Board Members



Niles Charter Township is governed by the Board of Trustees.  The Board of Trustees is elected every four years at the time of the Presidential Election.  The Board consists of the Supervisor, Clerk, Treasurer and four Trustees.  The responsibilities of the Board include, but are not limited to the following:

  • Adopting Township policies and ordinances
  • Approving the budget
  • Approving the hiring of certain staff
  • Approving contracts
  • Serving on assigned committees

In addition, the Supervisor, Clerk and Treasurer also have other statutory duties.

Marge Durm-Hiatt
Supervisor

Bio Information:



Contact the Niles Charter Township
Supervisor
Office: 269-684-0870 ext 121
email:  mdurmhiatt@nilestwpmi.gov



Terry Eull
Clerk

Bio Information:

EullTerry is serving his second term as Niles Charter Township Clerk.  Terry served 6 years as the Supervisor for Niles Township before becoming the City Administrator for the City of Niles of which he is retired.  Terry brings 40 years experience to the Township serving in various capacities within local government.

Terry graduated from Brandywine High School in 1967. After graduation Terry served four years in the United States Air Force serving one of those years in Vietnam. Terry graduated from Southwestern Michigan College and Ferris State University with a degree in Business Administration.

Terry and his wife of 45 years, Carol, reside in the Township.  Carol is a nurse with Lakeland Medical.  Terry and Carol have two sons, Travis and Ryan, two daughter-in-laws, Liz and Kayla and six grandchildren: Finley, Sawyer, Nolan, Graham, Maguire, and Raylan.

Contact the Niles Charter Township Clerk
Office: 269-684-0870 ext 123
email: teull@nilestwpmi.gov



Jim Ringler
Treasurer
Bio Information:

RinglerJim Ringler, Township Treasurer, is serving his 6th term.  Jim was appointed to the Township Park Board in 1990 and served as Chairman until he was elected Treasurer in 1996.  Jim also served for many years as Chairman for the Berrien County Treasurer’s Association, an organization that promotes best practices in treasury administration and management.  During his terms as Treasurer, Jim has served on the Finance & Administration Committee, Chairman of the Public Safety Committee and Chairman of the Department of Public Works Committee.  He was instrumental in the building of the new south fire station and the upgrading of fire trucks and equipment for the department.

Jim is also a commercial real estate broker with the Mishawaka  firm of the Cressy Commercial Company. He is licensed in both Michigan and Indiana.

Jim is a graduate of Southwestern Michigan College and Western Michigan University.  He currently serves as a board member for SMEGA (Southwestern Michigan Economic Growth Alliance) and is a member of the Niles Chamber of Commerce and Cornerstone Alliance.

Jim resides in the Township with his wife, Jane, an elementary school teacher.  They have two sons, Ryan and Adam and two grandchildren, Breslin and Brody.

Contact the Niles Charter Township Treasurer

Office: 269-684-0870 ext 122
email: jringler@nilestwpmi.gov


Richard Cooper
Trustee
Bio Information:

CooperResiding in Niles Charter Township since 1959, Richard, born in 1941, has made it his mission to serve his community and family with diligence, dedication, and reliability.

Since November of 2000 he has served as one of your Township Trustees.  As a Trustee he serves as Building Safety committee chairperson and committee member, Roads and Drains committee member, Public Facilities committee member, Township representative on the Niles-Buchanan-Cass Area Transportation Study (NATS) and as a planning commissioner with the Niles Charter Township Planning Commission.

He has been blessed to have six children with his wife, Nancy, of 50 years.  Since 1970 he has owned and operated ISCO, Independent Service Company, and now is semi-retired.  Nancy retired from National Institute for Trial Advocacy at the University of Notre Dame in 2006.  Retirement has provided more time for Richard to enjoy his pastimes of fishing, especially with his grandchildren and relaxing in the company of his family.

For 44 years he served as a Niles Charter Township Volunteer Firefighter.  During that time he served on the Advisory Board, chaired numerous committees, as well as holding the position of President and Secretary.  Also, he was Secretary/Treasurer of the Berrien County Firefighters Association. While keeping true to his mission, Richard states, “A strategic plan for the future is essential so that Niles Charter Township will continue to be a great place to live and raise a family.  I have been honored to be a part of that future.”

Contact the Niles Charter Township
Trustee

Office: 269-684-0870 ext 136
email: rcooper@nilestwpmi.gov

 

Chris Vella
Trustee
Bio Information:

VellaChris currently serves as treasurer on the SMCAS Board and was part of the team who uncovered embezzlement at SMCAS under the previous director.

She served as liaison to the park board during the implementation of Phase 1 of the River Valley Trail through southern Niles Charter Township and now awaits the beginning of Phase 2 which begins in the Spring of 2018.

She is currently involved in identifying the homeless in Niles Charter Township by visiting and attending board meetings at Ferry Street Resources in Niles.

Chris was born and raised in Cleveland, OH, moving here and graduating from Niles High School in 1970.     While in high school she attended Girls’ State at U of M her junior summer and studied our political system.    She has always had an interest in helping serve her community. She majored in English and minored in Elementary Education at Western Michigan University.

Chris has been a substitute teacher in Indiana and Michigan.   She began a career at Lakeland Hospital, Niles, in 1989 and recently retired as supervisor of volunteers in Niles and Berrien Springs.

She has been married to her husband Jim for 36 years. They have a daughter Jenni and a son Gabe, along with a granddaughter and two grandsons. Thier son Scott died in 1996.

Chris decided to run for the office of township trustee to be a servant leader.   Her highest ambition is to serve those she works with and the community. Earning the people's trust comes first to Chris.

Contact the Niles Charter Township
Trustee
Office: 269-684-0870 ext 136
email: cvella@nilestwpmi.gov

Herschel Hoese
Trustee
Bio Information:

HoeseHerschel is serving his 2nd term as Trustee for the Township. He got involved in Township government by attending meetings for 2 years prior to running for office.

Herschel brings to the Board his experience in the construction industry including commercial project management, estimating and contracting.  He is currently employed by the University of Notre Dame as an usher and tour guide for the athletic department.  He also holds a Real Estate license in Michigan.

Herschel was born and raised in Niles.  He moved to Houston Texas for a while and returned to Niles in 1984.  Herschel is married to Helen, his wife of 30 years, and has four children and six grandchildren.

Herschel's goal as a Trustee is to make sure that Niles Township remains as one of the best places in Michigan to live and to facilitate a positive environment for business and industry to locate to.

Contact the Niles Charter Township
Trustee

Office: 269-684-0870 ext 136
email:  hhoese@nilestwpmi.gov

Daniel C. Pulaski, Jr.
Trustee
BIO Information:

PulaskiDan is serving his first term as Township Trustee.  Dan being interested in local government, attended Township meetings and decided to run as a Trustee.

Dan has been in manufacturing for 42 years. Currently, Dan is co-owner of Integra Tec, South Bend, IN., a machining business.  Dan previously was a machinist and quality control manager for Delta Machining, Inc. for many years.

Dan grew up in South Bend, IN  and attended LaSalle High School.  Dan furthered his education at Southwestern Michigan College in Business Management.  Dan has been a resident of Niles for over 30 years. Dan has four daughters and nine grandchildren.

Dan is currently serving on several committees at the Southeast Berrien County Landfill, the Community Development Committee and the Department of Public Works.  Dan, also, is a member of the NRA.

Contact the Niles Charter Township Trustee

Office: 269 684-0870 ext 136
email:  dpulaski@nilestwpmi.gov