Summary
The Leelanau County Board of Commissioners held a Special Session on November 18 19, 2024, at the Government Center in Suttons Bay, chaired by Ty Wessell, to conduct interviews for the County Administrator position. Eight candidates were interviewed over two days: Matthew Marske, Eric Ceci, Mark Brown, James Kiessel, Kipling Belcher, Jeffrey Thornton, James Dyer, and Brandon Fewins (via Zoom). Following tallies of Commissioner rankings, the Board voted to offer second interviews to Mark Brown, Kipling Belcher, and James Dyer, with second-round interviews consensus-set for Thursday, December 12, 2024, beginning at 9:45 a.m.
Public Comments
Public comment was taken with a 3-minute limit, agenda-specific, from Alan Campbell and Will Bunek; no details of their remarks were recorded in the minutes, and no written comments or handouts were submitted. A second public comment period (5 minutes, any topic) on November 19 drew no speakers.
Other Business
MLI Consultant Chet Janik managed the interview process, noting candidate Robert J. Reinshuttle withdrew due to lack of Zoom availability and travel constraints, and that Brandon Fewins participated remotely via Zoom. Janik reminded Commissioners that state law limits the Board to offering only a one-year contract to a new administrator, and recommended a second round involving no more than three candidates. Commissioner O'Rourke proposed hiring James Dyer immediately rather than conducting further interviews, but this was not adopted as Board action.
Tally results for a second interview (YES-MAYBE) were: Matthew Marske 1-4; Eric Ceci 0-2; Mark Brown 3-2; James Kiessel 1-2; Kipling Belcher 3-2; Jeffrey Thornton 0-2; James Dyer 5-0; Brandon Fewins 2-2. Commissioners-Elect tallies were: Marske 2-1; Brown 2-0; Kiessel 1-1; Belcher 0-1; Thornton 0-1; Dyer 2-1. All tally sheets were submitted to the Clerk.
Motion #299-1118&192024: Rexroat moved, seconded by Allgaier, that the Board offer second interviews to Mark Brown, Kipling Belcher, and James Dyer. Ayes 4 (Rexroat, Wessell, Allgaier, Lautner); No 2 (Ross, O'Rourke). Motion carried. O'Rourke stated he voted no because he wanted to hire Dyer immediately; Ross stated she voted no because she wanted Brandon Fewins included in the second round.
Action Items
- County Clerk Michelle L. Crocker to review meeting notice requirements for adding Zoom participation for candidates.
- MLI Consultant Chet Janik to check candidate availability and compile Commissioner feedback and rating sheets.
- A Special Session meeting request for the second round of interviews on December 12, 2024, at 9:45 a.m. (first interview at 10:00 a.m.) is to be prepared and signed, including input from incoming Commissioners-Elect.