Summary
The Leelanau County Board of Commissioners' Committee of the Whole, chaired by Ty Wessell, met on December 10, 2024, to conduct its annual review of vacancies on county boards and commissions. District #1 remained vacant; all other six commissioners were present. The committee approved a series of recommendations for appointments and reappointments to numerous boards, all passing unanimously 6-0, to be forwarded to the full Board of Commissioners for final action.
Public Comments
Dr. David Quimby spoke during the agenda-specific public comment period. No further detail on his remarks was recorded. Later in the meeting, the committee recommended appointing Dr. Quimby to the Benzie/Leelanau District Board of Health for a two-year term expiring December 31, 2026 (motion by Allgaier, seconded by Ross, 6-0). No other public comments were offered at the close of the meeting.
Parks and Recreation Matters
The committee recommended reappointing Charles Godbout and Keith Beduhn to the Parks & Recreation Commission for three-year terms expiring December 31, 2027 (motion by Rexroat, seconded by Allgaier/Lautner, 6-0). Mel Black was recommended as the Leelanau County Road Commission representative to the Commission (motion by Lautner, seconded by O'Rourke, 6-0). Rebecca Benedict was recommended for a partial term expiring December 31, 2027 (motion by Allgaier, seconded by Ross, 6-0), and Jim Carpenter for a partial term expiring December 31, 2026 (motion by Allgaier, seconded by Lautner, 6-0). Administrator Lewis noted that Casey Noonan resigned from both the Parks & Recreation Commission and the Planning Commission; the Parks & Recreation Commission itself will recommend a replacement to fill the remainder of Noonan's term.
Other Business
The committee recommended numerous other appointments, each passing 6-0: Don Barrows reappointed to the Benzie/Leelanau Environmental Health BOA; David King reappointed, and Christopher Logan and Kathleen Wiejaczka newly appointed, to the Brownfield Redevelopment Authority; Thomas Verschaeve and Julius Bunek appointed to the Construction Board of Appeals; Garth Greenan reappointed to the Leland Dam Authority; Lois Bahle, Scott Heiser, and Mel Black appointed/reappointed to the Planning Commission; Eric Lind reappointed and Kathy Dawkins appointed to the Soil Erosion, Sedimentation, Stormwater Runoff BOA; Andrew Gale, Tom Peterson, and Kathy Dawkins reappointed/appointed to the Solid Waste Council; and Steve Stanton reappointed to the Veterans Affairs Administrative Committee. Chairman Wessell said the Board needs Networks Northwest's recommendations for the Workforce Development appointment. Commissioner Ross requested better advertisement of open board positions. Commissioners thanked Executive Assistant Lauren Cypher for her work.
Action Items
- Readvertise the citizen member opening on the Land Bank Fast Track Authority.
- Advertise two remaining openings on the Solid Waste Council.
- Defer decisions on whether AAANM and Northwest Regional Airport Authority appointments should be Board members or private citizens to the January 2025 Organizational Meeting, where TTCI and Airport Authority representatives will also be chosen.
- Reach out to Networks Northwest for Workforce Development appointment recommendations.
- Parks & Recreation Commission to recommend a replacement for Casey Noonan's unexpired term.