Benzie County interviews three finalists for county administrator; decision deferred to Sept. 8

K. Vance Bates, chairman of the Benzie County Board of Commissioners, called a special meeting to order at 9:00 a.m. Sept. 1, 2015, at the Benzie County Governmental Center in Beulah to hear presentations from three finalists for the county administrator position.

The board, present in full, approved the meeting agenda on a motion by Bates seconded by Commissioner Warsecke; the motion carried unanimously. Commissioner Griner delivered the invocation and the assembly recited the pledge of allegiance. No members of the public spoke during the public input period.

The stated purpose of the session was to hear presentations from three candidates: Mitch Deisch (scheduled for 9:00 a.m.), William Kennis (10:00 a.m.) and Heath Kaplan (11:00 a.m.). After scheduling the candidate presentations, Bates moved and Commissioner Sauer seconded a motion authorizing that the board make a decision on the county administrator appointment at the board's regular meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2015. That motion passed with Ayes from Bates, Carland, Sauer, Tucker and Warsecke; Commissioners Griner and Walterhouse voted Nay.

Commissioner Tucker later moved and Commissioner Warsecke seconded to adjourn the special meeting until Sept. 8, 2015, or until the call of the chair; the motion carried unanimously. The meeting record lists K. Vance Bates as chairman and Dawn Olney as Benzie County clerk.