ARENAC COUNTY – Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel today announced the recent appointment of three new county public administrators. Melissa S. Sprague serves as the Arenac County public administrator; Shane M. Childers serves as the Lapeer County public administrator; and Sara J. Basso serves as the Iron County public administrator.
“I am confident Arenac, Lapeer, and Iron Counties will be well served by their newly appointed administrators,” said Nessel. “Each of these new public administrators have exceptional experience in public service and I’m grateful to their dedication to continue that service for their communities.”
Sprague, of Standish, is a graduate of Ferris State University and the University of Nebraska College of Law. After working for Legal Services of Eastern Michigan, she entered private practice as a partner at Broughton & Sprague, PLLC. Sprague’s practice focuses primarily on probate and estate planning, family law, real estate, and bankruptcy. She is the founder and President of the non-profit Bridging the Gap for the Elderly. Sprague was sworn in on August 7th.
County public administrators have powers and duties primarily related to intestate decedent estates where there are apparently no known heirs, including managing the determination, collection, liquidation, and/or distribution of any assets in the estate. Attorneys that serve in this capacity often also have private practice responsibilities that are separate and unrelated to their appointment as county public administrator.
