Meeting Notes 12-19-24
Meeting Notes from the December 19, 2024 Meeting of the Ottawa County Board of Commissioners
Meeting Packet: https://www.miottawa.org/CalendarDocs/2024/1734572886769-packet.PDF
Meeting Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BtkjGRwZBsA
Meeting Roundup: https://www.hollandsentinel.com/story/news/politics/county/2024/12/20/ottawa-county-approves-454k-grant-for-protect-life-michigan/77092066007/
Tweet Thread: https://x.com/ONNLeach/status/1869746282186916111
Separation Agreement - Jordan Epperson: The Board voted to approve the Separation and Release Agreement with Jordan Epperson pursuant to MCL 15.270(5).
Separation Agreement - Ben Wetmore: The Board voted to approve the Separation and Release Agreement with Benjamin Wetmore pursuant to MCL 15.270(5).
Amended Separation and Release Agreement with Jordan Epperson: The Board to approve the Amended Separation and Release Agreement with Jordan Epperson. The amended text states in section 8(a) that confidential information will be returned to the County on the Separation Date as opposed to the date Employee signed this Agreement. but the language should say the “Separation Date.” The other change is in section 4 to clarify payment is due by December 23, 2024.
Amended Separation and Release Agreement with Ben Wetmore: The Board to approve the Amended Separation and Release Agreement with Ben Wetmore. The amended text states in section 8(a) that confidential information will be returned to the County on the Separation Date as opposed to the date Employee signed this Agreement. but the language should say the “Separation Date.” The other change is in section 4 to clarify payment is due by December 23, 2024.
Agricultural Preservation Board: The Board voted to appoint Michael Bronkema to fill one (1) Agricultural Seat vacancy beginning January 1, 2025 and ending December 31, 2027.
Agricultural Preservation Board: The Board voted to appoint Kelly Goward to fill one (1) Local Conservation Seat vacancy beginning January 1, 2025 and ending December 31, 2027.
Ottawa County Building Authority: The Board voted to appoint Jared Schuitema, Joel Studebaker and Dan Winiarski to fill three (3) Member Seat vacancies beginning January 1, 2025 and ending December 31, 2027.
Ottawa County Community Action Agency Advisory Board: The Board voted to appoint Alison El-Cassabgui to fill one (1) Private Sector Seat vacancy beginning January 1, 2025 and ending December 31, 2027.
Ottawa County Community Action Agency Advisory Board: The Board voted to appoint Molly Brouwer to fill one (1) Public Sector Seat vacancy beginning January 1, 2025 and ending December 31, 2027.
Ottawa County Community Corrections Advisory Board: The Board voted to appoint Paula Creswell to fill one (1) Business Community Seat vacancy beginning January 1, 2025 and ending December 31, 2026.
Ottawa County Community Corrections Advisory Board: The Board voted to appoint Anna White to fill one (1) Defense Attorney Seat vacancy beginning January 1, 2025 and ending December 31, 2026.
Ottawa County Community Corrections Advisory Board: The Board voted to appoint Amanda Sheffield to fill one (1) General Public Seat vacancy beginning January 1, 2025 and ending December 31, 2026.
Ottawa County Community Corrections Advisory Board: The Board voted to appoint Caleb Worpel to fill one (1) Media Sector seat vacancy beginning January 1, 2025 and ending December 31, 2026.
Ottawa County Community Corrections Advisory Board: The Board voted to appoint Kelly Boeve to fill two (2) Service Area Seat vacancies beginning January 1, 2025 and ending December 31, 2026.
Ottawa County Community Mental Health Board: The Board voted to appoint Peggy Fakler to fill one (1) Member Seat K vacancy beginning November 7, 2024 and ending March 31, 2027.
Ottawa County Community Mental Health Board: The Board voted to appoint Robert Davis to fill one (1) Member Seat L vacancy beginning May 28, 2024 and ending March 31, 2026.
Ottawa County Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy Committee: The Board voted to appoint Randy Kortering to fill one (1) Private Sector vacancy beginning January 1, 2025 and ending December 31, 2025.
Ottawa County Economic Development Corporation & Brownfield Redevelopment Authority: The Board voted to appoint Benjamin Genser to fill one (1) Director Seat vacancies beginning January 1, 2025 and ending December 31, 2030.
Ottawa County Environmental Health Appeals Board: The Board voted to appoint Curtis Carini, David Kraker and George Pio to fill three (3) Ottawa County Environmental Health Appeals Board Seat vacancies beginning October 18, 2024 and ending December 31, 2027.
Ottawa County Groundwater Board: The Board voted to appoint Sarah Bowman to fill one (1) Ag/Conservation Technical Assistance Seat vacancy beginning October 17, 2024 and ending December 31, 2026.
Ottawa County Groundwater Board: The Board voted to appoint David Kraker to fill one (1) At-Large Seat vacancy beginning January 1, 2025 and ending December 31, 2027.
Ottawa County Groundwater Board: The Board voted to appoint Scott Meullerleile to fill one (1) Local Business/Agriculture Seat vacancy beginning January 1, 2025 and ending December 31, 2027.
Ottawa County Groundwater Board: The Board voted to appoint Dean Smith to fill one (1) Local Unit of Government Seat vacancy beginning January 1, 2025 and ending December 31, 2027.
Ottawa County Groundwater Board: The Board voted to appoint Curtis Carini to fill one (1) Real Estate/Development Seat vacancy beginning January 1, 2025 and ending December 31, 2027.
Ottawa County Groundwater Board: The Board voted to appoint Jennifer Jermalowicz-Jones and Sara Pearson to fill two (2) Scientific Community Seat vacancy beginning January 1, 2025 and ending December 31, 2027.
Ottawa County Groundwater Board: The Board voted to appoint Pat Staskiewicz to fill one (1) Utilities/Engineering Seat vacancy beginning January 1, 2025 and ending December 31, 2027.
Ottawa County Land Bank Authority: The Board voted to appoint Amanda Murray to fill one (1) Representative OC Econ. Dev. Corp. Seat vacancy beginning January 1, 2025 and ending December 31, 2030.
Ottawa County Land Bank Authority: The Board voted to appoint Laurie Van Haitsma to fill one (1) Township Representative Seat vacancy beginning January 1, 2025 and ending December 31, 2030.
Ottawa County Parks & Recreation Commission: The Board voted to appoint Martin Harris to fill one (1) Public Seat vacancy beginning January 1, 2025 and ending December 31, 2027.
Ottawa County Road Commission: The Board voted to appoint James Miedema to fill one (1) Member Seat vacancy beginning January 1, 2025 and ending December 31, 2030.
Ottawa County Veterans Services Committee: The Board voted to appoint Kenneth Styles to fill one (1) War Veteran Seat vacancy beginning January 1, 2025 and ending December 31, 2028.
Ottawa County Veterans Services Committee: The Board voted to appoint Gregory Carlson to fill one (1) War Veteran Seat vacancy beginning January 1, 2025 and ending December 31, 2028.
West Michigan Airport Authority: The Board voted to appoint Benjamin Fogg to fill one (1) Member Seat vacancy beginning January 1, 2025 and ending December 31, 2025.
West Michigan Regional Planning Commission: The Board voted to appoint Benjamin Genser to fill one (1) Member Seat vacancy beginning January 1, 2025 and ending December 31, 2025.
Agreement for County Pregnancy Resources: The Board approved an agreement with Protect Life Michigan for County Pregnancy Resources and to appropriate a grant for Pregnancy Resources Assistance to Protect Life Michigan in the amount of $227,270 per year for two (2) years out of Board Initiatives for a total of $445,540.00.
While I am very supportive of pro-adoption work, I voted no as I believe that the board has not fully explored how this contract interacts with the Health department and its work in this space.
Accounts Payable approval for Checks issued to Kallman Legal Group and Jordan Epperson: The Board approved Acount Payable checks issued to Kallman Legal Group in the amount of $249,408 and Jordan Epperson in the amount of 75,000.
I voted no as the Board had not yet approved the separation agreement with Mr. Epperson and approving a check to him did not make sense to me.
Motion to order processing of checks to Jordan Epperson and Benjamin Wetmore: The Board voted to order processing of checks to Jordan Epperson and Benjamin Wetmore subject to the Amended Separation agreements.
I voted no as I do not believe that we should be paying out any settlement agreement prior to the separation date.
