Bill schalliol

St. Joseph County Commissioners President Carl Baxmeyer says commissioners are looking for a law firm outside of the county to objectively review whether they should fire economic development director Bill Schalliol and area plan director Shawn Klein, over citizen complaints about their handling of recent development proposals in rural areas.

St. Joseph County Commissioners Tuesday announced they'll appoint an independent counsel to review allegations against economic development director Bill Schalliol and area plan director Shawn Klein. Commissioners were not specific but said the allegations involve the Midwest Continental Divide Trail project and a solar farm.

Although Microsoft isn't seeking a property tax break, St. Joseph County economic development director Bill Schalliol says the county is still asking the tech giant to pay for new water and sewer lines to spur growth in Granger beyond the data center.

St. Joseph County has decided not to study a new rail corridor along Capital Avenue, despite getting a federal grant for that purpose.

Now that construction is underway on Microsoft’s Granger data center, St. Joseph County officials are promising to keep an eye on disruption to the surrounding community.

Statewide advocates for electric ratepayers and the environment came to Granger Wednesday night to talk about the data center that Microsoft will start building this summer. They urged Microsoft to be more transparent and they called on St. Joseph County officials to watch out for constituents as they negotiate a development agreement.

On Tuesday St. Joseph County commissioners will consider whether to hire a consultant to study whether the county should move out of the County-City Building and into the former Studebaker Building 113 on Lafayette Boulevard.

St. Joseph County Economic Development Director Bill Schalliol says the county hopes the gas station on the opposite corner can remain, while noting the overpass has not yet been designed.

Republican County Council President Dan Schaetzle voted with Democrats to approve the budget, saying economic development director Bill Schalliol deserves more money for the big projects he's helped land.

St. Joseph County Economic Development Executive Director Bill Schalliol says the county could be years away from construction