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Residents press county on guardian ad litem billing, CPA selection and FOIA workload during public comment
Summary
During two calls to the public, residents raised concerns about guardian ad litem fees and billing practices, urged reconsideration of auditor selection, and praised the budget while the county clerk asked for FOIA staffing support; the board received the comments but took no immediate policy action.
Several residents used the meeting’s call-to-the-public periods to press the board on issues including alleged overbilling by a guardian ad litem, the county’s choice of outside auditors and FOIA staffing needs.
Steve Williams (Marion Township) told commissioners he had filed a request for investigation with the Michigan Tenure Commission and described a lawyer guardian ad litem who he said billed both parties $10,240 in six months while meeting a child only once. Williams criticized the use of a psychologist charging $2,500 for an appointment and said there appeared to be no financial-ability hearing prior to appointment; he asked the board to review the matter and offered to share documentation.
Marty Smith (Brighton) expressed concern about a recommended change in county auditors and urged the board to reconsider retaining Plante Moran, citing the county’s population and asset base and telling the board it ‘deserves the best.’ He also urged merit raises for county employees in light of inflation.
Elizabeth Hundley, Livingston County Clerk, publicly thanked the board for approving a part-time FOIA assistant position for the clerk’s office and said the county has handled more than 1,600 FOIA requests this year, creating a heavy workload for staff.
Other speakers included Nicholas Hertrich (introduced as Howell’s new mayor) and residents praising the budget process.
Board response and context: Commissioners acknowledged the comments. The chair noted legal remedies exist for repeated or egregious FOIA filings. The board did not take immediate formal action on the guardian ad litem allegations during the meeting; several speakers said they had taken or would take records and complaints to appropriate oversight bodies. The transcript records references to a Michigan collection statute and to communications already forwarded to commissioners but does not include a county investigation outcome during this meeting.
Why it matters: Public-comment periods are a primary forum for residents to raise individual grievances and policy concerns. The guardian-ad-litem allegations, if substantiated, could prompt procurement or oversight reviews; FOIA workload pressures affect transparency and staff capacity.
