Berrien County Board Slated to Act on $3.49M in Payments, $1.26M Road Vouchers
Berrien County commissioners had a busy two weeks of agendas covering millions in county payments, road department vouchers, health department renovations, and personnel changes. All meetings listed below are agenda-only — minutes have not yet been published, so final outcomes are not confirmed in the record provided.
County Payments and Road Vouchers
The Board of Commissioners was scheduled to vote on an Auditing Report covering June 25–July 8, 2026, totaling $3,490,452.78 in general county payments. A separate resolution would approve Road Department Accounts Payable Vouchers #2627 and #2628 for the same period, totaling $1,255,949.98. The road vouchers include $604,447.00 to Michigan Paving & Material Co Inc, $243,109.39 to Rieth-Riley Construction Co across two invoices, and $66,882.31 to Alta Construction Equipment.
A later Finance Committee meeting recommended approval of a second Auditing Report for July 9–15, 2026, totaling $1,745,760.87, plus Road Department Voucher #2629 for $249,478.53. Vendors listed on that voucher include Brusky Construction, Brown's Locksmith, and Rieth-Riley Construction.
Requisitions Over $10,000
The Board considered two batches of requisitions exceeding $10,000 each. The first totaled $516,297.22 across 12 items, including $147,850 to Empire for fence, gate, and security upgrades at County Electric and $121,750 to Empire for lighting upgrades at Silver Beach County Park. Excess-proceeds distributions from tax foreclosure cases were also listed: $88,242.81 to Diane Batson of Niles, $24,891.63 to PLC Watervliet, $17,673.34 to PLC Stevensville, and $15,555.89 to Ruth Bell of Benton Harbor.
The second batch totaled $686,586.92 and included $64,072.28 to Severence Electric for emergency traffic signal repairs at Pipestone and Meijer, $181,952.38 to Michelle Betchek for excess proceeds (case 2024-0140-CZ), and $50,000 each to the Berrien County Treasurer for EDC supplemental services supporting the Brownfield and Land Bank Community Authorities. CDBG Chill Grant-funded home repairs of $21,600 to Lakeshore Management and $24,034 to Roach Home Improvement were also listed.
Health Department Renovation and Funding
A resolution would approve a $44,229.11 contract with TRG Services, Inc. to reconfigure office space in the Environmental Health Division at the Napier Avenue Health Department site. The scope includes demolition, framing, drywall, doors, glass partitions, ceiling, HVAC, electrical, fire suppression, flooring, and painting. The Buildings and Grounds Superintendent would oversee the project and could issue change orders within available funding.
The Board of Health agenda included approval of Southwest Michigan Behavioral Health FY2025-26 Amendment II and a $7,139.16 funding increase for the Substance Use Disorder and Prevention Program, raising that program total to $275,071.37. Additional funding items included United Way-NFP funding, a BCBSM Community Health Matching Grant, and a WIC Urgent Maternal Warning Signs Education Initiative.
Personnel Changes
A resolution would reclassify the Election Coordinator position to Grade 6, with an estimated $8,534 in annual savings, and create a new Senior Deputy Court Clerk II position at Grade 6, with an estimated $8,534 annual cost. The County Clerk's Office estimates a net annual savings of $3,531.
The Personnel and Human Services Committee reviewed advanced step hire requests for an Accounts Payable Specialist and a Trial Court Accounting Assistant, plus updates on the vacant Printing Manager position.
Other Business
The Administration Committee heard updates from the Sheriff's Office and Road Department, reviewed a Sheriff's Funds Distribution Request, and discussed a property use request. The Finance Committee reviewed three full faith and credit resolutions (F2607281, F2607282, F2607283) presented by the Drain Commissioner, along with bid opening approvals and an administration construction update. Commissioner per diems for June 2026 totaling $5,135.26 were also recommended for approval.
Coming Up
No upcoming meetings are listed in the next 14 days, according to the data provided.