Executive Summary

Meeting Overview

The Leelanau County Board of Commissioners held a special session on March 19, 2024, to discuss the appointment of an interim administrator/CFO. Chairman Ty Wessell called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m. at the Government Center in Suttons Bay, Michigan. The session began with the absence of public comments and included a roll call of all commissioners present. The key focus was the discussion led by MLI Consultant Chet Janik regarding the candidate search for the interim position, with several prospective candidates identified throughout the meeting.

Candidate Interviews and Selection Process

Chet Janik outlined the need for a clear job description and salary for the interim administrator before proceeding to post the position. The Board discussed the importance of conducting thorough interviews and allowed each candidate to respond to a series of questions. Interviews were conducted via Zoom and in-person, with candidates including Mark Justin, Robert Clingenpeel, Richard Lewis, Jean Derenzy, and James Kiessel. A brief recess was taken, and after reconvening, the Board engaged in evaluating the candidates based on their responses, flexibility, and experience.

Decision and Next Steps

Following the discussions, the Board opted to move forward with Richard I. Lewis as the frontrunner for the position, entering contractual negotiations after a series of votes indicated he had the strongest support among the commissioners. A subsequent special meeting was tentatively scheduled for March 22, 2024, to finalize contract details. The meeting concluded with a motion to adjourn at 7:06 p.m., marking the end of an effective session that set a proactive course for the County’s administrative needs.

Meeting Video