Meeting Notes 9-26-23
Meeting Notes from the September 26, 2023 Meeting of the Ottawa County Board of Commissioners.
Meeting Packet: https://www.miottawa.org/Calendar/viewDoc.do?docId=2023%2F1695415634960-packet.PDF&utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery
Meeting Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fmwxeir9oLo
Sentinel Tweet Thread: https://x.com/SentinelLeach/status/1706799759317410285?s=20
Post-Execution Ratification of Contracts: The Board ratified all contracts for the period of August 1, 2023 to August 31, 2023 currently pending on the post-execution ratification list.
County Community Mental Health Board – Family Member: The Board approved the nomination of Stephen Rockman to fill one (1) Ottawa County Community Mental Health Board Family Member seat vacancy beginning August 9, 2023 and ending March 31, 2024.
I voted no on the appointment because I preferred the appointment of Tom Bird. Mr. Bird has a long history of service to the Ottawa community and is uniquely equipped to be a representative for all residents on the CMH Board.
FY 2024 Budget Resolution: The Board voted approve the Fiscal Year 2024 General Appropriations Act as passed by the Finance and Administration Committee.
This budget funds a lot of good work throughout our county. However, I voted no on this budget because, in a time of solid revenue growth, the idea that we would be defunding public health by more than four million dollars is a disservice to current residents who count on those services and an unnecessary disinvestment that, if not remedied, will affect the health of Ottawa County residents and have repercussions for the Ottawa community for years to come.
Early Voting Agreement: The Board approved an agreement for early voting administrative services, with proposed amendments, and add one, 1.0 FTE full-time, benefited Election Logistics Specialist and one, temporary Election Logistics Assistant Position.
Summary:
This contract will form an agreement between Ottawa County and the local jurisdictions that may enter the agreement, for the County Clerk of Ottawa County to administer early voting services for two (2) years pursuant to Public Act 81 of 2023. The County Clerk agrees to conduct and administer four (4) early voting sites for each federal or statewide election for the required nine (9) consecutive days of early voting at an estimated cost of $769,094.00, to be paid in part by each local jurisdiction entering the agreement and part by Ottawa County. This agreement would require that the County add one, 1.0 FTE full-time, benefited Election Logistics Specialist position at a universal paygrade 10, and one, temporary Election Logistics Assistant at an annual rate of $14,061.00, to be paid in party by each local jurisdiction entering the agreement and part by Ottawa County as outlined in the Agreement and Exhibit A. Approval of this motion recognizes revenue and appropriates $362,824.00 in FY24.
Despite concerns about the need and cost for watermarking early voting center ballots, I did vote yes on this agreement because I feel it is a strong framework to allow Ottawa County residents the ability to vote securely and conveniently at one of our four voting centers county-wide.
