When 2024 is looked back upon in the history books, what we will think of this year?
Here are the top 10 stories in Leelanau County this year. The idyllic life on the peninsula continued, but it wasn’t without plenty of shocking and wholesome events.
1.) Election Results snafu: Dems fall
About 3,200 ballots that were not recorded in the initial Nov. 5 General Election reports changed the outcome of three Leelanau County Board of Commissioners races, causing the Republican Party to reclaim the board majority. Republican candidates Mark Walter, Will Bunek, and Alan Campbell were the winners of the 2nd, 3rd, and 5th districts. Previously, their Democrat opponents — Scott Perry, Lois Bahle, and incumbent commissioner Kama Ross — were the unofficial winners of these races. Leelanau County’s unofficial election results page was updated Nov. 8 at about 7 p.m. to include over a thousand ballots that were not recorded, according to county Clerk Michelle Crocker. The total number of ballots cast increased from 16,253 to 17,827, which was enough to shift the scales in several elections.
2.) Administrator seat filled For the first time in 10 months, the county Board of commissioners has a new administrator. In February, former county Administer Deborah Allen resigned to make way for a combined administrator/ chief financial officer (CFO) position. Former Traverse City Mayor Richard Lewis was hired as interim administrator in March. The county board interviewed several candidates for the administrator/CFO position, but was not prepared to offer the position to any of them. The county board then separated the finance department head and administrator positions again. After additional interviews last month, which included commissioners elected in November, the board selected Northport Village Manager Jim Dyer as county administrator. He is scheduled to begin work March 31.
3.) County government work culture survey
The county board of commissioners undertook a work culture survey late last year, and the results presented in January suggested discontent and strife among the ranks. The findings singled out Commissioner Melinda Lautner, Clerk Michelle Crocker, Deputy Clerk Jenn Zywicki, and then-Interim Finance Director Cathy Hartesvelt by name as “vindictive,” “dishonest,” and “meanspirited,” with many survey respondents blaming them for turnover in the fledging finance department. Lautner discounted the survey and led calls for the third-party consultant to publish the “raw data” behind their report. The consultant later tallied the number of employees who cited certain issues but protected their anonymity.
4.) Task force comes under fire
Commissioners appointed an Energy Futures Task Force (EFTF) last year. They presented their first proposal in February: a grant application for $1.5 million in state funds to build solar arrays at the government center campus in Suttons Bay. The application was rejected in October. While waiting for a response from the state, local GOP leadership, candidates, and campaign contributors shifted the narrative, making criminal allegations against the people who prepared the grant application. They argued that the proposal represented a confl ict of interest, since two task force members could have received $135 per week to consult on the project if it was approved. The task force chairman said this payment was optional and minor conflicts like these are common in small communities. Ultimately, the district attorney did not prosecute the task force over any complaints.
5.) Manitou Island Dock Woes
Ferry service to North Manitou Island was suspended even after an expensive dock extension was constructed earlier this summer to accommodate the ferry boat Mishe Mokwa.
Jimmy Munoz, captain of the Mishe Mokwa, said the 100-foot extension is dangerous under a variety of weather conditions for loading and unloading passengers. Consequently, the Manitou Island Transit (MIT) company has provided only one day of ferry service to North Manitou.
“The National Park Service is of the opinion that there is safe docking at North Manitou Island,” said Scott Tucker, superintendent of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. “MIT is attempting not to make runs to the island, which is not consistent with the terms of our contract.”
Ferry service to North Manitou has been curtailed or completely shut off for three of the most recent five seasons, all due to dock problems.
Rather than dredge this season, the Park Service built an extension from the North Manitou dock into deeper water. The temporary dock is of a freefl ow design, allowing waves to roll under its deck — and, according to captain Jimmy Munoz, to push into the side of the venerable Mishe Mokwa ferry boat.
6.) Sleeping Bear Dunes Heritage Trail extension The Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail, a proposed trail expansion in Cleveland Township that took over a decade to plan, was squashed due to external fac- tors and residents’ outcry.
The debate of the final 4.2mile “Segment 9” of the Heritage within the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore (SBDNL) continues as opposition questions the impact on the environment and cost of the major project that is slated for 2025 in May.
Those opposed to the plans question the impact on the environment as roughly 7,300 trees could be removed to complete the project. 7.) Glen Lake teacher pleads to crimes Former Glen Lake band director Elijah George was sentenced to eight months in county jail and five years probation on two charges including use of a computer to commit a crime (a fouryear felony) and surveying an unclothed person (a 0-11 month felony).
According to a criminal complaint, George allegedly took inappropriate photos of a female student by laying his cell phone on his knee. School administrators were alerted by a student who witnessed George taking the photos. The reporting students documented the activity with their own cell phone photos. On Jan. 26, George was called to the superintendent’s office to discuss the allegations, where it was noticed the teacher was deleting items off his cell phone.
8.) Drama Alert: Leland Wine and Food Festival canceled/ Polka Fest nearly a bust The Leland Wine and Food Festival was canceled in June after organizers were unable to find a viable location for the Leland Chamber of Commerce event. This resulted in a chamber budget shortfall, putting a damper on July 4 fireworks and putting the chambers Christmas decorations. Grassroots support from the community ensured that both the fireworks and the holiday lighting came to fruition.
Money was also an issue in Cedar as the Cedar Polka Fest committee and Solon Township Board were at loggerheads over use of the township’s parkland for the event. The Cedar Chamber of Commerce had used the facilities for $1 per year. A late July meeting resulted in a tentative agreement, allowing festival organizers use of the property, pending a formal contract.
Last month, the Solon Township Board and Chamber inked a three-year agreement which includes an amount of $225 per day for approximately nine days each year.
9.) Cherry disaster designation
Leelanau County cherry growers can wrap up the 2024 harvest knowing they may be eligible for emergency resources through the federal government.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced this week that a federal disaster designation was granted Leelanau County, as a result of significant insect and disease damage in cherries.
Seventy-five percent of this year’s sweet crop was lost as a result of a mild winter and a warm, wet early season.
10.) Leelanau Township Communications Tower plans on hold Construction of a communications tower in Leelanau township was put on hold in April 2024. Matt Ansorge, Leelanau county emergency management director, said the initiative for the communications tower was initially brought to the county by the township in order to meet their broadband and cellular coverage shortages in the area. In September of 2021, a Leelanau County Broadband Inventory Survey found the township as the most underserved population in the county. Then township supervisor, John Sanders, and other officials met with the county not long after in January 2022 to discuss solutions and possible tower sites. Since 2022, the county and township have been working together to move forward with tower plans, which will commence in the new year.
