The Eaton County Board of Commissioners on the organizational agenda elected Commissioner Jim Mott as board chair for 2025–2026, adopted updated rules of procedure, approved a consolidation of several standing committees and set the county's meeting schedule. The board also approved a resolution allowing the treasurer to deposit and withdraw county funds and a senior citizens tax-payment resolution, and swore in Commissioner Jane Whitaker.

The changes to the rules of procedure reorganize committee structure, add an attendance section and create a new "elected official comment" slot in the administrator's report. County staff said legal counsel reviewed and approved the text. Commissioners discussed attendance language and the consolidation of Public Works with Health and Human Services and moving Information Technology and Communications functions into Ways and Means.

Board members emphasized the attendance policy and the committee restructuring as the most substantive governance changes. Under the adopted attendance provision, commissioners are asked to notify the chair or staff when they will miss committee meetings; repeated unexcused absences could prompt a request that the commissioner resign from that committee. The packet also includes definitions for committee assignments and an updated 2025 meeting schedule; board meetings were set for 6 p.m., and one consolidated committee will meet the first Wednesday of the month at 9 a.m.

During the rules discussion, a county administrator (Claudine) summarized the principal edits: moving the board's authority language forward, adding housekeeping changes on membership and vacancies, codifying conflict-of-interest language, adding a section on powers and duties, clarifying rules and procedures (motions, debate, voting, suspension and adjournment), and specifying special-meeting procedures and how items get put on the agenda if they do not run through committee. Controller Sobe and staff were cited as supporting consolidation because of limited staff resources.

On the new "elected official comment" item, the board decided to allow elected officials a place on the agenda outside the public comment time limit; however, that slot is not intended as a back-and-forth question-and-answer period. Commissioners said the intent is to give elected officials the opportunity to speak without being subject to the standard public-comment time constraint.

Votes at a glance
- Chair election: Commissioner Jim Mott elected chair for 2025'to'2026; motion carried (unanimous ballot announced).
- Vice chair election: Commissioner Brian DiRocia declared vice chair; motion carried.
- Rules of Procedure: Board adopted revised Rules of Procedure; motion carried.
- Committee appointments: Committee on Committees appointments approved and commissioners were directed to recess to finalize outside-board appointments; motion carried.
- Meeting dates and times: 2025 meeting schedule adopted; motion carried.
- Deposit of county funds resolution: Resolution to allow the treasurer to deposit/withdraw county funds approved; motion carried.
- Senior citizens tax payment resolution: Resolution on senior tax payment approved; motion carried.

Discussion and context
Commissioners explained the committee consolidation as a response to limited staff capacity and frequent cancellations of small committees. The Public Works and Health and Human Services functions were consolidated into a single standing committee; Information Technology and Communications were folded into Ways and Means so IT matters will be handled during Ways and Means meetings. Commissioners and staff said regular reports (for example, medical care facility and Tri-County Office on Aging updates) will continue under the new structure.

The board also recessed to a Committee on Committees meeting to finalize outside appointments; when the board reconvened it presented committee assignments and schedule changes. The board set a recurring practice for Ways and Means to meet the Friday before the regular board meeting.

Personnel and ceremonial items
The board performed oath-taking for newly seated commissioners, including Jane Whitaker. Several clerical and staff members assisted with the swearing-in.

What the meeting did not decide
The meeting adopted governance and procedural changes and routine resolutions; it did not adopt new county ordinances, pass budget amendments, or take land-use actions. No substantive policy changes beyond governance structure and procedural language were enacted at the session.

Ending
The board adjourned and scheduled the next regular meeting for Jan. 15 at 6 p.m. under the new meeting-time schedule.