NEW LONGER BERRIEN COUNTY BOARD TERMS TAKE EFFECT

By DEBRA HAIGHT
BCR Correspondent
ST. JOSEPH – The Berrien County Board of Commissioners began 2025 with an organizational meeting featuring the election of officers and committee appointments as well as a call for the board to continue its non-partisan traditions.
In the election of officers, R. McKinley Elliott and Teri Freehling were re-elected respectively as the board chair and vice-chair.
Elliot represents the 10th District, which covers the Buchanan area and was re-elected board chair for another 2-year term. He has been the board chairman for the last 6 years and also served as board chairman more than 30 years ago, from 1991-92.
Commissioner Teri Freehling was re-elected as board vice-chair for a 1-year term. Freehling represents the 8th district, which covers the Baroda-Berrien Springs area. She has been on the board since 2015 and is starting her fifth year as vice-chair.
Elliott said he was going to keep committee assignments and committee chairs the same as the last 2 years. Jim Curran remains the chairman the administration committee, Mamie Yarbrough the chairman of the finance committee, and Robert Harrison the chairman of the personnel and human services committee.
Administration committee members are Curran, Dave Vollrath, Alex Ott, and new commissioner Sharon Tyler. Finance committee members are Yarbrough, Jon Hinkelman, Freehling, and Rayonte Bell. Personnel and human services committee members are Harrison, Chokwe Pitchford, and Julie Wuerfel.
Tyler is the only new commissioner on the board. She won the November election after defeating fellow Republican Michael Majerek in the August primary. Tyler previously served as the Berrien County Clerk for the last several years and has a long career in public service.
Curran will continue as the sergeant-at-arms, Freehling as the parliamentarian, and Yarbrough as the chaplain.
Commissioners approved the board meeting schedule for 2025 as well as their bylaws, rules, and procedures, but both are subject to change. Harrison noted that his committee will work with staff to update the bylaws, rules, and procedures in light of the change in commissioner terms from 2 to 4 years signed into law by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.
With meeting dates, commissioners approved the weekly regular committee of the whole and county board meetings for Thursdays at 8:35 and 10:30 a.m. but left open the question of when and where they will hold night meetings this year.
Tyler noted that the night meetings are costly to county staff and said that she thinks any night meetings should be at county-owned sites so as not to force municipalities or other entities to incur costs. The board’s tradition has been to hold at least 4 night meetings in the spring and summer months.
In remarks at the end of the organizational meeting, Elliott said that it has always struck him that the Berrien County Board has not traditionally been a partisan board unlike what is regularly seen in Washington, D.C. and Lansing.
“The first time I was sworn in was 40 years ago,” Elliott said. “We all ran in partisan elections and the thing that struck me was that it wasn’t a partisan board. When we receive a call from a constituent, no one says what their party is. They’ve called because they’ve needed help; it has nothing to do with party.”
The county board isn’t the only county organization to see changes in the new year. Judicial assignments have also been announced for 2025 after the retirement of Sterling Schrock and the election of Sherri Cochran Frame to that judgeship.
Court Administrator Carrie Smietanka-Haney reported that Judge Mabel Mayfield remains the chief judge with Judge Angela Pasula the chief judge pro tempore.
Berrien County has a unified court system with judges assigned to the criminal, civil, and family divisions, as well as specialty court programs.
South and central county residents will see a change in the presiding judge overseeing the Niles courthouse. Judge Jennifer Smith has completed a 2-year term in Niles and is returning to the St. Joseph courthouse. Judge Gordon Hosbein has been assigned to the Niles courthouse for the next 2 years.
Judge Arthur Cotter is the presiding judge of the criminal division with fellow judges Gary Bruce, Sherri Frame, Gordon Hosbein, Angela Pasula, and Jennifer Smith in that division.
Judge Donna Howard is the presiding judge in the civil division where she is joined by Judge Charles LaSata. Judge Brian Berger is the presiding judge in the family division, where he is joined by fellow judges Paul Jancha and Mabel Mayfield.
Judge Howard has also been assigned to the drug treatment and mental health treatment court programs, while Judges Bruce and Smith has been assigned to the Swift & Sure Sanctions Probation program.