Most urban and suburban counties in California have their indices online, and are posting hearing schedules and more, which make it easy.  See if they have any  of this online for that county.

  On Right that all Americans have is to demand the legal justification upon which a fee is levied.  I would guess, knowing little about Michigan State's statutes, that there will be a state code and subsequent county ordinance promulgated pursuant thereto.  Once you have the code sections in hand, look them up online to see what, if anything, that they say about this fee.  See if there are legal exemptions from the fee, like for journalists, lawyers or others.

  If they can't find the code or are reading it wrong, then be willing to "kick it up a notch" to a supervisor or manager at the Court Clerk's office and appeal further up if necessary.   You're already on their bad side, so what the heck will this do?  Nada.  Their coffee clutch is already inconvenienced by your "bad attitude" and unwillingness to let them chat instead of doing their ding dang jobs.  Taxpayers dollars at work?  You betcha.