Summary
The Leelanau County Board of Commissioners met November 19, 2024, approving a 24-item consent agenda (6-0) covering sheriff's equipment, senior services contracts, tower leases, and grant applications. The most contentious debate centered on stipends for the County Clerk and Chief Deputy Clerk, ultimately continued with review in January 2025. The Board also held a public hearing on the FY2025 budget, approved the Appropriations Act Resolution #2024-020, and adopted a resolution supporting House Bill 5430 for historic preservation tax credits.
Public Comments
Steve Mikowski spoke during agenda-specific public comment; Commissioner Allgaier thanked him and stated she agreed with his remarks. During the FY2025 budget public hearing, Stephen Mikowski and Keith Ashley spoke, and Finance Director Cathy Hartesvelt responded to their questions. Steve Mikowski also spoke during general public comment later in the meeting. No written public comments were received.
Parks and Recreation Matters
The Board voted (Motion #322) to set a public hearing on the Leelanau County Parks and Recreation Plan for December 17, 2024, at 6:30 p.m. in the County Commission Chambers. Separately, a Parks and Recreation grant application for a disc golf course upgrade ($18,006.00) was approved for submission to the Grand Traverse Band 2% Tribal Grant program (Motion #323).
Infrastructure Projects
The Board approved the First Amendment to the Verizon tower lease at Maple City (Motion #307) and the Third Amendment to the AT&T lease at Maple City, Omena, and Northport tower sites, pending legal counsel approval (Motion #308). A three-year Motorola Solutions maintenance contract for 9-1-1 dispatch radio consoles and recorders was approved (Motion #309). Interim Administrator Richard Lewis updated the Board on the Tower Special Land Use Permit (SLUP), noting a public hearing would occur with consultants present, potentially followed by a not-to-exceed price presentation in December. The Board also ratified prior action permitting T-Mobile to use County electrical power at the Central Tower site for one month in exchange for $750.00 (Motion #325).
Other Business
The Board set December 10, 2024, for a Committee of the Whole session on Boards and Commissions recommendations (Motion #331). An Energy Futures Task Force extension to December 31, 2024, failed 2-3 (Ross, Wessell yes; Rexroat, Lautner, O'Rourke no; Allgaier absent). The Board approved a 2025-2027 Veterans Affairs contract with Grand Traverse County at $56,618.00 annually (Motion #330) and accepted the FY25 County Veterans Service Fund Grant of $39,900.00 (Motion #333).
Financial Summary
Claims and accounts totaling $425,464.77 were approved (Motion #337), along with post-audit claims and accounts of $15,836,153.87 (Motion #338). FY2024 budget amendments #24-013, #24-014, #24-015 and fund transfer #24-006 were approved. Other approved expenditures included MAC membership dues ($12,000.00), a Staples chair purchase ($48,501.86), and a LiveScan unit purchase ($10,298.00 from fund balance). The 2025 Appropriations Act Resolution #2024-020 passed 5-0 (Allgaier absent); budget rules discussion was tabled due to language concerns on page 16, item #16, to be revisited in December.
Action Items
The stipend issue for County Clerk Michelle L. Crocker and Chief Deputy Clerk Jennifer L. Zywicki remains unresolved and flagged for further conflict: the Board voted 4-2 (Rexroat, Wessell, Allgaier, O'Rourke yes; Ross, Lautner no) to adopt a scaled-back stipend recommendation, with review scheduled for the January 2025 Board meeting with input from Finance Director Hartesvelt. Commissioners Lautner and Ross expressed strong differing views, with Lautner emphasizing the Finance Department's fragile state ahead of a March 2025 audit, and Ross emphasizing employee morale concerns. Budget rules language (page 16, item #16) is to be clarified and brought back in December.