The new Leelanau County commissioners were eager for their first board meeting Tuesday.
The commissioners agreed to dissolve the county’s Energy Futures Task Force (EFTF) and made moves towards eliminating their Housing Action Committee (HAC) as well.
The EFTF was appointed in late 2023 as an advisory body. They presented several grant applications, but the one that attracted the most interest was a request for $1.5 million in state funds to build solar arrays at the county government center in February 2024.
The group gave its one-year report in October and asked to be renewed for another four years or meet in December. The board did not approve either of these requests, but they also did not disband or terminate the EFTF — until now.
Commissioner Alan Campbell proposed removing the EFTF from their list of boards, commissions, committees, and authorities. He cited a failed motion to allow the group to continue meeting, as well as the lack of policies and procedures for establishing a task force, in his resolution. (The county also created a communications task force in 2016, but it now appears to be defunct.)
“I move the county board thank members of the task force for their dedicated board, while acknowledging the decision of the previous board of removing the task force from its committee appointment schedule,” Campbell said.
Local Republicans heavily opposed the EFTF’s clean and renewable energy initiatives. Leelanau County GOP leadership, candidates, and campaign contributors also alleged that EFTF members broke state laws and violated the county’s conflict of interest policy.
Commissioner Will Bunek moved to change board rules to clearly say that all committees, including task forces, must comply with the Michigan Open Meetings Act (OMA). There are still rumors that the EFTF was not transparent. Bunek’s amendment was approved unanimously.
Commissioner Gwenne Allgaier insisted that the EFTF “has always abided by the OMA.” Indeed, the county clerk’s office received most meeting minutes within days of EFTF gatherings via email. The deputy clerk said they made print copies of these minutes available to the public on request, but these were not posted online until early 2024 due to lack of communication with administration.
Despite having access to these documents, one citizen told the county prosecutor that the EFTF was not abiding by the OMA a few days after visiting the clerk’s office. This led to a lengthy Michigan State Police investigation that did not yield any prosecutable evidence against the EFTF.
Allgaier still joined the other six commissioners in supporting the amendment, saying that “it wouldn’t hurt to list (task forces).” Allgaier was a member of the EFTF, along with former commissioners Melinda Lautner and Kama Ross.
Bunek also moved to eliminate Leelanau County’s HAC, but his motion failed by a 3-4 vote. Bunek, Mark Walters, and Steve Yoder voted yes, while Campbell, Allgaier, Rick Robbins, and Ty Wessell voted no.
Wessell argued that the Board of Commissioners needs to gather information before choosing to dissolve the committee. He also said that the county board may not have the authority to disband the group since it may be appointed by the planning commission.
The board voted 6-1 to gather information and determine whether the county board or the planning commission has authority over the committee, with Bunek opposed. Wessell amended the initial motion by Campbell to also consult with nonprofit organizations participating in the HAC, including Housing North, the Housing Ready Program, Homestretch, Habitat for Humanity, Peninsula Housing, and Home Sweet Home.
The board also agreed to “cancel their (HAC) meetings until we get those answers.” This may affect the HAC’s annual organization meeting, which had previously been scheduled for Jan. 13.
Wessell mentioned in passing that Housing North, a nonprofit organization formed to address systemic barriers to northern Michigan housing, says the HAC “in some form … helps their program.” On the other hand, half of the committee’s six meetings scheduled for 2024 were canceled because they did not have any business to discuss, according to Yoder.
Campbell suggested that the HAC may continue in a different form, where the committee members could be more effective. Campbell also noted during the meeting that Wessell is a HAC member. According to a HAC draft agenda, current commissioners Allgaier and Yoder and former commissioner Lautner are also members.
Both the EFTF and the HAC do not use county funds directly, although Bunek argued that the planning commission’s time with the HAC was an indirect cost.
Also at the organizational meeting, the county board discussed several amendments to board rules, clarifying that the county board chairman will have the final say on meeting agendas, removing some references to off-site meeting participation, and rescheduling regular sessions from 7 to 6:30 p.m. on the third Tuesday of every month.
Interim Administrator Richard Lewis said the board rules will be amended with these changes, for board review at their Jan. 14 executive session.
CAMPBELL
