Eaton County board elects chair, adopts rules and consolidates committees; sets meeting schedule

The Eaton County Board of Commissioners on the organizational agenda elected Commissioner Jim Mott as board chair for 2025–2026, adopted updated rules of procedure, approved a consolidation of several standing committees and set the county's meeting schedule. The board also approved a resolution allowing the treasurer to deposit and withdraw county funds and a senior citizens tax-payment resolution, and swore in Commissioner Jane Whitaker.

The changes to the rules of procedure reorganize committee structure, add an attendance section and create a new "elected official comment" slot in the administrator's report. County staff said legal counsel reviewed and approved the text. Commissioners discussed attendance language and the consolidation of Public Works with Health and Human Services and moving Information Technology and Communications functions into Ways and Means.

Board members emphasized the attendance policy and the committee restructuring as the most substantive governance changes. Under the adopted attendance provision, commissioners are asked to notify the chair or staff when they will miss committee meetings; repeated unexcused absences…