[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-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",[32,75],{"_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":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6460793,"mediaKeyId","5826081-3f47332d7b852d989ab3398f78aa5583","parentId",5826081,"title","Berrien County approves well and fire-suppression work at juvenile center over plan concerns","audioSeconds",421,"startMs",513000,"endMs",934000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5826081-3f47332d7b852d989ab3398f78aa5583&start=513&end=934","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5826081-3f47332d7b852d989ab3398f78aa5583/thumbnail_513000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6460793/Berrien-County/Michigan/Berrien-County-approves-well-and-fire-suppression-work-at-juvenile-center-over-plan-concerns","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6460793-5867c5db0c1c7cf497f14cb9a6df9cbd/orig.mp4?Expires=1770920884&Signature=GgAo1PObZ0V0OClmRgwJxcE2HYDb6sg7-LpSn~Kx7D0vhAOl9O3mdfh96W0B~tS8FoGi1ArF5TsITZwkRpDeWg9h7tXszX9Nei46IctRqcmDiG8oq5ZLIXQeul-Ol6W7iug~Clv2C6Q-7Ih7X9Tcho~SfnPZz3lFo7Jc3ljDXCKD8N9XQtEILmbwXz6E1PJat-bTSeiGpwW~G5nLR9mhNOIZK7UFxd9rynCJrudhXbCcOKT82TCTzIb0JGXwKzl9zAdVrJFFRba~wN8eMV50eQhLxM2e0bYVO8BuKxzh7FRr0ZXm97pVs1nXXG1jTN7BC4cbLH6gIpdxDcT0SeA-Pg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Berrien County MI ","date","2025-09-25T14:29:49Z","article","The Berrien County Board of Commissioners approved a resolution authorizing construction of a new well and a tie-in to the juvenile center's fire-suppression system, a project the board said is intended to provide a standalone potable water supply and adequate pressure for fire protection.

Commissioner Bill Curran moved the resolution; Commissioner Vollrath seconded. The motion passed with 10 votes in favor and one vote against; one commissioner was absent.

The project drew both practical and programmatic objections during the meeting. A commissioner who asked that the resolution be pulled from the consent calendar said they were not opposed to a new well but objected to further investment in the juvenile center while the board has not produced a multi-year plan to reopen and fully staff the facility. \"We have asked for 3 years from the courts to have a plan to reopen the juvenile center, and I am opposed to continuing to invest in a facility that we have no plan to reopen,\" the commissioner said, and added they would vote no for that reason.

Other commissioners and staff pushed back, describing the work as a safety and infrastructure necessity regardless of current occupancy. A speaker who supported the measure described the site as using shared utilities and warned that Sacred Heart's planned move to a new facility would leave the county responsible for aging infrastructure. That speaker said the project will allow the county to be \"stand alone\" and complete the work by about 2026, when Sacred Heart is expected to vacate the site.

Board members and staff also discussed reuse options if the juvenile center is later closed or relocated. County staff said the well and fire-suppression improvements could be repurposed for other county needs on the parcel, including park expansion or other county facilities, and said the existing tower and parts of the hospital campus vary in age and condition.

Commissioners and staff cited project cost and scope during the debate. One commissioner said the low number of bidders and the total price surprised them: \"That much money for a well and a hook into an existing fire suppression unit... it was overwhelming,\" and referenced a figure of about $1.14 million as the project cost. County staff said the work had been bid and that some components had to be separated into pieces because bidders would not bid the whole package.

Votes at a glance: the resolution authorizing Peerless Midwest Water Supply work for the juvenile center (resolution ending in 319) passed 10-1 with one absence. Commissioner Wirfel cast the lone recorded no vote; several commissioners recorded yes votes during the roll call.

The board did not adopt new policy on reopening the juvenile center at the meeting; the commissioner who voted no said they want a concrete plan showing how the county will return the facility to full operation before further reinvestment.

Ending: The project is intended to address immediate safety and water-supply concerns at the juvenile center and to prepare the site for the upcoming transition when Sacred Heart relocates. County staff indicated the improvements could be reused if the site later changes function. The resolution includes technical work (well drilling, treatment and pump work, and a tie-in to the fire-suppression system); implementation timing was discussed in the context of the hospital's move and a target around 2026 for stand-alone operations.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","09 25 2025 Board of Commissioner Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","The Berrien County Board of Commissioners approved a ~ $1.14 million contract for a new well and connection to the juvenile center's fire-suppression system after debate about whether the county has a plan to fully reopen the facility. The vote was 10-1 with one absence.","taxTitle","Berrien County, Michigan","taxId",13478,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6460788,"Berrien County board approves consent calendar; committees report hires, grants and bids",236,1298000,1534000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5826081-3f47332d7b852d989ab3398f78aa5583&start=1298&end=1534","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5826081-3f47332d7b852d989ab3398f78aa5583/thumbnail_1298000.jpg","/articles/6460788/Berrien-County/Michigan/Berrien-County-board-approves-consent-calendar-committees-report-hires-grants-and-bids","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6460788-1a9483fee2dc265aaf4b3022b991dc7c/orig.mp4?Expires=1770920884&Signature=ESuTgKdaBNRv45c5pNr4I-VDvA~3hAgnIIWzrgpDqHjiAskLyGQCfmPCgsoVWmLYAdxwJ2PHLs5AqSRUGd5M3fd69XvfInmUeKbcZrbPGfW9xnCCIFaabaBtiq43LnMwORqyGalvvQGpB5TbGpq10GsWoAKU2ReSeEWrgUpU3qQaIylWFjMRzkZnBfis7RqWW7csMraDYjQkBrG8RDURWdnAcMQlILNuMVsn~NCBOexIORD6VU1KDoXDcikXnrcVG3ACgeDmhypxEqpivO8vmr~J4fn7AeExLseMyBg3Rg4qQwAyOUw3DoQQ~FcKRd70lynNFDFewlon6tRF4I6hAw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Berrien County Board of Commissioners approved the consent calendar and accepted multiple committee reports that recommend personnel appointments and grant applications.

The motion to approve the consent calendar, including an added resolution authorizing e-recording enhancements for the register of deeds (resolution ending in 325) but excluding the juvenile center well item, passed on a roll call vote. A register-of-deeds representative thanked the board and said the county's application would help purchase records-management and e-recording software for 2026.

Committee reports delivered substantive business to the full board. The finance committee reported receiving six bids for an MS SharePoint development project that ranged from about $135,000 to $1,256,300 against a projected cost of $20,000; the committee moved to table that procurement and send it back to the sheriff's office for clarification. The finance report also noted two bids for ice-control sand: $17,634 and $30,200; the committee recommended accepting the lower bid pending road department confirmation.

The personnel and human services committee recommended hiring Jake Littaker for the county's finance director position; Littaker has worked in county finance roles since 2013 and the board was told he will be placed at grade 16, step 4 pending final action. The board chair said a formal resolution to appoint Littaker (resolution P2510328) will come before the full board at next week's meeting.

The administration committee reported several contract actions under consideration or approved at committee: a $2,000-per-month increase for a right-of-passage transportation contract, a three-year extension with Avenue Family Network for bridals court services, and a three-year renewal for house-arrest services through the sheriff's department. The county also accepted a $7,403.12 distribution from the Berrien Community Foundation to fund canine trailer graphics, T-shirts, motorcycle fuel and insurance; the county noted the foundation provides those funds directly.

Other operational items included waivers and equipment purchases: the register of deeds and clerk will move forward on e-recording software purchases funded by a grant program created after COVID-19; the county's information systems vendor Logicalis will replace roughly 750 Cisco phones under a planned upgrade; and the sheriff's office requested a traffic-control trailer for signage and equipment.

Ending: Board leaders said several items will return for final action at future meetings, including the formal appointment of Jake Littaker as finance director and follow-up on the SharePoint procurement. Committee chairs emphasized additional review where bids or pricing appeared inconsistent.","The county board approved the consent calendar and heard committee reports recommending the appointment of a new finance director, a register-of-deeds e-recording grant application and several contract and bid matters; one large SharePoint bid was tabled for review.","actionData","errors"]

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Berrien County approves well and fire-suppression work at juvenile center over plan concerns

Berrien County board approves consent calendar; committees report hires, grants and bids