Register of Deeds proposes two ordinances; committee approves changes and an exception for county work

Julie Gleason, Ashland County register of deeds, presented two proposed ordinances to the zoning committee: a limitation-of-services ordinance prompted by state Act 235 and a technical amendment changing the term "any conveyances" to "documents" so that non-deed records would be required to include a parcel number.

"I'm Julie Gleason, the register of deeds, and I'm proposing these 2 ordinances," Gleason said when introducing the items. She told the committee that the limitation-of-services draft uses the phrase "shall not," which has a strict legal meaning; members asked whether county offices could still perform searches for county use even if the public is restricted from obtaining those services.

Committee member Dan proposed wording to permit county offices to perform searches for the benefit of Ashland County; members agreed to add an exception. The committee approved the amendment by voice vote.

Gleason also explained the technical change from "conveyances" to "documents." She said that under the current wording a satisfaction of mortgage or other non-deed document might not require a parcel number; changing the word to "documents" would ensure parcel numbers appear on those filings. A committee member moved to approve that change; another member seconded, and the committee approved the change by voice vote.

The committee discussed whether title searches for county use must be routed through an outside title company; Gleason said the ordinance language currently calls for title-company searches for tax-deed sales but agreed the requirement could be amended if the county determined in-house searches were appropriate for particular cases.