Summary
The Leelanau County Board of Commissioners held an executive session on May 12, 2026. Key decisions included the approval of the millage rate for county operations, the authorization for opioid settlement fund management, and the purchase of fish for the Parks and Recreation's Kids' Fishing Day. Several motions were made and passed during the meeting, reflecting active engagement among the commissioners on various agenda items.Public Comments
Two individuals addressed the Board during public comments. Gerald S. Schatz, J.D., and Sonja Tostige spoke on general county concerns, while Micky Eder and Steven Tostige focused on specific agenda items. Written comments were also available online. Commissioner Campbell acknowledged the public input regarding opioid-related agenda items.Parks and Recreation Matters
- **Old Settlers Monkey Flower Maintenance Program Donation:** The Board approved a partnership with Laurel Voran, LLC for the care of the Michigan Monkey Flower habitat for $1,300. - **Purchase of Fish for Kids' Fishing Day:** The Board passed a motion to approve the purchase of fish to restock ponds at Veronica Valley County Park, not to exceed $8,566, with Commissioner Campbell abstaining from the vote due to a conflict of interest.Infrastructure Projects
- **Emergency Management - Terms of Tower Lease Agreement Change:** A recommendation to change tower lease agreement terms from 15 to up to 30 years was approved. - **Emergency Management - Central Tower Lease Agreement:** The first amendment to the Tower Space Lease Agreement for Verizon Wireless was approved unanimously.Financial Summary
- A millage rate for county operations was recommended not to exceed 3.2002, with a discussion on allocating $200,000 into a rainy-day fund as part of the budget process. The motion to finalize this recommendation passed with a divided vote. - **Claims and Accounts:** The Board approved claims and accounts in the amount of $95,380.93.Action Items
- The Board moved forward with the authorization for opioid settlement fund management through an RFP. - A task was assigned to negotiate changes to the tower lease agreement duration. - The approval of the millage rate included the condition of setting aside $200,000 into a rainy-day fund. - Further review of an RFP for managing the Opioid Settlement Funds is to be brought to future meetings.Overall, the meeting exhibited active deliberation on budgetary issues, community services, and resource management, with a focus on maintaining fiscal responsibility while addressing community needs.