County board set to appoint medical examiner.

County board set to appoint medical examiner. 

#MasonCountyNews.

LUDINGTON — The Mason County Board of Commissioners is scheduled to appoint a new medical examiner during a special meeting on Tuesday, July 25. Dr. Paul Wagner of Hart is expected to be approved to replace Dr. Marc Keen, who is retiring.

Duties of the medical examiner include: issuing death certificates; conducting on-scene investigations in all cases of persons who have come to their death by violence, or whose death is unexpected, or without medical attendance during a 48 hour period prior to the hour of death, or the death of any inmate in the county or the county jail; court preparation and appearances; issuing cremation permits.

The chief medical examiner is paid $7,500 annually and his office expenses are $22,500. The county has also budgeted autopsy/case related death costs at up to $30,000. The ME is also paid $50 per cremation request; a one time training/implementation fee of $3,155; additional service fee for court appearances and mileage of $100 per hour plus standard mileage fee.

The medical examiner has the option to employ medical investigators.

The contract with Wagner will be for a term ending on Dec. 31, 2020.

The board of commissioners meets at 7 p.m.