RECORDS OF THE UNION COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

BLIND RELIEF RECORDS (1904-1944)

2 Volumes
Arranged Chronologically

Contains applications for blind relief; showing the full name and address of the petitioner and, amount allowed by the Board of County Commissioners.  This record series covers the period 1904 to 1944 only, as on July 1, 1944, the commissioners delegated this power to the county welfare department.  From 1904 to 1913, needy blind relief was administered by a separate commission, appointed by the county probate judge which authority devolved upon the commissioners in 1913.  Hence, the records from 1904 to 1913 were consolidated with those after 1913.  Beginning January 1, 1974, the Commissioners jurisdiction in this area was repealed.

COMMISSIONERS’ JOURNAL (1820-2023)

60 Volumes
Arranged Chronologically

Contains the resolutions of the county commissioners regarding zoning, annexation proceedings, appropriation of transfer of funds, the letting and acceptance of bids, travel permission for other county officials, consideration and determination of budget requests, extension of a county sewer district, acceptance of insurance settlements for damages done to county property, sale or lease of county land, approval or disallowance of bills filed with the county auditor for payment, the issuance of bonds, establishment of vacation of roads, acceptance of annual reports of other county officials, appropriation of private property for public use, and approving and accepting performance bonds of county officials.  These records are indexed separately.

COMMISSIONERS’ JOURNAL – COUNTY HOME (1913-1987)

3 Volumes
Arranged Chronologically

Contains a record of the commissioners’ approval of bills for the county home, showing payee, amount paid, and services rendered or supplies purchased.  Also contains a record of the letting and acceptance of bids and approval of contracts for major expenditures, such as improvements to the physical plant or major equipment purchases,  Early volumes are titled “Commissioners’ Journal – Infirmary,” and include personnel appointments and resignations or terminations as well as salary raises, approval of performance bonds, inspection reports, and any investigation by commissioners of charges of misfeasance, malfeasance, or nonfeasance made against infirmary employees or officials.  Journalized entries post 1987 can be found in the Commissioner’s Journal.

DITCH RECORDS (1875-1958)

34 Volumes
Arranged Chronologically

Contains a record of proceedings relative to the establishment and construction of county and joint county ditches, including copies of petitions for establishing ditches, petitioners’ property boundaries, notices of hearings, reports of viewers, commissioner’s findings and orders, county engineer’s reports of surveys and construction cost estimates, notices of bid lettings for construction, orders for assessments to be placed on the tax duplicate by the county auditor, and plan of each ditch showing date of entry, name and number of ditch, contractor, conditions of contract for construction of the ditch, and date construction completed.  Records of ditch proceedings from 1861 to 1874 can be found in the County Commissioners’ Journal.

FREE TURNPIKE RECORDS (1874-1915)

3 Volumes
Arranged Chronologically

Contains copies of petitions from property owners for the establishment of improved roads, surveyor’s specifications for construction and estimates of cost, notices of hearings by the Board of County Commissioners, reports of viewers and surveyor, commissioners’ resolutions approving or denying petitions; if approved, commissioners’ orders to levy taxes to provide funds for construction showing date of entry, road, and petitioners.  This record is also known as the Turnpike Director’s Journal.

INDEX TO COMMISSIONER’S JOURNAL (1820-2015)

21 Volumes
Arranged Chronologically then Alphabetically, therein by Date

Indexes by volume and page number all matters brought before the board, including a brief synopsis of the proceedings.  Also, shows bills allowed for payment, including payee volume and page number listing approval of payment and depending on the specific index volume the amount of payment approved.  Indexes from 1997 to the present can be found in the County Commissioners’ Office.

ROAD IMPROVEMENT RECORDS (1914-1917)

1 Volume
Arranged Chronologically

Contains a records of costs, assessments, and appropriations for county road improvements including copies for petitions by owners for road improvements showing road and date of petition, itemized accounts of improvement cost, record of assessments levied, copies of bills rendered townships and villages for their share of cost, and copy of county surveyor's itemized statements for cost of improvement.  Volumes 1-7, 1873-1914, of these records are stored at the Union County Engineer's Office.