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Commissioners add and fill two public seats amid process dispute; Kelly Rice, Bonnie Vander Swag named to Parks and CMH
Summary
Commissioners amended the Jan. 7 agenda and then filled public-member vacancies on two county boards — naming Kelly Rice to the Parks Commission and Bonnie Vander Swag to the Community Mental Health board — after a lengthy debate about appointment process and statutory terms.
The Ottawa County Board of Commissioners amended its agenda on Jan. 7 to add two late items: filling a public vacancy on the Parks Commission and a public vacancy on the Community Mental Health (CMH) board. The board then voted to fill both posts, but the appointments prompted several commissioners to press for a broader review of long-standing appointment practice.
Agenda addition and votes
Early in the meeting Commissioners voted to add two items to the agenda to fill public-seat vacancies on the Parks Commission and the CMH board so those bodies would not meet without county representation. That amendment passed on a roll call.
The board then considered two appointments:
- Kelly Rice — motion to appoint Kelly Rice to a public member seat on the Parks Commission (term shown in county materials as expiring Dec. 31, 2027). The motion passed on a roll-call vote. Supporters cited…
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