There’s been much ado about the actions of a new group created by the Leelanau County Board of Commissioners.
The Leelanau Energy Futures Task Force was established last fall to educate and advocate for renewable energy on the Leelanau peninsula.
The group has been meeting once a month since October 2023 and recently recommended the county Board of Commissioners seek a $1.5 million grant from the Michigan Public Service Commission’s (MPSC) Renewable Energy and Electrification Infrastructure Enhancement and Development Program.
If awarded, the grant would fund construction of an array of solar panels to supply electricity to the county government center.
But a group of residents has taken issue with the Task Force, alleging Open Meeting Act violations for failure to properly post meeting notices and meeting minutes on the county website. The group filed a formal complaint, which now rests in the hands of the Michigan State Police.
Upon learning of the OMA investigation, the task force chairman apologized for the oversight, and meeting notices and minutes were updated online.
However, the county Board of Commissioners is getting mixed signals. They understand that the Michigan State Police is investigating the alleged violations. The results of that investigation have not yet been determined.
Simultaneously, commissioners received an opinion from its corporate counsel stating that the task force is not a “public body” subject to OMA. He argued that since commissioners did not empower the “task force” or delegate the board’s decision-making authority to the group, the task force is not obligated to meet OMA requirements.
Regardless of the outcome of the MSP investigation and final ruling on the OMA complaint, we expect that the Energy Futures Task Force will continue to conduct its business in the open and abide by OMA guidelines.
In today’s political climate there is suspicion surrounding discussion, decision making and motive of many groups and organizations. The most efficient and practical way to avoid suspicion and conspiracy theories surfacing regarding actions are to conduct all business in the open.
The Open Meetings Act establishes basic guidelines on how to conduct business with adequate public access and safeguards against ‘backroom’ decision making.
If all groups conduct business with OMA guidelines in mind there is nothing to hide.
