Meeting Notes 11-25-25
Meeting Notes from the November 25, 2025 Meeting of the Ottawa County Board of Commissioners
Meeting Packet: https://boards.miottawa.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/11252025-BOC-Agenda-Packet.pdf
Meeting Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=APv-RMcfGY0
ONN Tweet Thread: https://x.com/ONNLeach/status/1993454508362678597?s=20
Sentinel Meeting Roundup: https://www.hollandsentinel.com/story/news/politics/county/2025/11/26/ottawa-county-declines-to-form-committee-over-brugger-complaint/87477238007/
Riley Trails: The Board approved the Donation Agreement between the County of Ottawa and Bau Van West Land Co., LLC for the donation of 15. 7 acres directly adjacent to Riley Trails at an approximate value of $600,000.
Idema Explorers Trail Allendale Segment Grant Administration Agreement: The Board approved the agreement with the Ottawa County Road Commission for administration of the proposed Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) grant for the Allendale Segment of the Idema Explorers Trail, and to increase the budget for Capital Project 2212 to $3,207,426.78 with the funding anticipated from a pending Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) grant and from the Ottawa County Parks Foundation's Grand River Greenway Fund.
Idema Explorers Trail Allendale Segment Easement: The Board approved the easement agreement with Love Inc. of Allendale at a cost of $14,250 as needed for the Allendale Segment of the Idema Explorers Trail.
Ottawa Beach Marina Dredging Services: The Board approved the contract for Dredging Services with D.K. Construction at the Ottawa Beach Marina in an amount not to exceed $98,000 and to approve an increase in the budget for $48,300.
Risk Management Policy: The Board approved the first reading of the revised Risk Management Policy.
Emergency Solutions Grant: The Board approved the grant agreement between the Michigan State Housing Development Authority and Ottawa County for and on behalf of Ottawa County Community Action Agency to provide services to prevent homelessness.
Good Samaritan Ministries Emergency Solutions Grant: The Board approved the contract with Good Samaritan Ministries for the Emergency Solutions Grant.
Environmental Assessment Services: The Board approved a contract in the amount of $497,200 with Fishbeck for Environmental Assessment Services.
Klein Conservation Easement: The Board a purchase agreement with Don and Shirley Klein for the development rights to approximately 80 acres of farmland in Chester Township at an estimated cost of $344,000 paid for with a donation, grant, and private funding.
Substance Use Disorder Prevention Contract: The Board approved a 1-year contract with Lakeshore Regional Entity for Substance Use Disorder Prevention with a total revenue of $88,218.
Hope College Bond Issuance: The Board approved the Resolution Approving the Project Plan and Issuance of Bonds for Hope College.
Older Americans Act Appropriation: The Board approved the contract between Ottawa County and Senior Resources of West Michigan to support senior serving organizations over the next 5 years at a total cost of $162,500.
FY25 and FY26 Budget Adjustments: The Board approved the FY2025 and FY2026 budget adjustments per the attached schedule.
Prosecutor’s Office Personnel Request: The Board approved the request from the Prosecutor's Office to increase one Legal Assistant I position from 0.8125 to 1.0 FTE at a cost increase of $34,286.31 to be funded by reallocation from General Fund contingency.
Community Mental Health Position Upgrade: The Board approved the request from the Community Mental Health to upgrade 1.0 FTE MH Clinician CIT Grade U10 to 1.0 FTE CIT Team Manager U12 at a cost of $16,300.
Parks Foundation Development Staffing Grant: The Board approved the Ottawa County Parks Foundation Grant Agreement, establish a new part-time benefited position titled Fund Development Specialist, recognize and appropriate additional FY26 revenue of $76,800 from the Foundation as defined in the grant agreement, and authorize the Parks Director to take such actions as are necessary to implement the intent of the Board in these matters.
Agricultural Preservation Board: The Board approved the override of the 12-year term limit provision stated in the Appointments to Boards and Commissions policy to allow Mike Bronkema to serve the remainder of his current term on the Agricultural Preservation Board through December 31, 2027.
Agricultural Preservation Board – Agricultural Seat: The Board selected Cliff Meeuwsen to fill the Agricultural Preservation Board Agricultural seat vacancy for one term beginning January 1, 2026, and ending December 31, 2028.
Agricultural Preservation Board – Real Estate Seat: The Board selected Jaron Nyhof to fill the Agricultural Preservation Board Real Estate seat vacancy for one term beginning January 1, 2026, and ending December 31, 2028.
Agricultural Preservation Board – Township Government Seat: The Board selected Cassandra Chaphalkar to fill the Agricultural Preservation Board Township Government seat vacancy for one term beginning January 1, 2026, and ending December 31, 2028.
Community Action Agency Advisory Board – Private Sector Seat: The Board selected Nathan Slauer to fill the Community Action Agency Advisory Board Private Sector seat vacancy for one term beginning January 1, 2026, and ending December 31, 2028.
Community Action Agency Advisory Board – Public Sector Seat: The Board selected Danielle Weeks to fill the Community Action Agency Advisory Board Public Sector seat vacancy for one term beginning January 1, 2026, and ending December 31, 2028.
Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy Committee – Private Sector Seat: The Board selected Randy Kortering to fill the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy Committee Private Sector seat vacancy for one term beginning January 1, 2026, and ending December 31, 2026.
Department of Health & Human Services Board – County Resident Seat: The Board selected Barbara Lee VanHorssen to fill the Department of Health & Human Services Board County Resident seat vacancy for one term beginning January 1, 2026, and ending December 31, 2028.
Economic Development Corporation & Brownfield Redevelopment Authority-Director Seats: The Board selected Dan Klompmaker, Tim Maday, and Jack VanderMeulen to fill three (3) Economic Development Corporation & Brownfield Redevelopment Authority Director seat vacancies for one term beginning January 1, 2026, and ending December 31, 2031.
Groundwater Board – Agricultural Sector Seat: The Board selected Jerry Geertman to fill the Groundwater Board Agricultural Sector seat vacancy for one term beginning January 1, 2026, and ending December 31, 2028.
Groundwater Board – Scientific Community Seat: The Board selected Steven Hecksel to fill the Groundwater Board Scientific Community seat vacancy for one term beginning immediately and ending December 31, 2027.
Groundwater Board – Utilities/Engineering Seat: The Board selected Henry Werksma to fill the Groundwater Board Utilities/Engineering seat vacancy for one term beginning January 1, 2026, and ending December 31, 2028.
Land Bank Authority – Citizen Seat: The Board selected Terry DeHaan to fill the Land Bank Authority Citizen seat vacancy for one term beginning January 1, 2026, and ending December 31, 2031.
Officers’ Compensation Commission-Member Vacancies: The Board selected Ron Frantz, Amanda Price, and Nathan Slauer to fill three (3) Officers’ Compensation Commission Member vacancies for one term beginning January 1, 2026, and ending December 31, 2029.
I voted for Larry Jackson, Rebecca Patrick, and Nathan Slauer because I think they’ll do a great job. Likewise, while I respect Ron Frantz and Amanda Price’s past service, I would have preferred prefer appointing citizens, who have never held elected county office—outside perspectives can help keep the Compensation Commission fresh and accountable.
Parks & Recreation Commission-Member Vacancies: The Board selected Jane Longstreet and Linda McAffrey to fill two (2) Parks & Recreation Commission Member vacancies for one term beginning January 1, 2026, and ending December 31, 2028.
Veterans Services Committee – War Veteran Vacancies: The Board selected Donald Dykstra and Steve Skodack to fill two (2) Veterans Services Committee War Veteran vacancies for one term beginning January 1, 2026, and ending December 31, 2029.
West Michigan Regional Planning Commission-Ottawa County Private Sector Seat: The Board selected Randy Kortering to fill one (1) West Michigan Regional Planning Commission Ottawa County Private Sector Seat for one term beginning January 1, 2026, and ending December 31, 2026.
Special Committee: The Board voted not to form a committee, per the Ottawa County Code of Ethics policy, to investigate a complaint against Commissioner Brugger regarding an October 1, 2025, email to Rebecca Patrick.
I voted yes on this motion. The email sent from Commissioner Brugger’s official address and copied to the entire board links support for a resident’s appointment to that resident’s willingness to reduce public criticism. Communications of this nature raise serious questions about free speech, retaliation, and public trust that deserve a more formal and complete review.
Special Committee: The Board voted not to form a committee. per the Ottawa County Code of Ethics policy, to investigate a complaint against Commissioner Moss regarding his handling of the December 10, 2024, closed session meeting.
I likewise voted yes on this motion. The publicly released recording, minutes, and HR counsel’s affidavit have led to conflicting accounts and credible concerns about what information was presented to the board and whether it was complete and accurate. Given the large sums of taxpayer money involved, these concerns likewise deserve a more formal and complete review.
Risk Management Policy: The Board approved the the revised Risk Management Policy for a first reading
Post-Execution Ratification of Contracts under Section IV(D)(2) of the Ottawa County Contracting Authorization and Form Policy: The Board voted to ratify all contracts for the period of October 25, 2025, to November 19, 2025, currently pending on the post-execution ratification list as authorized under Section IV(D)(2) of the Ottawa County Contracting Authorization and Form Policy.
