[{"_1":2,"_97":-5,"_98":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,73,85],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_46":47,"_48":49,"_50":51,"_52":53,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":55,"_72":55},"mediaId",6100950,"mediaKeyId","2810822-fc41d366b58ab935ac2cf63a77fdbb21","parentId",2810822,"title","Berrien County commissioners approve March 20 minutes; veterans pinning ceremony announced in public comment","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",2294730,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2810822-fc41d366b58ab935ac2cf63a77fdbb21&start=2294&end=2294","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2810822-fc41d366b58ab935ac2cf63a77fdbb21/thumbnail_2294730.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6100950/Berrien-County/Michigan/Berrien-County-commissioners-approve-March-20-minutes-veterans-pinning-ceremony-announced-in-public-comment","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6100950-030123668708f5783ce75b7de9a09f7e/orig.mp4?Expires=1770437456&Signature=d5vE3Gy01ewU5bcr~jgVNXJtR97rfdrLkIhE8HSxh5ZMX7plIDNJzZUb2qqFLkq~swjUcC6KqFT0EpeVmQ8FidOhGc05AaLxrZ2UTVwVSv5RsleEWB0y2Ageu7RknCnFrNYJvksvr9bNUMnm0-VDp6Mc7R4WIgefTOirIWOo-o9yeUwkTRy~ioweIX4Xmf4mQjMCTCtQa6JRzvhJ-ImpKspJf7g5RBVrz8olxhiycHgUQhxM1rHAFCiHKoK7WN8pipjL5iJHEAKU3hPNZFNjNcZCvf5qgkkot3zybmLioTsHr78o~sJj4NPqVflCXPsS~of3GXihTswBCltup3LewA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-03-28T01:23:47Z","article","The Berrien County Board of Commissioners approved the meeting minutes for March 20, 2025, by voice vote during their April 3 meeting. Commissioner Tyler made the motion to approve the minutes and Commissioner Vollrath seconded; the chair called for the ayes and the minutes were approved.

The board noted a docket typo that listed the minutes as 2024 rather than 2025 before taking the vote. Commissioners also previewed the requisition list and said it will be considered with the consent agenda at 10:30 a.m.

During the public comment period, Maureen Adams announced a veterans pinning ceremony to be held Saturday at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Monument on the bluff. Adams said the county prepared packages for veterans that include a Vietnam pin, a challenge coin from her office and welcome-home cards created by community children. She said 57 veterans had RSVP'd at the time of the meeting and the ceremony will run roughly 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Speakers scheduled include Joey Andrews, Brad Barquette and Congressman Huizinga; a performer named Ben Baylows will recite a Vietnam-related poem.

There were no other public comments recorded in the meeting minutes for that session and the board recessed for committee meetings, returning at 10:30 a.m. for the consent agenda.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","03 27 2025 Committee of the Whole Meetings","oneSentenceSummary","The Berrien County Board of Commissioners approved the minutes for March 20, 2025, by voice vote. In public comment, Maureen Adams announced a veterans pinning ceremony Saturday at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial with 57 RSVPs, speakers and challenge coins for attendees.","taxTitle","Berrien County, Michigan","taxId",13478,"location","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":74,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":75,"_41":76,"_43":77,"_45":78,"_46":79,"_48":80,"_50":81,"_52":82,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":83,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":84,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":55,"_72":55},6100955,"County gives update on Lakeshore Trail; $3.33 million estimate, major grants in place, MDOT permits pending",616,1663580,2279800,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2810822-fc41d366b58ab935ac2cf63a77fdbb21&start=1663&end=2279","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2810822-fc41d366b58ab935ac2cf63a77fdbb21/thumbnail_1663580.jpg","/articles/6100955/Berrien-County/Michigan/County-gives-update-on-Lakeshore-Trail-333-million-estimate-major-grants-in-place-MDOT-permits-pending","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6100955-813cb7fefdd10e688d6dc30b02c69f79/orig.mp4?Expires=1770437456&Signature=Jzg~~l~eN~Ms7fGqcT16zkUI2M2HXu~-RoLJ0~iZR7oVw2ZJgTR~AQknvEWca5Pr7MlYlkO-7Bd9RXTH~Q0UI8trWFiEP0vgALMjtvFb1XBCPM8TLoqbiq3Cslrp5cGKbTmes3BylnX~tDpN1Mh~PIVD0zNvQKjoi1ADqnAKcaCwjivREVauZxFiVd6PpMYgGV-yKqt1Km1moQLUVeTKOZEGQ0TDi32BSS87dBLJfIQ1Eadpe9MWpgq5eDxTPK36WR5wNuYVLKfgk1HpHCn9YsO4Z3MAF3TBKmIyMyg5pU9jySFmAPiw3p5nBoqD87DUsouh6CDZotJPjY1NfNmOCg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Dan Feddy delivered a progress report to the Berrien County Board of Commissioners on April 3 on the Lakeshore Trail project, a planned accessible walkway and bike trail that will run along M-63 from Higman Park to the Whirlpool global headquarters.

Feddy described the project as part of a larger Harbor Shores-area trail network and said the current design, construction and site-restoration estimate is about $3,334,000, subject to final bids. He listed principal funding sources: a Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) grant of $2,100,000; a $300,000 Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund grant; a $100,000 Michigan Trails Foundation grant; approximately $92,000 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for design engineering through Cornerstone; a $55,000 CRP congestion-mitigation grant that will be applied directly to contractor costs; and approximately $690,000 in private donations the friends group is still raising.

Feddy said the county has acquired necessary easements from Harbor Shores and Whirlpool Corporation to route the trail around a steep elevation change near Higman Park and to avoid a steep climb directly to the highway. \"The easement was necessary in order to create the kind of configuration where you weren't climbing a hill directly up onto the highway,\" Feddy said.

Feddy told the board the project is behind the original schedule by about four to five months because the county is still awaiting two state permits from the Michigan Department of Transportation. Once MDOT issues permits, bid letting will occur and construction could begin in late summer or early fall; design and permitting are otherwise complete. Feddy said the delay has provided additional time for fundraising.

Friends of Berrien County Trails are conducting private fundraising. Feddy noted an upcoming benefit dinner at the Inn at Harbor Shores (Sunday, 4–8 p.m.), where 50% of sales will be donated to the project, and a Patronicity crowdfunding campaign with MEDC matching donations up to $75,000. He said donations will be used for additional tree planting, reseeding and site restoration beyond the base construction scope.

Feddy answered public questions about access under M-63 and described existing pedestrian tunnels that allow users to reach both sides of the trail. He encouraged residents to visit berrientrails.org for project details and the Patronicity page to donate.

Feddy said construction activities observed by the public (tree cutting near Higman Park) are part of the initial site work and will include later restoration.","Berrien County staff updated commissioners on the Lakeshore Trail connecting Higman Park to the Whirlpool campus, describing a roughly $3.33 million construction estimate, secured grant funding including a $2.1 million TAP award, remaining private donations fundraising and required MDOT permits before summer bidding.",{"_33":86,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":87,"_41":88,"_43":89,"_45":90,"_46":91,"_48":92,"_50":93,"_52":94,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":95,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":96,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":55,"_72":55},6100960,"Berrien County Parks wins chamber honor; Silver Beach playground equipment largely installed, opening planned before Memorial Day",566,1047720,1614230,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2810822-fc41d366b58ab935ac2cf63a77fdbb21&start=1047&end=1614","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2810822-fc41d366b58ab935ac2cf63a77fdbb21/thumbnail_1047720.jpg","/articles/6100960/Berrien-County/Michigan/Berrien-County-Parks-wins-chamber-honor-Silver-Beach-playground-equipment-largely-installed-opening-planned-before-Memorial-Day","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6100960-57e20ea17fed067a2bb4ab32f1afbf2f/orig.mp4?Expires=1770437456&Signature=O-UtPIIy0kdoYWtmN-OQmvSKtjb837ynTB5znYzj6PC8dH5vbX9ZOcAuB4nP~UyW08hfl677zDe4MG3Fv7HFIutXHdRzu47bHclGGT53sk8Ye-cS2dztKnvSwG9yQj-8XwAbjOluBN3QuXdaeDdrS8JehbitxCFwhnALVFfzUatAFpe5F72oGNv3SwgTXvBRexwDYk5O0kLiKmyB8E1ZhRY-rPQKCU5cy5MVq68tfAqI8Q72deg8VwXeGQWvG~2aD3rjt6hKE9u1gxHUI-6rEfy~arotHZvG9~mApakY9i59MBnGWFdxMO7tFnmk6sLz4vVOkji1ljs~5aikiHDz1g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Berrien County Parks Department received an inaugural Community Place Weeking award from the Southwest Michigan Regional Chamber on April 3, and staff told commissioners the Silver Beach Playground is largely installed and on track for an opening before Memorial Day, weather permitting.

Sarah Swinels of the Southwest Michigan Regional Chamber presented the award and said the chamber and meeting attendees selected the parks project as the recipient. \"We're incredibly excited to be here to present the award to the Berrien County Parks Department,\" Swinels said.

Jill of the Berrien County Parks Department, who accepted the award on behalf of her team, provided a construction update. She said playground equipment was delivered Feb. 17 and that contractor work through March produced rapid progress. \"Most of the equipment will be installed by the end of this week,\" Jill said, while noting that final items and the poured-in-place accessible safety surfacing remain dependent on suitable weather.

Project cost and funding: staff said the total project budget is $1,250,000.00. A SPARK grant covered $850,000 of that amount. Of the remaining roughly $400,000, parks staff told the board that the gap was filled through a combination of local grants, private donations, the parks department budget and savings achieved via a demolition partnership with the Village of Eau Claire.

Staff said the site’s accessible safety surfacing cannot be installed until weather conditions meet manufacturer requirements. Until then, the structure remains inside construction fencing and is not open to the public. Parks staff encouraged residents to view progress from outside the fencing and said the department will announce the official opening date when the project is complete.

Commissioners and other officials praised the parks staff. Commissioner Harrison noted the award was chosen by a vote of meeting attendees at the chamber’s annual meeting, calling it \"a resounding admiration of the work done by the staff.\" Board members highlighted the roles of specific parks employees in design and construction oversight.

The parks department identified staff involved in the project as Matt Carlson, Alex Lockwitz, Jason Field, Genevieve Graves and Sue Patzer (Patzer not present at the meeting).","The Southwest Michigan Regional Chamber presented the Berrien County Parks Department with an inaugural Community Place Weeking award for the Silver Beach Playground. Parks staff gave commissioners an update showing most equipment installed, a $1.25 million project budget, and an opening target before Memorial Day, weather permitting.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Berrien County commissioners approve March 20 minutes; veterans pinning ceremony announced in public comment

County gives update on Lakeshore Trail; $3.33 million estimate, major grants in place, MDOT permits pending

Berrien County Parks wins chamber honor; Silver Beach playground equipment largely installed, opening planned before Memorial Day