Regular meeting (Conflict of Interest – Unknown, 5/21/2024)

Executive Summary:

Conflict of Interest Violation
– The Leelanau County Conflict of Interest policy states that a clear example of a conflict of interest occurs when a public servant advocates for the approval and funding of a program that would result in a benefit to the public servant.
– Joe DeFors, chair of the Leelanau County Energy Futures Task Force, helped write and lobbied for the passage of a state grant that will pay him $45 per hour, with his name and salary specifically stated in the grant.
– The policy states that persons may report conflicts in writing to the chairperson of the Board of Commissioners for investigation. However, commissioners Kama Ross and Gwenne Allgaier had knowledge of and were complicit with the ethical violation, and should be recused from the investigation.
– This written document serves as notice of a violation of the county Conflict of Interest policy. Should an investigation verify the facts presented, Mr. DeFors should be removed from the Task Force for seeking personal gain in his position.