St. Joseph County commissioners approve council tax-abatement change that removes affirmative-action requirement amid heavy public comment

St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners on July 15 voted 2-1 to approve ordinance 48-25 — a County Council measure that removes references to affirmative action from the county tax-abatement policy. The vote followed more than an hour of public comment from residents, civic leaders and former elected officials who urged commissioners to block or send the measure back for more work.

The ordinance change stems from language in the County Council’s tax-abatement policy that, before the amendment, asked applicants to “maintain a written affirmative action plan” describing steps to hire and retain “qualified members of historically disadvantaged groups.” John Hamilton, a public commenter and longtime local attorney, read that operative provision aloud, quoting the council language: “the applicant maintains a written affirmative action plan ... positive steps being taken to encourage the hiring, promotion, and retention of ...…