Summary
The Leelanau County Board of Commissioners Executive Committee, meeting January 13, 2015, took action on several contracts and grant applications, approved (4-3) the sale of the former Leland courthouse property for $775,000 with a 120-day due diligence period, and failed (3-4) to appoint Robert Joyce to a vacant Road Commission seat, instead directing staff to re-advertise the position. The Board also approved a $133,764.00 MMRMA reimbursement application toward MERS, multiple Register of Deeds appointments, and Solid Waste Council service contracts.
Public Comments
Steve Mikowski (Lake Leelanau) criticized grant dependency, urged scrutiny of the Road Commission's governance and the 30-year tenure of the Solid Waste Council chairman, and suggested a five-member Road Commission "would help immensely," though no board action followed. John Popa (Bingham Township), speaking for himself and fellow Road Commissioner James Calhoun, asked the Board to use the same selection process as last month for a Road Commission replacement and said he did not recommend expanding to five members due to added cost ($6,000-$8,000 per commissioner). He distributed a handout on file with the Clerk. Gwenne Allgaier (Cleveland Township) urged the Board to fund meeting videotaping at $2,400.00/year, citing elderly residents unable to attend in person, and voiced support for windmills; no vote was taken.
Other Business
The Board recommended accepting an $8,000.00 Traverse Narcotics Team (TNT) subcontract with Missaukee County (7-0), accepted a $1,000.00 donation from the Suttons Bay Art Committee for the inmate art program (7-0), and approved a Sheriff's MMRMA grant application for tuition reimbursement (7-0). On the Leland property, after lengthy debate over marketing strategy, PUD density, and water-system constraints, a motion to raise the sale price to $850,000.00 failed 2-5, and the sale to J. Peterson Investor Group 1 at $775,000.00 with a 120-day due diligence period carried 4-3 (Bunek, Rentenbach, Soutas-Little, Watkoski yes; Lautner, Rushton, Wessell no). The Board approved a three-year ERG Environmental Services contract for hazardous waste collection (7-0) and, after amendment, a three-year Valley City Electronics contract (6-1, Bunek dissenting). The Road Commission appointment of Robert Joyce failed 3-4; staff will re-advertise with a February 5 deadline. Commissioner Wessell's videotaping proposal and "Declaration of Commitment" idea were discussed without a vote; Janik will report back on costs. A resolution honoring the late George Bennett was requested by Commissioner Lautner for drafting.
Financial Summary
- TNT subcontract: $8,000.00 (October 2014-September 2015)
- Inmate art donation: $1,000.00 from Suttons Bay Art Committee
- Leland property sale: $775,000.00 approved; $850,000.00 counter-amendment failed
- MMRMA reimbursement: $133,764.00 toward MERS
- Conservation District work orders: $55,000.00 education/technical assistance; $5,000.00 water quality monitoring (approved 6-1)
- BASA senior contribution accepted: $4,000.00
- Claims and Accounts approved: $156,575.51
- Post Audit approved: $1,481,707.04
Action Items
- Administrator Janik to confirm whether Conservation District soil erosion services are state-mandated.
- Janik to draft a resolution honoring the late George Bennett for next Regular Session.
- Staff to re-advertise the Road Commission vacancy (deadline February 5) after the Joyce appointment vote failed 3-4, a contentious item with repeated splits among commissioners.
- Janik to gather further cost/contract details on meeting videotaping and report back next month.
- Planning Director Galla to relay the Solid Waste Council's one-year electronics contract recommendation discussion before next week's vote confirmation.