Cynthia Oliver (front) will join the county treasurer's office later this month as the new deputy treasurer. She stopped by the office Thursday, January 15, where she will be working with Treasurer Nora Massey (back) and Clerk Susan Dionne. Cynthia Oliver has been hired as the deputy Mackinac County treasurer. Her first day on the job will be Monday, January 26, and her primary responsibility will be tax preparation.

"She'll bring a lot of expertise to the position," Treasurer Nora Massey told The St. Ignace News Wednesday, January 14.

Mrs. Oliver was chosen by Ms. Massey over 12 other candidates. She and her husband, Richard, live in Curtis and St. Ignace.

She has worked for the county, on and off, for 19 years and said she has experience working with the budget. She is also a certified assessor and has knowledge of tax laws, Mrs. Oliver noted.

She said she looks forward to serving the people of the county.

Over the past five years, Mr. and Mrs. Oliver have worked as independent contractors to assess property in the townships of Brevort, Moran, Portage, Newton, and Kinross. Mrs. Oliver said once she begins work in the treasurer's office, she will not be assessing in the county. She has resigned her position with Moran Township, where she was Assessor of Record.

Mrs. Oliver has worked in the county administrator's office and was appointed acting county administrator in 2004, but commissioners terminated the administrator position in February 2005.

She began her county employment at the Michigan State University Extension office in 1988, replacing Mrs. Massey, who had just been hired by the treasurer's office.

The deputy treasurer position has been empty since May 2008, when Ms. Massey, who held the post, was appointed interim treasurer by her mentor, treasurer Jane Hampton, when Mrs. Hampton resigned. Ms. Massey was elected Mackinac County Treasurer in November and a month later she received county commission permission to fill the vacant deputy treasurer position.

Also working in the treasurer's office is Susan Dionne. A temporary tax clerk job held by Patti Becker will end when Mrs. Oliver starts her job.