Edwardsburg woman selected as new road commissioner

Published 9:41 am Friday, November 25, 2016

Another fresh face — with 30 years of experience in road management — will soon join the ranks of the Cass County Road Commission.

Last week, the Cass County Board of Commissioners named Edwardsburg’s Sandra Seanor to serve as the next member of the county agency, replacing retiring commission chairman Pete Fournier at the end of his term in January. The woman, along with fellow Edwardsburg resident Byron Miller, was one of two finalists for the position, brought before the board for a second round of interviews shortly before the commissioners made their decision.

“I am very happy they [the commissioners] have allowed me to serve,” Seanor said.

A native of Indiana, Seanor will bring with her decades of knowledge working in the public sector — in particular transportation —back in her home state, she said.

A graduate of Indiana University, where she received her master’s degree in public affairs, Seanor previously served as executive director of several public agencies, including the Michiana Area Council of Governments and the South Bend Public Transportation Corporation, which dealt with transportation, road management and economic development, in both urban and rural enviornments, she said.

She retired from her career in 2014, and moved to Edwardsburg three years ago, after having owned a lake house on Pleasant Lake for 14 years.

“Since I am retired, I have an interest in serving the community,” Seanor said. “My past allows [me] to make a contribution to the road commission.”

Seanor also currently serves as a member of the Ontwa Township Planning Commission and Zoning Board of Appeals.

Since her appointment to the road commission, Seanor has met with the outgoing Fournier, who provided her with his manual to help with the transition. She also plans on setting up meetings with some of the commission staff to learn more before she joins the board in January.

“I think I will bring a lot to the table to help out,” she said. “My immediate goal will be to contribute where I can, wherever I am asked.”