Benzie County elects Roelofs chair, Markey vice chair; board adopts rules and three resolutions after rejecting evening meeting trial

The Benzie County Board of Commissioners elected Commissioner Roelofs as chair and Commissioner Markey as vice chair during its Jan. 3 organizational meeting, adopted amended board rules and three resolutions, and voted against a six-month trial to move one regular meeting to an evening start time.

Commissioner Roelofs won the secret-ballot contest for chair 4–3 after nominations from Commissioner Warsecke and Commissioner Sauer; Roelofs then took over running the meeting. In the separate vice-chair election, Commissioner Markey received five votes to Commissioner Sauer's two and was elected vice chair.

The board considered a proposal from Commissioner Warsecke to keep regular meetings on the second and fourth Tuesdays and to start the second meeting at 5:30 p.m. for a six-month trial to improve public access. Supporters, including Commissioner Cunningham, said evening meetings could make it easier for residents to attend. Opponents, led by Commissioner Sauer and Commissioner Jeannot, argued the change would place an undue burden on county office staff and noted past attempts had low turnout. "We have tried evening meetings in the past, not very many people showed up," Commissioner Sauer said. The motion failed on a roll-call vote: Ayes — Cunningham, Nye, Warsecke; Nays — Jeannot, Markey, Roelofs, Sauer.

The board approved changes to its Board Rules, including removing a provision regarding an annual October meeting and revising the agenda layout. Commissioner Jeannot proposed limiting Commissioner Reports to the second meeting each month and suggested moving Chair and Vice Chair elections to two-year terms; staff noted such a change would require rescinding the prior resolution and could not take effect until an odd-numbered year under statutory timing. The board also adopted a Public Comment statement as presented.

On procedural safeguards for staff, the board unanimously approved language requiring that any commissioner concern about an employee’s conduct be raised with the County Administrator rather than addressed directly to the employee. "If we have concerns about an employee's conduct, that needs to be addressed through the County Administrator," Commissioner Sauer said prior to the unanimous motion.

The board updated its committee list after a request from Jon Throop of the Conservation District to add the Benzie Watershed Coalition. By motion the board added Benzie Watershed Coalition, removed the Benzie Chamber of Commerce, Benzie Central School Board and Frankfort-Elberta School Board from its committee list, and changed the Frankfort County City Airport Authority representative from a liaison to a voting member. Commissioners were asked to submit appointment requests to Katie Zeits by the end of the week for Chair and Vice Chair assignment.

Votes at a glance: • Resolution 2024-001 (Depositories) — adopted by roll call (Ayes: Cunningham, Jeannot, Markey, Nye, Roelofs, Sauer, Warsecke). • Resolution 2024-002 (ACH Electronic Transfer Transactions) — adopted by roll call (Ayes: Cunningham, Jeannot, Markey, Nye, Roelofs, Sauer, Warsecke). • Resolution 2024-003 (Fair Housing Resolution) — adopted by roll call (Ayes: Cunningham, Jeannot, Markey, Nye, Roelofs, Sauer, Warsecke).

Other administrative notes: Commissioner Nye suggested rotating Commissioners for agenda review and accounts-payable review. Commissioner Sauer asked for clearer reporting on interest income earned by the county and urged Chairs to consider commissioner input when placing items on agendas. The meeting adjourned at 10:27 a.m.