Benzie County commissioners set Oct. 5 vote to consider hiring county administrator

Chair Vance Bates called the Benzie County Board of Commissioners’ special meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. on Sept. 29, 2015, at the Government Center in Beulah. Present were Commissioners Bates, Carland, Griner, Sauer, Tucker, Walterhouse and Warsecke; Tammy Bowers served as chief deputy clerk.

Commissioner Tucker moved and Commissioner Warsecke seconded approval of the agenda; the motion carried unanimously. During the public comment period no members of the public spoke.

Commissioner Warsecke moved, and Commissioner Sauer seconded, "to vote at the October 5, 2015 special meeting on the original three candidates to see if there is a majority vote to hire a County Administrator." The board approved the motion unanimously (Ayes: Bates, Carland, Griner, Sauer, Tucker, Walterhouse and Warsecke; Nays: None).

Chair Vance Bates said that by Oct. 2, 2015 Maridee Cutler would contact the three original candidates to determine whether they remained interested in the county administrator position.

Commissioner Griner moved, and Commissioner Tucker seconded, a motion "to have a special meeting on October 5, 2015 at 7:30 p.m. to vote on the original three candidates and see if there is a majority vote to hire a County Administrator, or if not able to do that a procedure available to move forward with the search for County Administrator." That motion also passed unanimously.

Commissioner Tucker moved, and Commissioner Carland seconded, to adjourn until the Oct. 5, 2015 special meeting or the call of the chair; the motion carried unanimously. The board left the meeting having set next steps: staff contact candidates by Oct. 2 and a special meeting on Oct. 5 to attempt a final vote or to adopt next steps for the administrator search.

The meeting record lists Vance Bates as chair and Tammy Bowers as Benzie County chief deputy clerk.