One year after controversial budget talks, Ottawa County has gone quiet
OTTAWA COUNTY — The Ottawa County Board of Commissioners held the required public hearing for the Fiscal Year 2025 Budget on Tuesday, Sept. 10, but it lasted less than a minute.
The hearing was an opportunity for residents to voice thoughts or concerns with the budget, but none of the audience members opted to speak during the allotted time. Only one person mentioned expenditures during other public comment opportunities, namely calling Ottawa Impact to task for spending on lawsuits and dismissals.
It was a stark difference from the process last year, when scores of community members spoke for and against budget cuts to the Ottawa County Department of Public Health. There were demonstrations and hours-long meetings, and public remonstrations between officials. It all culminated in an ultimately abandoned attempt to terminate Health Officer Adeline Hambley.
More: First look at Ottawa County's proposed budget shows $2M boost for health department
More: Moss expresses concern about spending, ‘centralization of power' during budget workshop
The department's funding is listed at $16,763,077 in the recommended budget. That’s up from an adopted FY24 budget of $14,397,715.
That's not to say all board members are happy. In a budget workshop Friday, Aug. 23, Board Chair Joe Moss lamented the "centralization of power" and increased spending countywide. Still, he later said he felt everyone would be “relatively OK” with the budget as is.
The board is scheduled to vote on the budget Sept. 24, to go into effect Oct. 1. Prior to that, there'll be a workshop meeting Sept. 17, although it hasn't been decided how many commissioners will participate.
Commissioner Doug Zylstra, following the close of the public hearing, told Moss he received a calendar invite for that session, but noted it’s currently scheduled as a finance committee meeting. Moss said it could possibly be turned into a full board meeting.
“Maybe we’ll just turn it into a board meeting and have everybody come,” Moss said. “I’ll ... follow up right after the meeting.”
Who's next for the role of Ottawa County administrator?
In the first meeting since Interim County Administrator Jon Anderson tendered his resignation, Moss provided a small update, after the full board declined to discuss it.
Anderson sent a letter of resignation to the board Friday, Sept. 6, naming an effective date of Oct. 4. He was not in attendance at the board’s meeting Tuesday.
More: After tough primary, Interim Ottawa County Administrator Jon Anderson resigns
When it came time to approve the agenda for the meeting, Zylstra made a motion to add a discussion item on the administrator position.
“I think it would be a good time to have a discussion about the administrative office,” he said.
Prior to a failed voice vote on the addition, Moss indicated he planned to share information later in the meeting.
The update was brief. Moss cited conversations with Anderson about staying in the role “through the transition process.”
"We are talking about him staying on a little bit longer,” Moss said. “Regarding the process, we want to make sure we’re leveraging best practices, especially like CMH has done this year in their executive search, and rely on proven processes recommended by recruiting agencies. Yes, this is fresh, and we’ll keep everyone updated.”
Anderson was appointed in March after former administrator John Gibbs was fired Feb. 29.
Lifesaving deputies, court program celebrated
At the start of the meeting, Ottawa County Sheriff Steve Kempker presented a handful of awards to deputies of the department. They included lifesaving awards and awards for distinguished service.
Those recognized were Jeremy Derksen, Tom Springer, Giovanni Salas, Robert Norris, Nicholas Forrest, Jack Maher, Eric Smith, Mallory Goff, James Dyer and Aaron Pearce.
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The board also passed a resolution recognizing 20 years of the 20th Circuit Court’s Recovery Court Program, established Jan. 1, 2005. Overseen throughout its existence by Judge Mark Feyen, the court is a voluntary probation program for defendants convicted of non-violent drug or alcohol related felonies.
“I’m very, very thankful for seeing the lifesaving awards today and hearing about the recovery court,” Moss said during his update at the end of the meeting. “These are people in Ottawa County who are serving individuals and promoting life and protecting our citizens.”
— Contact reporter Mitchell Boatman at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Public is quiet on proposed budget in Ottawa County
