Meeting Notes 12-14-21
Meeting Notes from the December 14 Meeting of the Ottawa County Board of Commissioners.
Meeting Packet: https://www.miottawa.org/appImages/Calendar/1639431056677-packet.PDF
Meeting Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zg-6oJiykxg
Sentinel Roundup: https://www.hollandsentinel.com/story/news/politics/government/2021/12/15/affordable-housing-broadband-among-possible-rescue-fund-uses-ottawa-county/6506504001/
Fiscal Services Personnel Request: The Board approved the request from Fiscal Services to add one, full-time, benefited Provider Compliance and Claims Supervisor at Unclassified, Paygrade 10, at a cost of $110,732 paid for with Medicaid and grant funds.
Summary:
Fiscal Services has seen a significant increase in workload for the Community Mental Health financial team. Community Mental Health (CMH) recently received a substantial grant to become a Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic. This change has significantly impacted the billing and claims processes for Fiscal Services at CMH.
In order to ensure that staff are credentialed according to grant requirements and that services are being billed and paid in a timely manner, Fiscal Services requests the following additional position:
1. Add 1 Provider Compliance and Claims Supervisor at a 1.0 FTE at a cost of $110,732. This position will be funded by Medicaid and grant funds.
Grant Agreement for Ottawa Sands: The Board approved the four-way Grant agreement with the Bill and Bea Idema Foundation, Ottawa County Parks Foundation and the Ottawa County Parks Commissions for the financial support for the Ottawa Sands Master Plan which would offset the development cost needed to construct infrastructure to the already funded Idema Explorers Camp (Treehouse Village and Yurt Village) and to approve the naming of the Ottawa Sands Greenway Camping Area the "Idema Explorers Camp".
Summary:
Staff have been collaborating with the Ottawa County Parks Foundation on a funding proposal that would offset the estimated development costs of various phases of the Ottawa Sands Master Plan (see attached drawing and cost estimate). The attached Grant Agreement will allow the unique development of Ottawa Sands and the Grand River Greenway for the residents of Ottawa County.
This proposal would provide improved park access, including paved drives and parking, the initial development of a Welcome Center/Camp Office, and development of a non-motorized universally accessible kayak launch. The proposal also provides the funding needed for the construction of the Grand River Greenway camping area (including tent pads, supporting facilities and utilities) which will support the already funded Idema Explorers Camp (Treehouse Village and Yurt Village $980,000).
Coastal Zone Management Grant Application FY2023: The Board approved the Resolution for the Michigan Coastal Zone Management (CZM) program for funding assistance to construct a kayak launch and supporting facilities at Ottawa Sands.
Summary:
In accordance with the Ottawa County Parks capital improvement plan, staff is preparing for a potentially significant development project at Ottawa Sands over the next 2-3 years. It is hoped that several components from the Ottawa Sands Master Plan will be able to be included in this project, which would greatly improve public access to the park, especially for those with limited mobility.
Though this project is still in a preliminary planning phase, it is clear that funding will be needed from a variety of sources. This likely will include funding from the Parks Millage, Ottawa County Parks Foundation and, if possible, public grant sources.
Ottawa Sands is within the "Coastal Zone" boundary and is therefore eligible for Coastal Zone Management (CZM) funding for low-cost construction projects. The CZM program previously funded the Master Plan, and since the proposed Grand River kayak launch at "the Sag" appears to fit within the CZM Public Access Focus Area, staff believes it is worthwhile to submit a CZM Grant Application for Fiscal Year 2023 for the "Ottawa Sands Kayak Launch Project." The kayak launch is currently planned to be included in this initial development phase for Ottawa Sands.
COVID-19 American Rescue Plan Act Plan: The Board approved 10 to 1 the COVID-19 American Rescue Plan Act Advisory Committee proposed Lenses Project Evaluation, Focus Areas, and Flow Diagram.
Summary:
The COVID-19 American Rescue Plan Act Advisory Committee was appointed by the Board of Commissioners on June 8, 2021 (B/C 21-140). The purpose of the Advisory Committee is to identify needs and assist with developing draft funding priorities. The Advisory Committee as a whole has held 5 meetings since their establishment to reach consensus on funding priorities for the County's expenditure of ARPA dollars. At the Committee's last meeting on November 11, 2021 the following three items were unanimously approved to be forwarded onto the Board of Commissioners for final approval:
- The Lenses for Project Evaluation will be utilized to guide the selection of projects to receive State and Local Financial Recovery Funds (SLFRF).
- The categorized Focus Areas for SLFRF are 1) County Operations; 2) Countywide Broadband; 3) Affordable Housing; 4) Social and Human Service Needs; and 5) Business Stabilization Needs.
- The Project Selection and Funds Distribution Process Flow Diagram identifies the general steps for soliciting, assessing, selecting, funding, and evaluation projects for SLFRF.
Upon final approval of the lenses, priorities, and general ARPA application processes by the Board of Commissioners, the anticipated next actions of the ARPA Advisory Committee are to finalize the recommended application forms and logistics associated with funding distributions and agreement templates with the County for approved projects, along with reporting and accountability requirements.
I voted no because I feel that we should be doing all we can to allocate as much of the ARP resources into the wider Ottawa community as possible, and am concerned that the preliminary budget of $20 Million for the Focus Area pertaining to County Operations will be a strong impediment to that effort.
Public Health Personnel Request: The Board voted to approve the request from Public Health to increase the part-time, non-benefited Environmental Health Specialist position to a full-time, benefited position in Group T at Paygrade 8 at an increased cost of $64,350.
Summary of Request:
Currently, Ottawa County restaurants are experiencing a labor shortage which has led to increased risk of public health violations occurring and related associated illnesses. Furthermore, due to the ongoing growth in Ottawa County, the number of restaurant establishments renewing their licenses is at an all-time high in 2021.
The FDA and Michigan Accreditation have standards to determine adequate staffing required for food safety programs. Per this standard, Ottawa County is currently operating understaffed, which results in difficulties with talent retainment as well as performance of Food Safety Program evaluations to current standards.
In order to help ensure the Food Safety Program continues to successfully help protect citizens and the local businesses owners from the consequences of food borne illness, Public Health is requesting the following position increase:
1. Increase the current part-time, non-benefited Environmental Health Specialist position from a .48 FTE to a full-time, benefited 1.0 FTE position at an increased cost of $64,350.
Department of Strategic Impact 2021 Annual Report: The Board received for information the Ottawa County Department of Strategic Impact 2021 Annual Report.
Ottawa County Public Defender 2021 Annual Report: The Board received for information the Ottawa County Public Defender 2021 Annual Report.
Ottawa County Corporation Counsel 2021 Annual Report: The Board received for information the Ottawa County Corporation Counsel 2021 Annual Report.
