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Votes at a glance: Ottawa County Board approves appointments, committee changes and resolutions on mental health and Great Lakes funding
Summary
The Board approved a slate of appointments and bylaws changes, ratified most post-execution contracts (one was taken up separately), and passed resolutions addressing mental-health funding and support for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative; votes and key outcomes are listed below.
The Ottawa County Board of Commissioners on May 27 handled multiple formal actions, including appointments to boards and commissions, revisions to committee bylaws, contract ratifications and resolutions on funding. Below are the items the board voted on with outcomes.
Lakeshore Regional Entity appointment (Item 8a): The board appointed Jordan Jorzma to the Lakeshore Regional Entity substance abuse oversight policy board through Dec. 31, 2025. Motion approved by voice vote.
Land Bank Authority term adjustments (Item 8b): The board approved changes to several term end dates for Land Bank Authority seats (Seat I, Seat 8, Seat 9) as listed in the packet. Motion approved.
Land Bank appointment (Item 8c): The board appointed Thomas Anck to a township representative vacancy on the Land Bank Authority beginning immediately and ending Dec. 31, 2030. Motion approved.
Parks and Recreation Commission bylaws (Item 8d): The board approved updated Ottawa County Parks and Recreation Commission bylaws and rules of procedure as recommended. Motion approved.
Community Corrections advisory board realignment (Item 8e): The board reassigned Amanda Sheffield from a general public seat to a service area seat on the Community Corrections advisory board (term unchanged to Dec. 31, 2026) and recommended bylaw revision to remove the general public seat. Motion approved.
Housing Commission ordinance amendment (Item 8f): The board approved an amendment to Ordinance 400.402 (section 400.204 b) striking the phrase "subject to the ratification of the board of commissioners." Commissioners debated whether that change would conflict with county appointment policy; discussion included an amendment suggestion to substitute the word "recommendation." The board approved the change as presented.
Post-execution contract ratification (Item 7): The board ratified the list of executed contracts covering the period 04/18/2025 to 05/20/2025 except for one contract (2603), which was removed from the list for separate consideration. The main ratification motion passed on roll call.
Mental health funding resolution (Item 7e moved to 8h): The board approved a resolution addressing state mental-health funding shortfalls and amended the resolution language to reference the federal Medicaid match (FMAP) as generally 65% federal / 35% state (reflecting current FMAP approximations). Motion passed by voice vote.
Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) funding resolution (Item 7g): The board approved a resolution supporting continued federal funding for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI). Roll-call recorded votes were: Bonnema — yes; Brugger — yes; Miedema — no; Wenzel — no; Berry — yes; Rohde — no; Moss — no; Zylstra — yes; Kyers — yes; Tieteples — yes. Tally: 6 yes, 4 no. Motion passed.
MPHI contract (Item 8g / removed contract 2603 discussion): A separate motion to approve a $10,000 contract with the Michigan Public Health Institute to support accreditation-related training failed on a 5–5 roll call (see separate article for details).
Ending: Staff will carry out the approved appointments and bylaws changes and will return on follow-up items (including the removed contract and options for public-health training) as requested by commissioners. The board directed staff to coordinate with affected boards and agencies to implement the approved items.
