Jerry Marchetti is the Board supervisor for Ontwa Township in southwest Michigan. Jerry had served as a township trustee for eight years prior to being elected as the township board supervisor.

Ontwa Township has over 6,600 residents and covers an area of about 24 square miles in the southern part of Cass County, Michigan. The township includes the Village of Edwardsburg and the unincorporated area of Adamsville, along with several lakes, the largest of which are Eagle Lake and Christiana Lake.

Each year, Ontwa Township collects revenue from a variety of sources including property taxes, licenses, state shared revenue, interest, rents, and cable franchise fees. The $900,000 annual budget is used to provide township services, build infrastructure development, care for roads, and provide parks/recreation programs.

It is said that township officials represent the level of government closest and most responsive to the wishes of the people, and the township’s Board of Trustees fully embraces the need to spend the money wisely. Jerry said, “The residents of our township have put their trust and confidence in us and we need to respect their wishes.”

The importance of honesty, transparency, accountability to the public and adherence to the state’s regulations are some of the reasons that Jerry values the township’s relationship with Kruggel Lawton. “Financially we are in very fine shape, but with the annual audit from Kruggel Lawton, we are able to show both the township residents and state regulators that we are doing things right.”

Jerry started working with Michael Layher, a partner at Kruggel Lawton, when the two of them served on a volunteer board for the Edwardsburg Public School Foundation together. Now in his role as township supervisor, Jerry appreciates the responsiveness that he gets from the team at Kruggel Lawton. “I have confidence working with Kruggel Lawton, and knowing Mike over the years, I feel very comfortable with him. We have a very good relationship,” Jerry said, “communication is so critical in the government business that we’re involved in.”

Whether it is a quick call about a bookkeeping line item or more in-depth suggestions on remedying audit deficiencies, Jerry appreciates the guidance that he gets from Kruggel Lawton. “I feel much more confident that we have someone looking over our shoulder to give us advice and direction.”

Ontwa Township

Cass County, Michigan
(269)663-2347
OntwaTwp.org