History still matters

To the editor:

We all hope the return of Sean Cowan brings stability to Leelanau County’s finance department.

But history matters. Following the 2021 restructuring, the department experienced multiple resignations and repeated turnover. In 2023, Mr. Cowan submitted a detailed resignation letter describing structural concerns, including lack of authority, outdated systems, and unsustainable workload. He concluded he was the “authority in name only” and recommended reverting financial ownership to the Clerk if meaningful reform was not implemented.