Summary
The Leelanau County Board of Commissioners held a Special Session on December 12, 2024, chaired by Ty Wessell, primarily to interview and select a candidate for County Administrator. After initial procedural disagreements over meeting setup, the Board interviewed two candidates, Mark Brown and James Dyer, with participation from incoming Commissioners-Elect. The Board unanimously selected James Dyer for the position and voted 6-0 to authorize contract negotiations.
Public Comments
No public comment was offered at the start of the meeting. Later in the session, Commissioners-Elect Campbell, Robbins, Yoder, and Walters spoke to the Board regarding their candidate preferences (the group's votes were split two-to-two between candidates). Following the vote on the Administrator selection, resident Rick Robbins spoke during public comment; no specific concerns were detailed in the minutes.
Other Business
Before the agenda item began, Commissioners debated room setup and seating arrangements for the interview process, particularly whether Commissioners-Elect should sit at the Commissioners' table. Commissioner Lautner requested a five-minute break to rearrange tables so Commissioners-Elect could view candidates; Commissioner O'Rourke and Maintenance Worker Duane Flaska noted the presentation table could not easily be moved due to wiring. Commissioner Allgaier proposed that Commissioners-Elect sit with the Board and ask questions only after the Board's questioning concluded, which Commissioner Rexroat accepted despite reservations. Commissioner Lautner objected to this arrangement, calling it a "dangerous precedent." Tensions escalated when Interim Administrator Lewis threatened to submit a resignation letter during the exchange; the matter was resolved after a short recess, and the meeting proceeded under Chairman Wessell's proposed process: Commissioners-Elect would sit with the Board, ask questions after the Commissioners, then be dismissed prior to Board deliberations.
The interview process consisted of opening statements by each candidate, followed by questions from Commissioners and Commissioners-Elect, and closed with each candidate asking questions of the Board. Mark Brown was interviewed beginning at 10:00 a.m., and James Dyer beginning at 11:12 a.m.
Action Items
- Chairman Wessell and Vice-Chairman Rexroat were authorized to negotiate a proposed employment agreement with James Dyer, subject to approval by the full Board of Commissioners (Motion #340-12122024, moved by Rexroat, seconded by O'Rourke; Roll Call: Rexroat-YES, Ross-YES, Wessell-YES, Allgaier-YES, Lautner-YES, O'Rourke-YES; 6-0, motion carried).
- Interim Administrator Lewis and Executive Assistant Lauren Cypher are expected to assist with the transition to incoming Administrator James Dyer.