Special Session (Minutes)

**Executive Summary**

**Meeting Overview**
The Leelanau County Board of Commissioners convened for a special session on May 14, 2024, focusing on the selection process for a new County Administrator. The meeting started at 1:04 p.m. and took place at the Government Center in Suttons Bay, Michigan. All seven commissioners were present, and no public comments were recorded at the outset of the meeting.

**Candidate Review Process**
The primary objective of the session was to review applications for the County Administrator position, with a MLI Consultant, Chet Janik, present to guide the process. The Commissioners entered a closed session to discuss the applicants, many of whom sought confidentiality. Following the closed session, commissioners resumed open session around 1:50 p.m., where they collectively decided to interview eight candidates: Ahmed Abou-Ismail, Kipling Belcher, Michael Belsky, Tracy Byard, James Kiessel, Mark Justin, Anna Nelson, and Robert Reinshuttle.

**Schedule for Interviews**
The board scheduled the interviews for the candidates to take place on May 30-31, 2024, with a second round of interviews planned for June 10, 2024. It was noted that Commissioner Allgaier will participate in the first round of interviews remotely due to prior commitments. The session concluded with public comments and the meeting was officially adjourned at 2:16 p.m.

View Video of Meeting
View Public Comments and Handouts