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Clare County board approves installation of “In God We Trust” plaque on lectern
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Summary
After public comments urging the county to display the national motto, the Clare County Board of Commissioners voted to install a donated plaque reading “In God We Trust” on the front of the courthouse lectern; the motion was amended to specify location and carried by roll call.
The Clare County Board of Commissioners voted to install a plaque reading "In God We Trust" on the front of the lectern in the boardroom after a series of public comments and an amendment to narrow the plaque’s placement.
Several residents urged the board to act. "I am asking the board to post our national motto — In God We Trust," Linda Gilmore of Grant Township told commissioners during the public‑comment period. Rick Griffith of Hayes Township also urged the board to vote to place the motto "in here at our courthouse," saying he wanted the question on the record.
Commissioners moved and seconded the measure. At discussion, a member proposed and the board accepted an amendment to clarify the plaque’s location (the front of the lectern in front of the chair) and to note that the plaque would be the donated plaque described in the meeting. The amendment passed on roll call, and the amended motion carried. The chair announced the motion carried and the board adjourned shortly afterward.
The vote followed a public comment exchange in which speakers debated legal risks and precedent; one attendee cautioned commissioners to consult legal counsel to avoid implementing the plaque in a way that could prompt a constitutional challenge. The board recorded the amendment and final vote by roll call before carrying the motion.
The measure does not change county policy beyond the approved placement; no formal legal opinion or litigation was announced at the meeting. The board did not set a public installation date during the session.
