7/7/2025 - Leelanau County | Safety Committee Meeting Minutes

Summary

The meeting of the Leelanau County Building Safety Committee on July 7, 2025, focused on vehicle purchases, updates on affordable housing permit fees, and discussions regarding vehicle use by employees. Key decisions included approval of the agenda and minutes, as well as a recommendation for the purchase of a new truck. The committee concluded that current affordable housing fee structures may remain unchanged.

Public Comments

There were no public comments made at the meeting. However, Alan Campbell spoke briefly during the second public comment opportunity.

Affordable Housing Initiatives

Building Official Amber Weber provided an update on the affordable housing permit fees. A discussion followed among Commissioners Bunek and Yoder regarding the impact and implications of potentially reducing these fees. Both commissioners expressed that the current fees, which have remained unchanged for over a decade, are relatively low and that further reductions may not significantly benefit affordable housing efforts. Consensus emerged that the county could not further reduce fees effectively without causing complications within the Building Safety Department.

Infrastructure Projects

The meeting included updates regarding vehicle purchases, specifically a recommendation for the purchase of a 2025 Toyota Tundra truck. Building Official Amber Weber detailed the necessity due to repairs on an existing vehicle and provided specifications for the proposed purchase. A motion to recommend the purchase passed unanimously.

Other Business

The committee discussed the potential for a policy regarding vehicle use by new employees, with plans for Building Official Weber and Finance Director Cathy Hartesvelt to present more information in the next meeting.

Action Items

1. Building Official Weber, Finance Director Hartesvelt, and Administrator Jim Dyer to gather more information on vehicle use policy for employees to be discussed at the next meeting. 2. Monitor the implications of affordable housing permit fees and potentially explore advocacy for rate changes in conjunction with township fees.