Summary
This packet for the Leelanau Township Board (April 8, 2025) contains three main items: a draft employment contract for a new Township Assessor, a letter of support for the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians' request to gain speed-limit authority on M-22, and a draft resolution urging the Leelanau County Road Commission to raise its road millage.
Infrastructure Projects
Supervisor Barbara Conley sent a letter to Tribal Chairwoman Sandra L. Witherspoon expressing the Township Board's support for designating the Grand Traverse Band as a "local jurisdiction" under MCL 257.627(e)(j), which would let the Tribe request a lower speed limit on M-22 through the north residential district of Peshawbestown. The Tribal Council's Resolution #24-42.3702 (approved 6-0, Sept. 18, 2024) asks Rep. Betsy Coffia to introduce a House Bill amending the statute to include federally recognized tribes as eligible entities. The letter was copied to the Leelanau County Board of Commissioners, Rep. Coffia, State Senator John Damoose, and Attorney General Dana Nessel. No township vote is recorded on this letter beyond its issuance by the Supervisor.
A separate draft resolution proposes that the Township Board ask the Leelanau County Road Commission to raise its road millage from 0.5 mills to 1.0 mill at the 2026 renewal, citing poor/fair road conditions and the fact that townships have no direct authority to maintain county roads. The resolution requests that, if passed, 0.5 mills of the increase be dedicated to improvements on township roads. This remains in draft form; no vote is recorded in the document.
Other Business
A draft employment contract was prepared for Barry Wauldron, MAAO, as Township Assessor, starting on or about April 1, 2025, supervised by Barbara A. Conley. The contract outlines job duties (Appendix A) including property valuation, inspections of at least 20% of township properties annually, Board of Review and Michigan Tax Tribunal representation, and continuing education requirements. Termination may occur by either party with 14 business days' written notice.
Financial Summary
- Assessor salary: $67,000/year for a 30-hour/week schedule.
- Benefits: health, vision, and dental insurance for employees working at least 24 hours/week; employer retirement contribution of 10% of gross salary; benefits available after a 30-day probation period.
- Paid time off: sick leave accrual scaled to hours worked; vacation accrual increasing with years of service (up to two weeks at 2–5 years).
- Road millage: current County Road Commission millage is 0.5 mills; the draft resolution proposes raising it to 1.0 mill in 2026, with 0.5 mills earmarked for township road improvements.
Action Items
- Finalize and execute the employment contract with Barry Wauldron, MAAO, as Assessor.
- Track state legislative or Attorney General action on whether MCL 257.627(e)(j) applies to Indian tribes, per Supervisor Conley's letter to Chairwoman Witherspoon.
- Determine whether the Township Board will formally adopt the draft resolution requesting a road millage increase from the Leelanau County Road Commission before the 2026 renewal.