Summary
The Leelanau County Board of Commissioners held a Committee of the Whole meeting on November 4, 2026, chaired by Steve Yoder, devoted entirely to discussion of employee benefits brokerage and management services. Three firms presented proposals: OVD (Logan Suttmann and Jessie Smith), BHS Insurance (Pat Dalton, Jake Steggles, and Peggy Smith via Zoom), and Advantage Benefits Group (Jennifer Petterson, Robert Hughes, Eric Ribbens, and Jackie Palfey). No votes or formal decisions were made; the session was discussion only.
Public Comments
No individuals spoke during the 1-minute general topics period, the 3-minute agenda-specific period, or the later 5-minute public comment period.
Other Business
Commissioner Campbell commented on the importance of the discussion to the 2027 budget, noting that anticipated budget changes are largely driven by healthcare costs that had been left unaddressed and needed attention. Commissioner Robbins arrived late, at 11:03 a.m. Chief Deputy Clerk Jennifer Zywicki distributed handouts showing stop-loss fees associated with the Blue Cross and Blue Shield policy and budgeted figures spanning 2020 to 2025. The Board thanked each presenting firm in turn. The meeting included two breaks (12:03–12:13 p.m. and 1:11–1:21 p.m.) and adjourned at 2:38 p.m.
Financial Summary
Discussion centered on employee health benefits costs, with Commissioner Campbell noting that 2027 budget changes are mostly driven by healthcare expenses. Handouts distributed by Chief Deputy Clerk Jennifer Zywicki detailed stop-loss fees tied to the Blue Cross and Blue Shield policy along with budgeted figures for 2020 through 2025. No specific dollar amounts, votes, or approvals were recorded in the minutes; the meeting was discussion only, with three benefits brokerage firms (OVD, BHS Insurance, and Advantage Benefits Group) presenting proposals for consideration.
Action Items
No formal action items, deadlines, or follow-up assignments were recorded. The Board's review of the three benefits brokerage presentations appears to be ongoing, with further budget discussions for 2027 expected given Commissioner Campbell's comments on healthcare-driven cost pressures.