Periodically, the Enterprise offers a “thumbs up” or “thumbs down” to activities taking place on the peninsula. Here’s the latest.
A familiar face popped up in the Leelanau County government center recently – Chet Janik, the county administrator from mid-2012 to 2023. Janik is working with the county commissioners again as they search for a new administrator/ chief financial officer who, it is hoped, will complete the transition of county finances to its own independent department. Janik’s calm leadership, professionalism, and (perhaps most importantly) connections could be just what the county needs as it seeks to stop the revolving door of finance department heads that has been spinning since it was activated in January 2022.
Although the tension at the county government center seems to have died down somewhat since the results of an organizational culture survey came in Jan. 3, it doesn’t seem like some employees and officials are ready to bury the hatchet yet. The survey exposed some long standing rivalries to the public. Lately the most contested issue has been who will be named finance director under the new administrator. Janik said he feels that the new administrator ought to choose who will be their finance director, but Commissioner Melinda Lautner has been championing Interim Finance Director Cathy Hartesvelt for the role and has argued that she be appointed full-time director immediately.
At a time when the future of the cherry industry looks grim, we’re heartened that a “grower alliance” has been formed. The Cherry Grower Alliance could provide growers clout that could secure “honest and truthful information” about the cherry market.
Growers watched earlier this month when mercurial temperatures threatened to advance fruit development and the 2024 crop. Whatever you call it, global warming or climate change, our northern Michigan fruit growers have their hands full tending to fluctuating weather patterns that are becoming more frequent.
All eyes are on Empire as they are the next municipality to enter a short-term rental saga. We are giving the Village of Empire a thumbs up for talking about it, but we recognize a regulatory hungry body is just as dangerous to the local economy.
As rentals grow within Empire to as many as 65 units, some government officials and residents want regulation, while others reject the village meddling in the short term business, which is a lifeline for many locals. On the other hand, how many short term rentals can there be in a village, while ensuring there is still a village to grow and prosper?
