Dyer placed on administrative leave

There was one empty seat at the conference table when the county Board of Commissioners gathered for their executive committee meeting Tuesday.
It was the seat of county administrator Jim Dyer who has been placed on paid leave pending an investigation into a complaint filed against him by a recent hire.
This action took place in open session with a handful of  persons in attendance. However, board members took three votes following the 90-minute closed door meeting, which included a discussion with legal counsel.
The first was to appoint Lauren Cypher, executive assistant to Dyer, as interim administrator through Aug. 18 or until further board action.  The second motion was to authorize chairman Steve Yoder to work with legal counsel and others to investigate “certain complaints.” The third motion directed Yoder to issue a press release about the action.
“The Leelanau County Board of Commissioners confirms that the county administrator has been placed on paid administrative leave pending an internal investigation,”  the release stated. “This administrative action is procedural in nature, and no findings or conclusions have been reached at this time. 
“Consistent with established practices and to protect the integrity of the process, the county will not provide additional comment while the internal investigation is ongoing. Updates will be provided as appropriate.”
This action comes about 14 months into Dyer’s tenure as administrator. And since coming on the job April 1, 2025, Dyer has been in the hot seat — beginning with his candidacy for Cherryland Electric Cooperative.
Then there was a complaint from former finance director Cathy Hartesvelt about Dyer. The details of the complaint were not made public. 
She was dismissed from her position in February of this year amid claims of insubordination. Dyer brought in former finance director Sean Cowen  to assist on an interim basis. After completing his interim tenure, Dyer hired Rio Risbridger as finance director. She began work March 23.  Dyer’s involvement in the county Brownfield Redevelopment Authority also questioned by representatives of the county Republican party.
In an email to commissioners, dated June 3,  Jim White, county GOP chairman, called for the board to “replace (Dyer) immediately.”
“I’m writing you on my own initiative with my own motives,” White wrote. “This is not an official position of the Leelanau County Republican  Party.”
White’s email also took aim at a proposal to authorize the county administrator authority to spend up to $25,000 to settle claims/grievances/legal actions filed against the county.
“I find (this proposal) troubling because it smacks of more government overreach and of building a bureaucratic   structure in the long run that will be expensive, redundant, hardly necessary, “  White’s email states.  “…This is wildly unpopular with my constituents.”
White unsuccessfully ran for the District 4 commissioner seat now occupied by commissioner Ty Wessell.
According to an amended employment agreement approved in 2025 Dyer’s annual salary is $127,000. His contract is good through March 30, 2028.
Dyer did not respond to a request for comment.