Pompeii, Michigan Public Records

The 65th District Court, also located at 214 East Center Street, Ithaca, MI 48847 (phone: 989-875-5235), has jurisdiction over misdemeanor crimes, civil cases up to $25,000, landlord-tenant disputes, small claims up to $6,500, traffic violations, and preliminary examinations in felony cases. Both courts serve all of Gratiot County including Pompeii residents. Michigan court records can be searched online through the Michigan Court Case Lookup system at https://micourt.courts.michigan.gov/case-search, which provides access to case information from courts statewide, including Gratiot County. Users can search by party name, case number, or attorney name. The system displays case numbers, filing dates, case types, parties involved, and case status, though detailed documents may require in-person or written requests. For certified copies of court documents, the Circuit Court charges $10 for the first page and $1 for each additional page, plus a $1 certification fee. The District Court charges similar fees. Copy fees are $1 per page for non-certified documents. Vital record court documents such as divorce decrees or name change orders are available through the Circuit Court Clerk's office at the same courthouse address.

The online system displays property characteristics, assessed values (state equalized value and taxable value), property class codes, acreage, building descriptions, and sales history. The database is updated annually following the December Board of Review. The Gratiot County Register of Deeds, also located at 214 East Center Street, Ithaca, MI 48847 (phone: 989-875-5213), is responsible for recording and maintaining official land records including warranty deeds, quit claim deeds, land contracts, mortgages, mortgage satisfactions, liens, easements, and other instruments affecting real property title. The Register of Deeds office provides online access to recorded documents through a subscription-based system available at www.gratiotmi.com/register-of-deeds. The online database allows searches by grantor/grantee name, document type, book and page number, or parcel identification number, with digital images of recorded documents available for viewing and printing. There is no charge for basic searches, though document copies may incur fees. In-person searchers can access records free of charge at the Register's office. Recording fees are established by Michigan statute: deeds are $30 for the first page and $3 for each additional page. The office maintains an extensive historical archive with records dating back to Gratiot County's formation in 1855. The county also offers a GIS parcel viewer at www.gratiotmi.com/gis that provides interactive mapping with property boundaries, ownership, and assessment data overlaid on aerial photography.

The nearest significant employers are located in Ithaca (the county seat approximately 10 miles southwest) and include MyMichigan Medical Center Gratiot, Gratiot County government offices, Gratiot-Isabella Regional Education Service District, and Ithaca Public Schools. Gratiot County's median household income was approximately $48,000-$52,000 in recent census estimates, with Fulton Township and rural areas like Pompeii typically falling below county averages due to the agricultural economic base and aging rural population. The region has experienced modest population decline over recent decades as younger residents migrate to urban areas for employment opportunities. However, agriculture remains stable with increasing farm mechanization and consolidation into larger operations. The Michigan Sugar Company, with processing facilities in nearby counties, contracts with many Gratiot County farmers for sugar beet production, providing an important cash crop option. Wind energy development has emerged as a supplemental revenue source for area landowners, with several utility-scale wind farms constructed in Gratiot County in recent years, providing lease payments to participating farmers. Natural gas extraction has also provided some economic activity. Pompeii's economy is intrinsically tied to commodity prices, federal farm policy, and weather patterns, with limited economic diversification beyond agriculture and related industries.

Pompeii, as an unincorporated community within Fulton Township, does not operate its own municipal police department. Law enforcement services are provided by the Gratiot County Sheriff's Office, located at 225 East Main Street, Ithaca, MI 48847. The Sheriff's Office can be reached at (989) 463-6551, and information is available at www.gratiotmi.com. The Sheriff's Office maintains jurisdiction over all unincorporated areas of Gratiot County, including Pompeii, and handles patrol, criminal investigations, traffic enforcement, and emergency response. Residents can request police reports and incident records by contacting the Sheriff's Office administrative division during business hours or submitting a written request. Reports typically include accident reports, incident reports, and case summaries for closed investigations.

Arrest and jail booking records for individuals detained in the Pompeii area are maintained at the Gratiot County Jail, operated by the Sheriff's Office at the same location in Ithaca. The jail roster and inmate search can be accessed online at www.gratiotmi.com/sheriff or through third-party inmate locator services. The online roster typically displays current inmates' names, booking dates, charges, bond amounts, and expected release dates. Michigan's Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), MCL 15.231 through 15.246, governs access to law enforcement records. Under Michigan FOIA, public records must be made available unless specifically exempted for ongoing investigations, confidential informant information, or matters involving juvenile offenders. Written FOIA requests should be directed to the Gratiot County Sheriff's Office FOIA Coordinator at the Main Street address. The Sheriff's Office may charge reasonable fees for copying and labor, and must respond to FOIA requests within five business days, either providing the records, denying the request with justification, or issuing a notice extending the response period.

Requests can be submitted online, by mail, or in person at county clerk offices. Processing time is typically 4-6 weeks for mail requests and 2-3 weeks for online orders. Michigan law restricts access to birth records for 100 years and death records for 50 years to eligible applicants including the registrant, immediate family members, or legal representatives with proper identification. The Gratiot County Clerk, located at 214 East Center Street, Ithaca, MI 48847 (phone: 989-875-5220, website: www.gratiotmi.com/clerk), serves as the local issuing agent for marriage licenses and maintains marriage records for ceremonies performed in Gratiot County. Marriage licenses cost $20 for Michigan residents and $30 for non-residents, with a mandatory three-day waiting period and valid for 33 days from issuance. Both parties must appear in person with valid photo identification and social security numbers. Divorce records are maintained as part of the court system through the 29th Circuit Court at the same courthouse address, as divorces are judicial proceedings. Certified copies of divorce decrees can be obtained from the Circuit Court Clerk for $10 plus $1 per additional page. The County Clerk's office maintains marriage records dating back to the county's establishment in the 1850s, with older records available on microfilm. Birth and death records from 1867-1905 are also available at the county level through the County Clerk's office.

Fictitious business name (DBA - Doing Business As) filings in Michigan are handled at the county level through the Gratiot County Clerk, 214 East Center Street, Ithaca, MI 48847 (phone: 989-875-5220). The County Clerk maintains a register of assumed names and can provide search services to verify name availability. The filing fee is established by state statute and requires renewal. For formal business entity formation, Michigan businesses must file with the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA), Corporations Division. The Michigan business entity search is available free online at www.michigan.gov/corpentitysearch, where users can search for corporations, limited liability companies (LLCs), limited partnerships, and other registered business entities. The database provides entity name, file number, formation date, status (active/dissolved), registered agent name and address, and principal office address. Formation documents and annual reports can be accessed through the same portal. Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) lien searches for secured transactions are also conducted through LARA at www.michigan.gov/ucc. Business personal property taxes are assessed by the Gratiot County Equalization Department at 214 East Center Street, Ithaca, MI 48847 (phone: 989-875-5207). Business owners must file personal property statements annually by February 20th detailing equipment, fixtures, and inventory. Commercial real estate tax assessments can be searched through the county's online property database at www.gratiotmi.com, searchable by parcel number or business address. Professional licensing (contractors, cosmetologists, health professionals) is regulated by LARA, with license verification available at www.michigan.gov/license.

Pompeii voters are served by the Gratiot County Clerk, who serves as the County Clerk/Register of Deeds and Election Coordinator for all of Gratiot County. The office is located at 214 East Center Street, Ithaca, MI 48847, phone (989) 875-5220, with election information available at www.gratiotmi.com/clerk. Voter registration in Michigan can be completed online at www.michigan.gov/vote up to 15 days before an election, or in person at the County Clerk's office, township clerk's office, or Secretary of State branch office up to and including Election Day with proof of residency. Michigan residents must provide a valid Michigan driver's license or state ID number when registering online. Same-day voter registration is available at the local clerk's office with proof of residency such as a utility bill, bank statement, or government document showing name and current address.

As an unincorporated community, Pompeii has no municipal government, mayor, or city council, so residents do not vote in city elections. Instead, Pompeii voters participate in Fulton Township elections for township supervisor, clerk, treasurer, and trustee positions. Township elections are held in November of even-numbered years, with the next regular township election on November 3, 2026. Pompeii residents also vote for Gratiot County offices including County Commissioners (District 2 represents the Fulton Township area), Sheriff, Clerk/Register of Deeds, Treasurer, Prosecuting Attorney, and other county positions.

Pompeii voters can locate their assigned polling place by using the Michigan Voter Information Center at www.michigan.gov/vote, which allows voters to enter their address and view their polling location, sample ballot, and voter registration status. Pompeii-area residents typically vote at Fulton Township Hall or other designated precinct locations within the township. In the November 2024 general election, Gratiot County reported voter turnout of approximately 67-71% of registered voters, consistent with statewide presidential election participation rates. The county supported Republican candidates in most statewide races, reflecting the conservative lean of rural mid-Michigan agricultural communities.

For the November 3, 2026 general election, Pompeii and Gratiot County voters will decide several significant races. Michigan will hold elections for Governor (four-year term), Secretary of State, Attorney General, all 110 Michigan House of Representatives seats (including District 98 which covers Gratiot County), and various judicial positions including Michigan Supreme Court. Gratiot County voters will elect county commissioners, possibly the Sheriff (depending on term schedules), County Clerk, Treasurer, and other county offices. Fulton Township offices including supervisor, clerk, treasurer, and trustees will appear on the ballot. No U.S. Senate seat from Michigan is up for election in 2026, as Michigan's senators serve staggered six-year terms with the next contest in 2026 being none. Michigan's U.S. Senate seats are next up in 2026 (junior senator term expires 2027, to be decided in 2026)—Michigan voters will elect one U.S. Senator in 2026.

Michigan offers no-excuse absentee voting, allowing any registered voter to request an absentee ballot without providing a reason. Absentee ballot applications can be submitted through the Michigan Voter Information Center at www.michigan.gov/vote, or by contacting the Fulton Township Clerk or Gratiot County Clerk's office. Applications must be received by 5:00 PM the Friday before Election Day for mail delivery, or voters can request and receive an absentee ballot in person at the clerk's office through 8:00 PM on Election Day. Michigan also offers early in-person voting beginning nine days before Election Day at designated early voting sites.

Election records that are public in Michigan include the Qualified Voter File (voter registration lists, available to political parties and upon FOIA request), campaign finance disclosure reports filed by candidates and political action committees (searchable at www.michigan.gov/campaignfinance), candidate filing information and petition signatures, precinct-level election results, and absentee ballot statistics. The Michigan Secretary of State maintains statewide election results at www.michigan.gov/elections, with Gratiot County results also posted by the County Clerk. Voter registration information including name, address, birth year, and voting history (which elections participated in, not how someone voted) is public record, though full birth dates and driver's license numbers are protected.