The Leelanau County Board of Commissioners this week gave its endorsement to an effort that could create up to 10 "affordable" rental apartments in the Village of Suttons Bay.

The owner of the building housing the Silvertree Deli on St. Joseph Avenue (M-22) at Madison Avenue, Bruce Vaughn, is seeking assistance through the county’s Planning and Community Development Department to apply for a state grant that may allow him to rehabilitate the upper level of the building into residential rental units.

A $250,000 grant from the Michigan State Housing Development Authority could allow Vaughn to offer the proposed units for rent at rates that meet federal Housing and Urban Development guidelines for “low and moderate income” renters. Preliminary plans call for one, two and three-bedroom units that would rent for $454 to $624 per month, according to Ron Crummel, county housing coordinator.

Village of Suttons Bay village manager Chuck Stewart confirmed that Vaughn had briefed village officials on his proposed project, and village officials have informally indicated their preliminary support. The neighborhood is zoned for “mixed use.”

“Obviously, a lot needs to happen even before he (Vaughn) presents a site plan,” Stewart said, “but it’s good to see that the county board is ready to help this process along.”

The building was built in 1900. Its upper level, now vacant, once held a gymnasium that was used by Suttons Bay Public Schools. The space also once served as a dance hall.

The county board will take final action on a resolution to submit an application for the grant at its regular monthly meeting Tuesday evening.

In other business at its executive committee meeting this week, the county board:

• Recommended appointment of Jim Bardenhagen of Leland Township to fill a vacancy created on the county’s Economic Development Corporation (EDC) board following the resignation of Don Coe of Black Star Farms in Bingham Township. Bardenhagen, a farmer, recently retired as director of the Michigan State University Extension in Leelanau County.

A former county planning commission chairman, Eric Winkleman of Glen Arbor Township, had also applied for the EDC post. District No. 5 county commissioner David “Chauncey” Shiflett, who also serves on the EDC board explained that, while Winkleman was an excellent candidate, the board needed better representation from the county’s agricultural community.

• Recommended approval of an Emergency Management Performance Grant agreement on the request of county Emergency Services director Tom Skowronski. If awarded, the $14,644 grant would help the county meet requirements for emergency management outlined by state and federal agencies.

• Recommended continuation of a contract between the Leelanau County Commission on Aging and the Area Agency on Aging of Northwest Michigan to provide $6,000 in “information and assistance” services for Leelanau County seniors.

• Authorized the county Register of Deeds, Barb Kirt, to purchase a new scanner for $4,654 to replace an old one that cannot be repaired. In a separate action, the board also recommended the appointment of Dorothy M. Miller to serve as county grant administrator for a remonumentation program, on Kirt’s recommendation.

• Recommended adoption of a resolution calling on Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm to include funding in her proposed 2008 budget for the Forestry Assistance Program operated through the Leelanau Conservation District.

• Recommended adoption of a resolution declaring October as Community Foundation Month in Leelanau County at the request of representatives of the Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation. The foundation is celebrating its 15th year of operation. To date, it has brought more than $290,000 in grant dollars to Leelanau County from its Youth Services Endowment Fund alone.

• Heard updates from three outside agencies affiliated with county government. Representatives of each of the agencies presented half-hour briefings totaling 90 minutes before the board began conducting regular business. The board heard from Bud Shipstead and Elaine Wood of the Northwest Michigan Council of Governments; Bill Crawford of the Benzie/Leelanau Board of Health; and Chuck Lerchen of the Grand Traverse/Leelanau Veterans Affairs Department.