Meeting Notes 9-22-20
Notes from the Ottawa County Board of Commissioners meeting, September 22.
Board Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-3UiRP-5xg
2021 Budget Resolution: The Board voted to approve and authorize the Board Chairperson and Clerk/Register to sign the Fiscal Year 2021 General Appropriations Act, establishing the Ottawa Budget for FY2021. I voted yes because the budget does a good job of comfortably funding our most basic services and essential functions. However, I remain concerned that our budget process is not as inclusive as it could be from both the public and the board’s point of view, and that the budget itself is not nearly robust enough to address critical issues relating to Ottawa County’s future. We are a growing, diversifying county, and our priorities as shown in our budgets need to reflect that. We have to begin to make sure we’re really investing in solving problems, equity and inclusion, in adaptability, and policies that increase Belonging.
Board Declaration of a Local State of Emergency Resolution: The Board approved the Resolution to extend a State of Emergency within Ottawa County due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Summary:
The Board of Commissioners adopted a resolution to declare a local State of Emergency at its meeting on March 24, 2020. The County declaration certian administrative actions to be undertaken without prior Board approval, including some emergency spending, closing our buildings to the walk-in public, and emergency actions to deploy County workers to group homes or change job descriptions to alter duties temporarily, among other action. I voted yes because the declaration is almost entirely related to internal County business and does allow subsequest Board oversight, at least in part. I would still like to see administrative actions be reported more quickly to the Board, and preferably through the Board meeting process.
2021 Budget Adjustments
Ottawa County Officers' Compensation Commission Resolution: The Board approved the Resolution regarding the recommendations of the Ottawa County Officers' Compensation Commission for 2021 and 2022.
Summary:
PA 485 of 1978 permits a county Board of Commissioners to establish a county Officers’ Compensation Commission to determine the compensation of the elected officials of the county. The determination of the Officers’ Compensation Commission, by statute, goes into effect at the beginning of the next odd-numbered year unless the Board of Commissioners rejects the determination by a vote of two-thirds of the members elected. If such a determination is rejected, the existing compensation for elected officials remains in place. The Board of Commissioners can, and has in the past, also vote to accept the determination of the Officers’ Compensation Commission. At its meeting on March 24, 2020, the Board of Commissioners postponed taking any action on the resolution regarding the recommendations of the Officers' Compensation Commission until September 2020.
I voted yes because I believe that we shouldn’t be making part-time elected office an undue financial burden that would end up restricting the potential pool of interested candidates for office. Also, because I am up for re-election myself and have an opponent, there is no guarantee whatsoever that I am voting for my own potential pay raise next year.
Agreement for Property Assessment Administration Services with Blendon Township: The Board approved the Agreement for Property Assessment Administration Services between Ottawa County and Blendon Township.
Summary:
The County began providing assessing services to Blendon Township in 2018. The attached three-year renewal agreement outlines the respective responsibilities between the parties. Payment to
Ottawa County for the services provided under this Agreement shall be:
October 1, 2020 - September 30, 2021: $82,000.00
October 1, 2021 - September 30, 2022: $85,600.00
October 1, 2022 - September 30, 2023: $89,400.00 Total (three years): $257,000.00
This project is another example of efforts to examine opportunities for service delivery with local units of government, as supported in the Board Strategic Plan. Our continued focus is to explore possibilities for collaboration where services are maintained or enhanced, cost savings are realized by the local unit and County costs are covered.
Harbor Humane Society Service Agreement: The Board approved the renewal of the Harbor Humane Society Service Agreement.
Summary:
The current five-year agreement between the County and the Harbor Humane Society that outlines how stray animals are handled expires on December 31, 2020. The agreement approved today, for another five years (until December 31, 2025) has the following substantive changes: 1) Any cats without an owner that are brought to the Society shall be spayed/neutered, vaccinated and released to the same location as part of the Shelter/Trap-Neuter-Return program; 2) For a fee, the Society will begin to accept live bats and other dead animals from the County or the public for humane euthanasia. Currently, the public brings these animals to the Public Health Department, which does not have the staff, training or equipment to provide this service. The County will pay the cost to provides rabies vaccinations to the Society staff that will perform this service; 3) The rate to handle a stray dog or cat will increase from $139.34 to $141.99 per animal. This rate will increase by the rate of inflation each January. The rates for all other services shall remain the same for the duration of the agreement.
Towing and Impound Service Contracts: The Board approved the proposals from Dick's Towing, Tim's Towing, Central Towing and Hudsonville Towing to provide standardized pricing for towing and impound services.
Summary:
Ottawa County is contracting with the above towing and impound services for cars, vans, and light trucks that are abandoned and non-abandoned, as well as County-owned vehicles, at standardized service rates. The contractors will furnish all maintenance, labor, materials, and equipment necessary to perform the services. Please refer to the four proposed contracts attached to this request.
Jenison Mill MNRTF Grant Agreement: The Board approved the grant agreement for $300,000 from the Michigan Natural Resources Trust fund for funding assistance to construct the Jenison Mill segment of the Idema Explorers Trail in Georgetown Township.
Summary:
Ottawa County Parks applied for grant assistance from the Michigan Natural Resources Trust fund to construct the Jenison Mill segment of the Idema Explorer's Trail in April of 2019. The project includes paved multiuse path, boardwalks, and amenities along a route that connects existing trail recently constructed along Cottonwood Drive, scenic wooded riverfront, and existing trail in Kent County near the Grandville Clean Water Plant. The approximately one mile long segment is a key addition to the regional and local trail network and is anticipated to be immediately popular with the public once constructed. Ottawa County was notified by the Trust Fund Board of its recommendation for funding to the State legislature in December, 2019, and the legislature has now appropriated the funds and offered this grant agreement. The agreement itself is essentially the same as many previous agreements approved by Ottawa County with this grant program.
Ottawa County Parks will be responsible for supplying a 64% local match ($539,000 of the $839,000 total project cost) for the proposed project.
