Meeting Notes 7-22-25
Meeting Notes from July 22, 2025 Meeting of the Ottawa County Board of Commissioners
Meeting Packet: https://boards.miottawa.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/07222025-Agenda-Packet-1.pdf
Meeting Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PcW_uAFGSR4
ONN Tweet Thread: https://x.com/ONNLeach/status/1947783497432674814
Sentinel Meeting Roundup: https://www.hollandsentinel.com/story/news/politics/county/2025/07/23/ottawa-county-divided-over-admin-candidate-confidentiality-again/85327972007/
Full Faith and Credit Pledge for Drain Note: The Board approved the resolution pledging Ottawa County’s full faith and credit for the Nash Creek Intercounty Drain Bonds, in an amount not-to-exceed $4,100,000, with Ottawa County responsible for 16% ($656,000) and Kent County responsible for 84% ($3,444,000) of the total cost.
FY2024 Intergovernmental Agreement – Homeland Security Grant: The Board approved the FY2024 Homeland Security Grant.
6th District Regional Mutual Aid Agreement: The Board approved the 6th District Regional Mutual Aid Agreement that identifies Emergency Management mutual aid between the included 13 counties during emergency disaster.
Rooftop Unit Replacements: The Board approved the contract with Advanced Construction Group for 11 rooftop unit replacements totaling $176,000.00.
Michigan Health Endowment Fund Grant: The Board approved the grant agreement with the Michigan Health Endowment Fund, in the amount of $200,000, to cover the expense of replacing outdated environmental health software.
FY2025 Budget Adjustments: The Board approved the FY2025 budget adjustments per the following schedule:
Bend Area Open Space Expansion Land Acquisition: The Board approved the Purchase Agreement and the License and Reclamation Agreement between the County of Ottawa and Grand Rapids Gravel Company for the acquisition of 184.79 acres to expand the Bend Area Open Space, including the Seller’s obligations to complete site reclamation consistent with applicable mining licenses and Township requirements; to authorize the Parks Director to execute all documents necessary to implement the intent of the Board, including closing, recording, and reclamation-related documents; and further to approve an increase in the budget for Capital Project CP2102 – Bend Area Expansion Acquisition Phase 3 by $1,179,407.36, with funding allocated equally from the Ottawa County Parks 208 Fund unencumbered fund balance and the Ottawa County Parks Foundation.
Community Corrections Advisory Board: The Board approved the nomination of Angie Barksdale to the Community Corrections Advisory Board Workforce Investment Board Member seat vacancy beginning immediately and ending December 31, 2026.
Community Action Agency Advisory Board: The Board approved the nomination of Debra Deaters to the Community Action Agency Advisory Board Consumer Sector seat beginning July 22, 2025, and ending July 21, 2028.
Housing Commission Bylaws: The Board approved the updated Ottawa County Housing Commission bylaws.
I voted no on this item because I believe that the change is both unnecessary and in violation of our Board rules on appointments.
Motion to remove the current Ottawa County motto, “Where Freedom Rings”: The Board approved the motion to remove the current Ottawa County motto, “Where Freedom Rings”.
The United States of America has a near 250-year history of uniquely combining the concepts of Freedom and Belonging, of Liberty and United Action, in a way that no other country has. It is what makes the American experiment the most successful in the history of mankind.
I believe our motto change in 2023 to “Where Freedom Rings,” and the dismissal of the previous motto “Where You Belong” was a move away from the dynamic coupling of these two guiding principles. I voted yes on this motion because I believe that removing the current motto was a necessary step to recognizing the importance of once again seeking to continue marrying these two essential concepts here in Ottawa County.
Administrator Search Discussion: The Board discussed the timeline and events for the reactivation on the Administrator Search. We specifically had conversation around the Citizen Work group and the desire to go into Closed Session to discuss applications.
I am not convinced that we need a Citizen Work Group to meet one day prior to our eventual interviews, especially given to confusion around this group, ie. who is on it, how they were selected to be on it, what their exact role will be, and how the meeting will actually occur. At the end, there was a commitment to have the Work Group be a open public meeting with live video recording.
Regarding Closed Session, I don’t particulary see the need for it; we can simply number off our favored candidates in open session as I discussed prior with limited discussion. I am especially against the idea of forming an Interview Subcommittee. In 2024, the Board decided to make an Interview Subcommittee of 5 members. I was opposed to it then because it obviously cut voices out of the process. I would likewise be opposed to a Subcommittee this time around. If there are not enough votes to go into closed session, then we need to find a solution that involves the entire Board, not once again cutting voices out of the process.
