Ottawa County interviews five finalists for county administrator, candidates emphasize fiscal stewardship and strategic planning

The Ottawa County Board of Commissioners interviewed five finalists for the county administrator post on Sept. 10, hearing hourlong sessions from internal and external candidates as the board moves toward selecting a replacement for the departing administrator.

The interviews included Paul Sachs, Matthew (last name not specified in the record), Kurt Dykstra, Patrick Waterman and Chris Kukalski. Commissioners and a citizen work group asked each finalist about priorities including fiscal health, strategic planning, housing, broadband and workforce morale.

Why it matters: The county is weighing leadership for day-to-day management of operations that affect services ranging from public safety and human services to infrastructure and economic development. Commissioners repeatedly framed the choice as one about producing stable, apolitical executive leadership while keeping the board’s policy direction central to administration.

Most candidates foregrounded fiscal caution and multiyear planning. Paul Sachs, director of Strategic Impact and a candidate, said success for the county includes “having a thriving, motivated workforce” and “a balanced budget both now and looking multiple years forward.” He described strategic planning and technology as tools to align departments to board priorities.

Several finalists described practical steps they would take if hired. Sachs said he would prioritize creating multiyear action plans for departments and “embracing technology in the right way.” Chris Kukalski, a municipal manager with experience in Montana, said he would focus first on building relationships with department heads and local units of government and on transparent communications about county priorities.

Housing, groundwater and regional infrastructure came up repeatedly. Matthew (candidate) pointed to the county’s agricultural economy and the need to prepare for unpredictable external funding, saying federal funding flows that sustained programs in recent years may not be permanent. Kurt Dykstra, a former Holland mayor, stressed the county’s role in convening local partners on big infrastructure and land-use questions.

Candidates also discussed the administrator’s role with an 11-member board. Several described the administrator as the board’s executive, charged with implementing policy while serving residents, staff and the board. Multiple finalists said they would ask commissioners how they prefer to receive information so the administrator can tailor communication and make implementation smoother.

The board combined the public interviews with evaluation sheets from a citizen work group that met Sept. 8; commissioners were told the raw evaluation forms are available to them. At the close of the interview day, commissioners said they would announce next steps publicly soon.

Votes and routine business: Earlier in the meeting the board approved procedural items before the interviews. The agenda and a consent resolution were moved and approved in voice votes during opening proceedings; commissioners indicated unanimous assent.

What’s next: The board has scheduled a special meeting later in the week to continue the process and said it will publicly announce its decision or next steps. Commissioners emphasized interest in a candidate who can both execute a multiyear strategic agenda and maintain stable, transparent day-to-day operations.

Sources and context: The account is based on the Sept. 10, 2024 public interviews and related meeting exchanges. The citizen work group conducted preliminary candidate screenings on Sept. 8 and shared evaluation sheets with commissioners before the Sept. 10 public interviews. The board held public-comment periods before and after the interviews.