6/9/2026 - Leelanau Township Board | Special Meeting Minutes from March 19, 2026

Summary

The Leelanau Township Board held a special meeting on March 19, 2026, focusing on reviewing the draft budget for 2026-2027, discussing funding options for local roads, and receiving public comments. The meeting resulted in unanimous approval of the agenda and highlighted the necessary adjustments in salaries across various township positions, as well as anticipated increases in costs for health insurance, utilities, and other expenses.

Public Comments

Mark Krueger raised concerns regarding local road funding options, suggesting the consideration of a road millage to improve funding for future road projects. He highlighted equity issues with the proposed Special Assessment Districts (SADs) on sparsely populated roads. Krueger noted the planned 2026 Road Commission improvements to certain roads, which might lead to reduced repair costs in the future.

Affordable Housing Initiatives

*(No discussion on affordable housing was noted in the minutes.)*

Parks and Recreation Matters

Discussion included a 3% cost-of-living increase for the Parks and Recreation personnel. Additionally, funds were transferred from Braman Hill's budget to consolidate park-related expenses into the Parks and Recreation budget.

Infrastructure Projects

The board discussed the need for funding options for local road improvements, including the possibility of a millage and the introduction of Special Assessment Districts (SADs). Krueger's suggestions included road-related funding strategies, aiming to enhance the township's infrastructure development.

Other Business

The Clerk reviewed the draft budget for 2026-2027, focusing on various department funding and salary adjustments. The board discussed anticipated increases in health insurance costs starting January 2027, and several salary modifications for positions within the township were noted.

Financial Summary

Key figures from the draft budget included: - Total salaries for trustees at $10,600, with additional per diem costs of $2,700. - A proposed 10% increase in the Supervisor's salary. - Clerk’s salary adjusted to $63,860 following a cost-of-living increase. - Anticipated budget items included $260,000 for road capital outlay and other operational and maintenance costs across departments. - Proposed new police services millage at 0.25 mills, expected to generate $155,751 in revenue for December 2026.

Action Items

- Implementation of the proposed road millage to secure funding for local roads needs to be detailed in upcoming discussions. - Consideration of a part-time assessing assistant's role and responsibilities awaiting board approval. - Continued monitoring of budget adjustments and preparation for public input on the finalized budget.