County, Dyer finalize separation agreement; administrator to receive roughly $68,400
Jim Dyer tenure as Leelanau County administrator has officially ended under a separation agreement signed this Wednesday closing out a departure that began with his placement on paid administrative leave in June.
The agreement, effective July 20, characterizes Dyer’s exit as “a mutually agreed separation without cause.”
Dyer signed the document July 28; Leelanau County Board of Commissioners Chairperson Steve Yoder signed on behalf of the county July 29.
The Leelanau Enterprise obtained a certified copy of the agreement.
Under the agreement, Dyer had been on paid administrative leave since June 9 and was barred from reporting to work, accessing county systems or acting on the county’s behalf during that period, other than as the county expressly authorized. The document sets July 20 at 5 p.m. as his official separation date.
According to a calculation sheet attached to the agreement, Dyer is due a total of $68,442.85 in gross payments, broken down as:
$60,438.92 in lump-sum severance, equal to six months of his base pay; $5,439.50 as a corresponding contribution to his 457 deferred-compensation account, calculated at 9 percent of the severance amount; and $2,564.42 for 45 hours of accumulated, unused personal leave.
Dyer’s annual salary is listed as $127,000. The agreement specifies the county will also cover his COBRA health insurance premiums for 90 days after his active coverage ends, provided he does not obtain other group coverage in that window. The agreement notes Dyer does not participate in the county’s MERS retirement plan, so no MERS contribution is included in the payout.
The agreement states it is not an admission of wrongdoing, liability or improper conduct by either party.
