Organizational Meeting Notes 1-2-26
Meeting Notes from the January 2 Organizational Meeting of the Ottawa County Board of Commissioners
Meeting Packet: https://boards.miottawa.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Agenda-Packet-2026.org_-1.pdf
Meeting Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0iH-BtB0Ezc
ONN Tweet: https://x.com/ONNLeach/status/2007111264158535975?s=20
Sentinel Meeting Roundup: https://www.hollandsentinel.com/story/news/politics/county/2026/01/02/josh-brugger-phil-kuyers-will-lead-ottawa-county-board-in-2026/87957938007/
Resolution Adopting a One (1) Year Term for the Board Chairperson: The Board approved the Resolution setting a one (1) year term for the position of Ottawa County Board Chairperson.
I moved to amend the Resolution at the “be it further Resolved” clause to clarify that Chair terms finish at the end of the calendar year of the election and should not ‘hold-over’ into the following. That motion failed.
I voted no on the overall Resolution because that language did not do that completely, even after an amendment by Commissioner Moss which did that for Chsirs leaving the Board altogether.
Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson Election: The Board elected Josh Brugger for Chair and Phil Kuyers for Vice Chair. Congratulation to both.
I voted for myself for chair.
I voted for Commissioner Miedema for Vice Chair because I was impressed with her floor speech emphasizing her desire to work with and for everyone on the Board, as well as her focus this past year toward developing sound processes around how we carry out our work on the Board. I also believe that that as a member of the minority Republican group, she could bring better balance to our Board.
2026 Meeting Times: The Board approved the 2026 Board and Standing Committee meeting times as shown above.
I moved to amend the above to specifically add one additonal BOC meeting February through October because I believe the additional meeting would help us to better handle the Board's workload effectively and efficiently. I amended that motion to set up four quarterly work sessions. That motion failed.
