Leelanau Commissioner Update December 2025
Christmas Is Coming!
The Campbell family gets into our Christmas cards. In past years, we’ve climbed on the Enterprise printing press as Santa and his elves, produced an Outdoor Life magazine cover, and wrapped our son in duct tape and Christmas lights.
For 2025, we surprised Santa, his lovely elf, and even the mean old Grinch as they were preparing for a whirlwind trip. Posing as Prancer and Dancer are Lilly and Holly. May your holiday be filled not only with the spirit of Leelanau, but also the Holy Spirit as we celebrate the birth of Jesus. Merry Christmas from the Campbells.
Leelanau Commissioner Update December 2025
Provided by Alan Campbell
Leelanau County Commissioner
District No. 5 (Leland and Centerville Townships)
Thank you for opening the Leelanau Commissioner newsletter or visiting leelanaucommissioner.com. Please keep in mind that content on the website is solely produced by me and may not reflect the opinions of other county commissioners.
It’s been a busy month for Leelanau County government as one fiscal year leads into the next. In this edition, you’ll find facts, thoughts, and views on topics ranging from compensation of elected officials to why your side street just might get repaved with funds trickling north from Lansing.
If you know someone who may be interested in receiving the information below, please forward this email so they can subscribe. I will not share email addresses—my days of making a living through publishing have long passed—and it’s simple to unsubscribe.
Past newsletters and documents of importance can be found at leelanaucommissioner.com. My goal with this newsletter is simple: to make the work of the County Board of Commissioners transparent.
Feedback is welcome through the link in this newsletter or by calling me at 231-492-4972.. I enjoy our conversations.
Thank you,
Alan Campbell
Leelanau County Commissioner
Should Leelanau Co. Lease All Its Vehicles?
December 19th, 2025
Unless a shift in direction happens quickly, by 2029 Leelanau County won’t outright own a vehicle. That’s because every one of the county’s 36-vehicle fleet will be leased.
The Leelanau County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday, Dec. 16, voted 5-2 to authorize County Administrator James Dyer to negotiate a leasing contract with Enterprise Fleet Management, whose Michigan office is in Grand Rapids.
This is a change Mr. Dyer and some commissioners want to implement. He advocated at length as commissioners readied to take up the topic as an agenda item. In his packet message, Mr. Dyer reiterated the importance of switching from owning to leasing vehicles to balance the county budget. The county would pay only $60,000 in the first year to lease vehicles, compared to the estimated $300,000 needed to buy 3–4 new Sheriff patrol vehicles and a pickup truck for the Building Safety Department. The purchases, if completed, would continue a rotation schedule established years (decades?) ago.
After the first year of leasing, costs go up incrementally and, in some years, dramatically, as the county trades equity for leased cars. Over 10 years, I believe it’s difficult to estimate the financial effect — sort of like predicting snowfall next month. Enterprise Fleet Management, the only company considered for leasing, predicts a big windfall for Leelanau.
Calhoun County, for which Mr. Dyer previously worked before moving to Northport, contracts with Enterprise Fleet. He wrote in the meeting packet, “It gives the county more control in a budget year where we experience both the need to purchase vehicles and an unexpected need to allocate $600,000 more for health care than had been initially anticipated.”
I cast one of two “no” votes to initiate the change. Commissioner Will Bunek was also opposed. The proposal before us was a late-addition agenda item, which was one of the reasons I voted against the motion. I feel more steps are needed to ensure a sound decision.
While some commissioners stated as a reason for approval that the concept has been discussed in depth by previous boards, I took an opposite view. If leasing had so often been investigated and determined to be an unwise choice, what has changed to the point that delaying or again rejecting the proposal might rise to a level of indecisiveness?
Honestly, I can’t tell you whether leasing will save or cost county funds when taken in the context of a permanent policy. The only document we have examining the financial implications comes from Enterprise Fleet Management, the pre-selected vendor. As might be expected, it paints a very rosy picture of leasing.
I look at the decision as a quick fix for a troubled budget. The opinions of Sheriff Mike Borkovich and Undersheriff James Kiessel — who did not endorse the change, nor oppose it, instead prioritizing the need for safe, maintenance-free vehicles — played heavily in my vote. They are the ones who oversee the Sheriff’s Office fleet of patrol cars. Their deputies and the Sheriff’s Office’s future budgets will be most impacted.
My biggest disappointment is in the process used to get to this point. Only Enterprise Fleet was considered as a vendor. Rather than ask for RFPs (Request for Proposals), the county is relying on bids obtained by a quasi-government organization named Sourcewell. The Minnesota-based entity works with governments to obtain pricing from private companies. Sourcewell charges companies hired through their process a fee that was not revealed in the documents before commissioners but is surely passed on through transactions.
Good or bad, the leasing program will likely be the most expensive item before commissioners over their present terms.
I’m not saying that Enterprise Leasing isn’t the best of the lot within Sourcewell’s network of leasing companies. But I feel we should have given other potential vendors an opportunity to discuss their services and submit proposals tailored to the needs of Leelanau County. We have only an analysis from Enterprise with no comparative offers.
County Board policy requires that competitive bids be sought for purchases of $10,000 or more. An exception is made for “state bids,” whose intent is to work through state of Michigan bidding processes, such as those utilized by the county to buy new vehicles at discounted prices.
In other words, we’re not following our purchase policy.
Or ... perhaps I’m old-fashioned. There’s some truth to that, regardless of how you feel about my policy decisions.
I occasionally listen to the Dave Ramsey program on the radio. He considers leasing the “most expensive way to drive a car.” If he’s right, the county is on the verge…
Wage Study Report
December 19th, 2025
County commissioners, myself included, took no action to increase the wages of other Leelanau County elected officials after receiving a report showing most receive pay higher than their counterparts in similar counties.
The report should be taken in context with what other county employees make, both unionized and non-union. The high cost of living—especially for home ownership—should also be a factor in determining compensation.
I know that years on the job don’t typically equate to higher salaries for elected positions, but here in Leelanau we can be comforted by the years of experience officials bring to work.
For instance, County Clerk Michelle Crocker was appointed to her post in May 1996 and subsequently elected that fall—and every four years since. Her longevity is nearing 29 years. Before being appointed, she worked in the county clerk’s office under Dorothy Wunderlich, who continues to live with her husband, Wayne, on the shores of Lake Leelanau. The office of county clerk has been held by only two people since the 1970s.
That’s amazing.
Clerk Crocker is not the only county elected official with longevity in service. Prosecutor Joseph T. Hubbell was elected in the fall of 2004 and is nearing his 20th year in office. He is the longest-serving prosecutor in county history.
Sheriff Mike Borkovich is in his fourth four-year term, yet still faces a challenge in beating out Bob White for the title of longest-tenured sheriff serving Leelanau. Mr. White, a gentle and principled man whom I had the pleasure of meeting just once back in the 1980s, served from 1939–1964. Mr. Borkovich has easily prevailed in election tallies.
County Treasurer John Gallagher also began his fourth term on Jan. 1, 2025. He’s part of a farming family in Elmwood Township that traces its roots through generations of county history.
County Register of Deeds Jennifer Grant was overwhelmingly elected to her second term in the fall of 2024.
The request to review and evaluate elected and appointed positions came at the behest of Commissioner Rick Robbins, who noted a lack of compensation separation in some offices between the highest-paid employees and the supervisors serving over them. He’s right. But finding a solution that gives all involved a smile is about impossible.
We’ve just finished negotiations with most unions, and workers would not be happy receiving less than the 10 percent increase given over three years. That eliminates one of two actions. Non-union employees, including all elected officials except county commissioners, received the same annual percentage increases.
Mr. Robbins brought up the topic at the November meeting. After discussion, I moved—and fellow commissioners agreed—that the next appropriate step would be to compare the wages of Leelanau elected officials with compensation for the same offices in similar counties. County Executive Assistant Lauren Cypher prepared the report.
After reviewing its contents at the Dec. 9, 2025, executive session of the board, no motion was made to change the wages. However, the topic may resurface in January.
Results of the Wage Study
County Treasurer
The position pays $88,185 in Leelanau, which is the second-highest among the counties of Antrim, Benzie, Cheboygan, Emmett, Wexford, and Montcalm. The average salary among those six counties is $81,037. The Grand Traverse County treasurer is paid $110,858.
County Clerk
Leelanau compensates our clerk and register of deeds at the same rate as our treasurer—$88,185. The average salary among the six counties is $79,890. The Grand Traverse County clerk receives $106,790.
Register of Deeds
$88,185. The average among the six counties is $75,588. The position pays $86,303 in Grand Traverse County.
Sheriff
County Sheriff Mike Borkovich is paid $99,203, which is the third-highest within the six-county study group. The average salary is $94,429. The Grand Traverse County sheriff makes $132,927.
Prosecutor
This position stood out as the lowest among the six counties studied. Prosecutor Hubbell is paid $117,829. Salaries ranged from $118,778 (Benzie County) to $131,185 (Montcalm County). The average was $124,732. In Grand Traverse County, the prosecutor is paid $159,261.
Drain Commissioner
This position also stood out—for being both strange and insightful. Leelanau Drain Commissioner Tim O’Non is paid $21,890. Only one other similar county studied has a need for a drain commissioner, and that’s nearby Benzie County, which offers $2,400.
Why the discrepancy? Apparently, the other four counties have no drainage districts to manage. That’s not so for Leelanau County, which over the past few years has been barraged with requests to form districts to resolve drainage problems within neighborhoods. The continual precipitation that raised Lake Michigan water levels to new heights a few years ago likely played a role. One might think another factor would be past County Board exuberance in approving new drainage districts, but county commissioners have no say in their establishment.
I’ve heard plenty of complaints since being elected from those forced to pay drainage district fees they don’t want or need. I believe Commissioner O’Non, who is less than one year on the job, is handling complaints as best he can while trying to minimize costs. One thing I can say for certain is that these districts might mitigate drainage problems, but they also cause financial stress and headaches.
I’m not a fan.
County Commissioners
As mentioned earlier, there is no move afoot to raise compensation for commissioners, and in fact that can only happen between terms. The current board is finishing its first year of four-year terms. Most of us receive a salary of $8,000, plus per diem pay of $70 for half-day meetings and $120 for full-day meetings. County Board Chair Steve Yoder receives a $10,000 salary and the same per diem compensation as other commissioners.
Side Roads in Leelanau To Benefit from State Cash
December 19th 2025
One of the responsibilities of a County Board is to authorize requests for property tax elections for county entities, including the millage rate requested. So when I heard that the state budget approved in October actually made a priority of fixing the darn — PG version — local roads, it piqued my interest.
Commissioners next spring will be asked once again to approve ballot language asking voters to renew a one-half mill property tax that has been essential for keeping roads plowed and maintained in Leelanau’s winter wonderland.
So I called Brendan Mullane, manager of the Leelanau County Road Commission.
The increased funding to local road commissions is substantial. In Leelanau, the state would contribute 35.5% more toward local road funding, which is equivalent to about $2 million, Brendan related. That’s out of a total budget of a little over $9 million.
The one-half mill property tax approved by voters brought in about $1.7 million in 2025.
So at first glance, for a conservative, the proper path would be simple. Replace the property tax with the newfound state funds and give property owners a payday.
Well, there’s a little more to it, Brendan explained.
For several years the Road Commission has offered a cost-share program to local townships. Originally, the county paid one-half the cost to upgrade local roads that don’t connect to other roads, such as those found in subdivisions.
Mullane said the Road Commission has received $6 million in matching fund requests. At least that amount is needed to bring those roads up to par in Leelanau County. Examples include Oxford Drive, located in Leland Township, and the Manor Green subdivision in Centerville Township. Both surfaces are deteriorated to the point that doing nothing will result in them degrading into gravel roads.
Leelanau’s three incorporated villages will also be in for a windfall, but they have separate jurisdictions. Neither the community of Leland nor Lake Leelanau is incorporated, so all of county commission District No. 5, which is comprised of the townships of Leland and Centerville, falls under the jurisdiction of the Road Commission.
As written earlier, who knows when the funding will arrive. And according to Brendan, the amount isn’t set in stone. It’s based on a big increase in the marijuana tax — a change that is already in court — for one-quarter of the money, with three-fourths coming through corporate taxes. If the tax revenue sources fall short, there is no guarantee that budget adjustments will fall the way of local road commissions.
I’m looking forward to hearing the recommendation from the Road Commission.
I’ve heard many a visitor marvel at the condition of the county road system. Of course, they are mainly traveling state highways and primary roads. We may soon have an opportunity to extend that transportation excellence to the front doors of constituents who live on side streets.
Commissioner Potpourri
December 19th 2025
Following are some bits of information taken from recent meetings and conversations.
County 2025 Budget
Finishing as Hoped For
I stop in the office of Finance Director Catherine Hartesvelt while in the county building to improve my grasp of the county’s financial situation. I’m not a bean counter by nature.
Earlier this week I received some good news. Ms. Hartesvelt informed me that revenues and expenses should be close to evening out in our 2025 budget as the fiscal year comes to a close on Dec. 31.
In particular, property tax revenue is finishing at about $13.7 million, some $600,000 more than budgeted. That unbudgeted income is needed because some expenses were higher, in particular within the category of “hospitalization” for the county’s self-insured health care program. That will likely come to $2.3 million after being budgeted at $1.95 million.
The 2025 budget as written would have drawn $484,000 from the county’s fund balance. Now it appears that revenues and expenses will come closer to offsetting themselves. In fact, they could finish about even, which means there’s a chance we can carry the $250,000 placed in the contingency fund into the 2026 fiscal year.
It will be needed to offset higher wages and anticipated higher health care expenses.
Sale of Park Property
Meets Resistance
Most folks don’t know that Leelanau County owns nearly one acre of land across from Old Settlers Park in Burdickville, and you can put me on the ignorant list. It’s worse. I’m on the Parks and Recreation Commission, and I didn’t have a clue.
I found out while reading my packet for our executive board meeting that a resident who was given a 99-year easement to cross the property to access his property had offered to buy the lot for $15,000.
Honestly, I got too emotional when the topic came up. I’m a big believer in the importance of county park land. That the parcel had been forgotten and not included in future land use maps is no reason to sell it. Especially for $15,000, which was the amount before the County Board.
Most commissioners saw the value in retaining ownership, so no motion was made.
Administrator James Dyer made the valid points that the property was not included in the recently completed five-year development plan for Old Settlers Park and that nearby landowners could push for ownership through adverse possession.
Sometimes, I believe, we make decisions based solely on today without giving consideration to the generations that follow. I don’t have a plan for public use of that acre. But my son might. And so might your granddaughter.
Let’s allow them to make that decision. Once lost, the land will never find its way back to county ownership.
Poor Farm Barn Lease
May Be Changed
In another development with the potential to affect our county parks, the County Board authorized Administrator Dyer to negotiate changes in a lease authorizing the Leelanau County Historical Preservation Society to use what is known as the Poor Farm Barn.
Actually, there would be no barn today if not for the group, which was formed in 2017 to prevent the dismantling of the run-down structure. The group succeeded and is now ready to take the next step of holding fundraising events such as concerts. Should enough money be raised, improvements such as providing permanent public restrooms could follow.
To be honest, I doubted the group’s chance for success when they first formed and spoke with conviction to a County Board wanting to take a potential safety hazard off their plate. I was woefully wrong. The county is in no position to turn the barn into a cultural centerpoint for activities such as art fairs, historic festivals and, dare I say, barn dances.
I say it’s time for the county to get out of the way of their dreams.
Usually Commissioner Will Bunek and I share the same opinions, especially on fiscal matters. Mr. Bunek is concerned about serving drinks on county property. I’m not, as long as liability insurance protects the county and events are quiet and controlled.
There’s a good chance we’ll agree on the next issue. My thought is that we need groups such as the Historical Preservation Society to bring activity and enjoyment to county parks.
