Networks Northwest and NM Council of Governments Meeting Report

Held and report provided on June 16, 2026 By Alan Campbell, Leelanau County Commissioner

Dear Commissioners,

As usual, most of the information that is of use in my role as a county commissioner came during open discussion at the NMCOG meeting.

Speaking with five county commissioners in the Grand Traverse region, I heard much interest in the future of the Leelanau administrator position. Given that much of the County Board action on the issue has occurred in closed session or through attorney-client privileged documents, there was not much information I could provide.

But I did learn that the story has legs throughout the area.

Other topics addressed included:

• I was interested in the process used by nearby counties for budgeting. I was surprised to learn how smoothly their budget assembly usually goes. All had veteran county administrators and experienced commissioners who led the process.

The bulk of budget preparation is handled by elected officials and department heads in consultation with the administrator, who incorporates the wishes of the County Board. Elected officials and department heads do not all present their budget cases to commissioners at open meetings. Those seeking staff or major budget changes, including purchases, are asked to make their cases before commissioners at a budget hearing.

I had an interesting conversation with Dean Smalligan of Missaukee County, who has worked on both sides of the revenue prediction process. While a School Board member, he was involved in a budget process that maintained the same revenue status from one year to the next. The result was a layoff of six employees that wasn’t needed.

He also recounted a county budget that attempted to accurately predict revenue but was too generous, which caused fiscal year-end havoc. The key, we concluded, was better conversation and knowledge shared by those involved in the budget process.

• In Benzie County, commissioners review the Capital Improvement Plan quarterly.

• Also, Benzie is in the midst of a digitization process that is resulting in easier access to county documents. It’s a good place to buy an empty file cabinet, Commissioner Tim Markey jokingly said. “We no longer need them.”

Mr. Markey spent 30 years in the digital business.

• On the flip side, Wexford Commissioner Mark Nyman recalled the cyberattack that struck his county. It took a year before a land sale deed could be recorded. The county ended up paying a ransom, but computer systems were a mess.

Commissioner Markey commented that backup systems only work effectively if they are tested on a regular basis.

• The public has become involved with and is not happy about a proposed 1,500-acre solar project on some of the best farmland in northern Michigan, I learned from Commissioner Nyman.

The revelation led to a general discussion about the advent of data centers targeted for jurisdictions whose zoning lacks teeth to control or stop the projects. Data centers often include batteries, which can be dangerous should they catch fire because such fires can’t be put out.

At Networks Northwest, whose meeting followed:

• Rob Carson, community resource director for the organization, unveiled a brand-new Digital CEDS platform with tons of information about individual counties.

It really was interesting to view statistics that encapsulated the personality of Leelanau. He is available to contour his presentation to Leelanau County and speak to commissioners and/or other bodies such as the Brownfield Authority or Planning Commission.

• A positive audit was presented and approved (despite misgivings last year about cuts).

• Ryan Hundt, CEO of the Michigan Works! Association, offered a detailed presentation that included job training developments such as AI demand, which is outpacing training. He also spoke about funding developments undertaken by state and federal lawmakers.