ST. JOSEPH — With a crowded schedule at the Berrien County Board of Commissioners meeting Thursday morning, commissioners approved a number of resolutions and covered a number of discussion items.

Resolutions for the Berrien County Health Department were approved for a number of issues, among them, to partner with Patrice Lohraff to bring Sleep Safe education to parents of infants at public libraries and pre-arrange community groups and events.

The board endorsed a contract between the BCHD and Niles Dial-A-Ride to expand their services to portions of Cass County and other areas to take people to the Niles Community Health Center for needed medical services.

The BCHD received a grant from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services to promote physical activity by partnering with the Niles History Center for a historical site bicycle tour within the City of Niles.

Stephen Currie, executive director of the Michigan Association of Counties, presented on issues affecting area counties. He encouraged cooperation between MAC and the 83 counties in Michigan, saying MAC was on the social and public services frontline in representing Michigan counties to state legislature on issues such as foster care, circuit courts and jails.

“[These are] the services no one thinks about until they need them,” he said.

He said he has been successful in getting county revenue sharing from the state.

Another resolution approved by the board included an agreement between the Berrien County Trial Court with Mosiac CCDA to administer the community service program for juvenile and adult offenders for one year. 

Commissioner Teri Sue Freehling, District 8, brought up a discussion about a pilot project, known as Reconnect, from which she and Commissioner Ezra Scott, District 9, applied for a grant to bring broadband infrastructure to underserved communities, mostly in northeast Berrien County.

Freehling referenced maps by Connected Nation which were passed out to the Board that show underserved populations in Berrien County. 

“We want to make Berrien County a pilot project,” Scott said, adding it would be important for the county in terms of economic growth, which would bring in tech businesses, and improve housing and transportation.

A task force made up of community and board members, members of the Pokagon band of Potawatomi Indians and from area providers, would put Berrien County in a favorable position to receive the grant, but the Board must act soon because the deadline is nearing for the application.

Freehling said that all seven goals of the Board’s mission statement “would be impacted by bringing better access to high-speed internet and connectivity to all of Berrien County.”

Members of the Board heartily approved a resolution to explore the topic.

“Because broadband connectivity is certainly viewed by many through the state and the county as a utility and a critical service,” Freehling said, it would equalize people in urban and rural areas.