[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6505386,"mediaKeyId","5681728-8b89c38979b3417d36cd603972e4ba31","parentId",5681728,"title","Votes at a glance: appointments, contract ratifications and capital plan approved by Ottawa County commissioners","audioSeconds",3407,"startMs",3579000,"endMs",6986000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5681728-8b89c38979b3417d36cd603972e4ba31&start=3579&end=6986","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5681728-8b89c38979b3417d36cd603972e4ba31/thumbnail_3579000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6505386/Ottawa-County/Michigan/Votes-at-a-glance-appointments-contract-ratifications-and-capital-plan-approved-by-Ottawa-County-commissioners","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6505386-0b5ab7b2e502dbbb7daf77b2f03b09c7/orig.mp4?Expires=1770932245&Signature=Ktys5sf8PAADhbD2LhD4q96Ht8UT-KzQsN~vgdAtimPJ3tkER9-5f6ViGSGtS9NQIaBXgXlpDGwIzQ9f6KqjUaEuMREu7zE~ByH~hu4lcKpK~qCUxtc2RW2A7~F1Se-~Jpcm0jtL8fFyKKXb~yaRlzhP-19o~KQcNnhpay43xEWw6EOigs01b~aFyviw0AQ35RbiYqA71ZF1qH4~w2cwJ5OdUboORYzcPBQt72V76hHYHkaamr6I5oO2dTm0pA19bnhrkgen8etSJkWUwWdFG5im7~VlBGZvCF7tY79dIKvit4N4-2TxA8iwbmvmkjWUWIAzNdVULDd0t5LtFIA2qA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","miOttawa","date","2025-08-26T15:42:25.797Z","article","The Ottawa County Board of Commissioners took several formal actions at its Aug. 26 meeting. Key outcomes recorded by roll call and motion are summarized below.

Appointment
- Kenneth Bruhn: The board announced an appointment to the housing commission seat effective immediately through Dec. 31, 2030. (Announcement by the board at the start of the meeting.)

Contracts (post-execution ratification)
- The board approved ratification of post-execution contracts, including contract 2702 (Department of Public Health and Flourish and Thrive Labs for a public-health surveillance evaluation). A prior motion to divide and vote on contract 2702 separately failed. The ratification passed on roll-call vote: yes — Mr. Kires, Mr. Berry, Mr. Zylstra, Mr. Brugger, Mr. Bonama, Mr. George Smith, Mr. Tippels; no — Mr. Moss, Mrs. Miedema, Mrs. Wenzel, Mrs. Rodey.

Capital improvement plan
- The board approved the 2026–2030 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) and included 2026 as part of next year’s budget resolution. Roll-call votes recorded available yes votes across the commission; the motion passed.

Administrator search: finalists by ballot
- Commissioners voted by anonymous numeric ballot to determine up to five finalists to interview for the county administrator position. The board identified five finalists by number (13, 20, 29, 44, 50). The board also designated two alternates in case a finalist withdraws: first alternate (candidate 54) and second alternate (candidate 41). The board will schedule citizen work‑group interviews followed by board interviews; staff expect interview dates in early September.

Other motions
- The agenda and the consent resolution were approved earlier in the meeting by voice and roll-call votes. The board removed one consent item (post-execution contract(s)) for separate handling and debate before the ratification vote.

Where to find more details
- The meeting transcript and packet list contract identifiers and the CIP materials. Members asked staff to prepare follow-up documentation on procurement vetting and on vendor use of county branding, and to monitor proposed energy projects raised during public comment.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","August 26, 2025 Ottawa County Board of Commissioners Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","At its Aug. 26 meeting the Ottawa County Board of Commissioners recorded multiple formal actions: an appointment to the housing commission, ratification of post-execution contracts (including contested contract 2702), adoption of the 2026–2030 capital improvement plan and selection of finalists for the county administrator search by ballot.","taxTitle","Ottawa County, Michigan","taxId",3875,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6505391,"Citizens and commissioners raise safety, reliability and local-control concerns over battery storage and Campbell plant plans",6244,2301000,8545000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5681728-8b89c38979b3417d36cd603972e4ba31&start=2301&end=8545","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5681728-8b89c38979b3417d36cd603972e4ba31/thumbnail_2301000.jpg","/articles/6505391/Ottawa-County/Michigan/Citizens-and-commissioners-raise-safety-reliability-and-local-control-concerns-over-battery-storage-and-Campbell-plant-plans","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6505391-b96f0103b284e5062e041f82ce5c0054/orig.mp4?Expires=1770932245&Signature=RpWE7vt6kBMtmmyARLngOVi91ImG99SrGDkgih49ixTpgK07CzYOpaTOdLh9Bb9JuRv~MLw7vLaabqAh0Oqbi6V0OqxG3tFaz34SZPyTnL2ARfckV4XeFYxgITT4MbuoTriBIYZ2I9uQHksaIFyeC-3ndVfPMZ1VPKOecM~bU76dttaaNYaoL4oQoM40OYbhP~w2US9oKAhTnV5Rm~fazEQAE6rEGdsAy~a6GaAtvKuzdfnMyUkOk9MyduKpoQdvTidJfKVbDT04X0pwOXmF~BxGpol5OTuUlP1ckku-rRucCsD9dC56btF~XzYns5IcpltxZcMeF3wWnvR---zdIQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A Georgetown Township volunteer who identified himself as Joseph Parnell McCarter urged the Ottawa County Board of Commissioners on Aug. 26 to put a new round of “Save the Campbell” resolutions on a future agenda, arguing that large lithium-ion battery storage projects and an aggressive net-zero agenda pose risks to grid reliability, cost and environmental safety.

“More and more Ottawa County citizens are coming to realize just how bad the net 0 agenda is for us, not only in terms of grid reliability and cost, but also in terms of the dangers with the growing number of massive lithium ion battery storage plants,” McCarter told the board. He asked the board to consider exploring local, cooperative alternatives to current utility arrangements and to place the petitioned resolutions on an upcoming agenda.

Later in the meeting, multiple commissioners raised separate local concerns about a proposed lithium-ion battery storage development in Blendon Township. Commissioner Moss summarized residents’ complaints that the project surfaced with little prior public notice, that the landowner is also a member of the township planning commission, and that public-safety and environmental questions remain unresolved.

Moss noted community concerns including fire-suppression limits for lithium-ion systems, potential for toxic plumes or heavy-metal runoff if suppression water is used, proximity to homes and schools, and the speed with which developers can advance projects under the recent state law that, according to some commissioners, limits local control. “Most recently, there was a township meeting last week, which was packed wall to wall with people,” Moss said, describing residents’ frustration.

No formal county action was taken on Mr. McCarter’s request during the meeting; commissioners and staff discussed the issues and urged continued public monitoring and coordination with township officials. Several commissioners asked staff to track battery proposals and to report back on safety reviews, local permitting implications and any state law constraints that affect local land-use control.","A public commenter asked the board to place new \"Save the Campbell\" resolutions on a future agenda and urged scrutiny of planned lithium-ion battery projects; commissioners later discussed a separate proposed battery storage site in Blendon Township and local safety and landowner conflicts.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6505396,"Commissioners ratify public-health contract with Flourish & Thrive despite objections over vendor's public posts",1144,2610000,3754000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5681728-8b89c38979b3417d36cd603972e4ba31&start=2610&end=3754","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5681728-8b89c38979b3417d36cd603972e4ba31/thumbnail_2610000.jpg","/articles/6505396/Ottawa-County/Michigan/Commissioners-ratify-public-health-contract-with-Flourish-Thrive-despite-objections-over-vendors-public-posts","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6505396-bb27b76cd67af42d2e93cf620b42a05c/orig.mp4?Expires=1770932245&Signature=JDuRou6RTzl0hkbQrFMeYyiwBqS3bbZBC7uhGGry-y2xxOMVM8p3NpXAeDrBVISwSdGPfwHxuNmCV86cjmF1XIpA3s822RS9zufdyIRNQLSVClL8r~ChJCnlKjYDZ64GY1Hx~r4B5O3ii42rfZlEH9CELNDhyJDK-mKIXXTZWgqQcFVdauOwoRlVn3UMCJTwzlhrLNhpns7F8seIGSwpj7BEYk2NQgRwXQm9E73vv3VTEquc9D3GnBQXxMMEj30iE0FAATaSZUHFJPAtqHCWGGNw0NwC31tx-NnztTWRsGNPGaEdo28YZV8oX8bgv~Sg68uFpe4GhHOc171SAd2J2w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Ottawa County Board of Commissioners ratified a set of post-execution contracts on Aug. 26, including a $30,000 contract (contract 2702) between the Department of Public Health and Flourish and Thrive Labs to evaluate a public-health surveillance team. The contract was the subject of sustained concern from Commissioner Sylvia Rohde, who said she opposed partnering with a vendor whose leadership publicly urged resistance to certain federal executive directives.

Rohde told the board she had reviewed social-media posts and LinkedIn activity she said showed the company encouraging public-health employees to retain or host datasets the federal administration had asked to be removed. “When someone has a public disagreement with our Republican president and his administration, and is actively working against him, I'm not sure that that's an organization we should be partnering with,” she said.

Public Health staff present responded that Flourish and Thrive had been vetted through the county procurement process and had been the highest-rated vendor in a prior RFP. A department speaker (identified in the record as Adeline, health department staff) said the work was scheduled to start in September and that delaying the contract would risk losing fiscal-year funds earmarked for the project. “Flourish and Thrive is…the highest scored vendor with the procurement team,” the health-department speaker said.

Commissioners debated options: separate the contract for individual consideration, send it back to Public Health for more review, or approve the ratification. A motion to separate contract 2702 for individual consideration failed on a roll call. The board then conducted a roll-call vote on the post-execution ratification package; the ratification passed with 7 yes votes and 4 no votes.

Commissioners also discussed whether the county should adopt a policy governing when a vendor may use the county’s name or materials in marketing; several members said they were concerned to find Ottawa County referenced on a vendor website without prior board review and asked staff to consider safeguards.

Public Health staff said Flourish and Thrive had previously participated in county procurements and that the contract’s purpose is to review the team’s processes and protocols, identifying strengths and suggestions for improvement. The contract description in the meeting packet said it would provide \"a comprehensive evaluation of the processes and protocols of the team to include strengths, weaknesses, and suggestions for improvement.\"","The board approved post-execution ratification of contracts including a $30,000 Public Health contract with Flourish and Thrive Labs after a commissioner raised concerns about the vendor's public social-media posts and political activism; a motion to separate and vote on that contract failed and the ratification passed by roll call.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6505400,"Ottawa County district court judge reports caseload rise, system upgrades and heavier probation monitoring",1025,546000,1571000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5681728-8b89c38979b3417d36cd603972e4ba31&start=546&end=1571","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5681728-8b89c38979b3417d36cd603972e4ba31/thumbnail_546000.jpg","/articles/6505400/Ottawa-County/Michigan/Ottawa-County-district-court-judge-reports-caseload-rise-system-upgrades-and-heavier-probation-monitoring","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6505400-ec0a28e0b7c1238aec04691dd473870e/orig.mp4?Expires=1770932245&Signature=YmpmVFjwTBmPgubs~rS3KFw37AAtAcp44Krjjfp4bfmQ-2RfDV3T9gqVpvkUP5t2JCfd3wYyILm6LAeJBD3o1aYIJTyCnOkiLwH5OmumLI3ZtxplbDBwb1tqodgFHC9vGQfOG2dszNdUWODSy7XPmBrI5SDjmRuuP63xgbV6XlUDfQA0Vl7anGkwetcn0HDIQWnz9IRmtlWZB2IENG9Yl5NZxTn8NOg7Z5iPOMIXw2YDKakKk1psZZvPwd-fLIsc2dYZtyVElDbIzb2eHzebCkio99Ucnb-zLYsJOPiunHLbHh14ibkI6G99USOyiJbEEYZ9O-DGgAUovAR50x-tBQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Chief Judge Pro Tem Craig Bunce summarized the Ottawa County district courts’ 2024 annual report to the Board of Commissioners on Aug. 26, highlighting a 23% increase in general civil filings over a five-year span, the countywide transition to a new case-management system and expanded probation monitoring.

Bunce said the courts replaced an older AS/400-based system in 2024. “We said goodbye to our beloved AS 400,” he told commissioners, and although the new system “is providing some great benefits for statewide reporting purposes, we lost a lot of interconnectivity with our local departments as a result.” He added staff worked through “a lot of frustration, a lot of anxiety, and a lot of hard work” during the transition.

The judge stressed that statistics reflect people’s lives. He described landlord–tenant filings as largely nonpayment cases — which give tenants a chance to stay if they catch up on rent — rather than termination actions that evict tenants and force moves.

Bunce summarized probation and monitoring activity for 2024: probation officers completed 1,335 presentence investigations, did 3,826 home checks and 1,489 bond screens. The probation office processed 54,691 urine tests; continuous alcohol-monitor units recorded 906,104 readings; breath-alcohol monitors logged about 47,050 tests; and GPS monitors produced roughly 10,000,000 location points used for supervision and safety monitoring, he said.

“The probation office and their probation agents stepped up to the game as well and did a great job in that transition,” Bunce said, noting the department began supervising an additional 980 individuals in 2024. He also highlighted the county’s treatment courts (sobriety and mental-health dockets), saying they continue to perform better than statewide averages.

Bunce described other 2024 developments: Michigan Supreme Court continuing-education requirements for judges and magistrates, onboarding three new chief clerks, and biannual staff enrichment meetings that included discussions of how artificial intelligence may affect court practice. On AI, Bunce said he reviews filings closely and has found instances where citations in briefs did not check out; “AI is a great tool, but AI also tries to just put in what it thinks it needs to put in,” he said, and judges must verify legal accuracy.

Commissioners asked about AI use, community-service placements for those ordered to perform JAWS (jail-alternative work service) or community service, and whether probation sanctions and community service could include outdoor or cleanup work. Bunce said JAWS placements already include outdoor tasks, such as cemetery cleanup and beach or park trash pickup, and that some probation participants reported meaningful experiences from those assignments.

The judge concluded by reminding commissioners that the district court’s work is “in the people business,” and that numbers represent individuals and families affected by court decisions. He invited questions and deferred detailed data questions to court administrators and probation staff.","Chief Judge Pro Tem Craig Bunce told the Ottawa County Board of Commissioners the district courts moved to a new case-management system in 2024, saw a rise in certain caseloads and increased monitoring activity by probation staff, including wide use of continuous alcohol monitors and GPS tracking.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: appointments, contract ratifications and capital plan approved by Ottawa County commissioners

Citizens and commissioners raise safety, reliability and local-control concerns over battery storage and Campbell plant plans

Commissioners ratify public-health contract with Flourish & Thrive despite objections over vendor's public posts

Ottawa County district court judge reports caseload rise, system upgrades and heavier probation monitoring