Leelanau Commission District 3 candidates Will Bunek, Lois Bahle address key issues facing County
From staff reports
Today we’re featuring the candidates vying to represent Leelanau County Commission District 3 (including Suttons Bay and Lake Leelanau), which is currently held by Republican incumbent Will Bunek. Democrat Lois Bahle is challenging Bunek, as she did two years ago.
We asked the candidates the following six questions.
Sun: What are three hurdles facing Leelanau residents that you think the County Commission should address?
Bunek: The top three issues I think the county needs to address are: wireless internet access; Balancing the budget under COVID conditions; services for seniors/Bringing families with youngsters to the county.
Bahle: Supporting young families: housing, day care, internet access for work and study from home; COVID: rapid results testing, encourage everyone to get a flu shot; Recognize our changing climate and find ways to participate in the solution.
Sun: What can the Commission do to increase broadband and Internet access?
Bunek: The county is allowing six months free internet access on all county towers for wireless internet providers as an incentive to achieve county wide internet access. The county is also looking into the possibility of bringing fiber cable to all county towers. We have been working on this for quite some time, and as is the case with many government projects, it is a very slow process. The commissioners are working diligently on this goal and will continue to move it forward as quickly as we can.
Bahle: The two main impediments are lack of infrastructure and cost of service to the individual. Work with Grand Traverse Band on photo optic line installation, work to improve capacity on county owned towers, possible addition of a tower location, needs based assistance to families for internet hook up and fees.
Sun: What can the Commission do to increase affordable and workforce housing options here?
Bunek: The county has a housing task force committee that is addressing the affordable work force issue. In an effort to achieve cheaper housing for those who want to move to the county, I have proposed to the county Building Safety Committee that we move to a single all inclusive permit fee for houses under a certain square footage. The Building Safety Committee is scheduled to meet in October to discuss this option.
Bahle: Continue the Housing Action Committee and engage with Housing North. Encourage communities to streamline zoning regulations for affordable workforce housing. Support the Landbank/Brownfield Authority to mitigate land costs.
Sun: What can the Commission do to protect Leelanau’s environment and mitigate the effects of Climate Change?
Bunek: Leelanau County is addressing environmental issues in these many and varied ways! The sheriff’s department was able to reduce their fuel costs by $10,000 this year without reducing miles travelled because of more fuel-efficient vehicle purchases and lower gas prices. County residents will vote on whether or not to renew and increase household recycling fees in a ballot proposal this November, which will allow for a continuation of hazardous waste, electronic, and tire collection. The county residents themselves are paying for and protecting the environment through recycling efforts. The county is the facilitator. At the county buildings, all departments participate in recycling and will continue to do so.
Bahle: Work with Leelanau Energy to be informed: encourage retrofit of homes for energy efficiency, use the Government Center campus as an example with solar installation. Follow the suggestion of our utility providers and Electrify Everything. Add an EV charging station. Live the example.
Sun: What can the Commission do to reach a resolution for Sugar Loaf?
Bunek: With regard to the Sugar Loaf property, the county’s Brownfield Redevelopment Authority and Land Bank Authority are working with the land owner. To the frustration of many persons including myself, it is an extremely slow, expensive, and complicated process. This process has been become even slower and more complicated because of the Coronavirus. No one is happy about this unfortunate situation. Hopefully, as the virus is resolved, progress can be made.
Bahle: Assist in cleaning up the site so it’s safe.
Sun: What did you learn from the Commission’s pained efforts to draft an anti-racism resolution? Why was it so difficult to do so? What next steps should the Commission take on combatting racism in Leelanau?
Bunek: In my years of service to the county board, racism has not been an issue. As commissioner, I think the adoption of the anti-racism resolution, which was accomplished in a week’s time, went quite smoothly. The pain, from my perspective, seemed to come from the public who didn’t understand the process and did not want the commissioners to discuss all types of racism. As a next step, the commissioners are scheduled to meet for an anti-bias conference in November. All the commissioners take their county responsibilities seriously. I want to take this opportunity to compliment them for their efforts, and though we may disagree on issues, we treat one another with respect.
Bahle: As I would expect most of us do not see ourselves as racist. Or, in the Road Commission situation, we chose to look the other way. Wordsmithing a resolution that was agreeable to the seven-member Commission was not easy. I welcome the opportunity for discussion and engagement with our Grand Traverse Band neighbors and people of color in our community. You don’t know what you don’t know.
