Meeting Notes 11-12-24
Meeting Notes from the November 12, 2024 Meeting of the Ottawa County Board of Commissioners
Meeting Packet: https://www.miottawa.org/CalendarDocs/2024/1729106212896-packet.PDF
Meeting Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tjS-EQCLLkA
Sentinel Meeting Roundup: https://www.hollandsentinel.com/story/news/courts/2024/11/12/settlement-will-see-ottawa-county-give-74k-toward-nonprofits/76232867007/
Sentinel Tweet Thread: https://x.com/SentinelLeach/status/1856336071610511763
Applicant Tracking Software: The Board approved the request from Human Resources to approve an agreement with Neogov for applicant tracking system software for a total cost of $236,445.52 over the 5 year period.
Children’s Special Health Services Grant: The Board approved a contract with the Southeastern Michigan Health Association (SEMHA).
Substance Use Disorder Grant: The Board approved a contract with Lakeshore Regional Entity. Approval of this motion also recognizes and appropriates additional grant revenue in the amount of $10,778.6.
Contract With Vitality for Health Management Plan: The Board approved the request to contract with Vitality for the employee health management plan for a period of three years.
MOA Between Ottawa County and MSU Extension: The Board approved the MOA between Ottawa County and MSU Extension for Fiscal Year 2025.
I did vote to approve the MOA, although I was disappointed that my motion to add back language around accesibility and collaboration was not approved.
Assessing Services for Polkton Charter Township: The Board the contract to provide assessing services for Polkton Charter Township; and approve the request from Equalization to add one .49FTE Appraiser 2 position, and increase one existing Abstract/Indexing Clerk from .5 FTE to .525 FTE to be funded by the assessing agreement with Polkton Charter Township; and recognize and appropriate contract revenue of $33,500 for Fiscal Year 2025.
Landscape and Snowplow Services: The Board approved a contract for landscape and snow removal services at multiple locations.
Contract for Informacast License Renewal: The Board approved a four-year contract with SHI to purchase licensing for InformaCast.
Contract for Medical Services in Correctional Facility: The Board approved the 4 year contract with VitalCore for jail medical services in the amount of $8,269,794.89.
Rosy Mount Expansion MNRTF Grant Agreement: The Board accepted the grant agreement from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources for funding assistance for the Rosy Mound Natural Area Expansion project and forward to the County Board of Commissioners for final approval.
Ottawa Sands Phase 1 Change Order No. 4: The Board accepted the change order to the Ottawa Sands Phase 1 contract with Apex Contractors, Inc. in the amount of $143,516.52 and forward to the Board of Commissioners for final approval.
IET Stearns Bayou Connector Contract Amendment: The Board approved an amendment to the contract with Pre in & Newhof for Engineering services for the Stearns Bayou Segment of the Idema Explorers Trail in the amount of $227,432.30 and forward to the Board of Commissioners for final approval.
Agricultural Preservation By-Laws: The Board approved and forward to the Board of Commissioners the revised Agricultural Preservation By-Laws.
Post-Execution Ratification of Contracts: The Board ratified all contracts for the period of October 1, 2024 to October 31, 2024 currently pending on the post-execution ratification list as authorized under Section IV(D)(2) of the Ottawa County Contracting Authorization and Form Policy.
I voted no on the item because I believe one of the contracts, #2454 with W Talent, did not comport with our current policy around purchasing, specifically around the need for a competitive process.
Crockery Township Water Supply System: The Board approved the resolution authorizing the sale of the Crockery Township Water Supply 2024 Water System Improvements Bond Issue:
Funding for Veterans Services (OCVS) Until FY2028: The Board approved the application from Veterans Services for authorizing the amount of $981,740.01 from a Board Initiatives grant, to fill staffing requests, moving costs, renovations, and maintenance fees, for the department through October 30, 2027.
I voted no on the overall request based on the fact that the application utilizes ARPA funds to create new positions at OCVS through 2027. I do not believe that ARPA dollars should be utilized in this way, especially for mulitiple years, and expressed a desire to see all new positions for OCVS go through the same budget process as every other department. I was supportive of the funds being utilized for renovations and rent at the Probate Center at Fillmore Campus, and that wass why I supported the MOU for new space at Fillmore.
Veterans Services MOU: The Board approved an MOU for the new space for the Department of Veterans Services.
Agreement for the Purchase of Real Estate: The Board approved the Agreement for Sale and Purchase of Real Estate with the Tacoma Industries LLC., for the purchase of 127 acres in Grand Haven Township at a price of $3,585,000.00 as part of the Rosy Mound Expansion with funding provided by a Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund grants, the Ottawa County Parks Foundation and the Parks and Recreation budget.
Settlement regarding Cramer v. Ottawa County: The Board approved the settlement agreement in the Cramer v. Ottawa County case.
Although I am very supportive of the nonprofits listed in the settlement agreement, I voted no overall because I am not convinced that this is the best agreement possible for Ottawa County taxpayers. I believe that there may very well have been other options that would have reduced or even eliminated the amount that taxpayers would have been obliged to make that the Settlement Committee did not explore.
Ottawa County Farmland Development Rights Ordinance: The Board approved the revised Ottawa County Farmland Development Rights Ordinance and forward to the Board of Commissioners
County Policies: The Board approved the revised County Policies for a first reading.
Legal Services Policy: The Board approved the revised County Policies for a first reading.
Contracting Policy: The Board approved the revised Contracting Policies for a first reading.
I voted no on the policy because I do not believe we should be exempting the Board from our own internal policies around Contracting.
Purchasing Policy: The Board approved the revised Contracting Policies for a first reading.
I voted no on the policy because I do not believe we should be exempting the Board from our own internal policies around Purchasing.
FY2025 Budget Adjustments: The Board approved the FY2025 budget adjustments per the following schedule:
