Now that a change is coming to the balance of power in Lansing, the Berrien County Board of Commissioners is talking about what kind of support it should seek from lawmakers during the lame duck session.

Speaking at this past week’s regular board meeting, County Administrator Brian Dissette said with Democrats to lose control of the House next year, the county’s Lansing consultant, Mike Krombeen, has advised making a priorities list. Dissette has spoken with commissioners to determine what they want to seek funding for the most.

“I will be working with Mike to push as our top priority additional funding for the juvenile center and then from the admin committee they suggested that we also target the EOC 911 Center to try and pick up any additional funding from the state,” Dissette said. 

Dissette said the third priority will be money for improvements at Silver Beach County Park. The parks department has created a master plan for the attraction.

“The very first part of that was the playground equipment that’s underway now, but we do not have funding in place for new restrooms, for new concessions, for a major rebuild of parking, etc.”

Dissette said he’s communicating all of these things to the consultant as the county seeks support from lawmakers. The juvenile center is the top priority as the county this month applied for a $2 million grant to help pay for $3.5 million in water, sewer, and wiring upgrades.

Krombeen told commissioners their biggest advocate in Lansing at this time would be state Representative Joey Andrews.