Meeting Notes 9-23-25
Meeting Notes from the September 23, 2025 Meeting of the Ottawa County Board of Commissioners
Meeting Packet: https://boards.miottawa.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/09232025-packet-1.pdf
Meeting Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fh4mEvDa-t8
ONN Tweet Thread: https://x.com/ONNLeach/status/1970618479368880347
Sentinel Meeting Roundup: https://www.hollandsentinel.com/story/news/courts/2025/09/23/ottawa-county-agrees-to-settle-zimmer-foia-lawsuits-in-split-vote/86313331007/
ONN Meeting Roundup: https://www.ottawanewsnetwork.org/county-commissioner-ex-board-chair-moss-misled-colleagues-to-secure-buyout-to-avoid-probe/
Post-Execution Ratification of Contracts: The Board ratified all contracts for the period of August 21, 2025, to , 2025 currently pending on the post-execution ratification list.
Tri Cities Habitat Housing: The Board approved the partnership agreement and appropriation of $250,000 in the Board Initiative Fund between Ottawa County and Tri Cities Area Habitat for Humanity to support site development and construction costs for housing development.
Veterans Services Medical Transportation Program: The Board approved a request for $25,000 in funding to support the Veterans Services Transportation Project for Fiscal Year 2026.
Environmental Health Fee Schedule Update: The Board approved the implementation of select fees for Environmental Health Services effective October 1, 2025 at 65% of recommended rates. the remianing 35% will be implemented the following fiscal year.
Dental Fee Schedule Update: The Board approved the implementation of select fees for Dental Services effective October 1, 2025.
Family Planning & Sexually Transmitted Infection Fee Schedule Update: The Board approved the implementation of select fees for the Family Planning & Sexually Transmitted Infection Services effective October 1, 2025.
Immunization Fee Schedule Update: The Board approved the implementation of select fees for Immunization Services effective October 1, 2025.
Sheriff’s Office Corrections and Records Fee Update: The Board approved the implementation of selected fees for the Sheriff's Office Corrections and Records effective October 1, 2025.
Sheriff’s Office Personnel Request: The Board approved the request from the Sheriff's Office to add one 1.0 FTE Patrol Deputy to Allendale Charter Township at a cost of $206,020.72 paid for by Allendale Charter Township.
GIS Software Subscription Renewal: The Board approved the contract with VertiGIS for GCX Enterprise Subscription at a 6-year total of $150,000.
Spectrum Business Fiber Internet: The Board approved the contract with Spectrum Business for fiber internet service for 5 years at a total cost of $73,500.13. 2024
Administrative and IT Cost Allocation Plan: The Board approved the Board of Commissioners the 2024 Cost Allocation Plan and 2024n Innovation and Technology (IT) Department Allocation Plan for implementation in the 2026 budget.
Resolution to Adopt FY2026 Budget: The Board approved the Fiscal Year 2026 General Appropriations Act.
FY2025 Budget Adjustments: The Board approved the above Budget Adjustments for the month of September 2025.
Lakeshore Regional Entity Oversight Policy Board: The Board approved the updated intergovernmental agreement with the Lakeshore Regional Entity to continue the Substance Use Oversight Policy Board through December 31, 2026.
Land Bank Authority Bylaws: The Board approved the updated Ottawa County Land Bank bylaws.
Substance Abuse Policy: The Board approved the revised Substance Abuse Policy for a first reading.
Animals in County Buildings Policy: The Board approved the Animals in County Buildings Policy for a first reading.
Risk Management Policy: The Board approved the revised Risk Management Policy for a first reading.
Appointments to Board and Commissions Policy: The Board approved the revised Appointments to Boards and Commissions Policy for a first reading.
Economic Development Corporation & Brownfield Redevelopment Authority Appointment: The Board approved the Board Chairperson’s selection of Jack Vander Meulen as recommended by the Appointment and Alignment Committee to the Economic Development Corporation & Brownfield Redevelopment Authority Director seat for the remainder of one term beginning immediately ending December 31, 2025.
Environmental Health Fee Schedule Update: The Board approved the implementation of select fees for Environmental Health Services effective October 1, 2025.
Board of County Canvassers Appointment: The Board selected Laurie Breuker to fill (1) Republican Party Appointment vacancy on the Board of County Canvassers beginning November 1, 2025 and ending October 31, 2029 (four (4) year term).
Board of County Canvassers Appointment: The Board selected James (Jim) Searls to fill (1) Democratic Party Appointment vacancy on the Board of County Canvassers beginning November 1, 2025 and ending October 31, 2029 (four (4) year term).
County Administrator’s Employment Agreement: The Board approved the County Administrator’s Employment Agreement.
I voted yes on the contract. The Contract went through a variety of amendments during the process of considering the motion, amendments which I believe made the contract more responsive to Board concerns and ultimately a better one for residents of Ottawa County.
I voted against the motion to add “Champion Color Blind Equality” to the Duties and Responsibilities of the County Administrator because I found the phrase both vague and incomplete.
Zimmer v. Ottawa County: The Board accepted Plaintiff’s settlement offer dated September 16, 2025, in the Zimmer v. Ottawa County Case No. 24-8070-CZ. The settlement offer is for the following terms:
(1) the parties agree that the court orders that the County Clerk release to the public the closed session minutes and meeting recording as authorized by statute, within three business days of the court’s order, based on Plaintiff’s filing of a complaint under authorizing portions of OMA;
(2) Plaintiff concedes that invalidating/unwinding Mr. Wetmore’s severance agreement is no longer practically viable, and voluntarily withdraws his claim for that relief;
(3) Plaintiff is awarded $500 in statutory damages; and
(4) the county pays Plaintiff’s attorney fees of $18,000 to Plaintiff’s attorneys.
Hill and Sanner v. Ottawa County: The Board accepted Plaintiff’s settlement offer dated September 16, 2025, in the Hill and Sanner v. Ottawa County Case No. 24-8010-CZ. The settlement offer is for the following terms:
(1) the County’s payment of $21,000 in attorney fees and costs;
(2) the County’s acknowledgement that it should have inquired about existence of potentially responsive documents in personal accounts per the Court's ruling back when the FOIA requests came in.
I voted for both of these as I believe it is time to turn the page on both of these lawsuits. The amounts are not nominal, but also not entirely substantial. The appeals costs in both are unknown and I believe that we are valuing the plaintiff’s very real concerns in both and the residents on whose behalf they brought their concerns.
