Meeting Notes 2-25-25
Meeting Notes from the February 25, 2025 Meeting of the Ottawa County Board of Commissioners
Meeting Packet: https://boards.miottawa.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/BOC-packet-FINAL-compressed-FINAL.pdf
Meeting Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZEAtKbPcqs
Sentinel Meeting Roundup: https://www.hollandsentinel.com/story/business/energy-resource/2025/02/25/officials-commissioner-effort-to-appeal-campbell-shutdown-is-too-late/80218638007/
ONN Tweet Thread: https://x.com/ONNLeach/status/1894387142001930395
ONN Meeting Roundup: https://www.ottawanewsnetwork.org/county-to-ask-court-to-review-crockery-lake-contract-as-board-infighting-continues/?ref=ottawa-news-network-newsletter
2026 Budget Calendar: The Board approved the 2026 Budget Calendar.
Laredo Remote Access New Fee Structure: The Board approved the new fee structure for Laredo Remote Access, which is the online subscription searching system for the Register of Deeds office.
Prosecutor’s Office Case Management System Replacement: The Board approved an agreement with Karpel Solutions and the Prosecuting Attorneys Association of Michigan for the Prosecutor's Office to implement a new case management system, Prosecutor by Karpel, to replace the current systems of Adult Case Tracking (ACT), Juvenile Case Tracking (JCT), AS400 and some functions in OnBase.
Wage Study Contract with Baker Tilly: The Board approved the contract with Baker Tilly Advisory Group for wage and compensation services for a total of $107,400.
Summary:
About every five years, a comprehensive wage and compensation study is performed to ensure internal equity between positions and a market comparison. This study will compare most of the 300 different positions at Ottawa County, including the benefits package. This study will also review elected official wages/benefits, including County Commissioners. Wage changes are planned to be budgeted within the FY26 budget.
2024 Water System Improvement Bond Issue: The Board approved the resolution to authorize the issuance of not to exceed $37,600,000 principal amount of Ottawa County Water Supply System Bonds, Series 2025 (Wyoming System).
MERS Defined Contribution Plan Adoption Agreement: The Board approved the request to sign the MERS Defined Contribution Plan Adoption Agreement for the judge’s division.
Increase FTE of Corporate Counsel Administrative Assistant Position: The Board approved the request from Administration to increase the Corporate Counsel Administrative Assistant position to 1.0 FTE at a cost of $1,996.
FY2025 Budget Adjustments: The Board approved the FY2025 budget adjustments per the attached schedule.
Resolution to Support Delaying the Closure of the Campbell Plant: The Board voted to approve a resolution in support of delaying the closure of the Campbell Power Plant.
I voted against the Resolution because I believe Consumers Energy has adequately demonstrated in its Settlement Agreement that closing all three currently operating units of the Campbell plant, coupled with the diverse range of actions and investments they are taking and plan to take, will have the net effect of increasing Ottawa County residents’ access to more stable, cost-effective, and clean energy in the present, near and long-term future.
Crockery Lake Agreement: The Board approved a motion to authorize legal action for court ruling on the validity of the Agreement for the Care, Management, and Maintenance of Land Located at Crockery Lake (a/k/a) the Crockery Lake Agreement) approved and dated on or about December 10-17, 2024.
While I would have preferred to address any potential legal issues with the contract before incurring the cost of litigation and while I am concerned that requiring legal pre-screening for every action could limit our authority, I voted in favor of this issue to gain a clearer understanding of the legal complexities involved, especially given the significant abnormalities in this contract.
Kallman Legal Group: The Board voted to approve the resolution to accept the resignation of the Kallman Legal Group.
I voted no on the contract because I did not feel it appropriate to accept the resignation of Kallman Legal Group with such a high outstanding balance due on the pre-pay that the Board approved in December of 2024.
Dickinson Wright Resolution: The Board voted to retain Dickinson Wright (Ronald Bultje) as Interim Corporation Counsel.
I voted yes on the hiring and encouraged Counsel to retain the consultancy services of Kallman Legal where it makes sense so that we can have better workflow and reduce the overall amount of the prepay.
