Meeting Notes 1-7-25
Meeting Notes from the January 7 2025 Meeting of the Ottawa County Board of Commissioners
Meeting Packet: https://boards.miottawa.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/01072025-org-meeting.pdf
Meeting Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=objb5Z4X6W4
Sentinal Meeting Roundup: https://www.hollandsentinel.com/story/news/politics/county/2025/01/08/ottawa-county-votes-former-sheriff-gary-rosema-for-interim-administrator/77507099007/
ONN Tweet Thread: https://x.com/ONNLeach/status/1876620914529345751
ONN Meeting Roundup: https://www.ottawanewsnetwork.org/new-dynamics-on-ottawa-county-board-yield-clashes-some-consensus/?ref=ottawa-news-network-newsletter
Appoint Interim County Administrator: The Board voted to appoint former Ottawa County Sheriff, Gary Rosema, as Interim County Administrator until a permanent Administrator is hired by the Board and to authorize John Teeples and Phil Kuyers to negotiate an employment/consulting services agreement with Mr. Rosema on terms similar to that offered to former Administrator, John Shay in 2022, subject to the Board’s final approval.
Although I personally would have preferred a larger pool of candidates, and one that included someone with more current experience, I do recognize that that this is a short term position and that we need to move expeditiously to give staff leadership, I did vote yes on the motion.
2025 Board and Standing Committee Meeting times: The Board voted to approve meeting times for Board and Committee meeting times for 2025. The two standing committees will meet the second Tuesday of the Month, beginning at 9:00am. The one Board meeting will meet the fourth Tuesday of the month, alternating between 9:00am and 6:30.
Public Seat Vacancy - Parks Commission: The board voted to appoint Kelli Rice to fill one (1) Public Seat vacancy on the Parks Commission beginning January 1, 2025 and ending December 31, 2027.
Please see my blog post here for a fuller discussion of this appointment and the following: https://www.commissionerzylstra.com/news/adding-back-two-positions
Seat A vacancy on Community Mental Health: The board voted to table the Motion to appoint Vonnie Vanderzwaag to fill Seat A vacancy on Community Mental Health beginning January 1, 2025 and ending 3/31/2026.
I voted no because Commissioners are appointed for one year and one year only, and that Seat A, which belonged to former Commissioner Cosby, is now vacant and we are fully able to appoint the member of the public that the Board wishes.
