Leelanau County board appoints interim county administrator and authorizes investigation

Leelanau County Board of Commissioners — during a special session on June 9, 2026 — unanimously appointed Lauren Cypher as interim county administrator and authorized legal counsel to investigate complaints related to county administration.

The board met at the Government Center in Suttons Bay and, after entering a closed session under MCL 15.268(h) to consider a written attorney‑client privileged communication dated June 8, reconvened in open session in the afternoon. "MOTION BY WALTER THAT THE LEELANAU COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS APPOINT LAUREN CYPHER TO SERVE IN THE CAPACITY OF INTERIM COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR, EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY, TO PERFORM THE DUTIES OF THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR UP TO AUGUST 18 OR UNTIL FURTHER ACTION BY THE BOARD," the motion read; it passed by a 7–0 vote.

Commissioners then approved a separate motion authorizing the board chair to direct county legal counsel and any other outside professionals to investigate certain complaints related to county administration and to report findings and recommendations to the board as appropriate. That motion also passed unanimously. A third motion authorized the board chair to issue a media statement on behalf of the board and to "address other common personnel practices," and it likewise carried 7–0.

Minutes record no public comments. During commissioner remarks after the votes, Commissioner Gwenne Allgaier thanked Cypher "for helping us out and doing a good job which she always does," and Commissioner William Bunek voiced concurrence. Commissioner Alan Campbell reminded colleagues of an Ethics Committee meeting scheduled for Friday and asked whether materials would be ready; Interim Administrator Cypher said the meeting "is scheduled and posted and she will see where everything is at." The board adjourned at 2:46 p.m.

The session began with a roll call showing all seven commissioners present and included a brief recess while the board awaited counsel to prepare motions after the closed session. All formal actions recorded in the minutes were unanimous, with roll‑call tallies of seven ayes and zero nos. The closed session was taken under Michigan's Freedom of Information Act exemption for attorney‑client privileged communications (MCL 15.268[h]); the minutes do not disclose the content of that privileged communication.

Next steps identified in the minutes: the interim appointment remains in place through Aug. 18, 2026, or until the board takes further action; county legal counsel and any contracted outside professionals were authorized to investigate and report back to the board; and the board chair was empowered to issue a public statement on behalf of the board. The minutes note an upcoming Ethics Committee meeting but do not list further procedural dates or outcomes of any investigation.