Summary
The Leelanau County Board of Commissioners met September 29, 2026 to finalize 2027 budget rules and staffing levels. The Board amended several budget rules, approved wage adjustments for the Senior Services Director and Finance Director, restructured the Facilities Director position into a Maintenance Director role, approved a three-year phased wage increase for elected officials and chiefs, and allocated funding to Northern Lakes Community Mental Health and the Brownfield Authority. Several infrastructure and equipment items (towers, dam monitoring, radio project) were also resolved.
Public Comments
Under the 1-minute General Topics comment period, Michelle L. Crocker spoke. Under 3-minute Agenda Specific comments, Marian Kromkowski, Carrie Eder, Steve Tostige, Jeanne Houle, Sam Getsinger, Deb Kuhn, and Jim White spoke. The minutes do not detail the content of these comments or any Board response. A later 5-minute public comment period included remarks from Jim White. No written letters were noted as submitted.
Parks and Recreation Matters
The Board reviewed proposed changes to the Buildings & Grounds and Parks & Recreation staffing, converting a seasonal worker to a permanent position shared between the two departments, and eliminating outside grounds-maintenance contracts. Commissioner Allgaier raised concerns about added costs (health insurance, retirement, equipment) and winter workload; Maintenance Supervisor Duane Flaska and Interim Administrator Cypher stated the restructuring would yield net savings of about $107,000 despite a $49,000 increase in personnel/capital outlay, and includes an $11,000 mower purchase. Commissioner Campbell questioned whether a candidate had already been selected; Cypher confirmed the position was not yet filled and would be posted per union process. MOTION BY WESSELL, SECONDED BY BUNEK to approve the changes passed 6-0 (Robbins absent).
Infrastructure Projects
Government Tower Deconstruction: Board directed getting a full cost estimate before budgeting; later approved (4-1, Allgaier opposed) funding the deconstruction from Fund #518 Tower Fund contingency. Northport Tower: declared surplus (5-0) to allow disposal. Current Tower Construction: equipment relocation costs to be priced by Director Matt Ansorge. Leland Dam Maintenance: approved moving $80,000 from General Fund #101 to Fund #805 (Dam Special Assessment) for a monitoring system. Radio Communications Project (Fund #457): consensus to keep budget as presented, including $109,000 from the General Fund.
Other Business
Discussed and deferred: Jail lighting RFP (moved to Executive Session), vehicle replacement (to October Executive Committee), pole barn construction (deferred to 2028 budget), Drain Commissioner vehicle (to October Executive Committee), take-home vehicle policy (Cypher to draft with legal counsel), audio/visual upgrades for the BOC room (to seek Grand Traverse Band 2% grant funding), and clocks replacement (funded in 2026 budget). Leelanau Clean Water Initiative: Board voted 4-1 (Bunek opposed) to encourage the group to seek Grand Traverse Band 2% grant funding rather than General Fund support.
Financial Summary
- Senior Services Director wage raised to match Planning/Finance/IT Directors (range $81,864.57–$90,646.21); passed 6-1 (Bunek opposed).
- Maintenance Director position created at 5% over current Maintenance Supervisor wage ($3,987.08 top-range increase); Facilities Director position ($99,814.11 top wage) eliminated/unfunded, replaced with Maintenance Director top wage of $83,728.58.
- Staff Accountant position approved for 2027; Finance Director Rio Risbridger moved to Step Four wage.
- Elected officials/chiefs wage increase phased over three years (5-1, Bunek opposed).
- MMRMA premium increase of $27,000 for 2027.
- Health insurance budgeted at $2.6 million rollover pending new broker (meeting set Nov. 4, 2026).
- Geotracking: $2,574 added across departments (Building Safety $1,170; Buildings & Grounds $936; Emergency Management $234; Senior Services $234).
- Mileage reimbursement set at $0.50/mile or $2,500/year minimum for Motor Pool Fund.
- Four Sheriff's Office vehicles approved for purchase in 2027.
- $80,000 moved to Fund #805 for Leland Dam monitoring.
- $150,000 moved from Fund #516 (DTR) to Fund #470 (Capital Improvement) for heat pump replacements.
- Strategic Plan budget reduced from $50,000 to $35,000 for 2027.
- $40,000 allocated to Leelanau County Brownfield Authority (passed 4-1, Bunek opposed, after two prior motions failed).
- $34,925 additional funding approved for Northern Lakes Community Mental Health (4-1, Bunek opposed), with a request for data on participants under 6 and over 60; a Bunek amendment to fund this by cutting $15,000 from Family Coordinating Council and $7,500 from Leelanau Clean Water failed 3-2.
- Fund Balance Forward for 2027 budget set at $512,926, including $400,000 contingency.
Action Items
- Legal counsel to finalize language for Budget Rules 6 and 7 per Board direction.
- Cypher to bring Maintenance Director job description and posting process forward for Board approval; current Facilities Director (Patrick Roach) may apply, with position ending December 31, 2026 — this drew sharp disagreement among Commissioners Robbins, Allgaier, and Bunek over whether the employee was being displaced.
- Cypher and HR to develop recommendation on Finance Director wage step for Executive Committee review.
- Cypher and Prosecuting Attorney to discuss a proposed wage adjustment and report back to the Board.
- Cypher to work with legal counsel on a take-home vehicle policy.
- Director Ansorge to obtain cost estimates for relocating equipment from the current Government Tower.
- Cypher to draft the 2027 budget message consistent with the 2026 format.
- Vehicle replacement and Drain Commissioner vehicle items scheduled for the October Executive Committee meeting.