OUTGOING BERRIEN COUNTY OFFICIALS RECOGNIZED AT END-OF-YEAR MEETING

By DEBRA HAIGHT
BCR Correspondent
ST. JOSEPH – End of the year business and tributes were the order of the day at the Berrien County Board of Commissioners’ last meeting of 2024.
Those recognized with honorary resolutions included County Clerk Sharon Tyler, Berrien County Trial Court Judge Sterling Schrock, and GIS Mapping Director Lex Winans. Also honored were County Commissioner Chokwe Pitchford on the birth of his son, Berrien County Sheriff’s Department Quality Assurance Supervisor SarahJane Blurton, and K-9 unit “Thor.”
Schrock summed up what they were all feeling on behalf of the honorees. “It’s been an honor and a privilege to have served the citizens of Berrien County,” he said. He also spoke about his gratitude to the citizens of Berrien County for being able to serve them. “It isn’t the folks who I’ve served who should be thanking me, but me thanking them for the honor and privilege of serving them.”
Tyler is leaving the county clerk’s position after 12 years and a long career in public service. She will continue to serve the county as the District 12 County Commissioner starting in January. She defeated incumbent Commissioner Michael Majerek, who was honored last week.
Tyler was sworn in by Judge Arthur Cotter. In one of her last acts as County Clerk, Tyler swore in elected officials to new terms in office to start Jan. 1.
Those sworn in to new terms were 10 county commissioners in attendance:

• County Surveyor John Kamer
• New County Clerk Stacy Loar-Porter
• New County Drain Commissioner George McManus
• County Treasurer Shelly Weich
• County Prosecutor Amy Byrd
• Register of Deeds Lora Gnodtke-Freehling

In year end business, county commissioners approved grants and agreements for the Berrien County Health Department and the Public Defender’s Office, and they hired a new GIS director. They also renewed the contract with the county’s Corporate Counsel Thaddeus Hackworth and approved salary tables for elected, appointed, and other officials.
County Commissioners will get a $500 a year pay raise for each of the next four years because county commissioner terms have gone from 2 to 4 years. The board chairman’s salary will go from $13,165 this year to $15,165 in 2028. The vice-chair and committee chairs will see their salary go from $12,319 this year to $14,319 in 2028. The salaries for other commissioners will rise from $11,621 this year to $13,621 in 2028.
Others getting raises are the 6 elected county officials who will get 3% pay raises in 2025. The county clerk, drain commissioner, register of deed and treasurer’s salaries will go from $93,174 this year to $95,969 in 2025. The sheriff’s salary will go from $120,485 to $124,100, while the prosecutor’s salary will rise from $147,792 to $152,226.
Similarly, appointed officials and non-union employees will get a 3% pay raise in 2025.
The Berrien County county board will hold its first meeting of 2025 Jan. 2 with an organizational meeting of newly elected commissioners.