Networks Northwest Council of Governments (COG)

Board Meeting

Tuesday, June 17

Networks Northwest Conference Center

Meeting Report

Provided by Alan Campbell

COG Board member and Leelanau County Commissioner

This meeting is held prior to the meeting of the Networks Northwest Board, which is a larger group. For purposes of this report, outcomes from both meetings are combined. Of note:

• The combined membership fees for the ten COG counties will increase in 2026 for the first time in 25 years The COG board in 1999 developed a formula designed to to raise $55,000 to match a state grant creating and supporting the organization. The formula balances equally the total SEV of a county and the population. COG has not sought an increase until now although the state grant has increased to $70,000.

COG board members agreed that an increase was warranted to increase member revenue to $70,000. The increase is equivalent to about 1.1 percent annually.

The figures for SEV and population have not been changed since being set in 2000, which means Leelanau County has been paying $5,453.68 per year. I would be surprised if we don’t see a higher increase than other counties because of our increase in valuation even though our (year-round) population has remained relatively flat. It was 19,142 in 1998; it had grown to 23,019 in 2023.

Grand Traverse has been paying $14,209, followed by Emmet at $7,198 and Charlevoix at $5,680. Leelanau paid the fourth-highest dues. At the bottom was Missaukee at $2,379.

• Recommended four appointments to the Northwest Michigan Workforce Development Board. They are Ben Townsend, Wexford Joint Planning Commission; Doug DeYoung, Consumers Energy; Annie Olds, Pine Ridge Farms; and Michael Castiglione, Michigan Scientific Corporation.

• Honestly, the real benefit from these meetings comes through open discussions among commissioners representing northwest counties. In particular, as a first-year commissioner I’ve had the opportunity to quiz Tim Markey from Benzie and Chris Christensen from Charlevoix on a range of topics including budget process, universal broadband and 911 service. Tim knows much about local fire departments and is a former fire chief. He’s a bit jealous of the equipment available to Leelanau firefighters.

• The jury is still out on the impact on workforce development created by the “big, beautiful bill” proposed by the Trump administration, according Janie McNabb, CEO of Networks Northwest. If approved, it would consolidate programs, and she readily admits that “there is efficiency to be gained” because of the number of redundant programs.

The good news is that Networks Northwest seems to be ahead of the curve in workforce development. She said, “The state of Michigan is a leader in apprenticeships, and northwest Michigan is well positioned.”

Written June 27

Alan Campbell

Leelanau County Commissioner

District No. 5

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