8/19/2025 - Leelanau County | Regular Session Minutes

Summary

The Leelanau County Board of Commissioners met on August 19, 2025, to discuss a range of topics. Key decisions included the approval of the minutes from previous meetings, acceptance of grants, and various financial motions concerning the budget and upcoming projects. Public comments raised concerns about accessibility at the dam and operational safety, which were addressed by the Administrator. The meeting concluded with a closed session regarding union negotiations and subsequent ratification of collective bargaining agreements.

Public Comments

Jim Kobberstad spoke during the public comment session, but his specific concerns were not detailed in the minutes. Additional public comments came from Steve Mikowski, Steve Tostige, Keith Ashley, and Dana Getsinger, though their comments were not elaborated upon.

Infrastructure Projects

The Board discussed several infrastructure matters: - The potential construction and receipt of proposals for the cooling tower replacement at the Government Center. - Administrator Dyer provided an update regarding the attempted coordination on creating access ramps and general safety measures at the Falling Waters Lodge. The topic on the gate's accessibility and closure was noted, with a decision to consult legal opinions before making further actions.

Other Business

Various consent agenda items were approved, including: - The Sheriff's Office's application for a secondary road patrol grant and acceptance of a $10,000 donation. - Approval of the 2026-2031 Capital Improvement Program. - Demolition of pit toilets at Myles Kimmerly and Old Settler’s Park. - Contract extensions with Northwest Michigan Community Action Agency for housing rehab services.

Financial Summary

Significant financial decisions included: - A motion to allow the purchase of new marine patrol boat motors not to exceed $26,000 funded by the Sheriff's Office budget. - Approval of 2% allocation grants from the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, totaling $38,000 for various local programs. - Ratification of claims and accounts amounting to approximately $581,215.20.

Action Items

- The Sheriff's Office was tasked with further exploring bids for boat motors before finalizing purchases. - Monitoring of the safety and accessibility issues at the Falling Waters Lodge was assigned to Administrator Dyer for follow-up. - Approval of the MERS service credit purchase for Scott Robinson was confirmed, with an emphasis on examining retirement practices for future clarity. - The Building & Grounds Committee was charged to review the installation of a bulletin board requested by the MSU Extension Office.