Summary
The Leelanau County Board of Commissioners Executive Board Session on July 8, 2025 was chaired by Steve Yoder with all seven commissioners present. The board approved a Crime Victims Rights Grant renewal, a MOOG budget amendment, a MERS service credit purchase, job description updates, surplus vehicle sales, an audit forward to Regular Session, a Parks & Recreation mission statement, and a limited waiver of attorney-client privilege. Extensive, contentious debate occurred over disbanding the Housing Action Committee, with the disband motion failing twice. Two other elements of the housing motion were split off and sent to future meetings.
Public Comments
During the agenda-specific comment period, Steve Mikowski and Kathy Dawkins spoke in person; no details of their remarks are recorded. Later in the meeting, Kathy Dawkins, Jim White, Steve Mikowski, and Bill Wiesner spoke again. Written comments were also submitted and are available via the county's linked agenda packet, though their content is not summarized in the minutes. No board responses to specific speaker concerns are recorded.
Affordable Housing Initiatives
Administrator Jim Dyer recommended three actions: disbanding the existing Housing Action Committee, assigning coordination of county housing response to the Administrator's Office, and endorsing strategies from the Leelanau County Housing Collaborative. Commissioner Bunek requested the motion be divided into three separate votes.
Motion by Bunek to disband the Housing Action Committee failed 3-4 (Yes: Bunek, Campbell, Walter; No: Allgaier, Robbins, Wessell, Yoder). Commissioner Bunek noted a two-thirds majority (5 votes) would be required to reconsider this in the future since it was rejected previously in January 2025.
Motion by Wessell to assign coordination of housing inquiries to the Administrator's Office passed 5-2 (Yes: Allgaier, Robbins, Walter, Wessell, Yoder; No: Bunek, Campbell), forwarded to the July 15, 2025 Regular Session. Commissioners Bunek and Campbell raised concerns that Planning Director Gail Myer was not consulted and objected to removing authority from her department.
Motion by Allgaier to endorse the Housing Collaborative's strategies was amended and passed 7-0, moving the item to the August Executive Session meeting rather than acting without a report in hand. Commissioner Campbell raised concerns about lack of documentation, unclear organizational structure of the Collaborative, and unreported outcomes from a $50,000 Housing North contract that ended June 30, 2025, plus a separate three-year county contract with Housing North expiring August 1, 2025.
Commissioner Campbell, during Commissioner Comment, stated he wished Habitat for Humanity had a seat at the table given their work in the county.
Parks and Recreation Matters
The board adopted a Parks & Recreation Mission Statement by a vote of 6-1 (No: Bunek), after a motion by Bunek to amend the statement (excluding its last sentence) failed for lack of support. Commissioner Campbell noted separately that the Parks and Recreation Commission had recommended a budget amendment for an unlisted project, which was not added to this agenda but would be discussed further as a group.
Infrastructure Projects
Commissioners Robbins and Bunek both raised concerns about deterioration of "the main road" and asked Administrator Dyer to look into it; no formal action was taken.
Other Business
A proposed FLOCK Safety camera/traffic study agreement with the Sheriff's Office was withdrawn after discussion. The board adopted the 2026 Budget Workshop schedule and process (7-0), but a motion by Campbell to set a public hearing for August 19, 2025 failed 3-4. The board approved appointment of Dr. Nicolas Kostelecky as Deputy Medical Examiner (7-0), approved travel for Emergency Management staff to a conference in Indiana (7-0), approved MERS conference delegates Molly Peplinski and Jim Dyer (7-0), and approved adding prenatal care to the Early Childhood Program (7-0), forwarding it to Regular Session. A vehicle purchase recommendation from the Building Safety Committee was discussed but no action was taken; it may be added as a late addition to the July 15 Regular Session.
Financial Summary
The board approved Claims and Accounts totaling $133,755.15 (7-0) and Post Audit Claims and Accounts totaling $1,871,949.21 (7-0). The MDHHS Crime Victims Rights Grant renewal was approved for $40,397.00 for the period October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026. A MERS service credit purchase for Johanna L. Novak was approved at an approximate cost of $49,347.00, to be paid by the employee. Chairman Yoder recommended issuing RFPs during the upcoming budget process for both software services and the county's audit firm, noting the same audit firm has been used for over 20 years.
Action Items
Administrator Dyer to prepare a report on Leelanau County Housing Collaborative strategies for the August Executive Session meeting. Housing inquiry coordination assignment to the Administrator's Office proceeds to the July 15, 2025 Regular Session for final consideration; Commissioners Bunek and Campbell flagged unresolved concerns about bypassing Planning Director Gail Myer. Building Safety Officer Amber Weber to finalize vehicle purchase quotes, potentially for late addition to the July 15 Regular Session. Administrator Dyer suggested the board consider revising its rules to allow "discussion only" Executive Session items resulting in a crafted motion for the following Regular Session, particularly for complex or controversial topics like housing.