Cass County Apportionment Commission did taxpayers a favor when it convened last April in the Kincheloe room of the 1899 courthouse in Cassopolis.
The panel had until June 6 to complete redistricting which follows each census every 10 years, but it didn’t need that long to roll back composition of the Board of Commissioners from 15 to seven, as it had been for a decade before.
Former Clerk-Register Barbara Runyon, Treasurer Linda Irwin and Prosecutor Victor Fitz and representatives of each party made up the panel.
The sleeker county board unveiled this month should be much more efficient and more like its 12-member counterpart in Berrien County.
Meetings will start earlier, at 6, making it easier for county employees making presentations.
These Committee of the Whole work sessions allow for deeper debate on issues which need it, while routine business can be bundled together and passed in one motion by consent, which the Berrien board and Niles City Council both do.
As commissioners tweak the new format, they immediately realized the shortcoming of having committee discussions followed by a regular meeting at 7, so will likely put space between the two and hold over committee work to the next meeting for action.
Another advantage is that Louis Csokasy has settled in as fourth county administrator.
Jeff Carmen, Jefferson Township supervisor, was the first, followed for two decades by Terry Proctor, who attended his last meeting in February 2010.
Charles Cleaver debuted at the March 2011 intergovernmental forum.
Csokasy should give the county some stability going forward.