Saturday, June 7, 2025 at 8:27 AM

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Opinion

Congratulations

Congratulations

To the editor: Congratulations to the Leelanau Enterprise and its staff for serving our county with a first-class publication. The fact that you have won awards in so many categories this year is a testament to fine leadership and talent. 03/27/2024 04:47 PM

Disappointing decision

Disappointing decision

To the editor: It was disappointing to say the least of the decision by the Empire Village Board to acquire a $480,000 building for a new Village Office. A new office is indeed needed, but this type of expenditure for what the Village will receive in return is a signifi cant disservice to the taxpayers of Empire. 03/27/2024 04:47 PM

Roads that match our landscape

Roads that match our landscape

To the editor: I have listened to many county residents with issues about the condition and safety of our county roads. Our shared roads are probably the most common concern I hear from constituents. 03/27/2024 04:47 PM

Thumbs up, down

Thumbs up, down

Periodically, the Enterprise offers a “thumbs up” or “thumbs down” to activities taking place on the peninsula. Here’s the latest. A familiar face popped up in the Leelanau County government center recently – Chet Janik, the county administrator from mid-2012 to 2023. Janik is working with the county commissioners again as they search for a new administrator/ chief financial officer who, it is hoped, will complete the transition of county finances to its own independent department. Janik’s calm leadership, professionalism, and (perhaps most importantly) connections could be just what the county needs as it seeks to stop the revolving door of finance department heads that has been spinning since it was activated in January 2022. Although the tension at the county government center seems to have died down somewhat since the results of an organizational culture survey came in Jan. 3, it doesn’t seem like some employees and officials are ready to bury the hatchet yet. The survey exposed some long standing rivalries to the public. Lately the most contested issue has been who will be named finance director under the new administrator. Janik said he feels that the new administrator ought to choose who will be their finance director, but Commissioner Melinda Lautner has been championing Interim Finance Director Cathy Hartesvelt for the role and has argued that she be appointed full-time director immediately. 03/20/2024 05:09 PM

A column by Brian Freiberger

Debate needed for free society

I hope everyone knows its not only okay to debate on all topics, but it is a necessity for a free society. This comes into question for me more-andmore everyday because it seems that you can’t criticize a public or private person or entities actions without some aggressive personalized attack or attempt of silencing with no substance regarding an argument itself. 03/20/2024 05:09 PM

Thank you, Pence

Thank you, Pence

To the editor: I owe former Vice President Pence a debt of gratitude. On January 6, 2021, Vice President Mike Pence remained at our nation’s capitol to complete the day’s business of certifying the 2020 election results. 03/20/2024 05:09 PM

Solar woes

To the editor: In a recent Enterprise we learned that one of Commissioner Melinda Lautner’s many objections to accepting the $1.5 million grant on offer to our county for the installation of solar panels is that the panels will be near a jail. “Concern about the proximity of the proposed solar array to the county jail,” arises in Ms Lautner’s mind, as “schools and other community groups may be allowed to visit the site for education.” Excuse me? What am I missing here? Are we worried that the convicts will get out and harm the poor unsuspecting students while the students are on a field trip? Or that they will leer at the students from the windows of their jail cells, causing them irreparable trauma? Or that the students might see the jail and take up a life of crime? Can anyone make sense of any of this? Mark Smith Leland. 03/20/2024 05:09 PM

Age is relative

Age is relative

To the editor: How old is too old? It seems everyone’s idea of age is different. With many octogenarians leading productive lives and never considered too old, I think it’s time to recognize that age is relative. 03/20/2024 05:09 PM

Orange barge, crane

Orange barge, crane

To the editor: The orange barge and crane have been a ubiquitous site the past few years in Grand Traverse Bay. The barge spent a year or so sunk in Greilickville, then was moored for a while without permission in Peshawbestown, later again sunk off of Paradesia Point near Northport. 03/20/2024 05:09 PM

Millage renewal important

Millage renewal important

To the editor: In August a very vital and important millage renewal will be on the ballot. Continuing support for the Early Childhood millage will allow our Health Department and Parenting Communities the continuity to continue supporting our young families and children. 03/20/2024 05:09 PM

By Tim Skubick

Voter ignorance vs. electorate enlightenment

When candidates, campaign managers and political consultants say their prayers at night they most likely ask that Michigan voters continue to be ignorant. That’s because an illinformed citizen is easy to exploit for political gain. Or to put it another way, it is infinitely easier to pull the wool over the eyes of a voter who is too lazy to do their homework on a candidate for this office or that. 03/20/2024 05:09 PM

‘Cherry Grower Alliance’ could provide growers clout

‘Cherry Grower Alliance’ could provide growers clout

Growing things is fun. A lot of people got into farming with that in mind, only to realize a mortgage or two down the road that there’s more to it. 03/13/2024 11:46 PM

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