[{"_1":2,"_110":-5,"_111":-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",[32,74,86,98],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":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,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},"mediaId",6240381,"mediaKeyId","3321321-5bb6d02577aeb8a0570e1a2caf1022b1","parentId",3321321,"title","Resident urges transparency for Flock Safety license-plate camera contract funded by public-safety millage","audioSeconds",67,"startMs",1955000,"endMs",2022000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3321321-5bb6d02577aeb8a0570e1a2caf1022b1&start=1955&end=2022","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3321321-5bb6d02577aeb8a0570e1a2caf1022b1/thumbnail_1955000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6240381/Berrien-County/Michigan/Resident-urges-transparency-for-Flock-Safety-license-plate-camera-contract-funded-by-public-safety-millage","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6240381-55d20a510d7a7df1f2ed1048e2e5c701/orig.mp4?Expires=1775190155&Signature=EuVGzg9T0URMffmT-hVpq78ZNQcXiKWMdsGEFZjjg~rmlRlF90V6hcINXBkyU6lU2tz1V8KvUhyX-NaHcgAXsESmjXLcWHSGm1Il0HZwwZBQuZgT-gXyS7LqVjOb9ETv2fNEmQOqUbOjGUW5YGhjznl62WJnZRztE0GTRMTKAKX3hhxQdTGSxfzUfL4qQrfe4L7JOEC6pOjLd6xt3pF1ZPhvcjgWfDP11RDGyxMUpLHgVC7M-e~~sQQjPMy3T7x8qX48XS-3QVJkL~bUcP-sEC4A3fNDyFLIzEgdGDQs5uZBfOSoslBRM5u9SPeulU-jf8IVylWwjJhzWwtBQadNPQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-05-15T14:29:53Z","article","Jonathan DeWitt, a Benton Township resident, told the Berrien County Board of Commissioners on May 15 he supports public safety but urged greater transparency and oversight for the county's contract with Flock Safety, a private license-plate–reading camera vendor.

DeWitt said he reviewed a March resolution from the prior year that, he said, approved a five-year contract funded by the public-safety millage and that the only justification recorded then was that \"the sheriff has found the cameras helpful\" without accompanying data or public discussion. He asked the board to publish the contract and the county's policies on data use and retention, provide an annual public report on system use and any issues, and consider a public hearing before any renewal or expansion.

Why it matters: the request raises questions about transparency, public oversight and privacy when the county uses a privately operated system that collects vehicle-location data and shares it with law enforcement. DeWitt framed his request as balancing civil liberties with public safety.

The board acknowledged DeWitt's comments and did not take formal action during the meeting. No staff member or sheriff's office representative responded to DeWitt's specific requests during the public-comment period recorded in the transcript.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","05 15 2025 Board of Commissioner Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","A Benton Township resident asked the Berrien County Board of Commissioners to publish the Flock Safety contract and data-use policies and to hold a public hearing before any renewal or expansion, citing privacy and oversight concerns.","taxTitle","Berrien County, Michigan","taxId",13478,"location","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6240386,"Administration committee updates animal-control ordinance, continues building remodel talks and seeks three speed studies",125,799000,924000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3321321-5bb6d02577aeb8a0570e1a2caf1022b1&start=799&end=924","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3321321-5bb6d02577aeb8a0570e1a2caf1022b1/thumbnail_799000.jpg","/articles/6240386/Berrien-County/Michigan/Administration-committee-updates-animal-control-ordinance-continues-building-remodel-talks-and-seeks-three-speed-studies","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6240386-a95ff88226ca7162f366ff3284616736/orig.mp4?Expires=1775190155&Signature=SiSt2iWIoyK5YrmIZlkiYzfnfEC69LBCnaCQPyT5~YM8oBPhD53Exo9WuoZ-4Uj7F5uJaWKy4zQmyWCveljB2X8KiXo4Xl-8iBjBMQ8Xc3xDk6AgbsMylbgtBrXn4e-RWIAE2x5rRL7SKc1qSePbIBoI6vYj6Ny5VDEghLmQiHMh2kuYuH2y6Jf6loQqU~I8s9Gr9794No-TBd5uvzkU7iWABBeSvVyGXMT~fFEynxC7fW4aeUzNGrGwW1YfmAnakps1U1N6myipUWxHJwDTXdn7wA2DUnk~2-F0vjR~TJYx7N1iUp3NvwlaMhgTqefOtQNf49KelZbIyHR2srRtQA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Berrien County Administration Committee on May 15 reported an ongoing review of plans for a remodel of the administration building and forwarded an update to the county animal-control ordinance to the full board, noting the ordinance requires a 30-day public notice period before final consideration.

Commissioner Kern said the committee met with Daniel Be and Don Trail to review building-remodel plans with participation from elected officials who occupy the building — register of deeds, drain commissioner, treasurer and county clerk — and that the committee recessed to reconvene after the full board meeting to finish discussions. Kern said committee members who want a hard copy of the draft animal-control ordinance should contact him or Annette Christie; he added the ordinance has not been updated since the separation between enforcement and kennel and that corporate counsel rewrote it to bring it up to date.

The committee also reported three speed-study resolutions requested by Lincoln Charter Township to evaluate speeds on Glen Lord Road, Washington Road and Ridge Road between specified endpoints. Commissioner Kern said the road department will initiate the speed-study process on those routes.

Why it matters: updating the animal-control ordinance will change county regulations and triggers a formal public-notice period; speed studies could lead to posted speed changes that affect township traffic and safety; the building remodel affects space used by several elected county officials.

The administration committee scheduled to reconvene after the board meeting to continue the remodel discussion; the animal-control ordinance will be published for a 30-day public comment period before the board considers final action.","The Berrien County Administration Committee reported it will reconvene after the full board meeting to continue plans for the administration building remodel, forwarded an updated animal-control ordinance for public notice, and listed three speed-study requests from Lincoln Charter Township.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6240389,"Personnel committee forwards GIS purchase, solicitation rules and Riverwood funding concerns to full board",71,705000,776000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3321321-5bb6d02577aeb8a0570e1a2caf1022b1&start=705&end=776","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3321321-5bb6d02577aeb8a0570e1a2caf1022b1/thumbnail_705000.jpg","/articles/6240389/Berrien-County/Michigan/Personnel-committee-forwards-GIS-purchase-solicitation-rules-and-Riverwood-funding-concerns-to-full-board","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6240389-06d267adba471d7532524320b0a5bb09/orig.mp4?Expires=1775190155&Signature=l3e2wurIRxzjR7pFeIoe98C4r1jXKmR9o8p-rBI4X9Lgq6xvXZU29hNFXm1JdzBn85cRnd6zGzQwjX0UhNKYSxJTNOLTh38JsIY11HPRUfA7IEIiQOO3U0aW0g-8yHm2xpb-ol~ix1lf2yC7LmhPb1bciKRkS3ecfBx1gCwdd6aqlb45pV-zNh6lWohtVI6J~jr2btaCyG0SDwvpa-zSTJ3K5eGURducjDI37uGcSPuySsNaY2FDpSFHA5uIUdo7HCwe8kBLwcLtCEbQQclOw5PNWGAOGTghMtN1hJD4FhesVDg~OVKUpcd3FL1AXX~WyPeBxE5TnRCcL6Uot99KMQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Berrien County Personnel & Human Services Committee reported it approved three resolutions to send to the full board: a purchase order for an enterprise GIS system, a solicitation-on-county-property resolution, and a resolution addressing state underfunding of mental-health services at Riverwood.

Commissioner Harrison, who reported from the committee, said the group reviewed the monthly vacancy report for April, approved pension refunds and rollovers and considered the three resolutions; he said the committee will send those items to the next full board meeting. Harrison also said committee members discussed the senior millage and requested additional data from Linda Healy, a CPA, and Annette Christie.

Why it matters: the GIS purchase would affect county mapping and aerial resources used across departments; the solicitation policy would clarify commercial activity on county property; the Riverwood resolution responds to concerns about the state not fully funding mental-health services.

The committee report did not record a formal board vote on the three items at the full board; the committee voted to forward them. Committee members noted staffing and senior-millage data would be collected for further review.","The Berrien County Personnel & Human Services Committee sent three resolutions to the full board: a purchase order for the enterprise GIS system, a solicitation-on-county-property policy, and an item related to state funding shortfalls for Riverwood mental-health services.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6240394,"Berrien County board approves minutes and consent calendar, adds road-department fuel contract",36,469000,505000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3321321-5bb6d02577aeb8a0570e1a2caf1022b1&start=469&end=505","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3321321-5bb6d02577aeb8a0570e1a2caf1022b1/thumbnail_469000.jpg","/articles/6240394/Berrien-County/Michigan/Berrien-County-board-approves-minutes-and-consent-calendar-adds-road-department-fuel-contract","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6240394-3439b34e6d8433fb7cd170b708668b82/orig.mp4?Expires=1775190155&Signature=I1HWJSLEUs0cacuPy9xwow8oVmi~oJmdBT~yAp7SyodBku7sZTsuD7NsS~iAqachQhAMlcYzlb1USmVi9eNLg-rVVZSZc1~mDITpzQNRVxaB42IVOH5ham9lfUpSpIyq9ZVMOu0EX0VED1kqBF4hcZIDRglPWNu9hSBmEqpmidRE25L-CNWjA0E8-wuzd2ZynYSK-yXvyeEIZwWbtawA3UInH43nI7DKn7WHUPnxy6kg0068fc-az--~rJWOfKPrztePqhSFbEjHba0Oo4vZLtzjloHPWQt6YxUGCTPZH-Ofu36Ya0uO6T7XeOS2XhpXn1-JvD5wfmehc9bSGBfZPA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Berrien County Board of Commissioners on May 15 approved the minutes from its May 8 meeting and adopted a consent calendar that included a fuel contract for the Road Department.

The action came after staff placed the fuel bid results on the requisition list and described the amount as an estimate based on the average thousands of gallons the county purchases annually. Commissioner Chokwe Pitchford moved to approve the minutes; Commissioner Ott seconded. Pitchford also moved approval of the consent calendar, supported by Commissioner Bell, and the board approved both items by roll call.

Why it matters: the added fuel contract will be considered under the consent calendar process rather than as a separate agenda item, which means the board voted to authorize staff to proceed without separate debate at a future meeting.

County staff member Annette Christie told commissioners the fuel bid result was included on the requisition list and noted the contract draft was in the board packet and would appear on the consent calendar for formal approval. Commissioners recorded a unanimous vote on the consent calendar and minutes, with 11 present and one absent.

The meeting record shows no separate discussion or amendments to the fuel contract during the public meeting; the item will proceed as part of the approved consent calendar.","The Berrien County Board of Commissioners approved minutes from May 8 and a consent calendar that included an added fuel contract for the road department after staff presented estimated annual fuel usage and bid results.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Resident urges transparency for Flock Safety license-plate camera contract funded by public-safety millage

Administration committee updates animal-control ordinance, continues building remodel talks and seeks three speed studies

Personnel committee forwards GIS purchase, solicitation rules and Riverwood funding concerns to full board

Berrien County board approves minutes and consent calendar, adds road-department fuel contract