Summary
The Leelanau County Board of Commissioners held a Budget Work Session on September 22, 2026, chaired by Steve Yoder, with Commissioner Walter departing partway through and Commissioner Robbins leaving near the end. The Board took up multiple 2027 staffing and budget recommendations, approving changes for the Sheriff's Office, Equalization Department, and Facilities Department, while rejecting a proposed Finance Department staffing change and the Budget Rules as presented. Tension arose over Facilities Director Patrick Roach's critical email to the Board and over unsubstantiated rumors regarding a Finance Department hire.
Public Comments
Under the 1-Minute General Topics of County Concern, Deb Koon, Jim White, and Lena Vander Meulen spoke; no specifics of their remarks were recorded in the minutes. No one spoke under the 3-Minute Agenda Specific comment period, and none spoke during the later 5-minute public comment period. Written comments were submitted and are available via the county's agenda link, but their contents are not summarized in the minutes.
Infrastructure Projects
Commissioner Campbell thanked Interim Administrator Cypher for locating a 2023 email confirming the Leland Dam walkway gate must remain locked. Commissioner Bunek clarified the gate stays locked until the adjacent property owner installs an accessible ramp. Cypher stated the county's insurance carrier supports keeping it locked and she will work with the other property owner on next steps.
Other Business
- Agenda approved 7-0, adding a late item on the Prosecutor's Office FOIA Coordinator hours.
- Sheriff's Office: Board voted 7-0 to eliminate the TNT department's one FTE and add one FTE to deputies, bringing the total to 11 deputies.
- Motor Pool: After Commissioner Wessell withdrew a leasing motion, the Board voted 7-0 to base the 2027 Motor Pool budget on purchasing vehicles rather than leasing.
- Facilities: Voted 5-1 (Robbins opposed, Walter absent) to eliminate the Facilities Director position and create a Maintenance Director position, following debate about job description, union concerns (raised by Robbins), and a pointed exchange after Campbell called an email from Facilities Director Patrick Roach "insulting."
- Equalization: Voted 6-0 (Walter absent) to create a Teamsters 214 Pay Grade 04 GIS Coordinator position.
- Finance Department: A motion to formally reflect the Staff Accountant staffing change for 2027 failed 3-3 (Campbell, Yoder, Bunek in favor; Allgaier, Robbins, Wessell opposed), with Wessell stating he would not support it due to a rumor that Elizabeth Gray would be hired, which Risbridger denied. The Board then voted 6-0 to move the Finance Department staffing issue to the September 29, 2026 meeting.
- FOIA Coordinator: Voted 6-0 to reduce the Prosecutor's Office FOIA Coordinator position from 24 to 21 hours weekly.
- Budget Rules: A motion to approve as presented (with a spelling correction) failed 1-5 (only Bunek in favor); the item was moved to the September 29, 2026 session.
- Presentations were given by Treasurer John A. Gallagher III, Planning Director Gail Myer, and Enterprise Fleet Management's Daniel Brown; no votes resulted from these.
Financial Summary
Commissioner Bunek noted the Senior Services fund balance was over $900,000 at the end of 2025. Commissioner Campbell confirmed the Board's plan is to draw down the fund balance by about $300,000 rather than raise taxes, calling it a one-year adjustment. Commissioner Allgaier expressed discomfort with incomplete information and emphasized maintaining six months of reserves. The Facilities Director change was described as producing cost savings, shifting from one Facilities Director, one Maintenance Supervisor, and two maintenance workers to one Maintenance Director and three maintenance workers.
Action Items
- Interim Administrator Cypher to continue working with the adjacent property owner on the Leland Dam walkway gate/ramp issue.
- Updated Maintenance Director job description to be brought back to the Board for approval before finalizing the Facilities-to-Maintenance Director change.
- Finance Department staffing level recommendation to be revisited at the September 29, 2026 meeting.
- Budget Rules to be revisited at the September 29, 2026 meeting.
- Commissioner Bunek requested the Leelanau Clean Water budget be reviewed at the next session.
- Finance Director Risbridger to proceed with hiring for the Staff Accountant/Account Clerk role, noting the position is only authorized through the end of 2026 pending the Board's further action.