‘We support you’: Hundreds rally in support of Ottawa County Health Department

HOLLAND TWP. — Hundreds of residents rallied Wednesday, Sept. 6, against proposed budget cuts and other efforts targeting the Ottawa County Department of Public Health.

The group gathered outside the department's building along James Street in Holland Township. They cheered, waved their signs and chanted as OCDPH staff left work for the day, many holding rally signs of their own.

The rally — “Public Heart for Public Health” — was organized to support the department amidst a budget battle with Ottawa County leadership, chiefly Board Chair Joe Moss and County Administrator John Gibbs.

More: Hambley: Newly proposed budget is better, but nowhere near enough

At first, Moss suggested reducing the general fund contribution to the department by millions to just $2.5 million total. Health Officer Adeline Hambley pushed back, saying a number that low could close the department in weeks. Gibbs directed fiscal services to draft a budget without involving health department staff. That budget, noticeably larger, was revealed Tuesday. But, according to Hambley, it's still not enough.

Wednesday’s event was organized by Ottawa Integrity PAC, Zeeland Area Action Council and Progressive Lakeshore.

“Today’s turnout makes clear the community’s opposition to Ottawa Impact's attempts to dangerously underfund (OCDPH),” said Kathleen O’Brien of Progressive Lakeshore. “The deep cuts demanded by OI commissioners are not about fiscal responsibility. They’re about revenge politics. Their demands to slash funding for health services as a cost-saving measure is deeply disingenuous.

“These same commissioners have racked up unprecedented legal and administrative costs. Our community’s well-being should not be a pawn in their attempts to cover their malfeasance in fiscal management. This is simply not good governance.”

A handful of people spoke at the rally, including current and former OCDPH employees, active and retired medical professionals and a person whose family has benefited from OCDPH services.

Julia Davey, a retired pediatrician, said proposed cuts will significantly harm children in Ottawa County.

“If these budget cuts are enacted, the children of Ottawa County will suffer,” Davey said. “We cannot allow this to go unchallenged. Together we must protect the children of Ottawa County.”

Jayme Blodgett spoke about her niece, who was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor at age 3. She’s undergone expensive treatment — millions of dollars in just the first year. But the family's financial burden has been greatly reduced thanks to OCDPH’s Children's Special Health Care Services Program. Blodgett is worried budget cuts could affect that program.

“(Ottawa Impact commissioners) are all fear mongering on made up culture war issues in retribution for perceived grievances, all the while causing real fear and real consequences for families like mine and children like Addison,” Blodgett said. “So much for protecting childhood innocence.”

Resident Shelly Johnson, a nurse for 30 years, said recent developments in budget discussions feel like a “hostile takeover."

Supporters wielded a variety of signs at the event, reading:

• "We support our health department"

• "Support Adeline Hambley"

• "Save our health department. Stop OI"

• "Only sick people slash our healthcare"

There were several people gathering signatures as part of efforts to recall Commissioner Lucy Ebel. The event took place in Ebel’s district.

The latest version of the OCDPH budget, drafted by fiscal services and available on the county website, sets the general fund contribution at $4.356 million. That’s above Moss’ original target of $2.5 million, but less than the $6.4 million in OCDPH’s initially proposed budget.

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The budget includes cuts to essential or otherwise state-mandated services like immunizations, sexually transmitted disease prevention and treatment, communicable disease control, family planning, emergency preparedness and health education, including suicide prevention, substance use disorder prevention and food assistance.

“To be clear, these proposed cuts reduce services to the most vulnerable residents in Ottawa County, including women and children, at a time when the county is collecting record tax revenue,” Hambley wrote in a statement Tuesday.

A public hearing regarding Ottawa County’s full budget for fiscal year 2024 is scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 12. A final vote is expected Sept. 26.

— Contact reporter Mitchell Boatman at [email protected].

This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: ‘We support you’: Hundreds rally in support of Ottawa County Health Department