Meeting Notes 3-28-23
Meeting Notes from the March 28, 2023 Meeting of the Ottawa County Board of Commissioners.
Meeting Packet: https://www.miottawa.org/CalendarDocs/2023/1679674995453-packet.PDF
Meeting Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hzy4im3QO8I
2023 Board Rules, Amendments: The board approved a recommendation to amend Rule 6.3 of Article 6 – Order of Business by moving Correspondence before Public Comment and striking “for 2024” under Rule 5.1 Board Rules Committee (a).
Community Mental Health Board – Public Seat: The Board approved the Nominations of Donna Bunce and Kyle Parcher, who were the recommended candidates from the Interview Subcommittee, to fill two (2) General Public vacancies beginning March 31, 2023 and ending March 31, 2026.
I voted for Donna Bunce and Janet DeYoung, the latter based on her deep background in both Mental Health and Community engagement.
Community Mental Health Board – Primary Consumer Seat: The Board approved the nomination of Jason Monroe, who was the recommended candidate from the Interview Subcommittee, to fill one (1) Primary Consumer vacancy beginning March 31, 2023 and ending March 31, 2026.
I voted for Dorothy Hendricks, who, as a currently serving member, should maintain some level of deference in her re-appointment. I did not note a strong difference in background and experience between Mr. Monroe and Dorothy Hendricks so as to deny her reappointment.
Groundwater Board – Agriculture Sector Seat: The Board approved the nomination of Jerry Geertman, who was the recommended candidate from the Interview Subcommittee, to fill one (1) Agriculture Sector vacancy beginning January 1, 2023 and ending December 31, 2025.
GroundwaterBoard–Utilities/Engineering Seat: The Board approved the nomination of Henry Werksma, who was the recommended candidate from the Interview Subcommittee, to fill one (1) Utilities/Engineering vacancy beginning January 1, 2023 and ending December 31, 2025.
Solid Waste Planning Committee – Industrial Waste Generator Seat: The Board approved the nomination of William (Bill) Crabtree, who was the only candidate, to fill one (1) Industrial Waste Generator vacancy beginning January 1, 2023 and ending December 31, 2024.
Community Health Needs Assessment: I made a motion to amend the agenda to insert a motion approve the 2023 Memorandum of Understanding for the Community Health Needs Assessment Contract and Funding that was approved at the February 7 Finance meeting. That motion failed 8-2, and was not placed on the agenda.
I attempted to place this items on the agenda because, while I understand that there may be commissioners who are still looking at this items, and I do want to be respectful of that, we also have a multitude of partner agencies who have been waiting for us to make a decision on this, and I believe we also need to be respectful of them and their time and efforts.
Board Rules Amendment: I made a motion to place on the agenda a Motion to amend the 2023 Board Rules, Rule 6.3 Section 11- Additional Business, to expressly delineate two subsections, A. Administrator Report, B. Commissioner Comments. Motion failed 6-4, and was not placed on the agenda.
I believe that guaranteeing that our board rules expressly delineate a space for both Administrator’s Report and Commissioner Comment, something our Board Rules have done for many years, is important. Unfortunately, our 2023 Rules do not provide that guarantee and this motion was simply an attempt to rectify that and make sure our 2023 Rules indeed have those two Sections in our order of business.
