude to the dedicated men and women of the Sheriff’s Office for their hard work and service.” Heit noted that the report which is available on the county and sheriff’s office websites gives an overview of key initiatives, statistical data, and notable accomplishments reflecting the office’s dedication to serving the public.
Also at last week’s county board meeting, commissioners received an update on internet broadband expansion. The county has been working for the last few years to bring broadband to unserved and underserved areas. Much of the county now has broadband service thanks to an earlier program involving the ROBIN (Realizing Opportunity with Broadband Infrastructure Networks) grant. Both Berrien County and local municipalities contributed to the project by using the American Rescue Plan Act funds they had received.
The county is now looking to reach the remaining 2,603 unserved parcels in the county with help from the BEAD state grant program. BEAD stands for Broadband Equity Accessibility Deployment. The $1.56 billion grant program is open to internet service providers and doesn’t require local municipalities to provide any funding.
The highest number of properties unserved or underserved by broadband service are in Lake Township, Buchanan Township, Chikaming Township and Niles Township. Every municipality in the county except for the village of Eau Claire has at least one unserved or underserved property.
County Commissioner Teri Freehling has led the broadband effort and is chairman of the county’s BC Bit taskforce. She said she and other county officials are working with municipalities to have them write letters of support for BEAD program in advance of the state’s April 9 deadline.
People can learn more about the county’s broadband efforts on the BC Bit page on the county’s website at www.berriencounty.org.
Commissioners approved the hiring of Kristin Reynolds as the new Human Resources Director for the county. Reynolds was selected by the county’s hiring committee after applications were received and interviews conducted. She will start her new duties March 24 and will have an annual salary of $101,688.
Reynolds brings extensive human resources experience, a passion for efficiency, and a wealth of leadership expertise to her new position. She began her career working in recruitment positions and most recently served as the Chief Human Resources Officer and Human Resources Director at Southwestern Michigan College.