Berrien, Cass, Van Buren Counties draft new interlocal agreement following investigation into misused funds within Kinexus Group. PAW PAW, Mich. - Following an investigation into possible misused funds within Kinexus Group, Berrien, Cass and Van Buren Counties have drafted a new interlocal agreement that woul...

County Board Chair: structural changes needed at Kinexus. As Kinexus Group prepares for the departure of president and CEO Todd Gustafson, Berrien County leaders say some changes are going to be needed at the organization moving forward. Kinexus announced on Monday that Gustafson is ending his 21-year tenure as the head of the workforce development agency on September 8. That comes amid an inquiry by Berrien, Cass, and Van Buren counties into the operations of Kinexus. On June 29, Berrien County's corporate counsel demanded six years of records from the organization. Kinexus has since been working to respond. Berrien County Board of Commissioners Chair Mac Elliott tells us while he wishes Gustafson well, he hopes the departure doesn't interfere with the inquiry by the counties. He says Kinexus has lost its way. "I will just say that from an organizational standpoint, it would seem that the tail has taken to wagging the dog, and that cannot continue," Elliott said. Elliott declined to comment on Berrien County's experiences working with Gustafson, but said he believes the departure may be the best thing in the long run. He said the new leadership will need to be transparent. "They, too, need to follow the Open Meetings Act, which has not been done. And I hold Mr. Gustafson accountable for some of that. Even when it's been called to his attention, he has refused." Meanwhile, Kinexus announced Monday that People Officer Erin Wright has been named the interim leader of the organization. But Elliott tells us the agency didn't have the authority to name its own interim leader. "Erin Wright was identified as its interim designated successor as part of succession planning done in 2023. Well, don't know anything about that, but I'd be willing to bet you a shiny new dime that that was never approved by the CEOB." The CEOB is the Chief Elected Officers Board, made up of two county commissioners from Berrien, Cass, and Van Buren counties each. Berrien County's representatives are Commissioners Julie Wuerfel and Mamie Yarborough. Wuerfel tells us the CEOB was not consulted about the interim appointment. Elliott says he's going to recommend this week that the CEOB meet in the next week to discuss the leadership at Kinexus. He says this new issue is emblematic of the overall problem with the organization. "It seems one of the ongoing problems with the way this operation has been run is people exercising authority above their rank and pay grade, so to speak." Elliott says Berrien County will continue gathering records while collaborating with colleagues in Van Buren and Cass counties. He tells us he expects county leaders to push for updates to the organizational structure of Kinexus moving forward.