Summary
The Leelanau County Board of Commissioners met October 8, 2024, chaired by Ty Wessell (District #1 vacant). The Board approved a full consent agenda, several grant and contract items, and a joint resolution with Grand Traverse County. Discussion arose over a Dam Authority-recommended bid for the Leland Dam Walkway, which was withdrawn after Commissioner Doug Rexroat objected to favoring a non-local contractor. The Board also approved the DTE Re-Leaf tree planting program at Veronica Valley Park despite procedural concerns, and held a closed session on union contract negotiations before resuming and approving financial amendments and claims.
Public Comments
Two public comment periods were held. In the first, Dana Getsinger, Alan C. Campbell, Commander Greg Mikowski, Jean Jenkins, Lois Bahle, Jim White, Keith Beduhn, and Will Bunek spoke in person. In the second, Harry Steffens, Jim Kobberstad, Steve Mikowski, Keith Beduhn, Will Bunek, and Bill Wiesner spoke. The minutes do not summarize the content of these remarks; written comments were also submitted and are available via the county's meeting handouts link. Chairman Wessell noted afterward that public comments sometimes contain opinion, fact, or misinformation.
Affordable Housing Initiatives
Under the 2% Grants Fall Application Intention item, the Board approved (5-1, Lautner opposed) authorizing several entities to prepare grant applications for November consideration, including Habitat for Humanity Grand Traverse Region for a housing build and Homestretch Housing (Jon Stimson) for pre-development of affordable housing in Suttons Bay. Commissioner Lautner expressed concern about the volume of requests diluting available funds.
Parks and Recreation Matters
The Board approved (4-1, Lautner opposed, Ross recused) accepting DTE's offer to plant twenty trees at Veronica Valley Park. Commissioner Ross, a potential paid Project Manager for the planting, recused herself. Commissioner Lautner objected that the matter had bypassed the Parks and Recreation Commission and raised concerns about compensating a sitting Commissioner; Interim Administrator Richard I. Lewis clarified DTE, not the County, selects and pays the forester. Rexroat supported the motion reluctantly, urging future adherence to procedure. Disc Golf Course improvements were also listed among intent-to-apply grant items.
Infrastructure Projects
The Board approved (6-0) the Bill of Sale with T-Mobile for the equipment shelter at the Central Tower site, and (6-0) an Intergovernmental Agreement with Leelanau Township for construction of a communications tower off Kitchen Road. The Leland Dam Walkway bid from Fisher Contracting ($124,736.77, funded from General Fund Contingency to Fund #805) was discussed but the motion and second were withdrawn after Rexroat raised concerns about favoring a non-local company; Wessell proposed a special session before the Tuesday budget session to revisit it.
Other Business
The Board terminated the West Bay/West Shore Hotel Redevelopment Brownfield Plan (Resolution #2024-016, 6-0) after the project failed to occur. It approved a facade restoration bid from Cusack's Masonry Restoration Inc. ($38,600, Fund #470, 6-0), an MLI Administrator search contract addendum ($4,250, 6-0), and a joint resolution with Grand Traverse County (#2024-017, 6-0) requesting state funding for safety improvements at Gray Road and Cedar Run Road. A closed session on union collective bargaining was held (6-0 to enter, 6-0 to resume open session).
Financial Summary
- RAP Grant accepted: $1,000 for a safety restraint chair (consent agenda).
- MLI contract addendum: $4,250 from #101.100.101.967.000.
- Facade bid: $38,600 from General Fund Contingency to Fund #470.
- Dam Walkway bid (withdrawn): $124,736.77 proposed from General Fund Contingency to Fund #805.
- FY2023 Amendment #24-011 approved in two parts (with and without Dam Fund transfer).
- FY2024 Amendment #24-012 and Fund Transfer #24-005 approved.
- Claims and Accounts approved: $267,716.98.
- Post Audit Claims and Accounts approved: $5,899,753.11.
Action Items
- Chairman Wessell to schedule a special session before the Tuesday budget session to revisit the Dam Walkway bid.
- Rexroat requested the vendor representative attend to explain product choice for the walkway project.
- Commissioners directed to route future grants/gifts (e.g., DTE tree program) through the Parks and Recreation Commission per Rexroat's request.
- Commissioner O'Rourke noted that recusal eligibility should be decided by the Board, not the individual Commissioner.
- Resolution #2024-017 to be transmitted to State Representatives, Senators, and MDOT.