By By JOHN EBY / Edwardsburg Argus
CASSOPOLIS - Cass County commissioners expect to finish the year in a flurry at their final 2005 meeting at 4 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 15.
Commissioners will actually be convening at 3 p.m. to tour the E-911 central dispatch center adjacent to the 1899 courthouse for a demonstration of new computer-aided dispatch software.
Sheriff Joseph M. Underwood Jr. has worked out a contract with Calvin Township for blight enforcement for the Board of Commissioners to approve.
Reorganization of “a couple of offices that has been in the works” will be considered by the commission, County Administrator Terry Proctor said.
Another item on the Dec. 15 agenda will be adoption of a Social Security number protection policy.
The finished draft has been released to elected officials and department heads for review.
Commissioners will also be opening an early retirement window for general non-union county employees.
Proctor also gave the board a presentation on three resource organizations available at the state and national level.
Michigan Association of Counties (MAC) formed in 1898 to advocate for the interests of county governments.
Eighty of Michigan's 83 counties, including Cass, belong.
Cass is not a member of the National Association of Counties.
NACO was created in 1935 so the 3,066 U.S. counties could make their voices heard on federal policy in Washington. More than 2,000 counties belong to NACO.
Finally, Proctor belongs to ICMA, the International City/County Managers Association, the professional and educational organization for 8,000 chief appointed managers, administrators and assistants in not only cities, counties and townships, but also regional entities, such as sewer or water authorities.
ICMA recognized Dowagiac's governmental cooperation this year.
ICMA's mission is to create excellence in local government by developing and fostering professional grassroots management worldwide through textbooks, survey data, newsletters, e-publications on the Web and technical assistance.
Proctor suggested these resources would be a place for commissioners to consult in acclimating themselves to the purchase of development rights issue they will be taking up again in March.