Appointed Positions

Denver Township appoints other people to fulfill requirements under law, as well as appointing official representatives of the Township to other local Boards and Commissions.

MCL 41.61 permits the Township Board to appoint Assessors for the Township who have all the powers and duties of the Supervisor in the assessment of property.  The Supervisor remains Chief Assessing Officer and the Assessors are, in all cases, subordinate to the Supervisor.

Where the Supervisor is not a certified Assessor, the Township Board must employ a certified assessor to perform the assessing functions and sign the tax assessment roll.  The completed assessment roll is given to the Supervisor for appropriate handling.

The Assessor is responsible for the overall direction and management of the Township's property appraisal program, oversees the identification, does the Inventory, determines the market value, and calculates the assessed valuation for all Township properties in accordance with the State Tax Commission regulations, methodology, and procedures to ensure fair and equitable assessments.  The Assessor maintains accurate Veteran, Homestead (PRE), and Property Transfer information in compliance with applicable State laws.

Every year, the True Cash Value of each taxable property within the Township is determined.  Every taxable property is assessed at 50% of the True Cash Value.  In February of each year, the Assessor mails property owners a Notice of Assessment.

The Zoning Administrator (ZA) is the official tasked with issuing zoning compliance permits for construction projects and reviewing proposed uses and structures for their conformity with the ordinance, as well as enforcing the ordinances (which are laws) of the Township.   Enforcement includes writing civil infraction citations for violations of ordinances by criminal or civil injunctions, provisions of the ordinance.

Zoning is the process whereby the Township determines the types of uses and structures, as well as details like size and placement, which will be permitted within its borders.   Zoning affects nearly every construction project, from a simple shed to a full-scale housing development.   The collected rules, known as a zoning ordinance, set forth in the Township’s laws for each section of the Township’s zoning map.

Because zoning ordinances may vary widely from township to township, it is necessary for the property owner to contact their Township ZA before beginning any construction project.   Due to a variety of circumstances, it is possible that a proposed project may be illegal, require special permission to be achieved, or may need to be modified.   It is best to check first in order to avoid violating the local zoning ordinance, which can result in various legal actions by the Township.

A zoning permit is required before any construction starts.   The ZA is available to answer questions from the public concerning the zoning ordinance or specific projects proposed within the Township prior to any official application.

The ZA serves, in conjunction with the Supervisor, as a primary contact for the PC Chair and ZBA Chair.   The ZA may also research information desired by the PC members and draft preliminary ordinance language for consideration.

The Sexton oversees the burials, maintenance and upkeep of the cemeteries and is responsible for enforcing the cemetery ordinance.  The Sexton is the initial record keeper of all burials and is responsible for the sale of cemetery lots.

The Sexton is overseen by the Cemetery Board.

There are two representatives of Denver Township on the Hesperia Area Fire Authority, with a third alternate representative being added for a one-year term every three years. These board members, one of which must be a Township Board elected official, are appointed by the Township Board and serve a three-year term.  They are to represent and vote for the best interest of Denver Township in their role as a Fire Board representative. 

The Township Board member who is on the Fire Board is responsible for keeping the Township Board updated on what is occurring within the HAFA (Hesperia Area Fire Authority) and its facilities.

There are two representatives of Denver Township on the Hesperia Area Community Library board.  These representatives are appointed by the Township Board and serve a four-year term. 

They are responsible for keeping the Township Board updated on what is occurring within the Hesperia Library.