Special Session: Interim Admin Agreement (Minutes)

The Leelanau County Board of Commissioners convened a special session on March 22, 2024, at the Government Center in Suttons Bay, Michigan. The meeting, chaired by Ty Wessell, commenced at 1:02 p.m. and was attended by most commissioners, with Jamie Kramer absent due to prior notice. The primary agenda of the meeting was to discuss and potentially act on the terms of an interim administrator agreement. MLI Consultant Chet Janik provided a brief review of the contract, leading to two significant motions. The first motion, proposed by Commissioner Melinda C. Lautner and seconded by James S. O’Rourke, approved the interim administrator employment agreement with Richard I. Lewis, authorizing the board chair to sign it after legal review. The motion passed unanimously among the present commissioners.

Following the approval of the interim administrator agreement, a second motion was introduced by Commissioner Douglas Rexroat and seconded by O’Rourke to release an attorney-client privileged legal opinion dated March 18, 2024, concerning an incompatibility issue. This motion also passed with full support from the attending commissioners. Public comments were received from several individuals, including Jill Wellman, Stephen Mikowski, Bill Wiesner, and David Kiessel, reflecting a range of community perspectives on the board’s actions and decisions.

Commissioner comments highlighted the collaborative effort and hard work of the team, with specific acknowledgments to public speakers and the contributions of various individuals in facilitating the meeting’s outcomes. Notably, Commissioner Gwenne Allgaier emphasized the challenges of change, drawing historical parallels to illustrate the normalcy of discomfort with new developments. She underscored the importance of adapting to change for the future of the planet and the well-being of future generations. The meeting concluded with a motion to adjourn by Rexroat, and Chairman Wessell closed the session at 1:27 p.m.

Video of the meeting
Written public comments or handouts