10/14/2025 - Leelanau County | Regular Session Minutes

Summary

The Leelanau County Board of Commissioners convened on October 14, 2025, at the Government Center, where they conducted their annual session, discussing various agenda items, receiving updates from court officials, and addressing public comments. Key decisions were made concerning contracts, staffing, and appointments. The board ratified a collective bargaining agreement and approved several motions related to budget amendments and public services.

Public Comments

Lawrence Bunchek spoke during the public comment period, offering his views on agenda-specific matters. The written comments from the public are available online, indicating that a range of concerns were presented.

Parks and Recreation Matters

The board discussed the refurbishment of Old Settler’s Park Gazebo and upgrades to the Myles Kimmerly Disc Golf Course. The motion to refurbish the gazebo was passed, waiving the requirement for three bids, and authorized expenditures up to $14,000 with funds sourced from the parks budget. The disc golf course refurbishment was also approved, with a maximum expenditure of $22,000 for equipment procurement.

Infrastructure Projects

Two significant contracts were approved relating to IT support services and courthouse lighting upgrades. A three-year contract with Karhu Cyber for IT support was accepted, amounting to $424,272, pending legal review. Additionally, a request for proposals was authorized for a full upgrade of the courthouse lighting system.

Other Business

The meeting included discussions about the court update by Chief Judge Robert A. Cooney and Court Administrator Gwen Taylor regarding the 86th District Court. The legal counsel's recommendations related to inmate housing agreements and the importance of transparency in public access to records were also highlighted in various commissioner remarks.

Financial Summary

The board reported substantial financial activity, including: - Approval of claims and accounts amounting to $231,641.27 and post-audit claims totaling $6,819,808.34. - Approval of FY 2025 budget amendments and fund transfers. - Creation of a revolving drain fund supported by a $30,000 transfer from the general fund contingency.

Action Items

- Commissioners were tasked with reviewing the legal language concerning inmate housing agreements and ensuring compliance in future contracts. - Follow-up actions were expected regarding the public comments and concerns raised, fostering community engagement and transparency within the county operations.