Branch, Hillsdale, St. Joseph County commissioners honored for health agency service
St. Joseph County Commissioner Rusty Baker is departing the tri-county Board of Health at the end of the year.
Three county commissioners who serve on the Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency (BHSJCHA) Board of Health were recognized for their years of service at the board’s recent meeting.
Commissioners Tom Matthew (Branch County), Steve Lanius (Hillsdale County), and Rusty Baker (St. Joseph County) will all leave the board at the end of the year.
Matthew has served on the board for four years, including roles as Chair and Vice-Chair. He also served on the Program, Policy, & Appeals Committee. Lanius and Baker have each served for two years, with Lanius on the Finance Committee and Baker on the Program, Policy, & Appeals Committee.
“Our agency has received excellent service from Commissioners Matthew, Lanius, and Baker and we sincerely thank them for the time that they have spent guiding our local health department,” Health Officer Rebecca Burns said. “We wish them well in their next endeavor.”
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Early voting begins Saturday, July 25, and continues through Sunday, August 2. Hours may vary depending on your municipality and voting location, so check with your county clerk before finalizing your plans.
In St. Joseph County, voters may cast an early ballot at the St. Joseph County Training Center, 602 E. Main St., Centreville.
On weekdays during the early voting timeframe, the center will be open to voters from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on weekends, the center will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.. Any eligible St. Joseph County voters will be able to vote at this location during those times, regardless of where they live in the county.
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Mayor Angel Johnston began her portion of commissioners comments by going through each commissioner’s comments sharing her thoughts on them. Johnston then moved to questioning City Clerk Leslie Wilson about whether the housing board’s IRS Form 990 filings were up to date and why her FOIA asking for that information was delayed if the documents “should be available online.”
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Several commissioners used their closing comments Wednesday to thank Kuk for his service.
Miller said Kuk deserved to retire from the position rather than leave under the current circumstances.
“There really are no adequate words,” Miller said. “I’ve always appreciated just how high your character is and just how good of a job you do and how thorough you are and how knowledgeable you are.
“This has not been your city your entire life, but you have given to it as if it was.”
