Leelanau County’s current administrator, Deb Allen, is set to set down in about two weeks on April 12, leaving the county without its most important nonelected official until a new administrator/ chief financial officer (CFO) is hired. In the intervening period, former Traverse City Mayor Richard Lewis will serve as interim administrator for Leelanau County.
Lewis will be interim administrator until the county chooses a new administrator/ CFO. They hope to approve an employment agreement with them by the week of May 27, per the “aggressive” timeline proposed by former county Administrator Chet Janik. However, Lewis said he was willing to serve as interim administrator longer if circumstances demand it.
“This is assuming that the train runs on time — everything falls into place, and it’s there — but if for some reason, it has to go for an extra couple weeks or a month, because whoever you decide on can’t leave their current place — I’m not leaving here,” Lewis assured the county board of commissioners at a March 22 special session.
