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

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.