COUNTY NEWS

By DEBRA HAIGHT
BCR Correspondent

ST. JOSEPH – Berrien County Commissioners spent much of their last meeting of 2021 listening to residents’ COVID pandemic concerns, just as they have for the last several months. The county board will next meet on Jan. 6 after the Christmas and New Year’s holidays.

COVID pandemic concerns about masks and quarantines were again raised by a small group of people in attendance although three emails were received by the county clerk from residents in favor of mask mandates and quarantines. Residents have been asking the county board to act to control county health department actions since late summer.

Shawn Hill of St. Joseph said he does not favor mask mandates and quarantines. “Science proves kids don’t die from this, we need to get away from face masks,” he said. “They are keeping kids from getting a proper education. I’m also worried about kids’ mental health. That’s becoming more and more of an issue with kids becoming more isolated.”

Others had similar messages of concern to the county board. They pointed out that the Berrien County Board of Commissioners has the job of oversight of the health department. They said they would be watching what commissioners do as the 2022 elections approach.

They asked for an end to secret meetings between school districts and health department officials and asked commissioners to host a public meeting with Interim Berrien County Health Officer Guy Miller to address the issue.

Residents also pointed out that they believe mask mandates and quarantines in schools are a big reason for the rise in threats against school districts around the state and the nation. They said all of the threats started with kids being isolated and locked down during the pandemic.

While commissioners didn’t respond directly to the residents’ concerns about schools and the health department, they did give a report about the county’s response to recent threats again area schools.

County Commissioner Dave Vollrath reported that the board’s administration committee heard from Berrien County Prosecutor Steve Pierangeli earlier in the morning. Pierangeli told committee members that he’s meeting with area school superintendents and personnel on a daily basis as he and county law enforcement investigate threats.

“Each one is taken very seriously,” Vollrath said. “Kids who are doing this don’t realize how crazy things are and how seriously we’re taking them. Mental health people are being brought in to speak with the kids. Some are joking around but others are making serious threats.”

In action, county commissioners formally hired Thaddeus Hackworth as the new corporate counsel for the county. Hackworth is a St. Joseph native who recently moved back to the area after spending most of his legal career in New York City. He was one of two finalists for the job interviewed by the board last week.

The county has had the corporate counsel position filled on an interim basis since March 2020 when James McGovern resigned the post. Retired Berrien County Judge John Dewane had filled that post for much of that time period before his death earlier this fall.

The contract with Hackworth runs for three years starting Jan. 1, 2022 through Dec. 31, 2024. His base salary will be $128,000 with annual increases given that are the equivalent of the increases other appointed officials receive.

County Administrator Brian Dissette welcomed Hackworth on behalf of the county administrative staff. “I can’t tell

you how happy the staff is to get him in house, we are looking forward to working with him,” he said.

Hackworth was in attendance at the meeting. “I’m honored to be selected and I look forward to working with you,” he said.

In other action at last week’s meeting, commissioners approved a new three year contract with communication center supervisors who are represented by the Police Officers Labor Council. That contract runs Jan. 1, 2022 through Dec. 31, 2024.

The Berrien County Road Department has a new interim head after county board action. Commissioners appointed Kevin Stack as the new interim department head starting Jan. 1. Stack is a longtime road department employee. His salary will be $97,266.

The department has been without a permanent director after the county parted ways with Jason Latham earlier this year. The county board hired Abonmarche Engineering to provide department leadership since then.

The county road department director post is one of two personnel posts Dissette is still looking to fill in coming months. He must also find a new permanent County Health Officer.

Commissioners renewed the county’s agreement with the Riverwood Center for psychiatric services for juveniles and families served by the Berrien County Trial Court as well as amended the contract with Riverwood for Juvenile Center residents.

They also renewed the contract with Andrews University for drug lab services, established a stand alone commissary fund for jail inmates, authorized a salary increase for non-union employees and accepted grant funds for emergency management and the health department’s medical marijuana outreach.