On Thursday morning, the Leelanau County Board of Commissioners appeared to make a decision – albeit, not a public one – about how to handle recent allegations against County Administrator Jim Dyer. More details about that decision will presumably be shared at either next week’s executive board session or the following week’s regular July meeting.

The county announced a special session of the Board of Commissioners last week, “to consider a written attorney-client communication from the county’s corporation counsel.” The communication in question had to do with a recent internal investigation into Dyer, triggered by a complaint filed against the administrator last month by County Finance Director Rio Risbridger. Dyer has been on paid administrative leave ever since, though he sent commissioners a lengthy rebuttal to Risbridger’s allegations last week.

The majority of Thursday’s meeting took place behind closed doors, with commissioners spending nearly an hour in closed session with legal counsel. After returning to open session, the board unanimously approved two prepared motions.

The first motion, read by vice chair Mark Walter, authorized “the board chair, the vice chair, and the county attorney to meet with Jim Dyer and present proposed terms consistent with discussion in closed session, subject to Mr. Dyer’s acceptance and final approval by the board at a future meeting.”

The second, read by commissioner Alan Campbell, saw the board “accept the findings and recommendations of the investigation reports, dated June 16 and July 9, both of 2026, reviewed by the board,” and to “authorize the county, through its appropriate officials and legal counsel, to provide necessary notices regarding the outcome, and to take related actions consistent with the board’s direction.”

Campbell, at the end of the meeting, apologized to the public for the lack of clarity or transparency on the matter.

“I would like to apologize that so much of this has occurred behind closed doors, and has been steered by investigations and reports that you cannot read,” Campbell said. “When this is done, I will request and vote for the release of as many documents as is appropriate. You have an inherent right to access the documents that you as taxpayers have paid to have written.”

Notably, next week's executive board agenda, which was posted late Thursday afternoon, calls for "Appointment of Interim County Administrator," even though the board already appointed Dyer's executive assistant, Lauren Cypher, to serve in that capacity while the investigation was pending. Cypher's current arrangement with the board has her earning a $4,214.50-per-pay-period salary to perform the duties of county administrator through August 18.