Summary
The Leelanau County Board of Commissioners Executive Session, chaired by Steve Yoder, met January 13, 2026 with all seven commissioners present. The Board approved a full agenda of items including donations, contracts, appointments, and insurance renewals, mostly by unanimous votes, and referred the 2026 Vehicle Acquisitions Plan and 2026 Board Goals to the Regular Session on January 20, 2026 for further action.
Public Comments
Under the 1-minute general concern period, Dana Getsinger and Rebecca Hendrick spoke; Lois Bahle spoke under the 3-minute agenda-specific period. Written comments were submitted and are available via the linked packet, though specific content was not detailed in the minutes. Later in the meeting, Rebecca Hendrick, Steve Tostige, Steve Mikowski, and Jim White also addressed the Board; written comments from this session were likewise submitted for the record.
Affordable Housing Initiatives
Commissioner Wessell moved to authorize Administrator Dyer to respond to public comments regarding Peninsula Housing and the Landbank with Mr. White, if still interested. Seconded by Allgaier, the motion failed 2-5 (Ayes: Wessell, Allgaier; Nays: Bunek, Campbell, Robbins, Walter, Wessell [listed in minutes as voting both ways]).
Infrastructure Projects
Emergency Management/9-1-1 Director Matt Ansorge presented the 3rd Amendment to the Tower Lease Agreement with AT&T at the Central Tower site. Commissioner Wessell moved to recommend approval and authorize Chairman Yoder to sign, pending legal counsel's approval of form; seconded by Robbins. The motion passed 7-0.
Other Business
The Board accepted an anonymous $5,000 donation to the Sheriff's Office (7-0). It approved a 30-day staffing overlap for the Crime Victim Advocate position between Laurie Lacross and her successor (7-0). A resolution supporting HB 5152 and HB 5153, sought by Register of Deeds Jennifer Grant, passed 6-1 (Campbell opposed). The Board adopted the PA 152 health insurance exemption for 2026-2027 (7-0) and approved the BCBS renewal for February 2026–January 2027 (7-0). A SHRM CAP grant application for $520 was approved (7-0). Employee recognition suggestions were approved 6-1 after Bunek's amendment to limit implementation to Suggestion #2 failed 1-6. A Manpower staffing agreement was approved 6-1 (Campbell opposed). Appointments were made: Mickey Eder to MDHHS (7-0), Deb Kuhn to the Soil Erosion Board of Appeals (7-0), and Angeline Ninotti to the BLDHD Environmental Health Board of Appeals (7-0). A printer/copier purchase not to exceed $5,319 for Emergency Management was approved (7-0) from the Duplicating Machine Fund. Dr. Anna Tart was appointed Deputy Medical Examiner (7-0). Extensive discussion occurred on 2026 Board and Administrator goals, including budget process, HR/Finance independence resolution, software upgrades, and a proposed Governance Strategic Retreat (Commissioner Robbins); consensus was reached to bring a retreat proposal back at a future meeting, and the goals item was moved to the January 20 Regular Session (7-0).
Financial Summary
Claims and accounts totaling $168,919.54 were approved (7-0). Post audit claims and accounts totaling $2,953,960.23 were approved (7-0). No fund amendments or transfers were reported.
Action Items
- Administrator Dyer to make progress on the Finance Director decision, per Commissioner Campbell's request.
- Administrator Dyer to prepare two motions on vehicle leasing vs. purchasing for the January 20, 2026 Regular Session.
- Board members to rate/prioritize the 2026 goals list and submit to Chairman Yoder or administration before January 20, 2026.
- Chairman Yoder to work with administration to clarify the long-pending HR/Finance records resolution (unresolved since 2021) and send the resolution to the full Board, per Commissioner Bunek's request.
- Chairman Yoder to bring back a Governance Strategic Retreat proposal at a future meeting.
- Commissioners to submit quarterly reports.