Commissioners raise county vehicle radius to 15 miles, sparking debate over costs and recruitment

The Leelanau County Board of Commissioners on April 21 approved an amendment to the county vehicle-use policy that increases the allowable travel radius for regular full-time employees from 10 to 15 miles.

Commissioner Gwenne Allgaier moved to raise the distance limit and to grandfather any current eligible employees; the motion was seconded by Commissioner Ty Wessell and passed 6–1, with Commissioner William Bunek opposing. Administrator James L. Dyer said the revised policy language will be drafted to apply to regular full-time employees; part-time and seasonal employees are not included.

Arguments on the board centered on recruitment and fiscal transparency. Commissioner Rick Robbins said a larger radius helps recruit candidates who live outside the county and noted comparable policies in neighboring jurisdictions. Commissioner Bunek opposed the expansion, expressing concern that the county has not done a cost analysis and that increasing the radius shifts costs to taxpayers. Commissioner Alan Campbell said objective and subjective factors exist and suggested that administration track costs and report back in six months to provide data on the policy’s fiscal impact.

Why it matters: The policy change affects county operations, hiring flexibility, and taxpayer exposure to vehicle-related costs. Commissioners asked administration to produce follow-up reporting that will compare pre- and post-policy financial impacts.

Next steps: Administration will prepare the updated policy language incorporating IRS considerations and grandfathering terms, and will report back with cost data after implementation.