Meeting Notes 7-28-26

Meeting Notes from the July 26 Meeting of the Ottawa County Board of Commissioners

Meeting Packet: https://boards.miottawa.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/07282026-BOC-Agenda-Packet-1.pdf

Meeting Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mfz3MLbG-bU

ONN Tweet:

Sentinel Meeting Roundup:

Agricultural Conservation Easement – Rillema Property: The Board voted to approve a Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development grant agreement for the agricultural conservation easement on the Rillema property in the amount of $241,200.

Agricultural Conservation Easement – Klein Property: The Board voted to approve a Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development grant agreement for the agricultural conservation easement on the Klein property in the amount of $134,550.

Audit Services: The Board voted to approve an agreement with Vredeveld-Haefner LLC to extend the current contract for professional audit services for Ottawa County and related entities for one additional year at a total cost of $133,875.

Board of Canvassers Per Diem: The Board voted to increase the Board of Canvassers per diem rates to $150 for a full day and $75 for a half day.

Terrace Drain Full Faith & Credit Resolution: The Board voted to approve a resolution pledging the full faith and credit of Ottawa County for the Terrace Drain Drainage District Note in an amount not to exceed $556,704.42.

Veterans Services Relocation: The Board voted to approve a contract with JKB Construction for the Veterans Services renovation project at a cost not to exceed $134,746.

Fillmore Administration Building Interior Renovations: The Board voted to approve a contract with Fishbeck for architectural and engineering design services related to modifications to the Fillmore Administration Building at a cost not to exceed $92,100.

James Street Campus Interior Renovations: The Board voted to approve a contract with Fishbeck for architectural and engineering design services and construction documentation services for renovations at the James Street Community Mental Health facility and Building D in an amount not to exceed $118,300.

Legal Services Director Position Regrade: The Board voted to regrade the Legal Services Director position from Grade 19 to Grade 20 on the Countywide Wage Scale at an additional cost of $13,231.

Budget Adjustments: The Board voted to approve the FY2026 budget adjustments as presented.

Kent Ottawa Muskegon Foreign Trade Zone: The Board voted to approve the updated enabling agreement with the Kent Ottawa Muskegon Foreign Trade Zone Authority.

West Michigan Health Insurance Pool Trustee: The Board voted to approve a resolution naming the Trustee and Alternate Trustee positions for the West Michigan Health Insurance Pool.

Idema Explorers Trail – Eastmanville Bayou Segment: The Board voted to award the construction contract for the Eastmanville Bayou Segment of the Idema Explorers Trail to Georgetown Construction in the amount of $3,548,794.00, increase the project budget by $2,182,741.57 using Parks Foundation and Parks Capital Projects Fund Balance funds, and authorize the Parks Director to implement the project.

Incident Reporting Policy: The Board voted to approve the newly drafted Incident Reporting Policy for first and second reading.

Remote Access & Application Service Provider Policy: The Board voted to approve the revised and retitled Access & Application Service Provider Policy for first and second reading.

Post-Execution Contract Ratification: The Board voted to ratify all contracts on the Ratification Report pursuant to the County’s Contracting policy.

Agricultural Conservation Easement – Klein: The Board voted to approve a Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development grant agreement for the agricultural conservation easement on the Klein property in the amount of $241,200.00.

Agricultural Conservation Easement – Rillema: The Board voted to approve a Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development grant agreement for the agricultural conservation easement on the Rillema property in the amount of $134,550.00.

Salary and Wage Continuation Policy: The Board voted to approve the revised Salary and Wage Continuation Policy for a second reading.

Personnel Requisition Policy: The Board voted to approve the newly drafted Personnel Requisition Policy for a second reading.

September Board Meeting Time: The Board voted to approve the Chair’s recommendation to change the start time of the September 22, 2026, Board of Commissioners meeting from 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 a.m.

I voted no as I beleive that we should have a stated mechanism for dealing with an absence of the Chair and Vice Chair, as that was the reason for the change.

Veterans Services Committee – War Veteran Seat: The Board voted to select Mikal MacDonald to fill one (1) Veterans Services Committee War Veteran mid-term vacancy beginning immediately and ending December 31, 2028.

Veterans Services Committee– Seat Title: The board voted to approve the recommendation to change the seat title from War Veteran to Active-Duty Veteran on the Veterans Services Committee per MCL Section 35.621.

Community Action Agency Advisory Board – Private Sector Seat: The Board voted to select Kristi Drooger to fill one (1) Community Action Agency Advisory Board Private Sector vacancy beginning immediately and ending July 27, 2029.