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Manistee County Board of Commissioners
Purpose
The County Board of Commissioners is the chief policy making body of the county goverment, but is also involved in some administrative activities.
The chief role of the County Board is to be the legislative body of county government. As such it services as the "gatekeeper" of many county activities. The main responsibility of a legislative body is to evaluate critically the proposals for change from the status quo. Most of the proposals will come from the outside--citizens, administrators of county departments, the state legislature or the courts. But some will come from individual commissioners as well or from board committees.
Typically, a board responds to a proposal by adopting (with or without changes) or defeating a resolution. Most board actions take the form of a resolution. The procedure for adopting ordinances is a bit more complex and counties generally adopt few ordinances compared to city government.
Another dimension of the board as legislative body is the oversight function--inquiring into the affairs of county agencies, assessing their performance, and through the adoption of resolutions, providing new policy direction or assistance in solving problems.
Below are some of the ways the board carries out these legislative responsibilities.
Activities of County Board of Commissioners:
- Develop and adopt the annual county government budget.
- Monitor county expenditures.
- Audit monthly all bills as required by statute, except where there is a board of auditors.
- Adopt equalization of tax assessments throughout the County.
- Set compensation of all elected officials, many appointed officials and county employees according to statutory authority.
- Appoint a number of department heads and members of a number of boards and commissions.
- Establish personnel policies and procedures for a number of county departments, and jointly with elected officials as affecting their departments.
- Review and adopt grants in aid.
- Establish new programs, or terminate existing ones.
- Provide for necessary facilities and equipment for county government operation, and for maintenance of such facilities and equipment.
- Provide for county participation in several multi-county human service programs.
- Assist local units of government, through intergovernmental contracts, in areas of public works, human services, law enforcement, etc., sometimes granting the full faith and credit of the county to secure borrowing for local projects.
- Plan for coordinated development in unincorporated areas in cooperation with townships.
- Adopt, if desired by people, zoning in rural areas.
- Adopt other ordinances as provided by law.
Selection and Compensation:
Each Commissioner is elected from a Commissioner District for a two-year term on a partisan ballot. The board may hire staff such as a county administrator, county coordinator, or board assistants as needed to carry out its tasks. The County Board may adopt state statute for the hiring or appointment of a county controller, with the statute providing designated powers and authority. County voters may chose the election of a county executive or authorize the appointment of a county manager. With the exception of the elected county executive, central administrative staff serve in a support role to the county board and county departments.
The Board of Commissioners sets its own compensation unless the county has a compensation commission. Any resolution changing compensation of its members does not take effect until the beginning of the following term of office. Boards vary in size from 5 to 27 members. A vacancy occurring during the term is filled by appointment by the remaining members of the Board of Commissioners.
Departmental reviews:
The County Board of Commissioners sets the county tax rate, within its own rate limitations; approves grant applications and receives grant money; reviews and sets many fees collected by county departments; receives state and federal revenue sharing money; and borrows money for several purposes.
MANISTEE COUNTY BOARD MEMBERS:
District 1
Ken Hilliard
9188 Erdman Road, Onekama, MI 49675
(231) 510-4828; e-mail:
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1st District: All of Arcadia, Bear Lake, and Pleasanton Townships, and that portion of Onekama Township North of Eight Mile Road and Portage Lake, except the Village of Onekama.
District 2
Allan O’Shea, Chairman
10156 Wiitala Farm Road, Copemish, MI 49625
(231) 362-3425; work: (231) 378-2936; fax: (888) 854-9552; Cell: (231) 510-1817
e-mail:
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2nd District: All of Springdale, Cleon, Maple Grove and Marilla Townships.
District 3
Glenn Lottie
11579 River Road, Brethren, MI 49619
(231) 477-5627; e-mail:
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3rd District: All of Norman, Dickson, and Brown Townships.
District 4
Ervin Kowalski
2600 Filer City Road, Manistee, MI 49660
(231) 723-4745; work: (231) 723-2401; fax: (231) 723-3580
4th District: All of Stronach Township, Filer Township and the Village of Eastlake.
District 5
Ed Haik
260 Rose Lane, Manistee, MI 49660
(231) 723-5397
5th District: Part of Onekama Township, being the Village of Onekama and all of Onekama Township lying South of Eight Mile Road and Portage Lake and all of Manistee Townsnip, except the Village of Eastlake.
District 6
Jim Krolczyk
434 Elm Street, Manistee, MI 49660
(231) 723-0116; e-mail:
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6th District: That portion of the City of Manistee lying West of Maple Street and all of the City North of the Manistee River.
District 7
Carl Rutske
149 Eighth Street, Manistee, MI 49660
(231) 723-3116
7th District: that portion of the City of Manistee lying East of Maple Street and South of the Manistee River.
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