Background Checks

Prior to the start of the year, the Talent and Recruitment Committee, at some point in 2024, had placed a question on the volunteer application that read “I authorize Ottawa County to conduct a crimninal background check with the FBI, State Police, County Sheriff department and/or a consumer reporting agency for the purpose of determining my suitability fopr appointment with Ottawa County or at any time during my term of appointment”. KI objected to its placemtn at our first meeting of the Appointment and Alignment committee in 2025, and was grateful that it was removed at that time. This Tuesday, we’ll be discussing whether to reinstate mandating background checks for volunteer positions on our varied resident Boards and Commissions, whether in this form or in a different form altogether.

On principle, I am opposed to their reinstatements. I believe they’re an unnecessary invasion of residents’ privacy, especially since there’s no significant benefit to justify them. Our board and commission members don’t manage finances or have direct contact with the public, particularly vulnerable groups like youth. Their roles don’t involve the kinds of risks that background checks are meant to address. There’s also a lack of evidence tying these specific positions to any incidents that a background check would’ve prevented—why impose a blanket policy when the risk is hypothetical? We have gone decades without them and, to my knowledge, have never had an issue that background checks would have prevented. Those in favor might claim it’s about protecting reputation, but without real risks, it’s just bureaucratic overreach. Trust in volunteers, who are often community members giving their time freely, should be the default unless there’s a compelling reason to suspect otherwise.