Megan Daniels approved to work from home two days per week for 2026

The Kalkaska County Board of Commissioners on Dec. 11 approved a request allowing Equalization Director Megan Daniels to work from home two days per week for the 2026 fiscal year or until a formal remote-work policy is adopted.

The consensus motion, made by Commissioner Jeff Sieting and supported by Commissioner David Persons, drew no recorded opposition. County Administrator/CFO Pat Whiteford told commissioners he plans to draft a standardized policy that will define eligibility by job classification rather than by individual employees; Daniels offered to provide previous studies and records to support her request. Whiteford also said the county will require clear guidelines and robust public notice if office hours change.

The remote-work arrangement will remain in place until a countywide policy is finalized. Commissioners discussed operational needs such as VPN and computer access and noted differing full‑time-hour definitions across positions. The board also noted Equalization duties in neighboring counties sometimes use different staffing models, and said the forthcoming policy will aim to reflect job-specific responsibilities rather than exceptions for named staff.