Committee of the Whole (Structure/2024 Capital Outlay):1/24/2024 (Minutes)
Event Date: 2024-01-24 00:00:00
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**Executive Summary**
**Meeting Overview**
On January 24, 2024, the Leelanau County Board of Commissioners held a Committee of the Whole meeting, chaired by Ty Wessell. The meeting commenced at 9:30 a.m. and involved discussions on various county governance structures, financial management, and public comments from community members. Key participants included all seven commissioners, guests, and representatives from the Michigan State University Extension, who delivered insights on government financial structures in comparison to several Michigan counties.
**Key Discussions**
A significant portion of the meeting focused on a presentation by MSU Extension’s John Amrhein, who highlighted different financial governance structures used in counties similar to Leelanau. His discussions revealed a trend favoring the Controller statute, which was supported by five of the six counties consulted. Amrhein explained the distinctions between a County Administrator and a Controller, emphasizing the statutory responsibilities that a Controller holds, which is not necessarily true for a CFO role. Commissioner discussions noted concerns about departmental communication and the potential need for an organizational structure review to address operational issues.
**Public Engagement**
The meeting also allowed for public comment, where several community members voiced their opinions. Commissioners acknowledged these contributions, with Commissioner Lautner emphasizing the importance of considering the full dialogue of all comments made. Discussions encompassed various topics, including supervision dynamics within county departments and the effect of staffing structures on the efficiency of county operations.
**Next Steps**
The meeting concluded with a discussion on capital outlay planning for 2024, where further analysis on specific department expenses was pledged. The commissioners agreed to assess public comment practices moving forward to facilitate community engagement effectively. The meeting was adjourned at 12:57 p.m., with upcoming tasks including exploring financial structure recommendations and addressing public feedback.