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Kalkaska commissioners authorize chair to negotiate three-year contract with applicant Patrick Whiteford
Summary
The Kalkaska County Board of Commissioners voted 5-0 to allow Chair Kohn Fisher to negotiate a three-year employment agreement with applicant Patrick Whiteford for County Administrator/CFO; commissioners agreed not to re-advertise after staff confirmed posting requirements were met.
The Kalkaska County Board of Commissioners voted 5-0 on July 8 to authorize Chair Kohn Fisher to negotiate a three-year employment agreement with applicant Patrick Whiteford for the County Administrator/CFO role. Commissioner Scott Matley made the motion and Commissioner Robert Baldwin supported it; the board recorded a roll-call vote with five yeas and two absences.
The motion directed the chair to negotiate terms including a start date and to have any agreement reviewed and approved by county counsel before distribution to commissioners. The minutes record the roll call as: "Matley, yes; Baldwin, yes; Sieting, yes; Persons, yes; Fisher, yes. Absent Bicum and Comai. 5 yeas. 0 nays. 2 absent. Carried." The board had earlier agreed not to re-advertise the vacancy after staff verified the posting process.
The action follows staff briefings that the Administrator/CFO posting met internal and external publication requirements and after an applicant, Patrick Whiteford, indicated availability for the role. The motion authorizing negotiation is recorded in the official special-meeting minutes; the full negotiated agreement and any final vote will be provided to the board for review prior to the regular meeting on July 14, 2026.
