John Tippels elected chair; Josh Brugger chosen vice chair in county reorganization

The Ottawa County Board of Commissioners elected Commissioner John Tippels as chair and Commissioner Josh Brugger as vice chair during its organizational meeting at the start of the 2025 session.

The board first named Commissioner Phil Kyers temporary chair by nomination from a colleague and a voice vote. The temporary chair then presided over nominations for chair, which included Commissioner John Tippels and Commissioner Joe Moss. After discussion and a roll-call vote, Commissioner John Tippels received a majority and was declared chair. The board later elected Commissioner Josh Brugger vice chair following a separate roll-call vote.

The vote followed floor statements from nominees and other commissioners about leadership style and priorities. Commissioner John Tippels framed the chair role as a servant position and said he would seek to limit the office’s concentration of power: "The chairman position should never be perceived to be a position of unbridled power. Toward that end, I will soon be asking this board to amend its rules, to set term limits for the chairman position so that no one serving in that position ever becomes too authoritative." Commissioner Tippels also thanked county employees and said the board would work toward a short- and long-term strategic plan to guide spending and priorities.

Commissioner Josh Brugger, speaking after his election as vice chair, thanked colleagues and said he would rely on his municipal and nonprofit governance experience to backfill the chair as needed. "He served as the chairman for Ottawa County's Brownfield Redevelopment Authority and also the chairman for the Ottawa County Economic Development Corporation," a commissioner noted during Brugger’s nomination, describing the experience that supporters said would be useful in the vice-chair role.

Commissioner Joe Moss, nominated during the chair discussion by a colleague, urged fellow commissioners to weigh history and continuity in selecting leadership and spoke about his record and priorities on constitutional issues and county governance. "Joe desires to continue to promote strong family pro-family policy for our next generation," one supporter said during floor remarks in his favor.

The board also passed a motion—by a second and voice vote—to meet again on Jan. 7 to complete other administrative business, including appointing an interim county administrator at a future date.

No formal changes to county policy were adopted at this meeting beyond the leadership elections and the scheduling of the follow-up organizational meeting.

Votes at a glance: temporary chair (Phil Kyers) — approved by voice; chair (John Tippels) — elected by roll-call (majority); vice chair (Josh Brugger) — elected by roll-call (majority); motion to set next organizational meeting Jan. 7 — passed by voice.

The new chair said the board will prioritize civility and collaboration and asked residents and employees for patience as the board begins its term. The board adjourned its organizational items and left other administrative appointments to the Jan. 7 session.