A township is a political and geographical subdivision of a county and state. It is a municipal corporate body that can own property, sue and be sued, borrow money and levy taxes in accordance with state statutes. A township’s elected officials may act for the electorate in the township’s name when conducting business
Lake County is divided into 18 townships. Generally, there are eight officers in each township, elected for terms of four years: Supervisor, Clerk, Assessor, Highway Commissioner and four Trustees. The annual meeting of the township electors is held on the second Tuesday in April.
Townships have many duties and some permissive powers. Services which are expressly required of all townships include providing for welfare assistance, building and maintaining rural roads, assessing property and preventing the spread of communicable disease. In addition, townships may establish libraries, medical clinics, museums, community building, recreation districts, mental health facilities, cemeteries and youth committees.
