St. Joseph County commissioners approve routine reappointments, contracts and no‑truck ordinances

The St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners on December 10 approved a package of routine business that included multiple board reappointments, contract renewals and a consent agenda to add no‑truck ordinances on county roads.

The board reappointed Sarah Holmes to the Mishawaka Penn Harris Public Library Board and reappointed Steve Weldy, Anthony Pericini and Peter Mullins to the property tax assessment board of appeals. Each nomination was moved, seconded and approved by voice vote.

The commissioners also approved a contract with Dinsmore & Shohl LLP to serve as bond counsel for the Alexander Road County Highway Project. County staff said the approval renews the engagement after the previous bond counsel switched firms.

The consent agenda included new no‑truck ordinances and corresponding signage for roads near the landfill and in the New Carlisle area. Skye Metters of the Department of Infrastructure Planning and Growth told the board the ordinances and signs are intended to limit truck traffic that is damaging county roads and to provide a regulatory basis for county police enforcement. "So we're putting a lot of no truck ordinances out in that area to try and limit that violation," Metters said.

The board approved the annual contractual services renewal with Purdue Extension, presented by Emily Evers, County Purdue Extension Director, and accepted a vendor quote to upgrade the Duquem Center's CCTV system using $150,000 in American Rescue Plan funds, as presented by Julia Lawson of St. Joseph County Community Corrections.

All items on this package were moved, seconded and carried by voice vote; aye votes were recorded on the record for the commissioners present.