Summary
The Leelanau County Board of Commissioners met October 1, 2024, at the Government Center in Suttons Bay, with Chairman Ty Wessell presiding (District #1 vacant). The Board approved the agenda 6-0 and focused on follow-up items from the September 24, 2024 Budget Work Session, including Capital Improvement Plan items, equipment requests, and a review of 2025 General Fund revenue and expenditure projections.
Public Comments
Bill Wiesner spoke in person during both public comment periods; the minutes do not detail his remarks or any response given.
Infrastructure Projects
The Board reviewed Capital Improvement Plan items with Maintenance Director Jerry Culman and D&W Mechanical Technician Gary O'Conner present. For Sewer System Control Panels, the Board reached consensus to defer with no further information needed, pushing the item to the 2026 budget or later. The Board reached consensus to proceed with Roof Access Platforms at the Law Enforcement Center, to be paid in 2024 through the Buildings & Grounds budget. For the Government Center Cooling Tower and Air Exchange Handler, consensus was for Interim Administrator Richard Lewis to gather more information and report back at a future meeting.
Other Business
Interim Administrator Lewis reported the Suttons Bay Downtown Development Authority will attend the October 8, 2024 Budget Work Session regarding a tax capture request. The Traverse Area District Library (TADL) will submit its talking library funding request through the Senior Services Department. The Drain Commissioner's request for a part-time secretary will be handled via a trial basis with an existing staff member, details to be reported later. Regarding the Veronica Valley mower, Maintenance Director Culman explained the current mower is old and due for replacement; consensus was for Lewis to develop specifications and seek bids for a new mower, with the tractor placed on a future requests list. Finance Director Cathy Hartesvelt reviewed the 2025 Budget Book Revenue and Expenditure Summary tabs, and Lewis explained transfers from the General Fund to Special Funds for 2025. Lewis also presented the Michigan Opioid Settlement Funds Toolkit for Commissioner review.
Financial Summary
Finance Director Cathy Hartesvelt presented the 2025 Budget Book Revenue Summary and Expenditure Summary tabs, explaining revenue projections and General Fund transfers to Special Funds for 2025. No specific dollar figures were stated in the minutes. The Roof Access Platforms project will be funded in 2024 through the Buildings & Grounds budget. The Opioid Settlement Funds Toolkit was distributed for review, with Chairman Wessell asking whether Opioid Funds could help offset funding for the Northern Lakes Community Mental Health Authority.
Action Items
- Interim Administrator Lewis to bring back Capital Improvement Plan requests for the October 8, 2024 session.
- Interim Administrator Lewis to follow up on the Cooling Tower/Air Exchange Handler and report back at a future meeting.
- Interim Administrator Lewis to develop mower specifications and go out for bids.
- Commissioner Allgaier requested future discussion on the 2025 starting wage for the Senior Services Director.
- Commissioner Rexroat requested a copy of the D&W Mechanical contract; Finance Director Hartesvelt to forward it.
- Chairman Wessell requested the Capital Outlay list, IT Technician item, Senior Services Director starting salary, and information on whether Opioid Funds could offset Northern Lakes Community Mental Health Authority funding.