Meeting Notes 6-8-21
Meeting Notes from the June 8 Meeting of the Ottawa County Board of Commissioners.
Meeting Packet: https://www.miottawa.org/appImages/Calendar/1622838659121-packet.PDF
Meeting Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RHnUNgmhB1I
Sentinel Roundup: https://www.hollandsentinel.com/story/news/politics/government/2021/06/09/ottawa-county-notes-operational-millages-set-more/7600533002/
COVID-19 American Rescue Plan Act Advisory Committee: The Board voted 10-1 to approve the creation of the COVID-19 American Rescue Plan Act Advisory Committee.
Summary:
Ottawa County is slated to receive nearly $57 million in federal funding via the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. The US Treasury Department website includes four primary purposes for use of the funds:
1) Support urgent COVID-19 response efforts to continue to decrease spread of the virus and bring the pandemic under control;
2) Replace lost revenue for eligible state, local, territorial, and tribal governments to strengthen support for vital public services and help retain jobs;
3) Support immediate economic stabilization for households and businesses; and
4) Address systemic public health and economic challenges that have contributed to the inequal impact of the pandemic.
The following community leaders have indicated a willingness to serve on an ad-hoc COVID-19 American Rescue Plan Act Advisory Committee to identify needs in their areas of expertise and assist with developing draft funding priorities for the County Board and Administration:
Adam Elenbaas, Allendale Charter Township
Al Vanderberg, County Administrator
Gloria Lara, Lakeshore Ethnic Diversity Alliance
Hadley Streng, Grand Haven Area Community Foundation (GHACF) Holly Cole, GHACF and Ottawa County Housing Commission
Jennifer Owens, Lakeshore Advantage
Joe Baumann, O.C. Board of Commissioner, Chair of Finance & Admin. Committee
John Shay, Deputy County Administrator
Joy Gaash, Chamber of Commerce Grand Haven
Karen Karasinski, O.C. Fiscal Services
Keith Van Beek, City of Holland
Mike Goorhouse, Holland/Zeeland Area Community Foundation
Pat McGinnis, City of Grand Haven
Patrick Cisler, Lakeshore Non-Profit Alliance – Community SPOKE
Patrick Moran, United Way of Ottawa and Allegan Counties
Robyn Afrik, O.C. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Roger Bergman, O.C. Board of Commissioners, Board Chair
Ryan Kilpatrick, Housing Next
Terry Nienhuis, Holland Charter Township
I voted no because I believe that the ARP dollars represent a unique, once in a generation opportunity that calls for broad public involvement and engagement in the decision process so that we can allocate these funds in the most inclusive and transparent manner possible. The ARP dollars belong to all County residents, and before we begin the process of formulating an advisory panel, we should work to be gathering and placing all Ottawa County residents’ ideas on the table first.
GCSI Update: Legislative Consultant Bob DeVries updated the Board on recent legislative activity at the State level. Notable is the State Senate passing four-year Commissioner terms, long a priority of Ottawa County.
Post-Execution Ratification of Contracts: The Board voted 10-1 to approve the recent month’s list of Contracts. I voted against because, as of Board meeting time, I was still waiting for information regarding the Contract for Juvenile Public Defender, and did not feel comfortable voting yes, absent that information.
West Michigan Enforcement Team 2020 Annual Report: Andy Foster, Section Commander of Michigan State Police. presented the Board with the 2020 WEMET Report. Notable is the decline in complaints from 663 in 2016 to 311 in 2020.
Ottawa County Department of Public Health's Annual Report: The Department of Public Health delivered their Annual Reprt in video form this year. You can view it here.
Property Assessed Clean Energy Program Establishment: The Board approved the Resolution to Establish a Property Assessed Clean Energy Program in Ottawa County.
Summary:
Establishing a county wide Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) program in accordance with Public Act 270 of 2010 will have the effect of economic development and enhanced environmental sustainability by allowing the use of PACE for private and not for profit owners of commercial, industrial, and certain multi unit residential property to install energy efficient/renewable energy improvements. The PACE mechanism allows the owner to access funding that is secured by a special assessment on the property benefiting from the defined energy efficient improvements. The special assessment runs with the property, not the owner, making it a low risk investment for the commercial lender.
A non-profit entity, Lean and Green Michigan (LAGM), will be engaged to administer the program, at no cost to the County. This means that the staff time needed to offer this program to property owners will be minimal. LAGM gets paid by the program applicant at closing. The County is not under contract with LAGM, and can choose to disengage with them at any time.
Included with this action request: Resolution of Intent to Establish a PACE program and Call a Public Hearing, Draft Resolution to Establish a PACE program, and a Draft PACE Program Report, which provides terms, conditions, and documents necessary to offer the PACE program.
Resolution to Approve the 2021 Millage rate for County Operations, E-911, Parks, Community Mental Health and the Road Commission:The Board approved the resolution and related documents approving the 2021 millage rate for County Operations of 3.9000 mills, E-911 of .4243 mills, Parks of .3199 mills, Community Mental Health of .2892 and the Road Commission of .4822 mills.
