Summary
The Leelanau County Board of Commissioners held a Special Session on May 14, 2024, chaired by Ty Wessell, with all seven commissioners present (Kramer, O'Rourke, Rexroat, Wessell, Ross, Allgaier, Lautner). The meeting focused entirely on the County Administrator search process. The Board met in closed session with MLI Consultant Chet Janik to review candidate applications, then returned to open session to select interview candidates and schedule interview dates.
Public Comments
No public comments were made during the agenda-specific comment period. During the general public comment period, Bill Weisner spoke, though his specific remarks were not detailed in the minutes. Written public comments or handouts were noted as available via a separate link but were not summarized in the minutes.
Other Business
The Board's business centered on the County Administrator search. MLI Consultant Chet Janik presented to the Board and facilitated discussion. Motion #129 (Kramer/Rexroat) to enter closed session under MCL 15.268(f) to review confidential applications passed 7-0. Closed session began at approximately 1:07 p.m. Motion #130 (Rexroat/Allgaier) to resume open session passed 7-0, with open session resuming at approximately 1:50 p.m. A brief recess was called from 1:51 to 1:55 p.m.
Motion #131 (Rexroat/Allgaier) to interview eight candidates - Ahmed Abou-Ismail, Kipling Belcher, Michael Belsky, Tracy Byard, James Kiessel, Mark Justin, Anna Nelson, and Robert Reinshuttle - passed 6-1, with Lautner voting no.
Discussion followed regarding interview scheduling, including Janik's mention of an Administrator Conference May 21-23, and Commissioner Allgaier's noted unavailability the last week of May due to a pre-planned trip.
Motion #132 (Ross) scheduled first-round interviews for Thursday, May 30, 2024 beginning at 10:00 a.m. and Friday, May 31, 2024 beginning at 9:00 a.m.; passed 7-0. Allgaier noted she would need to observe the first round online and requested a second round on June 10.
Motion #133 (Lautner/Rexroat) scheduled a second round of interviews for Monday, June 10, 2024 beginning at noon; passed 7-0.
Commissioners thanked Janik for his assistance. Motion by Rexroat to adjourn; Chairman Wessell adjourned the meeting at 2:16 p.m.
Action Items
- Conduct first-round interviews of eight candidates (Ahmed Abou-Ismail, Kipling Belcher, Michael Belsky, Tracy Byard, James Kiessel, Mark Justin, Anna Nelson, Robert Reinshuttle) on Thursday, May 30, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. and Friday, May 31, 2024 at 9:00 a.m.
- Conduct second-round interviews on Monday, June 10, 2024 beginning at noon.
- Commissioner Allgaier to observe the first round of interviews online due to a scheduling conflict.