Summary
The Leelanau Township Board packet for the November 10, 2026 meeting covers the appointment of a new Trustee from six applicants (Manmeet Kaur Dhami, Garrett Fairchild, Kevin Hart, Michael McMillan, Dan Tompkins, and one other letter on file), ratification of a Sheriff Deputy contract running January 2027 through December 2030, millage levy rate-setting for the newly passed Roads and Facilities/Parks millages, health insurance plan changes to comply with PA 152, and Board of Review reappointments. Election results confirmed passage of both the Roads millage and the Facilities/Parks millage. The executed Memorandum of Understanding and Agency Agreement with Homestretch Nonprofit Housing Corporation for attainable housing at 824 N. Warren Street was included in the consent agenda, along with final grant reports to the Leelanau Township Community Foundation for the Woolsey Airport Terminal Phase 1 project and the Veterans' plaque at the Township Cemetery.
Affordable Housing Initiatives
The Homestretch MOU and Agency Agreement, executed October 22, 2026, authorizes development of up to 3.5 acres at 824 N. Warren Street for attainable housing (defined as housing for households at 50%-120% of area median income), with construction required within 24 months or the property reverts to the Township. Homestretch requested a Township Hall open house on December 5 from 11 am to 2 pm to present 2-3 development concepts to the public for input.
At the October 13 regular meeting, the Board approved (unanimously, roll call) allowing Homestretch to apply for a $30,000 2% grant from the Grand Traverse Band to defray attainable housing costs at the same site. Separately, representatives Jon Cintal and Andy Thomas of New Community Vision presented a conceptual (non-formal) proposal to trade a portion of a 25-acre NCV property for 6-10 acres of Braman Hill township parkland to support attainable housing; no action was taken and the Board invited further discussion.
Public Comments
At the October 13 regular meeting, public comments were received from Mark Krueger and Barbara McCann (no specifics recorded). Dan Tompkins, a Parks and Recreation Committee member, made a statement regarding the NCV/Braman Hill proposal. At the October 15 special meeting, Steve Watson offered public comment (no specifics recorded). Several Northport Point Road residents submitted letters requesting a lowered speed limit; the Supervisor responded that the Board would consider action if presented with a petition signed by at least 50% of road residents, consistent with PA 33 of 2024, which also requires Road Commission and State Police approval plus a speed study.
Parks and Recreation Matters
The Parks and Rec Committee is short two members (the ex officio board seat and a resigned chair/regular member); the Supervisor recommended appointing Kim Todd, who submitted a letter of interest. Hentco applied a surface coating to the tennis and pickleball courts at a cost of $3,000. The Parks and Recreation Committee (with Dan Tompkins participating) has launched a community survey with over 375 responses to inform the township's next five-year Parks and Recreation plan.
Infrastructure Projects
Woolsey Airport Terminal Phase 1 drainage and foundation work is progressing well, per the Facilities report; final leveling and grass seeding are underway. The Community Foundation grant final report detailed total Phase 1 project costs of $143,595, funded by $45,677 in Foundation grants ($11,377 from the Woolsey Memorial Airport Endowment Fund and $34,300 from the Save Woolsey Airport Terminal Fund) plus $97,918 from Township facilities/roads funds, in-kind labor, and private donations. Omena Point Road improvements from M-22 to Omena Heights Road are complete, necessitating removal of a rail fence at Omena Beach park, to be reinstalled in spring; the Supervisor suggested establishing a road repair policy now that the Roads millage has passed. The Board will consider a Master Services Agreement with website developer Legendary Lion. Communication tower rental revenue ($55,167 budgeted) appears in the financial report with no activity recorded.
Other Business
At the October 13 meeting, the Board unanimously approved: the agency agreement/MOU with Homestretch; the Sheriff's Department law enforcement contract (as amended); an assessor availability policy amendment; a Memorandum of Understanding with NMC for assessing coursework/licensure; sale of the old Omena Fire Truck; a Stryker 2-year EMS maintenance contract renewal ($17,814.38); an ESO Solutions software contract ($3,895.99); a Zoning Ordinance amendment granting temporary moratorium authority; a temporary moratorium ordinance on data centers (to be published in the local newspaper); and a resolution requesting new Leelanau County Road Commission funds for Omena Point Road. The Board tabled Woolsey Airport rental agreements (hangars, buildings/grounds, camping/parking) and GOGOV. A vote on appointment of the Woolsey consultation panel failed unanimously (all members voted nay). The Board went into closed session regarding an NLTUA enforcement action/legal opinion, then returned to open session with no reported action. At the October 15 special meeting, the Board approved a Corrective Action Plan responding to the State of Michigan local audit and finance division, a contract with Hurst Mechanical, and a marketing contract with Garage for the fire department. The Board is scheduled to discuss moving to two monthly meetings (a working session and a decision-making session) with a yearly schedule targeted for December.
Financial Summary
Health insurance: renewing current plans would cost about 9% more, exceeding the PA 152 hard cap ($8,180.35 single/$17,107.66 two-person/$22,310.11 family; $247,648.54 total for 2027 including HSA). The Supervisor proposed offering two high-deductible and two standard plans (employees paying 10% of premium), but three employees would still exceed the cap, requiring either employee-paid cost differences or an annual opt-out.
Board of Review compensation was set at $100 per meeting for the fiscal year.
Computer replacement: insurance reimbursed $1,338 for a damaged computer; new purchase (computer, setup, Adobe license at $15/month) not to exceed $3,200, net new cost of $1,862, available in the Township Hall budget (quote from Netlink Business Solutions: Dell Pro 16 notebook $1,479, 3-yr warranty $186, 8 hours setup $1,120, shipping $23, Adobe license $180/year, total $2,988).
Other expenditures listed for Board consideration: BS&A software invoice $23,800; Omena Fire Station shingle replacement $8,267 (Kalchik Construction proposal); MetLife EMS renewal $3,059.46; Michigan Association of Fire Chiefs membership renewals for Hugh Cook ($125) and Steve Watson ($82.50); ESRI GIS account for Pivot Point assessing contract $700.
October 13 unpaid check run approved: $28,748.01. November 11, 2026 unpaid check run total: $6,867.06, including payments to Anavon Technology Group, AT&T Mobility, Consumers Energy, EPS Inc., Fahey Schultz Burzych Rhodes, Kal Excavating, Lautner Irrigation, Leelanau County Treasurer (tax tribunal adjustments), Leelanau Enterprise, McCardel Water Conditioning, Michigan Association of Fire Chiefs, Northport Building Supply, Security Sanitation/Belanger Septic Service, and Stephen F. Watson.
2026-27 budget report (through 10/31/2026): total revenues all funds $4,336,019 amended budget with $678,331.66 collected year-to-date; total expenditures across all funds show a net deficit position of $1,294,799.99 against revenue of $647,331.66 as of the report date. Key revenue lines include Current Property Taxes ($620,000 budgeted, $0 collected), Delinquent Real Property Taxes ($300,000 budgeted, $268,656.98 collected), State Revenue Sharing ($164,530 budgeted, $103,044.36 collected), and Tax Administration Fees ($143,200 budgeted, $122,407.16 collected).
2026 millage rates certified to the County: Allocated Operating 0.4867 mills, Library 0.4819 mills, FFM/SY 3.0166 mills, Operating 0.4697 mills, Police Services 0.2500 mills, plus new Roads (0.3000 mills) and Facilities (0.5000 mills) millages requiring Board levy decisions.
Action Items
- Board to interview Trustee candidates and vote to fill the vacant seat (required within 45 days of the October 1 resignation).
- Board to review and approve the November 11, 2026 check run.
- Board to set levy amounts for the new Roads and Facilities/Parks millages.
- Board to vote on the Sheriff Deputy contract (January 2027–December 2030) for County Commission ratification.
- Board to decide on health insurance plan alternatives to maintain PA 152 compliance.
- Board to appoint Board of Review members (Tonneberger, Rebori, Carroll for renewal; Harder as new alternate).
- Board to appoint a Parks and Recreation Committee member (Kim Todd recommended).
- Board to consider approval of computer purchase (up to $3,200) and Adobe license.
- Board to consider Suttons Bay and Northport Public School summer tax collection requests.
- Board to consider Master Services Agreement with Legendary Lion.
- Board to consider other listed expenditures: BS&A invoice ($23,800), Omena Fire Station shingles ($8,267), MetLife EMS renewal ($3,059.46), Fire Chiefs' membership renewals, and ESRI GIS account ($700).
- Supervisor to continue investigating an annual health insurance opt-out option and to prepare a draft 2027 budget for December Board review.
- Supervisor to continue the policy discussion on road repair following Roads millage passage, and to progress the two-meeting (working/decision) schedule proposal toward a December annual meeting calendar.