Meeting Notes 10-28-25

Meeting Notes from the October 28, 2025 Meeting of the Ottawa County Board of Commissioners

Meeting Packet: https://boards.miottawa.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/10282025-BOC-Agenda-Packet.pdf

Meeting Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YLc4lIGsyk8

ONN Tweet Thread: https://x.com/ONNLeach/status/1983157787594240047

Sentinel Meeting Roundup:

Land Bank Authority Bylaws: The Board approved the updated Ottawa County Land Bank Authority Bylaws.

Idema Explorers Trail Jones Easement: The Board approved the Jones easement agreement for the Allendale Segment of the Idema Explorers Trail.

Idema Explorers Trail Rapin-Szczesny Easement: The Board approved the Rapin-Szczesny easement agreement for the Allendale Segment of the Idema Explorers Trail.

Idema Explorers Trail Kooiker Easement: The Board approved the Kooiker easement agreement for the Allendale Segment of the Idema Explorers Trail.

MSU Extension Annual Agreement: The Board approved the Agreement for Extension Services between Ottawa County and Michigan State University Extension for Fiscal Year 2026 at a total cost of $289,172.

Fleet Management: The Board approved the Memorandum of Understanding with Enterprise Fleet Management for countywide fleet management services.

Western Michigan Health Insurance Pool Dental Plan: The Board approved the resolution to change dental providers to Western Michigan Health Insurance Pool.

Life and Disability Insurance: The Board approved the recommendation to change the life and disability insurance provider to Sun Life.

Exterior Signage Replacement: The Board approved the contract with Valley City Sign to replace the exterior signage at multiple County buildings for a total of $165,575.00.

2025 Ottawa County Apportionment Report: The Board approved the 2025 Ottawa County Apportionment

FY25 and FY26 Budget Adjustments: The Board approved the FY2025 and FY2026 budget adjustments per the attached schedule.

Hope College Bond Issuance: The Board approved the Resolution Approving the Project Area, Establishing the Project District Area, and Confirming the Appointment of Two Additional Directors to the Ottawa County Economic Development Corporation Board, in order to authorize the issuance of Limited Obligation Revenue Bonds not to exceed $10M for the benefit of Hope College.

Wolf Declaration & Memorandum: The Board agreed to waive its attorney/client privilege in the Declaration and Memorandum of Attorney Nate Wolf regarding his communications with County officials and his activities and inactivity pertaining to the undated written complaint of former employee, Jordan Epperson.

I voted no because I am concerned that this vote represents a significant one-off exception to the idea of preserving confidentiality. I would support this release if it were part of a formal investigation; however, no formal complaint currently exists on our agenda that would justify such an exception.

Likewise, I would support this release if it were part of a broader policy change regarding confidential documents. But if this action is not intended as a step toward updating our policy, I am deeply concerned that we would be creating an isolated exception without sound rationale. These documents, unlike the closed session minutes in the Holland Sentinel and Zimmer case, were not part of our decision making process.

I recognize the public’s desire for full disclosure, but true transparency is best served by consistent processes, not selective exceptions. A one-off release risks undermining fairness, setting an uneven precedent, and eroding public trust in how we handle confidentiality.

Ottawa County v. Chester Township: The Board accepted the Defendant’s settlement offer in the Ottawa County v. Chester Township case as recommended by the County Attorney in the opinion letter dated October 15, 2025.

Holland Sentinel Appeal: The Board accepted the Holland Sentinel’s offer to dismiss the appeal as recommended by the County Attorney in the opinion letter dated October 24, 2025.

I voted yes on the Holland Sentinel settlement for much the same reason I voted for the settlement of the Zimmer case last month; to turn the page on this item and in a manner that costs the county zero dollars. I believe that we are valuing the plaintiff’s very real concerns and the residents on whose behalf the Sentinel brought its concerns.

Resolution on CSBG funding: The Board approved a resolution to support the Trump Administration’s elimination of CSBG and LIHEAP funding and in favor of supporting the Trump Administration’s strategic plan to deal with the related issues of health, safety and welfare of Ottawa County residents.

I voted no on the Resolution as I do not support the Trump Administration’s plan around these issues.

Administrative Analyst Job Description: The Board discussed the Administrative Analyst position that was posted in early October. I made a motion to postpone filling this position until an actual position request can come before the Board. That Motion failed 4-7.

I made the motion because I did have a number of questions regarding the position itself, but more importantly, I was and continue to be concerned with the seeming inversion of roles between the board and the administrator. The board is tasked with setting policy and providing strategic oversight, while the administrator’s role is to execute that policy and manage day-to-day operations—not to unilaterally take actions that expand administrative authority or commit resources without board approval. My motion was in large part meant to reaffirm this fundamental governance structure.

I remain concerned that this incident of not being willing to seek input on a position that supposedly is partially for the Board’s sake, nor being willing to seek approval from the Board before going through with filling it reflects a broader pattern—where operational decisions are being elevated to the level of policy-making without our input. I am concernend that if we continue to allow this inversion to continue, we will erode the very checks and balances that protect our organization’s integrity and push residents and taxpayers further away from control of the government that they pay to serve them.