DECEMBER SCHEDULE BUSY FOR BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

By DEBRA HAIGHT
ST. JOSEPH – December is looking to be a busy month for the Berrien County Board of Commissioners. Last week, Commissioners endorsed the idea of forming a Berrien County Transit Authority at their meeting and next week will take up a controversial county animal control ordinance.
Area leaders have been looking for ways to improve public transportation opportunities in the county for a number of years. A 2014 Public Transportation Consolidation Feasibility Study made a number of recommendations including forming the authority.
The study’s overall goal has been the consolidation and provision of transit services through one countywide program. Leaders involved in the development of the program believe that the formation of one countywide program is the most efficient and effective way to provide public transportation in the county.
The resolution approved by county commissioners is expected to help county officials seek and gather input from local governments and service providers. County staff will then prepare and present the necessary implementation process for actually forming the authority.
Questions remain as to what effect such an authority would have on local public transportation services such as the Dial-A-Ride programs in Niles and Buchanan.
Buchanan City Manager William Marx said Buchanan is keeping an open mind about the proposal and have the hope that it will be “an opportunity to benefit the public in expanding the places our citizens can access on public transportation.”
He noted that the Buchanan Dial-A-Ride is already providing transportation to citizens who use the service to get to and from work in the area and said that a county wide system would really expand that capability. “A county wide system would make it easier for people to choose public transportation to get where they need to go,” he said.
He said a countywide public transit system could be a benefit to all areas of the county with the proviso that the costs have not been fully worked out yet. He said it might take a .25 to .5 county wide millage which actually could mean that Buchanan residents might pay less.
Meanwhile, the county board will have a public hearing on the proposed new animal control ordinance on Thursday, Dec. 15 at 10:30 a.m. at the start of that morning’s board meeting. The meeting will be held at the Berrien County Administration Center at 701 Main St., St. Joseph.
A draft of the proposed ordinance is available on the county’s website, www.berriencounty.org. County board members are scheduled to vote on whether to adopt the new ordinance at their Dec. 22 meeting.
The purpose of the new ordinance is to provide animal control for the protection of persons, animals and property within the county as well as to provide for the Berrien County Animal Control Department, the county shelter and the duties and responsibilities of department staff.
The ordinance also regulates licensing and vaccination of dogs, the confinement, impoundment and redemption of dogs and other animals, the seizing, killing and euthanizing of dogs and other animals and the possession of wild animals.
At least one county resident is taking exception to the ordinance. St. Joseph resident David Yardley questioned why there’s “such a insane rush now to pass a very poorly written Berrien County Animal Control ordinance.”
He noted that animal rescue organizations including the Humane Society of Southwestern Michigan were not contacted for input. “This violates even common courtesy,” he wrote in an email to public officials and the media.
“This is not the way any government is intended to operate,” he added. “It seems that the citizens of this county should expect more from their elected representatives than to allow the hired help to make all the decisions on behalf of the County Commission without proper public input. Please do not be a rubber stamp.”
Yardley is asking that the ordinance be tabled indefinitely until proper input can be received from concerned entities. Tabling the matter would also allow four newly elected commissioners to be seated and have their input and voices heard, he said.
In other county news, county commissioners have announced openings on a number of county boards and committees. The Berrien County Road Commission has an “at large” opening for a county resident. The road commission meets every other Wednesday at 9 a.m. at the road commission office on East Napier in Benton Harbor.
The Public Works Board has two vacancies with one term expiring Dec. 31, 2019 and one term expiring Dec. 31, 2017. The board provides assistance in financing municipal water, sewer and storm systems within the county. The board meets the fourth Wednesday of the month at the Berrien County Administration Center, 701 Main St., St. Joseph.
The Public Transportation Local Advisory Council has one vacancy for a senior citizen, preferable one who uses public transportation. Meetings are held three times a year in January, May and September at 10 a.m. at the Berrien County Administration Center. The term expires Jan. 1, 2018.
People interested in applying should contact the Berrien County Administration office for an application. They can call 983-7111, ext. 8095 or email akrieger@berriencounty.org. Application forms are also available on the county website. Applications will be accepted until 4 p.m. Dec. 14.