Summary
The Leelanau Township Board held a special meeting on May 7, 2026, chaired by Supervisor Barbara Conley, with Clerk Jessica Wilson, Treasurer JoLisa Ugalde, and Trustees Elizabeth Schwind and Silvia Gans all present. The board approved CPA and engagement contracts, adopted ballot language for a local roads millage, and hired a new groundskeeper. No public comments were made.
Public Comments
None were offered during the meeting.
Infrastructure Projects
The board addressed funding for local township roads, citing that current funding is insufficient and that repairs and improvements needed amount to approximately $4,236,500 for existing paved local roads. Trustee Schwind moved, seconded by Trustee Gans, to approve the Leelanau Township Board of Trustees Resolution to Adopt Township Local Road Millage Ballot Language for the November 3, 2026 election. The proposed ballot measure would authorize up to a 0.3000 mill increase ($0.30 per $1,000 of taxable value) for six years (2026–2031), estimated to raise $186,902 in its first year. The roll call vote passed unanimously (Wilson, Ugalde, Schwind, Gans, Conley all voting Aye; none opposed).
Other Business
The board discussed the EMC Insurance renewal, noting that a quote for additional cyber security and malware coverage would be brought back at a later date. Similarly, the VFIS Insurance renewal was discussed, with a coverage quote for full-time and on-call Fire/EMS personnel to be presented at a future meeting. The agenda was amended to include hiring a new groundskeeper, and the amended agenda was approved unanimously (Yay: 5, Nay: 0).
Financial Summary
Supervisor Conley moved to approve H&S Company as the township's CPA for the year, with a contract not to exceed $24,000; the motion carried on a roll call vote of 3-2 (Aye: Wilson, Ugalde, Conley; Nay: Schwind, Gans). The board also approved an engagement letter with UHY not to exceed $15,000, passing unanimously (Aye: Wilson, Ugalde, Schwind, Gans, Conley; Nay: None). The proposed roads millage, if approved by voters, would raise an estimated $186,902 in its first year to address an estimated $4,236,500 in needed road repairs.
Action Items
Clerk Wilson moved, seconded by Trustee Schwind, to approve the hire of Juan Claudio Ruiz as groundskeeper effective April 20, 2026; the motion carried unanimously (Yay: 5, Nay: 0). Insurance providers EMC and VFIS are expected to return with detailed coverage quotes at a future board meeting. Trustee Schwind requested that documentation be provided to the board sooner in order to make informed decisions. The next regular board meeting was scheduled for May 12 at 5:30 p.m. EDT at the Township Hall.