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Public commenters urge clearer township web listings, raise wetlands and traffic concerns
Summary
During public comment at the Feb. 25 St. Joseph County commissioners meeting, residents asked for more complete township web pages, warned of wetlands impacts tied to nearby development, and asked for continued sheriff patrols on State Road 2.
Several residents spoke during the Feb. 25 public comment period at the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners meeting, raising local government transparency, environmental and traffic enforcement concerns.
Sue Kesselm of Center Township asked the county to post complete township information on the county website, saying township pages often lack the four yearly meeting dates required by law and do not include township financials. “As an average citizen, I'm gonna go to the county to look at township information,” she said, and asked that meeting dates and financials be archived and linked on township pages so residents can find them more readily.
Deborah Dorrell of German Township spoke about wetlands near State Road 2 and said she had been informed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers that certain wetlands south of State Road 2 were slated to be permanently filled. She urged the board to consider protections for wetlands, referencing external reporting and scientific studies on habitat loss.
Dan Caruso of New Carlisle thanked staff for increased sheriff presence on State Road 2 and described near‑miss collisions involving semis. He suggested county staff consider restricting semis exiting Strawberry Road to right turns only to reduce conflict with other turning vehicles and drivers who cross multiple lanes.
Charlotte Wolfe of Lakeville spoke about balancing development and conservation, urging policymakers to recognize the economic and public‑health benefits of protecting natural resources such as wetlands and wildlife habitat.
County staff and commissioners acknowledged the comments. Commissioners said increased sheriff patrols were the result of redevelopment and private‑sector support and thanked the sheriff’s department for the extra enforcement. The board did not take formal action on the public comments during the meeting.
