Clerk and treasurer agree to office swap to cross‑train staff and reduce positions; committee approves move

Eaton County leaders on May 16 approved a plan to reconfigure courthouse office space that will move the treasurer’s staff into the clerk’s current space, link the register of deeds with a passageway and colocate related services to enable cross‑training and reduce supervisory positions.

Clerk Rick Bosworth told the committee the consolidation would let the clerk’s office and the register of deeds cross‑train employees so the county can continue critical functions when staff are absent. The reconfiguration also would allow the election director to have a distinct workspace and reduce the number of chief deputy positions from two to one. Bosworth said the changes could be made for an estimated facilities cost of $3,000 to $5,000 and that facilities staff would perform the work in‑house.

Treasurer Darris Rinnett said the move would be an acceptable operational change for his staff. Facilities Director Chad Powers confirmed the work was budget‑neutral for this fiscal year and that the county could complete the required wiring and internal modifications with in‑house resources.

The Committee voted to authorize the office move and directed facilities to proceed; the motion passed by voice vote with no recorded opposition.