Ottawa County commissioners vote to remove county motto 'Where Freedom Rings' after hours of public comment

After a prolonged public-comment period dominated by competing views of community identity, the Ottawa County Board of Commissioners voted to eliminate the county motto "Where Freedom Rings." The motion passed by roll call, 7–4.

The debate stretched over multiple hours as residents and community leaders spoke both for and against the current motto. "Where freedom rings is not just a phrase. It is an aspirational standard," one supporter told the board during public comment. Opponents countered that the phrase had become divisive for many residents and asked the board to remove it to reduce tension.

During the board discussion, a commissioner proposed amending the motion to replace the motto immediately with the national motto "In God We Trust." That amendment failed in a roll-call vote. The main motion to eliminate the existing motto then passed. Commissioners who supported elimination framed the vote as a step to reduce division and allow a future, inclusive process to consider any replacement. Those who opposed said the timing was poor and that the phrase affirmed important civic values.

Chair (presiding) said the item had been discussed informally for months and that the board was using a quieter meeting window to bring the matter forward. Multiple commissioners urged a strategic-planning process or involvement of the next county administrator before adopting any new vision statement.

The board did not adopt a replacement motto at the meeting. Several commissioners and members of the public called for a public process, with focus groups or strategic planning, to consider whether and how a motto should be selected in the future.