On Wednesday, the Leelanau County Board of Commissioners announced the separation of County Administrator Jim Dyer.
In a letter, the commissioners wrote that "both parties have agreed that a separation of employment is the most appropriate path forward for the county."
Dyer had been on paid leave since June 9 after Finance Director Rio Risbridger filed a 10-page complaint accusing him of physical intimidation, disparaging current and former employees, and withholding information important to financial decision-making.
Similar complaints were raised the previous year by former Finance Director Cathy Hartsevelt. She wrote that she felt threatened during a public meeting after disagreeing with Dyer. Hartsevelt and another Finance Department employee later filed a second complaint saying they felt they were "being 'railroaded' to provide illogical budget numbers in [a] very short timeframe."
In January 2026, Hartsevelt was placed on administrative leave for insubordination. By February, she had been terminated.
Dyer responded to Risbridger's allegations earlier this month. He admitted to some complaints — such as slamming his hand on a table and using profanity while speaking with Risbridger — but argued the workplace dysfunction stemmed from years of interference by the County Clerk's office.
In that 25-page response, Dyer claimed the Clerk's office had stalled replacing long-outdated accounting software and hoarded institutional knowledge. Earlier this week, he told the Leelanau Ticker that he was "done with these people" and the county is "an awful place to work."
The LBOC did not comment on the previous allegations but wrote that it appreciated "Mr. Dyer's time and effort dedicated to the county administration during his tenure."
In Dyer's place, the LBOC appointed Lauren Cypher as interim county administrator.
The LBOC concluded its letter by writing that it remains "committed to financial accountability, operational compliance, and maintaining a stable, transparent work environment for county staff and residents."
