Summary
The Leelanau County Board of Commissioners held a budget work session on October 21, 2025, chaired by Steve Yoder, to review the 2026 Capital Outlay & Budget Worksheet. Commissioners discussed staffing requests, wage adjustments for court personnel, and capital items, largely reaching consensus to hold most Buildings & Grounds and Parks staffing levels flat for 2026 while deferring further review of court wage requests to Administrator Dyer.
Public Comments
No agenda-specific public comment was offered. During the general public comment period, County Clerk Michelle Crocker spoke, reiterating concerns raised earlier in the meeting that the Board had discussed union reclassifications (specifically a Sheriff's Office position) without her awareness, and that this could set a precedent for other departments before the 2026 budget is adopted.
Parks and Recreation Matters
The Board noted that any request for a Park Volunteer Coordinator must first come as a recommendation from the Parks and Recreation Commissioner before Board consideration. A proposed reclassification of a Maintenance Worker to Parks Maintenance Manager (phase-in 2027) was discussed but not approved at this session. Two cell phone boosters for IT and Buildings & Grounds, costing $2,600.00, were approved to be budgeted from the Parks and Recreation general fund budget.
Other Business
Commissioner Bunek raised concerns from local realtors that the Health Department's septic inspections may not be thorough, citing reports of non-functioning toilets in inspected properties; the Health Department indicated some inspections are limited to external review when interior access is unavailable. Discussion also covered a potential vehicle leasing arrangement with Enterprise; Commissioner Robbins raised concerns after research showed Grand Traverse County does not lease patrol vehicles this way, and questioned leasing for smaller departments like Senior Services and Emergency Management. Robbins also flagged upcoming wage equity concerns between union employees and their elected-official supervisors. The next meeting was scheduled for November 3, 2025, at 1:00 p.m.
Financial Summary
Approved/directed items included: $1,500.00 increase for Corrections overtime; Sheriff's Office reclass of a TNT Deputy to Road Patrol Deputy (staffing approved at 11 FTEs, budgeted for 10); $500.00 Register of Deeds temporary assistant offset from overtime budget; $12,500.00 allocated per open drain in 2026 (Drain Commissioner's requested 0.56 Secretary position not budgeted); Buildings & Grounds staffing requests (Deputy Maintenance Supervisor, Parks Maintenance Manager reclass, additional Maintenance Worker, overtime increase) all denied for 2026. Budget line changes: Travel from $345.00 to $6,000.00; Education from $1,400.00 to $3,600.00; Membership & Dues from $3,000.00 to $3,600.00. Court wage adjustments (Probate Register, Family Court Administrator) proposed as a two-year phased 9% increase, funded partly by the Child Care Fund #292 (85% state-funded) and General Fund; two Deputy positions to move from 35 to 40-hour weeks with a 3% increase from the General Fund. No final vote was taken on the court wage phase-in.
Action Items
- Administrator Dyer to prepare a 2026 budget incorporating the court's wage requests and analyze whether it is budget-neutral compared to Finance's proposal.
- Dyer to discuss with Judge Paciorka the possibility of a three-year (rather than two-year) phase-in for executive court salary increases, per Commissioner Robbins' suggestion.
- Facilities Director Patrick Roach to attend the next meeting to clarify Buildings & Grounds staffing requests.
- Parks and Recreation Commissioner to submit a formal recommendation before any Park Volunteer Coordinator position is considered.
- Dyer to meet with Lew Wolters regarding BCBS health plan renewal and incorporate resulting data into the budget.
- Dyer to evaluate a possible Enterprise vehicle leasing arrangement, addressing Commissioner Robbins' concerns about smaller departments.
- Unresolved tension noted between Clerk Michelle Crocker and Commissioner Wessell regarding process for union reclassification requests; Crocker requested clarity on whether such changes will be handled case-by-case or Board-wide.
- Next Board meeting scheduled for November 3, 2025, at 1:00 p.m.