Summary
The Leelanau County Building Safety Committee met on June 2, 2026, with Commissioners Will Bunek and Steve Yoder present. The meeting was called to order by Chief Deputy Clerk Jennifer L. Zywicki, who turned proceedings over after Bunek was elected Committee Chairman. The committee approved prior minutes and the agenda, then spent the bulk of the meeting discussing a draft Municipal Civil Infractions ordinance prepared by Administrator James Dyer, aimed at giving the Building Safety Department a compliance tool for unpermitted work.
Public Comments
No public comments were made at either opportunity during the meeting.
Infrastructure Projects
Administrator Dyer noted the proposed Civil Infraction Bureau ordinance could potentially also be applied to Soil Erosion violations, though no decision was made on this expansion.
Other Business
The committee discussed a draft Civil Infractions ordinance intended to address building violations on unpermitted projects, not permitted work in progress. Building Safety Official Amber Weber explained the ordinance is meant as an additional enforcement tool, with ticketing as a last resort after department procedures and written warnings, since the department's goal is compliance and safety, not punishment. Chairman Bunek raised concerns about ensuring contractors aren't ticketed for issues arising during permitted jobs. Administrator Dyer explained that legal counsel Tim Perronne (Cohl, Stoker & Toskey, P.C.) advised that two ordinances are needed: one establishing the right to issue civil infraction tickets, and another designating which Building Safety Department offenses fall under the Civil Infraction Bureau.
Dyer summarized six points for the draft: (1) limit to violations only, not active permitted projects; (2) clarify who may issue tickets; (3) require a written warning before ticketing, except in cases of immediate safety hazards; (4) avoid implying adoption of the "Property Maintenance Code"; (5) add a Definitions section, with Weber providing examples; and (6) set static fines between $100.00 and $500.00, with no daily fines. Commissioner Yoder supported this framework. Chairman Bunek asked whether zoning was addressed; Dyer responded that the Building Code already ties zoning violations to code violations, and said he would clarify that the ordinance does not create a separate department, despite the term "bureau." Yoder suggested defining "bureau" within the Definitions section.
Financial Summary
The proposed ordinance would set static fines ranging from $100.00 to $500.00 for civil infractions, with no provision for daily fines.
Action Items
Administrator Dyer indicated a revised draft ordinance could be prepared by the July meeting for further committee review, incorporating the six discussed points (scope limited to violations, authority to issue tickets, warning-first enforcement except for safety hazards, avoiding Property Maintenance Code implications, added definitions including "bureau," and static fine structure). No formal vote was taken to finalize the draft.