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Government Structure
Ingham
County is governed by a 16-member Board of Commissioners elected
on a partisan basis for terms of two years from single-member
districts that are approximately equal in population. The Board
annually elects from its ranks a Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson
and Vice-Chairperson Pro Tem by majority vote. The administration
of the County, other than as delegated to elected officials,
is guided by the County Controller who is appointed by a two-thirds
vote of the Board of Commissioners and serves at its pleasure.
Primary functions of the Board include determination of the
type and level of County services, adoption of the County budget,
equalization of County property values, legislative oversight
of County services and the appointment of various boards, commissions
and County officials. Judges of the 30th Judicial Circuit and
the Probate Court are elected at large for six year terms, while
the Judges of the 55th District Court are elected from the area
of the County outside of Lansing and East Lansing. (Lansing
and East Lansing both have their own district courts.) Operation
of the court system is under the auspices of the Michigan Supreme
Court and the respective presiding Judges, while the County
government primarily provides financial support.
Administration
of the County is divided by the Michigan Constitution among
various statutory County officials, including the County Treasurer,
County Clerk, Register of Deeds, Prosecuting Attorney, Drain
Commissioner and Sheriff, who are elected at large for four
year terms. The County Treasurer is the custodian of funds to
local communities and school districts, and performs other duties
concerned with interrelated fiscal affairs of County departments
and agencies. The duties of the County Clerk include keeping
and maintaining records of births, deaths, marriages and discharge
of military personnel and serving as Clerk of the Board of Commissioners.
The duties of the Register of Deeds include the recording or
deeds, mortgages, surveys, plats, notices of liens and bills
of sales. The Prosecuting Attorney prosecutes violations of
state criminal law within the County and may represent the County
in appropriate Courts. The County Drain Commissioner administers
the location, construction and maintenance of drains in the
County. The Sheriff's duties involve the charge and custody
of the County Jail, the serving of processes, and law enforcement
in unincorporated areas.
In addition, the
Board of Commissioners appoints several County officials, including
the Controller, Health Officer, Medical Examiner, Equalization
Director and Animal Control Director with responsibilities as
defined by statute, County ordinance or resolution. The Controller's
responsibilities include direction of central administrative
functions of the County government and acting as a liaison on
behalf of the Board of Commissioners between County offices,
appointed officials and the general public. The Health Officer
directs the operation of the County Health Department in accordance
with Board of Commissioner's directions and as authorized by
State law. The Medical Examiner serves as the Medical Director
of the Health Department as well as performing the statutory
duties of Medical Examiner. The Equalization Director oversees
the equalization process of the County as prescribed by law.
The Animal Control Director enforces appropriate State law and
the Ingham County Animal Control Ordinance with respect to insuring
the public safety animal related matters.
The Board of Commissioners
also appoints various boards and commissions to oversee specific
County services and to advise the Board on certain matters of
interest. Appointments to boards overseeing specific County
functions include the Family Independence Agency Board, the
County Library Board, the Board of County Road Commissioners,
Parks Board, and the Housing Commission. Appointments to advisory
committees include the Women's Commission, the Equal Opportunity
Committee, and the Board of Health. Finally, the Board also
appoints representatives to regional bodies overseeing programs
in the areas of airport operations, aging, manpower training,
planning and substance abuse.
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