Administration committee advances animal-control update and three township speed-study resolutions

The Berrien County administration committee reported multiple resolutions to the full board, including an update to the county animal control ordinance and three speed-study requests from Lincoln Charter Township.

Committee members said corporate counsel rewrote the animal control ordinance to reflect changes since the separation between enforcement and kennel responsibilities. The draft ordinance was described as an update to bring the county code current; committee staff said the ordinance has not been updated since that organizational change. Committee members indicated the ordinance is intended to move forward to the next board meeting, noting that as an ordinance it requires a 30-day public notice period for review and public comment before final consideration.

The administration committee also reported three separate speed-study resolutions requested by Lincoln Charter Township. The requested studies are: Glen Lord Road from Red Arrow Highway to Lake Forest Path; Washington Road from Glen Lord Road to John Beers Road; and Ridge Road from Glen Lord Road to Marquette Wood Road. The committee said those speed-study requests will begin the formal process.

Other items the committee reported included a lease agreement for Pitney Bowes and acceptance of a recurring $10,000 state reimbursement to the road department. Committee members invited commissioners to request a hard copy of the draft animal control ordinance from staff if they wished to review it prior to the next meeting.

No formal vote on the ordinance or the three speed-study resolutions was recorded during the report; the committee indicated the animal-control ordinance will require public notice and follow statutory ordinance procedures before the board may act.