ST. JOSEPH — The Berrien County Board of Commissioners amended Thursday morning’s meeting to allow Sheriff L. Paul Bailey to commend two commanders on the Sheriff’s Office dive team.   

Capt. Randy Miller and Lt. Scott Kuhl received plaques dedicated to them for serving on the dive team and improving it. They have prepared other members of the team, some of whom were at the meeting. Due to their work over 18 years, there is more equipment and more training, including a bread truck the Board of Commissioners bought 15 years ago for the team that is now converted to a dive vehicle that enables faster response time and more preparedness, according to testimony from the meeting.

“[Miller and Kuhl] built up one of the best dive teams in southwest Michigan where other people count on us to assist them,” said Sheriff Bailey.

Despite the hazards of the job, low visibility underwater and strong currents, they persist to save drowning victims or the tragic recovery of a body, he said.

Bailey also handed out copies of the Sheriff’s Office annual report during Thursday’s meeting.

Also Thursday:

• The board amended a contract with the state of Michigan that increases the federal funding portion of the Indiana-Michigan River Valley Trail Project Phase II to the maximum allowed, up to $651,235 from $501,299.

Board Chairman Mac Elliott, 10th District, and Berrien County Administrator William Wolf were authorized to execute the amended contract with the Michigan Department of Transportation for the trail, which runs from Brandywine Creek Nature Preserve to Fort Street. 

• In a report from the Administration Committee, Jim Curran, 11th District, gave an update on projects going on in Building and Grounds Department and said there will be two job openings for a full-time custodian and a maintenance worker. Job descriptions can be found on the Berrien County website.

• Three resolutions for a trail in Niles as part of the interurban rail line corridor will be forthcoming.

• An approved resolution also honored Reverend Kenneth Morris Gavin, Esquire, as a pastor, a mentor and a steward of congregants of Second Baptist Church in Benton Harbor as well as citizens of Berrien County.

• Commissioner Yarbrough said the Spring Art Hop will be hosted in the Benton Harbor Historic Arts District. The event, sponsored by the New Territory Arts Association, will be from 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, March 15, according to the association’s Facebook page.