Two candidates are seeking the Republican nomination for the District 2 county commission district.
They are Mark Walter and Forrest (Bud) Welch.
Walter is a fifth generation Leelanau County resident, a retired Lieutenant of the Michigan Department of Corrections. He has a bachelor’s degree and served on the Leelanau County Board of Commissioners. He and is wife of 32 years, Sandra, have three adult children.
Welch was born and raised in Saginaw with northern Michigan roots, summering near Bellaire where his mother was born. Welch attended Saginaw Valley State University and had his own business in the electrical field for the past 33 years.
The winner of the Aug. 6 primary will go on to face Scott Perry, a Democrat who is unopposed.
We asked county commissioner candidates the following questions to which they were asked to cap responses at 75 words each:
1.) Lately, employees and department heads have been leaving the county. In a January survey, staff rated the overall work environment 3.8 out of 10, and some comments suggested that employees did not trust the county board. As commissioner, what would you do to restore their trust and improve the culture in the government center?
WALTER: Unfortunately, low morale is the primary indication of poor leadership, which in turn leads to high staff turnover. In the past as a county commissioner, I tried to speak with every department head monthly. Thus, making rounds in each department. This opens the door to staff to comment on issues that concern them. Knowing commissioners cannot micro-manage departments they should have their finger on the pulse. To recognize the effect of their decisions.
WELCH: I would need to communicate directly with those employees who left to understand the reasons why they left and then formulate policies to address those specific issues.
2.) Last year, the board of commissioners amended its rules so that public comment at the start of their meetings would be limited to items on the agenda. Do you think your constituents should be allowed to comment on whatever they want during the first public comment period, even things outside the county board’s authority? Or should they contact their elected officials outside of meetings instead?
WALTER: I remember back in 2002 when I was a commissioner, we had several citizens who used the board meeting as a soap box to vent their agenda’s bringing fliers and wanted them published in the minutes. We imposed the same restrictions. Concerns inside the board’s authority should be brought to the attention of their commissioner to be addressed. (Representative Government) Or in public forum like letters to the editor.
WELCH: Contact officials outside of the meetings.
3.) Should county employees be allowed to donate sick leave time to each other? If an employee approached the board and requested to donate time, would you approve it?
WALTER: It’s common practice in many agencies to allow staff to donate time to assist others in time of need. A pure and wholesome act. Obviously in a word YES.
WELCH: I would support a limited amount/number of hours that employees could contribute. (I actually did something similar in a previous company that owned.)
4.) The current board of commissioners voiced an intention to move away from paying stipends to employees for extra work, and the decision to pay the county clerk and deputy clerk stipends to continue helping with county finances was controversial. Would you support stipends like these?
WALTER: The county has fiscal responsibilities that are allocated by Board Authority and State Statute, some are funded some aren’t. Once given responsibility the department heads are responsible for budgeting to cover the allocation of resources needed. Apart from some emergency situations elected officials should have budgeted time and resources to fulfill their responsibilities. Stipends should not be an issue.
WELCH: I would only support stipends if a specific definition of “extra work” is included and I would cap the number of hours that an employee per year.
Michigan county commissioners are responsible for setting an annual budget; auditing monthly bills; monitoring and approving of expenditures; and adopting equalized tax assessments.
They also set the county tax rate, within its own rate limitations.
Leelanau County commissioners are paid $8,000 per year. The board chairman has a salary of $10,000 per year.
All commissioners are paid a per diem of $70 for a half-day, $120 for a whole day; travel reimbursements, and are either provided with health insurance or a payment in lieu of insurance.
