Leelanau County Finance Director Rio Risbridger is out after emailing her resignation to the Leelanau County Commissioners Friday afternoon.
“After the events which have occurred, I would like to formally notify you of my resignation effective now,” Risbridger said Friday at the end of day. “I cannot handle this anymore. I will pack up my things today. I have left both my laptop, badge, keys, and phone in the finance department office.”
Risbridger’s resignation comes only six months into her tenure, which began in late March.
“She is skilled, smart, and was an asset to the County. I am very sorry to see her go, " Leelanau County Interim Administrator Lauren Cypher said.
The Central Michigan University graduate had previous experience at Price, Waterhouse Cooper, which ranks among the “Big Four” accounting firms.
Former finance director Cathy Hartesvelt was formally placed on administrator leave by Dyer in January. She was terminated about four weeks later.
Sean Cowan was hired in June 2023 to serve as finance director. However, he resigned months later, expressing frustration over the established employment structure.
In May 2021, commissioners began publicly discussing creating human resources and finance departments within Leelanau County. That was followed in October of that year by a resolution transferring duties previously assigned to the clerk’s office to finance and human resources, reporting to the county administrator.
Since then, the county administrator seat has been a bit of a revolving door. Janik was followed by Deb Allen, who was hired in October 2022. Allen resigned just over a year into the position, citing a lack of support from county board members. Then former Traverse City Mayor Richard Lewis held down the fort in 2024-2025 on an interim basis.
The county board hired former administrator Dyer a year ago before he was ousted in August of this year. Risbridger filed a complaint against Dyer that landed him on administrative leave before being gone all together.
Risbridger, who had been on the job 74 days when she filed the complaint, asked the board to remove her from Dyer’s supervision and have her report directly to commissioners, and to move her to a contract-employee arrangement.
