Board appoints an Ottawa County director to LRE Region 10 board amid debate over representation

The Ottawa County Community Mental Health Board voted Friday to appoint a sitting county director to the Local Regional Entity (LRE) Region 10 board after a presentation from LRE CEO Mary Marlott Dumas about the entity’s purpose and commitments.

Dumas, the LRE Region 10 chief executive, told the board that the LRE’s responsibilities include administering provisions of the state mental-health code as laid out in the LRE bylaws and operating agreement, managing Medicaid specialty supports and services delivered under 1915(b)/(c) waivers, and ensuring a comprehensive array of local services across the seven-county region. She described the LRE board as a policy board, saying "the board shall not directly operate the entity" but rather set policy for the CEO to carry out.

Dumas outlined the time commitment and logistics for directors: a typical monthly schedule includes a one-hour work session, a lunch, and a two-hour board meeting — generally the fourth Wednesday of each month — with meetings held at the Muskegon Innovation Hub. She also said the LRE seeks geographic and lived-experience diversity on its five-member board and prefers directors with a primary residence in a member county.

Board members discussed whether the Ottawa CMH board should appoint one of its own members to the LRE and whether that representation materially affects LRE decisions. Several members said direct representation improves local communication and advocacy for county-specific funding while others noted a regional hat is required when serving on the LRE board.

After nominations, the board appointed Director Bob (last name not specified in the record) to fill the open LRE seat by voice vote. The appointment carried after in-meeting nominations and one volunteered declination; the board chair announced, "All those in favor of appointing Bob for the position to the LRE board respond by saying aye... Opposed, same sign. Congratulations." The board did not record a roll-call tally for the LRE appointment.

Why it matters: The LRE governs regional Medicaid specialty services and is a partner in rate-setting and contracting; having a local CMH director on the LRE board gives Ottawa County a direct presence in regional policymaking, supporters said. Dumas and board members said the region’s structure could be important if the state pursues changes that centralize procurement or alter regional boundaries.

Next steps: The newly appointed director will receive orientation and the LRE will continue outreach to member counties; Dumas offered to provide quarterly updates to the CMH board. The appointment fills an open seat previously held by Sarah Hogan and is effective immediately.