Meeting Notes 9-24-24
Meeting Notes from the September 24, 2024 Meeting of the Ottawa County Board of Commissioners
Meeting Packet: https://www.miottawa.org/CalendarDocs/2024/1727116510161-packet.PDF
Meeting Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ff8IouxO4Ug
Sentinel Meeting Roundup: https://www.hollandsentinel.com/story/news/politics/county/2024/09/25/ottawa-county-approves-fy25-budget-after-removing-health-department-grant/75359424007/
Sentinel Tweet Thread: https://x.com/SentinelLeach/status/1838707759694365173
Fiscal Year 2025 General Appropriations Act: The Board voted to approve the FY25 Fiscal Budget in the amount of $284,763,654.
Summary:
The resolution calls for $284,763,654 in appropriations, including $121,673,924 from the general fund; $151,005,602 from various special revenue funds, including the health department and parks and recreation; $6,307,495 in the debt service fund; and $5,776,633 in capital projects.
The county’s total revenues across all funds total $280,779,727. To balance the budget, $2,246,987 in reserves will be used from the general fund, along with $978,519 in reserves from special revenue funds.
I voted yes on this year’s budget because I believe it adequately funds our departments’ needs in spite of several challenging factors ovet the past year, including general inflationary pressures as well as needed staff pay increases.
Resolution Approving Changes to The Grand Valley Metro: The Board approved a resolution to add Blendon Township as a member community to the Grand Valley Metro Council.
Litigation Resolution: The Board approved a resolution which dissolves the special committee for Kimball v. Ottawa County and creates a special committee for the Cramer v. Ottawa County litigation.
Summary:
The special committtee for the Cramer v. Ottawa County litigation is composed of Joe Moss, Sylvia Rhodea, Gretchen Cosby.
I voted no on the Resolution because I believe the fact that the chair has a central role in the lawsuit at issue, and the fact that he is named both in his personal and official capacities on the suit, makes his presence on the settlement committee inappropriate.
Executive Transition Committee Resolution: The Board voted to approved the resolution to create an Executive Transition Committee for the position of County Administrator.
I voted no on the Resolution because I believe the blueprint for the transition committee is not the intentional, balanced approach that Ottawa County residents wish for their new Administrator. It was my hope that we could have an established search firm in place prior to the search committee begining its work. I also believe we need a process and committee that brings in more voices in order to guarantee the Board the best possible candidate
