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Register of Deeds asks committee to approve $449,845 plan to preserve historical plats
Summary
Jackson County Register of Deeds requested $449,845 from the automation fund to conserve, digitize and archive fragile historical plat maps; committee voted unanimously to move the project forward.
Sierra, Register of Deeds, asked the Jackson County General Government Committee on an historical plat preservation project and requested approval to use automation-fund dollars for conservation and digitization work.
Sierra said the county’s original plats are “aging rapidly” and described them as “irreplaceable records” used for historical, legal and planning purposes. She told the committee the project would preserve originals and create high-resolution digital copies to improve public access and service delivery.
The request drew questions about funding; a committee member asked how the automation fund is funded and whether it could be used for preservation work. Sierra explained the fund is supported by a $5 portion of each recording fee and confirmed that MCL 600.2568 allows automation fund spending on technology and record preservation.
Sierra described the project total as $449,845, to be split across six subprojects, and said the automation fund balance was $715,000 at the time of her presentation. The committee moved, seconded and voted unanimously to support advancing the project.
The committee did not specify contract awards or a construction timeline at the meeting; Sierra left sample plats on the dais for commissioners to review and offered to answer follow-up questions.
The preservation plan will proceed to the full board for final authorization and to implement digitization and conservation work if the board approves funding.
