Grand Traverse County Treasurer Heidi Scheppe – who has been with the county for 24 years, including for the last decade in her elected role as treasurer – is leaving to become the new finance director/treasurer for the City of Traverse City. City commissioners will vote at a special meeting Friday to confirm Scheppe. Though just a short jaunt across the hall at the Governmental Center for Scheppe, the move is a significant one – filling a critical, long-vacant leadership role at the city and requiring the formation of a county committee to appoint Scheppe’s replacement.
In a memo to city commissioners, Interim City Manager Nate Geinzer said the city has been “without consistent leadership” in the finance department since long-time City Treasurer/Finance Director William Twietmeyer retired in 2020 after 30 years in the role. Kelli Martin held the position after Twietmeyer, but was fired after a year on the job by then-City Manager Marty Colburn. Under the city’s charter, the city treasurer and city clerk can’t be hired or fired without the approval of at least five commissioners, which Colburn failed to obtain in advance. He was formally reprimanded by commissioners for violating the charter. After Martin, James Henderson became city treasurer but then stepped down at the end of 2022.
The position has since been vacant for almost a year. “Thankfully we have a competent group of staff members who have been able to keep things moving during this period of extended transition,” Geinzer wrote to commissioners. “Over the last nearly 12 months, the city has been operating under an interim finance director, while working hard to find a steady hand and highly experienced professional to fill this role for the long term.” Geinzer said the first of two major recruitment pushes took place in June, but applications were limited.
A second recruitment effort took place in October with “limited support” from outside consulting firm GovHR to extend the reach of the search, Geinzer said. Four applicants were interviewed by a team comprised of senior city management. That team unanimously selected Heidi Scheppe for the role, a recommendation that was shared with incoming City Manager Liz Vogel. Vogel “conducted a final interview remotely and concurred with the interview team’s recommendation,” according to Geinzer.
Scheppe has been with Grand Traverse County since 1999, as deputy finance director from 1999 to 2012 and then in the elected role of county treasurer from 2012 through today. “As an elected official, I am very familiar with the responsibilities of a department head and take deadlines and due dates very seriously,” she wrote in her application. “I have been in charge of delinquent property tax collection, cash investments, budget preparations, annual comprehensive financial report (ACFR) composition, internal controls, and accounts payable over the years. I have an exceptional ability to multi-task with a high degree of accuracy.” Scheppe already works with several city department heads, she wrote, including with the city assessor on tax bills and with DDA CEO Jean Derenzy on TIF capture calculations and millage table settings.
Geinzer calls Scheppe “beyond qualified for the position.” She can “walk in and perform the job on day one and brings a joyous attitude and confidence that the city’s finance/treasury team is excited to have on our side of the first floor,” he wrote to commissioners. “I should note, multiple department directors have also expressed their excitement and relief to have someone as qualified as Ms. Scheppe be our recommendation to the city commission.”
Scheppe tells The Ticker she is looking forward to moving over to the city “and getting to work with their employees. Having been with the county for 24 years, we have shared a building and I enjoyed working with former City Treasurer Bill Twietmeyer and work well with Interim City Treasurer Jahna Robinson. The staff has been very welcoming, and I hope for a smooth transition.” Scheppe adds: “Since I am just across the hall, I will be available to answer any questions the new county treasurer may have.”
Unlike the city, the county has two separate leadership positions for treasurer and finance director. County Administrator Nate Alger explains that the treasurer – an elected official – is “the custodian of all county funds and is responsible for receipting, recording, and investing all money deposited with Grand Traverse County.” The treasurer is also responsible for “maintaining debt service accounts for all the bonded indebtedness of the county” and for the “collection of all delinquent real property taxes,” Alger says. The finance director – a position held by Dean Bott – is a “county employee who oversees the operations of the finance department and manages day-to-day activities such as purchasing, payroll, budgeting, accounting, and cash management,” Alger says.
While separate offices and responsibilities, the treasurer’s office and finance department “work hand in hand to manage the overall financial systems of the county,” Alger says. “Dean and Heidi have worked together for a long time, and the treasurer’s office has very talented staff that will be able to work with finance very well until a replacement is selected.”
Just as it had to do recently when Sheriff Tom Bensley stepped down mid-term, Grand Traverse County will need to fill the vacancy of county treasurer through an appointment process, according to County Clerk Bonnie Scheele. As with the sheriff replacement, “the probate judge, prosecuting attorney, and I will begin the process once Ms. Scheppe submits her resignation,” Scheele says. “The appointment will be to fill the vacancy until the end of the term, which is December 31, 2024. Candidates – including the appointed treasurer if he/she is interested – must file by April 23, 2024 to run for the office of treasurer for the 2025-2028 term of office.”
At least five city commissioners must vote at Friday’s special meeting to approve Scheppe’s hire as city finance director/treasurer. Her starting salary will be $130,691.50 (by comparison, the salary for county treasurer is $100,475). City Human Resources Specialist Jason Johnson says the city is still working on finalizing Scheppe’s start date, pending commission approval, but anticipates a likely “start date of 30 days from approval.”
