Airport director, St. Ignace city manager vie to become Otsego County administrator

GAYLORD — The field of candidates to succeed Rachel Frisch as Otsego County administrator has been narrowed to the final two contenders.

In a special meeting scheduled for 2:30 p.m. Thursday, July 14 at the Otsego County Library in Gaylord, Otsego County commissioners will interview Matt Barresi, the current director of the Gaylord Regional Airport, and Darcy Long, the city manager of St. Ignace.

Barresi has been airport director since 2009. He and his wife, Holly, came to Gaylord after Barresi's 22-year career in the U.S. Air Force. Active in civic and nonprofit organizations, Barresi was named the "Der Buergermeister" of Gaylord's Alpenfest Festival in 2014.

Subscribe: Get unlimited access to our local coverage

Long has been the city manager in St. Ignace since 2020 and before that served as the city manager of Gladstone in the Upper Peninsula. He also held other governmental positions in Michigan and Wisconsin. Long has a master's degree in public administration from Northern Michigan University and a bachelor's degree from Lake Superior State University.

After interviewing Barresi and Long, county commissioners may vote to authorize county board chairman Ken Glasser to enter into contract negotiations with either one. Thursday's meeting is open to the public and will be available on a video conferencing link.

After serving as county administrator since 2017, Frisch resigned from the position in April because of family considerations.

At Tuesday's county board meeting, State Rep. Ken Borton, (R-Gaylord) presented Frisch with a special tribute from the state in honor of her service to the county. Borton, who served as county board chairman before winning his state house district in 2020, said Frisch made his job easier with her knowledge and professionalism.

The county board also approved a resolution saluting Frisch for her career with the county, and commissioners individually praised her for her contributions to the board and the county. Her last day on the job is scheduled for Friday, July 15.

Borton also presented a special tribute to Doug Johnson, county commissioner in district 7, after he was recognized as the longest consecutively serving commissioner in the state. He is now in his 42nd year.

Both tributes were signed by Borton, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II, and Jim Stamas, state senator for the 36th district, which includes Otsego County.

Separately, commissioners rescinded their approval of a resolution at the June 28 meeting authored by commissioner Henry Mason of District 2.

More: Loss of boat launch upsets residents near Little Bradford Lake

The resolution said on Jan. 6, 2021, over 100,000 attended a "peaceful" rally at the U.S. Capitol and a "very small group" decided to enter the Capitol uninvited. As a result on June 10, a Michigan Republican candidate for governor, Ryan Kelley, was charged with four misdemeanors related to the Jan. 6, 2021, attack.

"Therefore be it resolved that the Otsego County Board of Commissioners supports all freedom loving Americans’ right to peacefully assemble without harm, in support of this great country, and its constitutional freedoms, given to us by our founding fathers nearly 250 years ago," said the resolution.

The resolution failed to mention that some members of the mob who invaded the Capitol on Jan. 6 were armed with weapons, including guns and knives and trashed parts of the building by damaging historical statues, murals and furniture. The rioting also contributed to five deaths, assaults on 140 police officers and the evacuation of a joint session of Congress.

Commissioner Bruce Brown of District 9 proposed a resolution to repeal approval of the June 28 resolution. He said the resolution didn't involve anything related to county government. Other commissioners said they had received comments from citizens objecting to the resolution and the characterization of the Jan. 6 rally as peaceful.

Besides Brown, commissioners voting in favor of rescinding approval included Glasser, Jason Caverson, Johnson, Paul Liss, Brett McVannel, and Julie Powers.

Voting against the resolution were Mason and Rob Pallarito.

This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Two finalists named for Otsego County administrator role