The Leelanau County Board of Commissioners will consider a motion this week that would make Lauren Cypher’s appointment as interim county administrator indefinite – the latest apparent writing on the wall that County Administrator Jim Dyer will not be returning from his administrative leave of absence.

The board went into closed session at a special meeting last Thursday, “to consider a written attorney-client communication from the county’s corporation counsel.” The Ticker was informed ahead of the meeting by an anonymous source that the “communication” in question had to do with an internal investigation into Dyer, triggered by a whistleblower complaint filed against him last month by County Finance Director Rio Risbridger. The complaint, which accused Dyer of “a pattern of conduct…that constitutes financial misconduct, circumvention of board authority, and a pattern of intimidation,” led the board to place Dyer on paid administrative leave.

After returning to open session on Thursday, the board approved two cryptically-worded motions, including one authorizing the board chair and vice chair and the county attorney “to meet with Jim Dyer and present proposed terms consistent with discussion in closed session.” The second motion saw the board formally “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.”

While those motions left questions in the air about whether Dyer was being fired, the board has yet to make any official statement about the administrator’s future. County Commissioner Alan Campbell, in his monthly newsletter “Leelanau Commissioner Update,” acknowledged the speculation, but did not confirm or deny that Dyer was being dismissed.

“In plain language, given the underlying circumstances, ‘proposed terms’ would usually mean a separation agreement, though not necessarily,” Campbell wrote. “The investigative reports were prepared in response to allegations contained in a resignation letter from former finance clerk Elizabeth Gray and a whistleblower complaint filed by Finance Director Rio Risbridger.”

A meeting packet published for this week’s executive meeting of the Board of Commissioners offers another clue about Dyer’s future – or lack thereof – with the county. The final action item listed on the meeting agenda is “appointment of interim county administrator,” even though the board already appointed Cypher to serve in that capacity while the investigation into Dyer 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. The item on the agenda for Tuesday’s executive board meeting calls for commissioners to revisit Cypher’s appointment, and “to make a motion without a date restriction” – suggesting the need for an indefinite arrangement.

The Ticker was unable to reach Dyer for comment on Sunday morning, and his county-issued cellphone appeared to have been disconnected.

The executive board meeting is scheduled for 9:30am on Tuesday, July 14 at the county government center. The meeting agenda and packet can be reviewed here.