The current Leelanau County Board of Commissioners held its last meeting Monday. They approved end-of-year budget amendments and fund transfers and paid invoices under claims and accounts.
“We are going to miss a couple of our commissioners who are leaving, and I thank you all for working,” said Gwenne Allgaier, one of the two county commissioners continuing for another term. “I’m honored to have worked with this group for the last two years.”
Allgaier said she’d miss outgoing Commissioner Melinda Lautner, with Lautner voicing her surprise. Lautner has sometimes had sharp exchanges with Allgaier and the other commissioners as the board’s frequent dissenting vote.
The county board approved adjustments and transfers deemed necessary to avoid yearend deficits in the various department budgets within the general fund. County Finance Director Cathy Hartesvelt said these included a small transfer to cover the increased costs in the hospitalization fund.
Hartesvelt also said the county paid as many invoices as it could at the Dec. 30 meeting, but they will continue paying 2024 invoices in January and February.
After a brief closed session, the county board agreed to present a collective bargaining agreement to the Teamsters Union Local 214 for ratification, proposing that all county government employees in the Teamsters Union work 40-hour weeks.
This proposal was rejected by union representatives about two hours later, meaning that union negotiations will continue into this year.
