Meet the chair and vice chair of the county board

CENTREVILLE – St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners will be overseen for the second consecutive year by Ken Malone.

During their annual organizational meeting Tuesday, commissioners unanimously chose the 60-year-old Sturgis resident to serve as board chairman for 2024.

Malone owns Advantage Water Service in Sturgis.

“I appreciate your confidence in me and giving me the opportunity to hold this position again for the coming year,” Malone said as he took his seat at the center of the dais.

Afterward, he elaborated on his role as board chairman.

“This is a ceremonial position (and) I’m still one of seven votes,” Malone said. “I appreciate the confidence of running the meeting but on the same token I know that any (other commissioner) can put anything on the agenda that they feel is important.”

Malone, who is starting his sixth year as a member of the seven-person panel, said the county board of commissioners is only as strong as the quality of staff employed by the county.

Malone previously spent five of his 13 years on the Sturgis City Commission as mayor.

Meanwhile, Jared Hoffmaster was chosen to serve as vice chairman of the board for 2024. He, too, will serve in that capacity for a second consecutive year.

“We’ll work as hard as we can for the betterment of St. Joseph County,” Hoffmaster said, acknowledging Malone and how he looks forward to Malone’s leadership to guide the county over the coming 12 months.

Hoffmaster is a former member of the Three Rivers City Commission.

Commissioners are paid $9,223 annually.

Also Tuesday, commissioners agreed to maintain the same meeting schedule as they followed in 2023: executive committee at 4 p.m. the second Tuesday of the month and board of commissioners meeting at 5 p.m. the third Tuesday of the month.

This article originally appeared on Sturgis Journal: Meet the chair and vice chair of the st. joseph county board