Shiawassee County commissioners abolish elected county surveyor, make it an appointed post

The Shiawassee County Board of Commissioners voted on Jan. 14 to abolish the elected office of county surveyor and convert the role to an appointed position, the board recorded in Resolution No. 26-01-01.

The resolution, approved by a 7–0 roll call vote, states the board acted after no candidate filed for the office in the Nov. 2024 general election and after the board had temporarily filled the need by appointing a surveyor under a contractor agreement for fiscal year 2025. The resolution cites Michigan Election Law, MCL 168.643(1), MCL 54.95 and licensing requirements in the Occupational Code (1980 PA 299, MCL 339.101–339.2721) as authority for the change.

Commissioner Cindy Garber moved adoption of the resolution and Commissioner Brad Howard seconded; Commissioners Garber, Howard, Shepard, Haley, Holzhausen, Johnson and Chairman Gregory Brodeur voted in favor. The resolution text in the minutes states the abolition is "effective immediately" and that future officeholders will be selected by the board based on professional qualifications and licensure.

The board’s minutes note that the change is intended to ensure compliance with licensing requirements and to allow the board to appoint a licensed professional rather than rely on an elected candidate. The printed resolution in the packet includes an attestation line signed by County Clerk Caroline D. Wilson and a blank space for the formal signature date.

Under the board’s action, the county will proceed to fill the surveyor position by appointment; the minutes record no further procedural steps or a named appointee at the Jan. 14 meeting.

The resolution text and the motion approving it are recorded in the board minutes; the clerk’s attestation appears immediately after the resolution.