Summary
The Leelanau County Board of Commissioners Committee of the Whole, chaired by Steve Yoder, met December 9, 2025, to review annual vacancies on various boards and commissions. Commissioner Gwenne Allgaier was absent with prior notice. The committee took a series of votes recommending appointments and reappointments to the full Board of Commissioners, and also voted to dissolve the Housing Action Committee.
Public Comments
No public comments were made during either public comment period on the agenda.
Affordable Housing Initiatives
Commissioner Campbell moved to recommend dissolving the Housing Action Committee, seconded by Bunek. Discussion ensued. The motion passed 6-0 (Campbell, Robbins, Bunek, Walter, Wessell voting aye; Allgaier absent).
Other Business
The committee reviewed and voted on numerous board and commission appointments:
- Construction Board of Appeals: Robert Miller appointed (Architect category), term expiring 12/31/2030 — passed 6-0.
- Land Bank Fast Track Authority: Josh Bareman appointed for a 3-year term expiring 12/31/2028 — passed 4-2 (Bunek and Campbell opposed). Bunek advocated for Jim White instead, citing his frequent meeting attendance and Land Bank involvement; Yoder supported Bareman, noting White admitted limited Land Bank knowledge.
- Leland Dam Authority: Richard Thompson reappointed (Engineer category), term expiring 12/31/2028 — passed 6-0. A motion by Bunek to appoint Jim Kobberstad (Riparian category) failed 1-5. A subsequent motion by Robbins to appoint Dawn Lund (Riparian category) passed 5-1 (Bunek opposed).
- Northwest Regional Airport Authority (NRAA) Zoning Board: Steve Patmore reappointed, term expiring 12/31/2028 — passed 6-0.
- Planning Commission: Brian Fenlon (Agriculture) and Tom Nixon (Municipal Government) reappointed, terms expiring 12/31/2028 — passed 5-1 (Campbell opposed). Steve Ruddell (Business category) appointed — passed 6-0. Christopher Logan (Tourism category) appointed — passed 5-1 (Wessell opposed).
- Solid Waste Council: Residency requirement waived by motion of Walter — passed 6-0. Robert Newell appointed for a two-year term expiring 12/31/2027 — passed 6-0. Mark Bevelhymer, Marcia Harris, and James Palmer reappointed for two-year terms expiring 12/31/2027 — passed 6-0.
No applications were received for the Benzie/Leelanau District Environmental Health Board of Appeals, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) board, or the Soil Erosion, Sedimentation, Stormwater Runoff Control Ordinance Board of Appeals; these appointments were postponed to January 2026. Commissioners thanked Executive Assistant Lauren Cypher for her work coordinating the appointment process. The meeting was adjourned by Chairman Wessell at 2:01 p.m.
Action Items
- Appointments for the Benzie/Leelanau District Environmental Health Board of Appeals, the DHHS board, and the Soil Erosion, Sedimentation, Stormwater Runoff Control Ordinance Board of Appeals to be revisited in January 2026 due to lack of applications.
- Full Board of Commissioners to formally act on all recommendations forwarded from this Committee of the Whole meeting, including the contested Land Bank Fast Track Authority and Leland Dam Authority appointments.