FAQs

Village Structure

• Are the Village and the Township the same thing?

  While this can be a little confusing, the answer is "no." While the Village and the Odessa Township are linked to a degree (tax assessing and elections), the two are separate entities. For example, if you live outside of the Village and have a question on your property, your taxes or tax assessment, or other matters, you will need to contact Odessa Township as Village staff cannot access your records or assist you with answering questions as Township residents outside of the Village limits are not Village residents.

• Does the Village of Lake Odessa own and operate the cemetery?

  No. Lakeside Cemetery is owned, operated, and maintained by Odessa Township, not the Village of Lake Odessa. For questions about the cemetery, please visit the Township's website by clicking here.

• What is the difference between a Village and a City?

  While many people believe that it is population based, that is not the case in Michigan. The brief answer is this: Cities are independent entities, with a city charter, and have no direct connection with the surrounding townships, other than shared borders or any agreements that the city and township may have entered into for shared services. Cities hold their own independent elections and perform their own assessing services. Cities are completely autonomous, relative to their surrounding townships. On the other hand, Villages -- such as Lake Odessa -- are still linked with the surrounding township (Odessa Township)to some degree. Most Villages in Michigan follow the General Law Village Act (PA 3 of 1895). While the Village offers some independent services (police, water, planning and zoning, Village administration, Department of Public Works, etc), services such as elections, assessing, and fire protection are provided by Odessa Township. A resident of the Village of Lake Odessa is also a resident of Odessa Township whereas a resident of a city is not a resident of the surrounding township.

  The Michigan Municipal League provides a more in-depth analysis of the differences between a Village and a City. To view this document, please click here.

• What is the difference between the Village President and the Village Manager?

  The Village President is the elected leader of the Village Council. In a "Council-Manager" form of government, the Village Council is a policy-making board and is comprised of elected representatives from the community. The Village Manager is the Chief Administrative Officer of the Village and is responsible to the Village Council for the efficient administration of all affairs of the Village and exercises management supervision over all departments and over all public property belonging to the Village. Where the Council develops and votes to enact policy and direction, the Village Manager is responsible for the day-to-day provision of Village services and the active implementation of policy and direction as set forth by the Council as a whole.

• Who is the Village Manager?

  Patrick Reagan is both the Village Manager and the Village Clerk. To contact Patrick, please call (616) 374-8698 or email him at: manager@lakeodessa.org.

• Who is the Village President?

  The Village President is the Honorable Karen L. Banks. To view the complete directory of elected officials and Village staff, please click here.

• Who is the Village Treasurer?

  The Village Treasurer is Kathy Forman. Kathy can be reached by calling (616) 374-8062 or by email at: treasurer@lakeodessa.org.