[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-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],{"_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",6466070,"mediaKeyId","5825851-f38b60a9ab629c52a0957b0fd33991e2","parentId",5825851,"title","Board appoints canvassers, economic‑development director; approves environmental health fee changes","audioSeconds",717,"startMs",948000,"endMs",1665000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5825851-f38b60a9ab629c52a0957b0fd33991e2&start=948&end=1665","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5825851-f38b60a9ab629c52a0957b0fd33991e2/thumbnail_948000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6466070/Ottawa-County/Michigan/Board-appoints-canvassers-economicdevelopment-director-approves-environmental-health-fee-changes","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6466070-84642d2b207492339ce3126ccc9e02b7/orig.mp4?Expires=1775103531&Signature=JuLg5Sw-SjyQImM~pk8OKUGlG~UTAttcZR9ZXTg2fxyMlyCR9PKgF2zVt1vCJmigY5MpqF3Ys83ZpmFl~v7hTMGbYQoN7Vy-i1x9Z-4eVij2TSq9dmvPxf9gPHsi4m5ZV93mEmyiI-rmM~5rws6C6B5O6I3m5fuA80~0akDBpiSnfewSEGnaD7nVx25Wezco24uNWZKQkPiLL4pFz5wCOd1WEA9QOYPPer~LBxTWles7ol~t3SAUkHXuXQVfBT5z2D8927zDd1QGKIc5LFokMMAq2xhCHaSVDr4U2hi~bwWyr0vnuzK9ek38xKZe60GR4jcOCSIb1vytoiyZd4pP7A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","miOttawa","date","2025-09-24T17:07:08.69Z","article","The Ottawa County Board of Commissioners confirmed multiple appointments and approved a fee schedule update for environmental‑health services at its Sept. 23 meeting.

Appointments
- Jack Vandermullen: The board approved the chairperson’s selection of Jack Vandermullen to serve as director on the county Economic Development Corporation and Brownfield Authority for the remainder of a term ending Dec. 31, 2025. The motion was introduced by staff and approved by roll call.

- County canvassers: The board placed into nomination and then selected nominees for the county canvassers board. For the Republican appointment the board appointed Laurie Bruker to fill the vacancy beginning Nov. 1, 2025, and ending Oct. 31, 2029. For the Democratic appointment the board selected James Searls to fill a four‑year term beginning Nov. 1, 2025 and ending Oct. 31, 2029. The nominations process and the requirement that party committees forward nominations under state statute were discussed by staff during deliberations.

Environmental health fees
The board approved a staff‑recommended update to select environmental health fees, to take effect Oct. 1, 2025. County staff described the motion as implementation of selected fees; commissioners approved the change by roll call.

Commissioners also moved one policy item (risk management policy) off the consent calendar for first reading and then tabled it to a later meeting to ensure the board and public had a clean version of the proposed language for review.

All actions were taken by roll call as required for the meeting; specific vote tallies were read into the record during each vote.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","September 23, 2025 Ottawa County Board of Commissioners Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","Ottawa County commissioners confirmed several board appointments and approved updates to environmental health fees during their Sept. 23 meeting.","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},6466078,"Ottawa County approves employment agreement for incoming administrator after hourslong debate over duties and nondiscrimination language",3835,1825000,5660000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5825851-f38b60a9ab629c52a0957b0fd33991e2&start=1825&end=5660","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5825851-f38b60a9ab629c52a0957b0fd33991e2/thumbnail_1825000.jpg","/articles/6466078/Ottawa-County/Michigan/Ottawa-County-approves-employment-agreement-for-incoming-administrator-after-hourslong-debate-over-duties-and-nondiscrimination-language","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6466078-dcbe276792809f4971e120b34c6802f5/orig.mp4?Expires=1775103531&Signature=X~-IXqY9miWMcGkcxxCaWRjrGUvJUgJbF6YfhTKnfi1GDUHwKBkU8mbOBLlL1BPZWtILNublvi54TSuv4i2Rpjy-y~aDeCEm4QSH69aera0e-4jgx34fwWuB2ID4r1nz6ZusZQu~YIn9KqJ8U-a0UjFyVLtWBoCFGFdD4Dy~I50SmxkpEcSlQW6YDYCS3RIReJhTGInF7AhcGZRw9NiR7EFDLw6yG482qqQi5VDiB--q~HWstTvwaNsH8-GsaDmNYHSWZ8HSOmm~7NjVY2-CvS6m9fjO1gxfL9NAWgPZD0Egx72K1lXSylfE3j3NMDU1V-pmnzD2GZZ0Pt6TfptnmQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Ottawa County Board of Commissioners voted Sept. 23 to approve an amended employment agreement for incoming county administrator Patrick Waterman after extended discussion and several amendments to the draft contract.

Commissioners debated language that would define the administrator’s authority over department heads and collective‑bargaining coordination, performance‑pay procedures and a proposed provision about nondiscrimination and equality. After amendments and a roll‑call vote, the motion to approve the agreement passed and the contract will be finalized as amended.

The board replaced two sections of Exhibit A to clarify the administrator’s authorities and duties. The new language states the county administrator “shall supervise the operation and performance of all county departments and department heads, except elected officials and their officers, and with the approval of the board, appoint and remove all heads of departments other than elected officials.” Section 3’s replacement clarifies the administrator “shall coordinate the various activities of the county and unify the management of its affairs, including, but not limited to, organizing the collective bargaining activities of all county‑funded operations.”

Commissioners also amended the contract to make the performance‑pay process a board responsibility. The final contract language requires that the “exact method and criteria in which Waterman will be evaluated and compensated for performance pay will be determined by the board within the first year of his employment and formalized in a separate agreement.” Chair John Moss said he would add “in consultation with the board” when explaining how the process will be developed.

Other changes approved during the meeting include:
- Rewriting a paragraph so the administrator “shall be responsible for facilitating the creation of a strategic plan for the county in collaboration with the board of commissioners,” rather than taking sole responsibility for “the future direction of the county.”
- Requiring that outside employment for the administrator be permitted only “with the knowledge and approval of the Ottawa County Board of Commissioners” (replacing language that gave that authority to the chairperson alone).
- Correcting an apparent drafting error in the fringe benefits section so Waterman “may accrue up to 30 days of earned vacation time” (the packet had said 300 days).

The board debated a proposed sentence intended to prohibit the administrator from advancing a diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) agenda and, instead, to require the administrator to “champion colorblind equality.” That proposal failed on a roll call. After additional discussion, the board adopted substitute language requiring the administrator to “serve every person with dignity and respect in accordance with state and federal law.” Commissioner Sylvia Miedema publicly urged the board to reject offering the contract; she said she believed past county personnel decisions had eroded trust. Miedema said, “I would just urge the board to reject offering a contract to Patrick Waterman.”

Chair John Moss defended the contract amendments as aligning language with prior administrator contracts and said the changes were intended to bring consistency to the county’s employment agreements. During debate, county legal counsel warned commissioners that adding value‑laden language to a contract can create interpretive risks in litigation; commissioners who raised those concerns sought narrower wording.

The board also voted to move the process for formalizing performance criteria into a collaborative process between the board and the administrator so expectations can be set and reviewed during the first year. Several commissioners emphasized that the administrator should participate in shaping performance goals but that the board must formally approve them.

The motion to approve the employment agreement as amended passed by roll call (vote tally not specified in the meeting packet). The board instructed staff to incorporate the approved amendments into a final agreement and to execute the separate document that will set performance‑pay criteria within the first year.

The board also tabled and reordered several agenda items during the meeting and made other personnel‑policy adjustments separately from the Waterman contract.","The Ottawa County Board of Commissioners voted Sept. 23 to approve an amended employment agreement for incoming county administrator Patrick Waterman after extended debate and several changes to the draft contract.",{"_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},6466075,"Ottawa County settles two lawsuits: $8.02 million in Zimmer case, $21,000 in Hill Shaner matter",870,5700000,6570000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5825851-f38b60a9ab629c52a0957b0fd33991e2&start=5700&end=6570","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5825851-f38b60a9ab629c52a0957b0fd33991e2/thumbnail_5700000.jpg","/articles/6466075/Ottawa-County/Michigan/Ottawa-County-settles-two-lawsuits-802-million-in-Zimmer-case-21000-in-Hill-Shaner-matter","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6466075-d63d78339e793f9a48642b6383ada94a/orig.mp4?Expires=1775103531&Signature=VV1~8fodtv2EzPDJ736GP-r75lbWZkqAgtSfjre0HhQwREHec2pKxUypIGi03XNGy4bPu77XqfEgKsWsuh7zNQM8cjGe6wPndBMJtfEuGDVTCQc00~r4w3LlKlOZcf5GAProH~cY6I0kqC6jjgrBudyI~HIV3yCbNmOgGBwfl5Qxi78Uj0goRXd5WuG0bXyBKQ863fcRdNpvQ6-ww5yBQ~FFCQeWjB0AAXvzKYHmTieRygqNiWdEi-e5VnpnBmg1P4u4CwVU0zRU1i7xUOOah7xZkv0WYt7-6HEllh~v5iB6dEXtMoo~BqC35SJr5vNgHquEKnT~Fak-IHpfCIG9ag__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Ottawa County Board of Commissioners voted Sept. 23 to resolve two pending lawsuits by approving settlement offers for Zimmer v. Ottawa County and Hill Shaner v. Ottawa County.

Zimmer v. Ottawa County: The board accepted a settlement offer that, according to the motion on the floor, would release minutes and an audio recording of a closed‑door session from Dec. 10, 2024, and resolve the matter with a monetary payment to the plaintiff. During public and commissioner comment, members were sharply divided on whether to settle or continue litigation. Several commissioners urged settlement to avoid further litigation costs; others argued for fighting the suit on principle.

Commissioner Joe Moss said releasing the minutes would provide “more transparency for the public.” Opponents of settlement warned that settling could be viewed as paying to avoid scrutiny and preferred litigation. Public commenters also addressed the matter during the meeting.

Hill Shaner (Open Meetings Act matter): The board approved a separate settlement to resolve a claim that the county had violated the Open Meetings Act; the recommended settlement amount discussed at the meeting was $21,000. Commissioners said accepting the settlement would avoid additional litigation costs and close another pending claim.

Both motions were taken by roll call after discussion with county counsel and litigation counsel. Some commissioners said they opposed settling the Zimmer matter and preferred to litigate to vindicate county interests; others said settling the cases would limit future costs and produce immediate transparency through release of the disputed closed‑session material.

Public comment during the meeting included calls both for and against settlement, and several commissioners used their time to explain their votes. One commissioner noted the county has faced “a lot of lawsuits” and expressed a desire to end litigation to reduce taxpayer expense; another commissioner said documents and sworn statements raised concerns about earlier board conduct and supported settlement and release of material for transparency.

The board approved both settlements by roll call.","The Ottawa County Board of Commissioners approved settlements in two pending lawsuits on Sept. 23 after divided debate. The board voted to accept a settlement in Zimmer v. Ottawa County that included release of certain closed‑session material and a monetary payment; the board also approved a $21,000 settlement to resolve the Hill Shaner Open‑Meet‑ ","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board appoints canvassers, economic‑development director; approves environmental health fee changes

Ottawa County approves employment agreement for incoming administrator after hourslong debate over duties and nondiscrimination language

Ottawa County settles two lawsuits: $8.02 million in Zimmer case, $21,000 in Hill Shaner matter