Leelanau Commissioner Update October 2025
The Campbell family had the pleasure of hosting two individuals for the Liberty Deer Hunt, and both shot deer in cherry orchards in Leelanau County! The hunters used adaptive shooting equipment provided by the Passing Along the Heritage (PATH) Foundation, of which Alan Campbell is a board member. Shown from left are the father-and-son team of Mark and James McCully, Alan and son Cody Campbell, hunter Jonathan Tushman, and recreational therapist Jessica Stark from the Lighthouse Neurological Rehabilitation Center.
Leelanau Commissioner Update October 2025
Provided by Alan Campbell
Commissioner, District 5 (Leland and Centerville Townships)
Sorry I’m late with this report to constituents, but I do have a reason.
Usually my preference is to sum up a month’s worth of activity with a newsletter that’s sent in the first days of a new month. That gives you time to digest county government goings-on prior to our executive meeting, which occurs on the second Tuesday of each month.
October is the exception to that schedule, as due to a requirement to hold our annual meeting the executive and regular meetings were scheduled for Oct. 7 and 14.
So rather than send you old news, I decided to wait a few days to include a synopsis of what occurred at the executive meeting.
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Information about a variety of topics is included in this edition, including thoughts on a county grievance and the work environment in county government, two projects at county parks, an update on what I believe will become the first child care voucher program operated by a county in northern Michigan (or maybe the entire state?), and an overview of the results of the executive session.
My goal with this newsletter is simple: To make the work of the County Board of Commissioners transparent. Feedback is welcome through a link on this newsletter or by calling me at 231 492 4972. I enjoy our conversations.
Thank you.
Alan Campbell
Leelanau County Commissioner
Thoughts on News-Generating Grievance
October 10th 2025
I’d like to provide some thoughts about a grievance filed by the county Finance Director against the county Administrator in relation to the executive committee meeting held Tuesday, Oct. 7:
•The County Board met for about 30 minutes in closed session to discuss the attorney’s opinion. Much was made that Administrator Dyer was not among those authorized by commissioners to sit in on the session, and in fact one commissioner tried to get a motion passed allowing Mr. Dyer to attend. I was opposed for two reasons. One was fairness — if the administrator could sit in, why shouldn’t the finance director? The other was that inviting Mr. Dyer in on the discussion would leave the impression that he impacted the result. So even when the outcome fell in his favor, he would be open to criticism for becoming a part of what should be a neutral process. Much was also made about the County Clerk attending, as though she was somehow involved in or would sway the outcome. By state statute she holds responsibilities as clerk of the County Board. How can she take minutes if she doesn’t attend the meeting?
•After coming out of closed session, the board voted unanimously to authorize the chair to release a tightly worded statement about the grievance. He is waiting until our regular meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 14, to do so as only recommendations can be made at executive meetings. At the present time no statement has been released, and commissioners are expected to not discuss details of the opinion because it falls under attorney-client privilege.
•This brings me to news and public comment accounts of the grievance. One outlet ran a story that included details of the opinion provided by a commissioner. I don’t blame the reporter, but as commissioners we should realize that a perceived need to control the narrative does not override long-established rules for governing and state law. Also, another news report stated that the County Board had authorized release of the opinion for the next meeting. We took no such action at the public meeting, and in fact our attorney recommends against the release. My opinion is that we might as well release the document to avoid opinions that are taken as fact.
•Public comment has included statements about the grievance and attorney opinion. As to comments about the grievance, I can say from experience that if a shoe drops in one office in the county building it’s heard in most others. Apparently some commissioners think I was the leak to media. One stated so to me. I am not the so-called leaker. I’d prefer to release all information related to the grievance so folks quit wasting time looking for one.
•Lastly, and this has been forgotten, my interpretation of our nonunion personnel policy is that releasing a statement provided by an attorney does not resolve a grievance. The policy names first a department head, then the administrator, and finally the Board of Commissioners as being in charge of investigating and making determinations of grievances. Nowhere in the policy is the county attorney mentioned, which makes his opinion just that. It has no official bearing on the final outcome. Releasing a statement accepting the attorney’s opinion falls short of our responsibility as commissioners. We are required to vote directly on the grievance itself.
I will be working with Administrator Dyer over the next month or so to recommend changes that are needed in the county’s nonunion personnel policy. The final paragraph in the grievance section of the policy, I believe, should remain. It states: “Any complaint which is not resolved in Step 2 (which calls on the county administrator to ‘investigate and respond in writing’) may be submitted to the County Board of Commissioners within 2 working days after receipt of the disposition in Step 2. The Board of Commissioners shall investigate the complaint and make recommendations to resolve the complaint. The board’s decision on such matters will be final and binding on all parties.”
Conflict As Debate Can Be Healthy
October 10th 2025
Readers, please take note that I wrote the bulk of this review prior to the county executive committee meeting on Nov. 7, at which the chair of the board was authorized to release a statement reflecting an attorney opinion about a grievance filed by county Finance Director Catherine Hartesveld against Administrator James Dyer. I address developments and mischaracterizations of the grievance and its process at the end of this story. This is a long read on a complicated issue, so please bear with me.
There’s been talk about a toxic work environment in county government for years. I’ve written news stories and opined on the subject during my life in newspapers as specific events bubbled up at meetings and through the grapevine. But I don’t recall offering my thoughts on the general category of why a certain level of conflict is inherent to and good for representative democracy, especially for counties. And I haven’t dealt with why a lack of conflict isn’t always a good thing.
Let’s start with a definition. Governments at federal, state and local levels in America can be classified as representative democracies, which means citizens elect office holders to represent their interests. Within the federal level, those decisions are confined to the presidency and Congress. Things spread out at the state level in Michigan where we choose not only legislators and a governor, but also an attorney general (for law enforcement), secretary of state (chief election officer among other duties), and Supreme Court justices.
Michigan counties are among the most complex of all governments. By statute, elected office holders include a sheriff, prosecutor, clerk, treasurer, register of deeds, drain commissioner, and commissioners. They all have specific jobs to do. Their lanes are connected and at times overlapping.
So when a sheriff’s deputy seeks reimbursement for lunch because he transported a prisoner downstate, it’s the finance department that compares the request with policy approved by the County Board of Commissioners. It’s the job of the county clerk to have dutifully recorded that the policy was properly approved, and to retain the record on behalf of not only the citizens of Leelanau County but also for county employees to review. It’s also her job to speak up about unusual or questionable expenses. That’s her side of the county ledger.
The county treasurer manages revenues including property tax collection. The treasurer also oversees investment of county funds, among other duties. By statute and accounting principles, the books of the treasurer (revenue) and clerk (expense) must balance. The county clerk and treasurer hold fiduciary responsibility to ensure payments and revenue receipts fall within the requirements of their offices.
The power held by commissioners lies in control of the purse, which is mostly exercised through the budget process. They also set policies, some of which must be adhered to across county government. County administrators, at least in the form of county government in place in Leelanau, manage and oversee the process. They are CEOs who hold an umbrella over county government that covers a limited portion of the duties of elected officials and their departments.
There are hard walls between elected offices. Neither commissioners nor administrators may hire, fire or discipline the staffs of the clerk, treasurer, sheriff or register of deeds. Directors of non-elected departments such as Equalization, Finance and Planning are not autonomous, but still, in my opinion, require a level of independence to fulfill their duties. They should feel confident in expressing their opinions and visions for the future to the administrator, commissioners and the public.
In other words, the government of Leelanau County was not designed to speak as one voice, and doing so would disarm a system of checks and balances that works for the betterment of residents.
Do you care about your job? Or if you are retired, did you care? The answer is likely yes. County employees, from those who greet you at the desk to those who prepare budget requests and oversee departments, also care. They want county government to serve you in the best possible manner. There is very real camaraderie toward that goal within the county workforce. But there are also real opinions as to how best to meet that goal, which when coupled with separation of power can lead to conflict. Sticking with an earlier analogy, should the Finance Department reject a payment request and require more detail, that decision may be questioned.
In another example, let’s say the county administrator believes an employee of the Treasurer’s office deserves a promotion or should be disciplined. Neither decision is his to make. In that respect the administrator and commissioners have similar restraints. They care for the operation of county government and may be held responsible for its efficiency, but hold no authority over many outcomes.
If disagreements do come out, especially at meetings, that constitutes news and will likely be what constituents read, hear or view. I’ve been there. I understand.
There are alternatives for running county government. Some counties have adopted a manager or executive form of government that transfers more power to the person holding that office. Such a system would offer less opportunity for dissent with authority consolidated into one position. Personally, I prefer a more dispersed structure. I’m not a fan of centralized government.
I want to hear about struggles, successes and visions directly from county department heads and elected officials. Should the conversations be conducted at a meeting open to the public, disagreements may be aired. They are a sign of healthy government. Eventually a vote is held or a decision made, and we move on.
Dissent is squashed in many countries. That’s not where I want to live. The “No Kings” protests that pop up across the country do not apply to Leelanau County government. No one person is in charge. That safeguards against abuse of office. But the system can lead to strong disagreement. People in our county government take pride in their work and hold strong beliefs.
Here’s the key. If kept civil, another term for discussion about a disagreement is debate. We can use more, not less, of that these days.
From Drains to Marijuana, an Overview
October 10th 2025
After nearly four hours, it ended. And then another one started. It was a long county executive board meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 7, followed by another budget hearing held on the eighth straight Tuesday. No complaints here. That’s what I signed up for, and I’m honored to be part of the county governing process as a member of the Leelanau County Board of Commissioners.
Following are some thoughts on agenda items before us at the executive meeting. Keep in mind that county commissioners make recommendations at executive meetings. Most recommendations will be officially approved on Tuesday, Oct. 14, at our regular meeting that begins at 6:30 p.m. Please consider attending and expressing your thoughts on issues before the County Board. Agenda items included:
Drain engineer contract to be renewed
Of interest to residents of Leland and Centerville townships, the County Board voted to approve a contract with the engineer used by present and past drain commissioners for years. The board also established county government’s first “Revolving Drain Fund,” allocating $30,000.
The engineering firm is GEI Consultants of Michigan in Lansing. The firm has come under fire by residents concerned about estimated costs for the Schomberg Drain, which has already been approved by a board independent of county or township governments. The contract increases the maximum amount that can be paid from $10,000 to $15,000. The two engineers mentioned in the contract will be paid $220 and $295 per hour, which aligns with the “Michigan Fee Schedule - County Drain and Water Resources.”
I preferred to require bids for the work, but county administrator Jim Dyer said the County Board had no authority as to who the county Drain Commissioner hired. My understanding is that few firms specialize in Michigan drainage districts. The drainage revolving fund is required by state law and will draw revenue from assessments placed on landowners for maintenance of established drains in the county.
My preference is that the county stay out of the drain business, especially when they are sought to spur on new development. Unfortunately, the 1956 state drain law, which was established to help agriculture, gives very little input into drainage districts. That law was designed to benefit a few landowners at the expense of many. It’s inherently not fair. Hopefully, the cost to build the Schomberg Drain will be drastically reduced before bills go out. That said, I don’t think it’s fair to blame current Drain Commissioner Tim O’Non for a controversy with roots from years ago.
Township values at top, near bottom
Call me a nerd, but I found one of the more interesting items to be recommended approval of the annual apportionment report and explanations provided by Equalization Director Andrew Giguere. The bottom line is that the total taxable value of the county increased more than 7% over the past year. County property tax revenue won’t increase at the same rate due to state Constitution restraints — the millage rate will be slightly reduced — but it’s safe to say that local funding of county government will remain healthy.
The taxable value increased to $4.2 billion. It increased by more than 9 percent each of the previous two years. Notably for residents of Commissioner District 5, Leland remains the wealthiest township in the county, with a taxable value of $693,139,155. Second was Glen Arbor at $654,543,914, a surprisingly high number considering the amount of National Park Service land within its boundaries.
With a taxable value of $162,427,007, Centerville ranked 9th of 11 Leelanau townships, but there is little difference among the bottom three townships. They include Solon ($152,469,044) and Kasson ($159,745,232). In terms of the power to generate property tax revenue, Commissioner District No. 5 consists of the wealthiest and one of the least wealthy townships in the county.
Marijuana grant misses the mark
The County Board again voted to partner with the Benzie-Leelanau District Health Department to apply for a state “marihuana” grant of $13,400. The biggest expense line items are $6,076 for supplies, which include distribution of 350 “lock bags” to safely store drugs, and $5,034 in wages, fringe benefits, and travel.
My comments during the meeting centered on the greater need to spread word about the health dangers of modern marijuana, which can be 30 times more potent than the marijuana of a couple generations ago. Many of the perceived health benefits have been debunked. Health Officer Dan Thorell, who presented the grant request to the board, agreed that health problems caused by marijuana use have been understated. He said warnings will be included in an educational campaign funded by the grant.
Thorell, by the way, has been downsizing the staff of the two-county health department to meet revenue projections.
No simple answer for dam walkway
The walkway connecting north and south sides of the river above the Leland Dam has been a happy place for visitors and residents, offering a bird’s-eye view of Fishtown and, this time of year, a glimpse of flying salmon attempting the impossible task of clearing the structure.
The walkway was rebuilt by the county last year — beautifully done by Easling Construction, I might add — which uncovered a very real problem. The ramp leading to Falling Waters Lodge ends in a step down to the hotel, which makes it incompatible with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
At the direction of previous administrator Richard Lewis, a locked gate was installed, which had the tendency to upset folks accustomed to stepping onto the Lodge from county property. Most walked around to the M-22 bridge; a few hardy individuals tried their hand at climbing over. As tourist season set in, the lock was broken. The crime went unreported, so no investigation ensued. The gate has swung open all summer.
I asked Administrator Dyer about the situation a few months ago at a public meeting, and he replied that a legal opinion was being sought. Last week in the Cove, I sat and watched walkway activity, which was brisk. After a while, the ramifications of locking or unlocking the gate settled in. No beer was involved. Break ADA law or create a premise liability hazard. Neither choice is appetizing.
I broached the subject at the executive meeting again with Administrator Dyer, who acknowledged that a lack of viable and law-compliant actions had resulted in inaction. But the open gate cannot continue in its present form. Please consider sending me an email or phone call with ideas. It’s a potential problem that must be rectified before another “Here Comes the Sun” party arrives.
Repairs, Project Coming to County Parks
October 10th 2025
A repair and an upgrade to two county parks are on tap. The County Board of Commissioners at its meeting Tuesday, Oct. 7, followed recommendations made by the county Parks Commission to allocate funds to refurbish the venerable gazebo at Old Settler’s Park and to put a new face on the disc golf course at Myles Kimmerly Park.
I can vouch that the Parks Commission has been pushing for real improvements at all three county parks, which are spread across the belt of Leelanau County and are gems in their differing ways. The commission earlier this year applied for a state Trust Fund grant to help pay for construction of a handicap-accessible walking trail around Kids Fishing Pond at Veronica Valley County Park. Total cost would be $100,000.
The Parks Commission is also looking into finding funds to build a pavilion at the park and will soon launch a memorial bench program. Veronica Valley is the only county park without a place to get out of the rain.
The gazebo at Old Settlers offers a favored place for wedding and family reunion photos, but its roof is deteriorated and its painted wood needs new makeup. Loon Roofing ($7,880) of Grand Traverse County and Novak Painting of Cedar ($5,931) responded to requests for proposals. The County Board voted to allocate up to $14,000 for the work.
I’m not a disc golf fan, but I know it’s a sport enjoyed by folks younger than me. I voted with other commissioners, including skeptics, to accept the bid of Aloft Disc Golf of Traverse City for $22,000. The project is expensive and leaves open the question of whether the investment represents the best use of taxpayer money. It’s a question I’ve pondered. But the Myles Kimmerly subcommittee of the Parks Commission says the work is long overdue and needed to keep the course relevant. After the vote, a county resident spoke in favor of the project.
The Parks Commission has been invigorated this calendar year under the leadership of chair Charles Godbout. On the County Board level, one of the budget goals I submitted in writing was to properly fund our parks. As a county, we spend much time and money on segments of our populace, which I applaud. But we need to also invest in our parks, which provide recreational opportunities for all residents. Our parks need attention, too.
Budget Shifts To Fund Child Care Vouchers
October 10th 2025
So much of life is timing — including, at times, good governance. That has been on my mind during conversations about the Leelanau County Early Childhood program, which has had very little input from residents or even the Leelanau County Board of Commissioners since a millage funding its existence was approved by voters in 2019.
That lack of involvement has gone on despite the County Board having fiduciary responsibility over allocation of the funds for their intended purpose, which in general terms is to improve the odds of young children succeeding later in life as well as the health of families with young children. The millage approved first in 2019, however, proved divisive, leading to the recall of a commissioner after he suggested not levying it for one year during COVID because unspent tax revenue had built to the point of being able to fund the program without collecting the millage for one year. Overseeing its expenditures and searching out its outcomes have been considered politically dangerous ever since.
Now, several years later, it’s time for involvement. Which gets us back to timing.
During a meeting I had with Michelle Klein, health officer with the Benzie-Leelanau District Health Department, in late summer, the major stumbling block became obvious. Commissioner Will Bunek brought up the subject of offering child care vouchers with the millage’s substantial fund balance. The suggestion came back in the form of a “needs” program, which reflected a lack of direct communication among commissioners and health department officials.
For historical perspective, the county contracted with the department to devise and oversee the early childhood program after passage of the new property tax. But our fiscal years don’t match. So rather than ponder child care spending decisions during the county budget process, which occupies much of September and October on commissioners’ calendars, those fiscal decisions were, for practical purposes, already made and presented to commissioners for approval in August. The Health Department’s fiscal year begins Oct. 1; the county fiscal year begins Jan. 1.
There exist no formal meetings between health and county boards to express their goals and priorities prior to an early childhood budget being written and proposed. That’s not poor timing — it’s no timing. And worse, the disconnected calendars invite no input from the people footing the bill. They also need a voice during an open budget hearing or hearings.
I’m not blaming anyone. It’s one of those problems that was organically created and never rectified. Fortunately, all involved in both budgeting processes seem amenable to fixing the deficiency.
I sought a meeting with Health Officer Klein to discuss the proposed budget, which as presented would increase from $728,500 this year to $935,825 in 2026, with no provision for child care vouchers. For perspective, audits of the early child care program conducted over the previous three calendar years ending Dec. 31, 2024, found $522,399, $569,471, and $580,286 were spent annually.
With little appetite to reduce the millage but a need to make it work for the families it was intended, a discussion is underway to capture that increased 2026 budget funding for a new program. This is not an attempt to dismantle what has been in place, although those programs need to be routinely evaluated as with other functions of government.
Health Officer Klein told commissioners at a budget hearing held Oct. 7 that plans are underway to use $200,000 of the dedicated millage to start a child care voucher program. The more I’ve researched the possibility, the more I like it. That possibility was my basis for meeting with Ms. Klein, who has been in contact with health department staff. Some $200,000 would be needed annually for the project as now envisioned, and thanks to careful budget watching on the part of the Health Department, no increase in the early childhood millage rate should be required.
The financial concept is simple: limit spending to past child care parameters, and use property tax revenue beyond established programs to provide child care vouchers to help family budgets. Offering vouchers to working parents empowers them to choose child care providers that fit their needs and budgets and will provide an incentive to young parents to continue living or move here.
In the future, I’ll be working with commissioners and the health department to form an early child care budget that works for Leelanau County. We all need to become more involved.
