About Your Board of Commissioners
The Livingston County Board of Commissioners is the chief policy making body of County government and is also involved in certain administrative activities.
Mission Statement
The mission of Livingston County is to be an effective and efficient steward in delivering quality services within the constraints of sound fiscal policy. Our priority is to provide mandated services which may be enhanced and supplemented to improve the quality of life for all who work, reside and recreate in Livingston County.
Douglas G. Helzerman
District 1
Commissioner Helzerman represents District 1, which includes all of Cohoctah, Conway, and Howell Townships, and Handy Township Precincts 2 (Village of Fowlerville), 3.
Commissioner Helzerman has held a seat on the Livingston County Board of Commissioners since January 1, 2017.
Commissioner Helzerman serves as the Vice-Chairman of the Personnel Committee and as a member of the Finance & Asset Management Committee. He also serves on the following subcommittees: member of the Parks & Open Space Advisory Committee, Michigan Works! Southeast Consortium Board, Fowlerville Local District Finance Authority, and O.L.H.S.A Board of Directors.
The District 2 Seat is Currently Vacant
District 2
District 2, which include all of Deerfield and Tyrone Townships, and Oceola Township Precincts 1 , 5.
Norris Hardeman
District 3
Commissioner Norris Hardeman represents District 3, which includes all of Iosco, Putnam (Village of Pinckney), and Unadilla Townships, and Hamburg Township Precinct 6, and Handy Township Precinct 1.
He is a member of the General Government & Health & Human Services Committee, Courts, Public Safety & Infrastructure Development Committee, Personnel Committee and Finance & Asset Management Committee. He also serves on the Hiland Lake Improvement Board and the Sanitary Code Board of Appeals.
Wes Nakagiri
District 4
Commissioner Nakagiri represents District 4, which includes all of Hartland Township and Oceola Township Precincts 3, 4, 6.
Commissioner Nakagiri began serving on the Livingston County Board of Commissioners on January 1, 2019.
Commissioner Nakagiri serves as the Chairman of the Finance & Asset Management Committee, Vice Chairman of the General Government & Health & Human Services Committee, and as a member of the Courts, Public Safety & Infrastructure Development Committee. Commissioner Nakagiri also serves on the following subcommittees: Drain Boards, Retiree Health Care Board of Trustees, Retirement Plan Advisory Committee, and Tax Allocation Board.
Board Vice Chairman, Jay Drick
District 5
Commissioner Drick has been elected by his peers as the 2026 Vice Chairman of the Livingston County Board of Commissioners.
Commissioner Jay Drick represents District 5, which includes all of the City of Howell and Marion Township. He began serving as County Commissioner on January 1, 2021 and previously served as County Commissioner from 2011-2012.
Commissioner Drick serves as Chairman of the Courts, Public Safety & Infrastructure Development Committee and as a member of the Finance & Asset Management Committee and Personnel Committee. Commissioner Drick also serves as a member of the Local Emergency Planning Committee and Community Corrections Advisory Board. As the representative of District 5, Commissioner Drick is appointed to the City of Howell Capital Rate Improvement Board, Thompson Lake Improvement Board, and the Cedar Lake improvement Board.
Roger Deaton
District 6
Commissioner Roger Deaton represents District 6, which includes Brighton Charter Township Precinct 2 & 6, Genoa Charter Township Precincts 1-3, 6, and Oceola Township Precinct 2.
Commissioner Deaton has been appointed as Chairman of the General Government and Health & Humans Services Committee and a member of the Finance and Asset Management Committee. Commissioner Deaton is active in many Veteran and public service organizations to better the quality of life in Livingston County.
Melvin Paunovich
District 7
Melvin Paunovich represents District 7, which includes all of the City of Brighton and Brighton Charter Township Precincts 1, 3-5, 7.
Commissioner Paunovich serves as Vice Chairman of the Finance & Asset Management Committee and as a member of the General Government & Health & Human Services Committee.
Board Chairman, Nick Fiani
District 8
Commissioner Nick Fiani represents District 8, which includes Genoa Charter Township Precincts 4, 5, and Hamburg Township Precincts 1-4, & 7.
Commissioner Fiani was elected in November 2022 and re-elected in 2024 for the 2025 – 2029 term. As Chairman, Commissioner Fiani is an Ex-Officio member for the Committees of the Board of Commissioners. He also serves on the Drain Board and Michigan Counties Workers’ Compensation Fund.
Jerome Gross
District 9
Commissioner Gross represents District 9, which includes all of Green Oak Charter Township and Hamburg Township Precinct 5. He was appointed County Commissioner of District 9 by the Livingston County Board of Commissioners on April 14, 2020 and subsequently elected to serve the next two terms, currently ending December 31, 2024.
Commissioner Gross has been appointed as Vice Chairman of the General Government and Health & Human Services Committee and Vice Chairman of the Finance & Asset Management Committee. Commissioner Gross also serves on the AgeWays subcommittee, Human Services Collaborative Body (HSCB), MI Works! Consortium Board, the South East Michigan Council of Governments, and the Substance Use Disorder Oversight Policy Board.
Role of the Board
- Developing and adopting the annual County government budget
- Monitoring County expenditures and receiving and settling claims against the County
- Auditing monthly bills as required by statute
- Adopting equalization of tax assessments throughout the County
- Establishing compensation of all elected and appointed officials, as well as other employees according to statutory authority
- Appointing County Administrator, members of Boards and commissions
- Formulating personnel policies and procedures for a number of County departments, jointly with elected officials where applicable
- Reviewing and adopting grants
- Authorizing new programs, or terminating existing ones
- Providing for necessary facilities and equipment for County government operation, and for the maintenance of such facilities and equipment
- Providing for County participation in several multi-County human service and regional planning programs
- Assisting local units of government, through intergovernmental contracts, in areas of public works, human services, law enforcement, etc., and sometimes granting the full faith and credit of the County to secure borrowing for local projects.