Michigan Compiled Laws, Chapter 462. Railroads § 462.243

Sec. 243. If a railroad company desires to purchase land belonging to the state or a city, village, county, or township, the state through the appropriate department, or the city, village, county, or township officers respectively, having charge of the lands, may grant such lands to the company for compensation which shall be agreed upon between them. If compensation cannot be agreed upon, then such lands shall be appraised as in other cases. All petitions or notices, in cases when the state is the owner, shall be served on the director of the appropriate state department; where a city or village is the owner, on the mayor or other chief executive officer; when a county is the owner, on the prosecuting attorney of the county; and when the township is the owner, on the supervisor of the township.