Carl Baxmeyer

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.

The Midwest Continental Divide Trail project seeks to develop a pedestrian path for eco-tourism through rural western St. Joseph County. Farmers are angry and vow to continue fighting the project until elected leaders give up on it.

The St. Joseph County Commissioners had a chance to lay out their vision for the future of Portage Manor, during Saturday’s “Coffee with Your Commissioners” event.

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.

The St. Joseph County Council Tuesday night unanimously passed a resolution requiring county commissioners to bring any sale of Portage Manor property before the council for approval. Commissioners President Carl Baxmeyer noted the commissioners must sign any council actions into law.

St. Joseph County Commissioners thought they were ready to turn the land over to a Catholic school in October but then started hearing from others interested in the land, so they're following state law on how to dispose of the property.

St. Joseph County says a reported data breach is tied to a third-party fax system, not its internal network, as officials continue an ongoing investigation.

St. Joseph County Council President Bryan Tanner says since the county is creating nearly half of the animal control work for the Humane Society of St. Joseph County, its funding to the nonprofit should increase accordingly.

Bill Redman is term-limited from serving a third term as sheriff, so he's ending his 31-year law enforcement career at the end of 2026 and hopes to face incumbent Republican Commissioner Carl Baxmeyer in the November election.