Summary
The Leelanau County Board of Commissioners, chaired by Steve Yoder, met January 14, 2025, approving an amended agenda with two late additions. The Board approved the FY2025 Blue Cross Blue Shield renewal, several Conservation District work orders, a five-year Parks and Recreation Plan, an amended three-year Barracuda IT contract ($31,320), Leland Dam pedestrian bridge contracts, and claims/accounts totaling $358,196.14 plus post-audit claims of $1,796,982.17. Discussion of stipend reductions for the Clerk's office and office space for the Drain Commissioner produced no Board action, with the latter deferred to the January 21 regular session.
Public Comments
During the agenda-specific comment period, Tristian Chamberlain, Lois Bahle, Kathy Dawkins, and Jill Wellman spoke in person; written comments were also submitted and posted online. A second public comment period drew remarks from Kathy Dawkins and Steve Mikowski, with additional written comments submitted. The document does not detail the specific concerns raised or Board responses.
Parks and Recreation Matters
Interim Administrator Richard Lewis presented Resolution #2025-XXX adopting the 2025-2029 Leelanau County Community Parks and Recreation Plan. Motion by Allgaier, seconded by Robbins; roll call vote 7-0, recommendation passed.
Infrastructure Projects
Lewis reported the Leelanau Tower site Special Land Use Permit public hearing is set for January 23, 2025. Emergency Manager Matthew Ansorge discussed (no vote) Agri-Valley's planned removal of equipment from county towers due to insufficient customer base. Facilities Director Patrick Roach and D&W Mechanical's Gary O'Connor presented an HVAC engineering RFP for the Government Center cooling tower and jail air handler/humidification; approved 7-0 (Bunek/Allgaier). The Board approved a $4,000 Machin Engineering contract for Leland Dam pedestrian bridge construction administration, funded from account #805.000.000.801.000, 7-0. A related $5,902 Change Order #1 with Easling Construction for the Leland Dam walkway passed 5-2, with Bunek and Walter opposed.
Other Business
The Board approved: a $12,000 anonymous donation to the Sheriff's Office (7-0); a 2025 Sheriff's K-9 charity golf outing (7-0); Sheriff's application for the DNR Marine Safety Grant (7-0); Orion Portfolio Solutions 457 plan resolution (7-0 roll call); Conservation District work orders for education/technical assistance ($47,000, 7-0), soil erosion control (fee-funded, 7-0), and water quality monitoring (up to $5,000, 6-1, Bunek opposed); appointment of Scott Earl to the Construction Board of Appeals through 2029 (7-0); amended Building Safety staffing levels (7-0); a Senior Services/AAANM agreement for MIPPA outreach (7-0), with MMAP services ending locally February 28, 2025; a revised Materials Management Planning Committee appointing Bill Perkins in place of former Commissioner Kama Ross (5-2, Wessell and Bunek opposed); a $54,172.50 truck purchase and a mower RFP; a two-year Limble Solutions maintenance software contract (7-0); surplus declaration of ~130 old office chairs; and 2025 Board Rules amendments (7-0). Commissioner appointments and the Drain Commissioner office buildout were both moved to the January 21 regular session (7-0).
Financial Summary
Approved expenditures included: $12,000 Sheriff's donation (account #101.000.000.674.000); $47,000 conservation education/technical assistance and $5,000 water quality monitoring (account #101.630.280.801.000); $31,320 three-year Barracuda contract (Data Processing Fund #636); $54,172.50 truck purchase (Motor Pool Account #661.000.000.970.000); $4,000 Machin Engineering contract and $5,902 Easling change order (account #805.000.000.801.000/775.000); proceeds from chair sales to Capital Building Fund #470.00.000.673.000. Claims and Accounts of $358,196.14 and Post Audit Claims of $1,796,982.17 were approved 7-0.
Action Items
Finance Director Cathy Hartesvelt is to produce a cost report on the new Teamsters union contract at Commissioner Campbell's request. The Sheriff's Office plans a late-addition item at the next regular meeting to sell the County's K-9 officer. The stipend taper for the Clerk's office remains contentious: Commissioner Allgaier moved to continue stipends at five hours/week until the Finance Department confirms readiness, but the motion failed for lack of second; Lewis and Commissioner Wessell maintained the prior Board's reduction stands, ending stipends effective 2/21/2025. The Drain Commissioner office buildout dispute with the Soil Conservation District over shared space was deferred to the January 21 regular session for further Board decision.