Regular meeting (Conflict of Interest – D. Kiessel, 5/21/2024)

**Executive Summary**

This document alleges a conflict of interest involving Joe DeFors, the chair of the Leelanau County Energy Futures Task Force. The crux of the issue is that DeFors actively participated in securing a state grant that will directly benefit him financially, earning him $45 per hour. This action, according to the provided text, violates the county’s conflict of interest policy, which explicitly prohibits public servants from advocating for programs that provide them with personal benefits.

The document explicitly cites the Leelanau County conflict of interest policy, emphasizing that DeFors’s actions, including writing and lobbying for the grant, constitute a clear violation. The policy permits reporting of conflicts of interest in writing to the chairperson of the Board of Commissioners for investigation. The document, therefore, serves as formal notification of this policy violation.

Furthermore, the document requests the recusal of county commissioners Kama Ross and Gwenne Allgaier from the investigation, citing their knowledge of and possible involvement in the alleged ethical violation. The primary objective of this written notice is to trigger an official investigation into the matter.

The document’s final demand is that if the investigation confirms the stated facts, Mr. DeFors should be removed from the Task Force. This is presented as a consequence for his actions, seeking personal financial gain through his role.