Ottawa County commissioners vote to remove "Where Freedom Rings" as county motto after heated public comments

The Ottawa County Board of Commissioners voted Wednesday to remove the county motto "Where Freedom Rings," following a night of extensive public comment and debate that split residents and commissioners.

Chairperson Joe Tippels, who placed the item on the agenda, said he brought the question forward during a lull in other business and framed the vote as an effort to reduce division. "This is not a Gary Rosamond issue. This is the chair's agenda," Tippels said during discussion, explaining the timing. Commissioners voted by roll call; the motion to eliminate the motto passed and was recorded in the meeting minutes.

The decision capped more than an hour of public comment that drew 18 people to the podium and a lengthy online comment; speakers represented a wide range of views. Supporters of keeping the motto said it affirms foundational American principles; opponents said the phrase had been politicized and was causing division in county government.

"Where freedom rings speaks to me especially as changed from ‘where you belong’ — it speaks of freedom for a specific group of people," said Rachel Driscoll of Holland, describing why she supported removing the current motto. Conversely, resident Harvey Nicoll, speaking in favor of keeping the motto, called it "aspirational" and asked the board to reject the motion on the agenda.

Commissioners debated process and timing for several hours. Some members said they would prefer any replacement motto be chosen through a broader strategic-planning process or after a public process led by the next county administrator. Other commissioners, noting the level of public concern and comment, argued the board had a duty to act now.

During discussion Commissioner Jacob Brugger said the county should continue to prioritize the concept of freedom even if the three-word motto is removed: "Freedom matters" he said.

An amendment to immediately replace the removed motto with the national motto "In God We Trust" was proposed and voted down in a separate roll call.

Board staff told commissioners the cost of removing the words from county materials would be minimal because much of the county’s graphic and communications work is handled in-house; staff said no large printing or design expense was planned.

The vote followed multiple related items on the agenda and came amid broader public concern about county priorities; several speakers urged commissioners to focus on hiring a permanent county administrator, county budgeting, and public safety.

Votes at a glance

- Motion to eliminate the Ottawa County motto "Where Freedom Rings": approved by roll call (recorded in the meeting transcript). - Motion to amend the motion by replacing the motto with "In God We Trust": failed on roll call.

Public comment and other items

Public comment emphasized the depth of feeling on the motto and also addressed separate county matters. Barbara Lee Van Horsen, executive director of the Momentum Center in Grand Haven, used her time to urge county leaders to support renewal of the county mental health millage when it comes up for consideration, saying the Momentum Center’s programs reach people without diagnosis, insurance or referral and asking commissioners to advocate for renewal.

Next steps

The board did not adopt a replacement motto at the meeting. Several commissioners urged that any future motto be developed through the county’s strategic-planning process or by the incoming county administrator and that the process include public input.

Additional context: the meeting record shows other actions on July 22 including routine consent resolutions and administrative votes; those items were handled earlier in the meeting and are recorded in the transcript and in the meeting packet.