Grand Traverse County Commissioner Addison "Sonny" Wheelock is planning to file a formal complaint with the Michigan State Police about a potential violation of the Open Meetings Act (OMA) by fellow commissioners on the county board.

Wheelock contacted Grand Traverse County Prosecuting Attorney Bob Cooney Thursday and asked Cooney to investigate if other commissioners violated OMA as part of a recent 5-2 decision to non-renew the contract of County Administrator Dave Benda. That decision was reached in less than 10 minutes of discussion and did not include a performance review. Wheelock and Commissioner Ron Clous - who both opposed Benda's ouster - later questioned whether commissioners had reached a consensus prior to the meeting to part ways with the county administrator. OMA requires all deliberations by commissioners to occur in front of the public and prohibits closed-door policy discussions or consensus-building conversations in private between board members.

Cooney says he referred Wheelock to the Michigan State Police to make a formal complaint and request for investigation. "The investigation may be submitted to either me or the Michigan Attorney General for review," Cooney says. "If my office receives a complaint from MSP, it will be referred to the Attorney General for review and/or appointment of a special prosecuting attorney due to my role as Chief Civil Counsel for the Board of Commissioners."

Wheelock told The Ticker Friday he has spoken with the Michigan State Police and set an appointment for Monday to file a formal complaint. "I just need answers," Wheelock says. "I hope there's no evidence (commissioners) violated the Open Meetings Act. But there certainly is the perception. I just need to know whether that perception is true."