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

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.