Meeting Notes 05-27-25

Meeting Notes from May 27, 2025 Meeting of the Ottawa County Board of Commissioners

Meeting Packet: https://boards.miottawa.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/05272025-BOC-Agenda-Packet-1.pdf

Meeting Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-mUpZ8pPyM

Sentinel Meeting Roundup: https://www.hollandsentinel.com/story/news/politics/county/2025/05/28/ottawa-county-denies-10k-grant-from-michigan-public-health-institute/83896316007/

ONN Tweet Thread: https://x.com/ONNLeach/status/1927492739601432679

Lakeshore Regional Entity Substance Abuse Oversight Policy Board: The Board approved the recommendation that the Chair of the Ottawa County Board of Commissioners assign a commissioner to the vacant “Member” seat on the Lakeshore Regional Entity Substance Abuse Oversight Policy Board through December 31, 2025.

Land Bank Authority Realignment: The Board approved the Land Bank Authority’s recommendation to change the term ending dates for the following seats:

Seat 1 / ID: 397 – Citizen Ottawa County to be changed from 12/31/2028 to 12/31/2025 (currently held by Jordan Jorritsma).

Seat 8 / ID: 231 – Township Representative to be changed from 12/31/2029 to 12/31/2030 (currently vacant).

Seat 9 / ID: 236 – Township Representative to be changed from 12/31/2030 to 12/31/2029 (currently held by Laurie Vanhaitsma).

Land Bank Authority Appointment: The Board approved the recommendation from the Land Bank Authority to appoint Thomas Oonk to the Township Representative vacancy beginning immediately and ending December 31, 2030.

Parks and Recreation Commission Updated Bylaws and Rules of Procedure: The Board approved the updated Ottawa County Parks and Recreation Commission Bylaws and Rules of Procedure which deleted the ability of the Parks Commision to recommend Parks Commission candidates to the Board of Commissioners.

Community Corrections Advisory Board Realignment: The Board approved the reassignment of Amanda Sheffield from the General Public seat to the Service Areas seat on the Community Corrections Advisory Board with the same term ending December 31, 2026, and to recommend the revision of the Community Corrections Advisory Board bylaws to remove the General Public seat.

Housing Commission Ordinance: The Board approved the proposed amendment to Ordinance 400.4.2 section 400.4.2.4(b) striking the phrase “subject to the ratification of the BOC”.

"I voted no on the ordinance amendment, as I believe that, due to the fact that we are no longer seeking to become a Public Housing Commission, as stipulated in the Michigan Housing Facilities Act, the attendant statute, MCL 125.651 and following, no longer applies to this Commission. I was disappointed that my motion to table this item until we could give our ordinance and Commission more scrutiny failed, and I was disappointed that we did not do so.

Additionally, I motioned to change the language from 'subject to the ratification of the BOC' to 'subject to the recommendation of the BOC.' This motion failed. The change proposed by the original motion will effectively remove any Board involvement in the selection of Housing Commission members, not only silencing its own voice but, more critically, the public's ability to trust in a transparent, accountable appointment process. Although state law grants the Chair final appointment authority, if you grant that we are indeed subject to state statute, it doesn't preclude the Board from recommending candidates or engaging in the process. I am disappointed that we chose not to have the robust, public-facing system that we had in place when we first reconstituted the Housing Commission because I believe it to be one that ensured both transparency and accountability in the selection of candidates for this important commission."

Grand Haven Courthouse Exterior Caulking: The Board approved the contract with RAM ConstructionS ervice of Michigan, Inc. for caulking services at the Grand Haven Courthouse for a total cost of $167,986.5.

Assessing Services for Crockery Township, City of Hudsonville, City of Coopersville, Blendon Township, and the City of Grand Haven: The Board approved the contract to provide Assessing Services for Crockery Township, City of Hudsonville, City of Coopersville, Blendon Township, and the City of Grand Haven.

Public Health Clinic ADA Remodel: The Board voted to approve the contract with Fishbeck, Thompson, Carr & Huber for professional services as they relate to the ADA remodel of the Public Health, located on James St. for a total cost of $147,500.

PowerDMS Agreement: The Board approved the 5-year contract with PowerDMS at a total cost of $160,082.63.

Cisco Switch Refresh: The Board approved the contract with Sentinel Technologies for network switch configuration and installation services at designated Ottawa County facilities in support of the County’s network infrastructure refresh initiative at a cost of $273,428.28.13. Cisco Router and Voice Gateway Refresh

Data Center Refresh Phase 2: The Board approved a contract with People Driven Technologies for phase 2 of the Data Center Refresh at a cost of $1,998,156.

Tax Year 2025 Millage Rate: The Board approved the resolution establishing millage rates for tax year 2025. The County is limited by law to millage rates, with current taxable values (excluding new construciton, improvements, and losses) that does not exceed the consumers price index. This is commonly referred to as the "Headlee Calculation" after the 1978 Headlee Amendment to Michigan's constitution. Since then, units of government are required to annual calculate a Headlee rollback factor. This calculation can only be completed when taxable values are set in April, seven months into the fiscal year. This year, millage rates are rolled back .9906 of the the prior year maximum allowable millage rate because total taxes dollars exceeded the amount allowable under the 1978 Headlee Amendment.

FY2025 Budget Adjustments: The Board approved the FY2025 budget adjustments per the below:

Print and Mailing Services: The Board approved a 3-year contract for print and mailing services with Holland Litho Services for a total cost of $94,780.44.

Idema Explorers Trail Allendale Segment Engineering: The Board approved the amendment to the contract with Fleis & Vandenbrink engineers in the amount of $140,200 for final design and bidding of the Allendale Segment of the Idema Explorers Trail.

Mental Health Funding Resolution: Ther Board approved the Resolution addressing mental health funding shortfalls at the State level.

I was glad that we were able to amend the Resolution to better reflect actual federal match percentages, and was heartened to hear that CMH that they will taking up a Resolution on potential federal cuts to the Medicaid system.

Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Funding Resolution: The Board approved the Resolution supporting continued funding for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative.