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Board ratifies county contracts including $45,000 for Lakeshore Nonprofit Alliance despite debate over DEI
Summary
After public comment and more than an hour of debate, the Board approved post-execution contract ratifications including a $45,000 agreement with Lakeshore Nonprofit Alliance (Spoke). Several commissioners and residents urged delay or review over the organization's DEI stance but the motion carried on roll call.
The Ottawa County Board of Commissioners on Jan. 28 approved the post-execution ratification of multiple contracts, including a $45,000 scope-of-work contract with Lakeshore Nonprofit Alliance (often referred to in meeting materials as Spoke). The ratification passed by roll-call vote after extended debate and public comment.
Public commenters and several commissioners raised concerns about the nonprofit's public statements on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). Commissioner comments and speakers during public comment cited language found on the organization's website and urged the board either to remove the item for additional review or to tie future funding to changes in the group's practices. Some commissioners said the organization provides long-standing coordination services among county human services agencies and that cutting funding would disrupt work on housing and emergency management coordination.
The board debated whether to remove the Spoke/Lakeshore contract from the ratification listing for further review. A motion to remove item 2518 failed in a roll-call vote; the board then considered and passed the post-execution ratification as presented. Several commissioners said they prefer to pursue discussions with the organization about programming and priorities rather than end services immediately.
County staff told the board the program formerly known as Spoke had merged administratively into Lakeshore Nonprofit Alliance for overhead efficiencies and that Ottawa County Public Health acts as the fiduciary for invoices. Staff also said the contract would include quarterly reports to the board.
The vote to ratify contracts was recorded by roll call. The rescinded-removal motion failed; the ratification motion passed. The approved contract list and exhibits are included in the county's official contract packet for Jan. 28.
Commissioners said they expect follow-up conversations with Lakeshore Nonprofit Alliance about areas of community concern and that any future contracts will be monitored and can be reconsidered in subsequent budget cycles.
Votes: The motion to remove item 2518 (Spoke/LNA) from the ratification list failed on roll call. The final motion to approve post-execution ratifications, including the $45,000 agreement with Lakeshore Nonprofit Alliance, passed on roll call.
