Board approves $107,400 Baker Tilly wage-study contract despite objections over vendor ties and RFP process

The Ottawa County Board of Commissioners approved a $107,400 contract with Baker Tilly on Feb. 25 to perform a wage-and-compensation study covering a majority of county positions.

Commissioner Joe Moss and others argued the county should seek a vendor without public ties to DEI initiatives, noting that Baker Tilly received recognition from the Human Rights Campaign and that one team member has worked on DEI-related training. Moss moved to table the item and direct HR to find an alternate Michigan-based vendor without such ties; that motion was seconded but failed on a roll-call vote.

HR staff described the RFP process and rubric used to evaluate vendors, explaining that some bidders were not advanced to interview because of scope differences (for example, one proposal limited the study to a smaller proportion of county positions). Other commissioners urged caution about excluding vendors based on perceived viewpoints, citing constitutional limits and a district-court ruling about viewpoint discrimination mentioned during debate.

After discussion the board approved the Baker Tilly contract by roll call. Supporters said the firm scored highly and could deliver the assessment the county needs for pay equity and market alignment work.