Meeting Notes 10-27-20
Meeting Packet: https://www.miottawa.org/appImages/Calendar/1603483841289-packet.PDF
Meeting Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7gsbHSNchJE
Idema Explorers Trail - Ravines Connector: The Board approved the easement and construction agreements with Linda Meana for the Idema Explorers trail route along the shoreline of the Grand River at the purchase price of $95,000.
Summary:
Ottawa County Parks has been seeking easements and property acquisitions along the proposed Grand River Greenway Idema ExplorersTrail route to facilitate construction of the trail and improve the safety and experience for trail users. These purchases include a variety of road front as well as riverfront parcels. Final agreement has now been reached with one key land owner who controls property along a particularly important 1300' long segment of riverfront between Grand Ravines County Park and Grand River County Park. This segment has long been desired because of its natural features and proximity to the existing park properties. It will allow for the development of trail connecting these two parks and to other greenway properties. The agreed upon price was based on the appraised value with additional negotiated considerations.
Purchase of Development Rights Program 2021 Scoring Criteria: The Board approved the Purchase of Development Rights Program Scoring Criteria for ranking applications to the 2021 Purchase of Development Rights Program.
Summary:
The Ottawa County Farmland Development Rights Ordinance requires that the Agricultural Preservation Board establish criteria for ranking applications to the Purchase of Development Rights Program. The Ordinance also requires that the County Board of Commissioners review and approve the Scoring Criteria annually, prior to each application cycle.
On October 7th, 2020, the Agricultural Preservation Board approved the Scoring Criteria for the 2021 Purchase of Development Rights Program application cycle. The Board and Staff reviewed the criteria and determined that no changes were required for 2021.
Resolution to repeal the 1989 Ordinance establishing The Ottawa County Planning Committee: The Board voted to repeal the Ordinance creating the Ottawa County Planning Commission and transfer its advisory duties to the Ottawa County Board of Commissioners and the Planning and Performance Improvement Department.
Summary:
Established in 1989, the Ottawa County Planning Commission sought to coordinate the economic, social, and physical development of the county with local units of government. Due to all local units of government maintaining zoning jurisdiction however, the commission can only perform an advisory role and lacks any enforcement or decision-making abilities pertaining to land use within Ottawa County.
Because of its advisory nature, the duties of the commission can be performed by the Ottawa County Board of Commissioners and the Planning and Performance Improvement Department (PPID). The state-enabled review of master plan and zoning ordinance amendments and farmland preservation applications can continue to be accomplished by the PPID while specialized committees can be established to address specific county-wide land use challenges such as broadband and groundwater.
Dissolving the Ottawa County Planning Commission transfers advisory duties to the Ottawa County Board of Commissioners and PPID staff, accomplishing the goal of continually improving Ottawa County's organization and services.
I voted in favor because I think having focused sub-committees or work groups is going to serve us better by giving Planning and Improvement more flexibility and agility to take on problems and projects as they arise.
Interlocal Agreement: The Board approved the Interlocal Agreement for Ottawa County to approve the Designated Assessor for the period January 1, 2021 through December 31, 2026.
Summary:
PPA 660 of 2018 required the implementation of several property assessing reforms. One such reform requires each local unit of government to enter into a contract with a Designated Assessor by December 31, 2020. The State will continue conducting Audits of Minimum Assessing Requirements (AMAR). If the local unit fails this audit, then it must submit a Corrective Action Plan and a follow-up review will be conducted. If the local unit fails its follow-up review, it must submit a second Corrective Action Plan and choose from one of the following options: 1) Hire a new assessor who must be STC Certified as a Michigan Advanced Assessing Officer (MAAO - formerly Level 3) or Michigan Master Assessing Officer (MMAO - formerly Level 4) level; 2) Move to a Designated Assessor; or 3) Allow the State Tax Commission (STC) to assume jurisdiction of its roll. If a local unit fails its second follow up review, then the Designated Assessor takes over the local unit’s assessment administration functions for at least five years.
Non-Benefitted Part-Time Background Investigators:
The Board approved the creation of a pool of non-benefitted, part time background investigators to conduct background investigations for the Sheriff’s Office.
Summary:
The Sheriff Office continues to experience high turnover due to an increase in retirements. At this time, 25% of Sheriff's office employees can retire in the next 5 years, and 8% within the year. In addition, when a new deputy is given a conditional offer of employment, it takes six (6) to eight (8) weeks to complete a background investigation using our current process through our detective bureau. As our number of preemployment backgrounds continue to rise, this is a one-year pilot to provide a clear understanding of the cost and benefits of this plan.
Family Courthouse Project Financing:
The Board approved the Resolution declaring official intent to reimburse Family Courthouse project expenditures with bond proceeds.
Summary of Request:
The attached resolution authorizes the County to be reimbursed for project expenses paid prior to the sale of bonds. To date, the County has paid project costs (attorney fees and consulting services) intended to funded with bond proceeds. This resolution is not authorizing the sale of bonds, just the reimbursement of expenses, if and when bonds are sold.
2020 Ottawa County Apportionment Report: The Board approved the 2020 Ottawa County Apportionment Report.
Summary:
Every fall, Equalization prepares an Apportionment Report to be received by the Finance and Administration Committee and then approved by the Board of Commissioners.
2019 Administrative and IT Cost Allocation Plans: The Board approved the 2019 Cost Allocation Plan and 2019 Innovation and Technology Department Allocation Plan for implementation in the 2021 budget.
Summary:
A cost allocation plan is prepared each year and is used as a basis for the recovery of administrative costs from benefiting departments. The IT Allocation Plan is used as the basis for the recovery of Innovation and Technology costs from benefiting departments.
Hudsonville HVAC and Roof Replacement Project: The Board approved the low bid from Cross Construction in the amount of $1,697,777.00 to replace the HVAC equipment and replace the roof at the Hudsonville District Court.
Summary:
The HVAC system at the Hudsonville District Court has not worked properly for years. Despited repeated attempts to make repairs, there are long-standing issues with excessive humidity in the building. The existing 22 HVAC rooftop units will be replaced with six new units. Originally, the existing roof was going to be simply patched, but it was subsequently determined that the numerous penetrations in the roof that would have to be repaired/patched made it more logical to replace the entire roof. The project is expected to take six months to complete. It will be completed in phases to minimize interruptions to current operations. The new roof will be installed in the spring of 2021.
