The Energy Futures Task Force (EFTF), created ten months ago, has acted in a rogue manner, and the County Board is refusing to take measures to ensure better behavior in the future According to County Board minutes, the task force was instructed that “there will be meeting minutes and postings for meetings that will need to take place.”
The facts are compelling that the EFTF in its first several months of existence acted more like a party gathering than a governmental body. Its meetings and minutes were not posted. A complaint filed in March with the county Prosecutor stated eight categories of violations while referencing the Attorney General’s handbook on open meetings. These violations were not fully covered.
Unfortunately, the attorney for the Board of Commissioners (BOC) declared the EFTF was not a “public body,” a dangerous opinion. One of the biggest headlines in coverage was based on his misguided legal thesis, which would relieve other county commissions and committees from the responsibility of holding open meetings. The headline read, “Task force not ‘public body.’” However, the lawyer had no standing in the case and was acting as a de facto defense attorney.
Commissioner Allgaier, who accepted responsibility of taking meeting minutes, said there was no OMA violation while embracing an opinion that would strip citizen rights.
Eventually the County Prosecutor confirmed in his official — and overriding — ruling that the EFTF is a public body and violated the OMA. Sanity joined the conversation.
The violations were no small misstep. Commissioners are trained to ensure they follow the OMA. The result of EFTF meetings was a state grant proposal for solar panels with no input from conservatives who were first denied appointment to the Task Force and then denied participation.
The county attorney also misfi red on the conflict-of-interest complaint. The County policy states: “A clear example of a conflict of interest occurs when a public servant openly advocates the approval and funding for a program, which would result in a benefit to the public servant.” Joe DeFors, task force chair, is named as compensated “Employee 1” in the $1.5 million grant application he lobbied the County Board to approve.
Commissioner Ross’s response to ethical concerns was dismissive and lacked curiosity, stating, “If anyone wants to question (Chairman DeFors’) ethical behavior, come to me. I will support this gentleman 100%.”
The County Board’s party-line vote to approve the grant request blatantly violated its own conflict- of- interest policy. Commissioner Lautner expressed concern prior to the vote that the grant calls for hiring DeFors. This issue is not just about solar farms. It’s about ensuring those in power serve the people of Leelanau County with integrity.
Commissioners should affirm support of open government by adopting a strict non-tolerance policy to prevent secret meetings and commit to an uncompromising adherence to its conflict policy. Join us in demanding transparency and accountability by attending meetings, voicing concerns, and voting for representatives committed to ethical governance. Together, we can reclaim the trust and integrity our community deserves.
About the author: Gary Hosking and his wife, Susan, began their annual vacations to Leelanau County in 1982. They have lived here full-time since his retirement in 2012 following a 30-year career in finance/investments in Chicago.
