Yesterday’s Board of Commissioners Meeting had quite a few things that I believe should be of high concern for our community.
A second lengthy discussion took place regarding a new position being posted by our administrator. My fellow commissioner, Doug Zylstra, made a motion, which I seconded, to require the administrator to bring the job description and position to the Board before filling it. Unfortunately, that motion failed.
While I would like to know more about the job itself, I share the same concerns as some other commissioners do regarding the current Board majority’s understanding of the roles of county government and perhaps government in general. The Uniparty has always sought to destroy the representation of the people and one crafty way they do this is through the inversion of roles. They use language such as “we don’t want to tell staff what to do”…”we don’t want to micromanage”
I agree with much of Commissioner Zylstra’s words on this matter, “The Board is tasked with setting policy and providing strategic oversight, while the administrator’s role is to execute that policy and manage day-to-day operations- not to unilaterally take actions that expand administrative authority or commit resources without board approval.” The motion was in large part meant to reaffirm this fundamental governance structure.
I remain VERY concerned that our new Board majority’s return to this type of governing will have devastating results for our county as a whole. The very checks and balances that our nation was built on are being eroded right here in Ottawa County. Integrity and transparency are lost and the residents and taxpayers are losing the control that they rightly have.
Again, what is happening currently in your local square is EXACTLY what happened in Ottawa County government for years prior to Covid. The only difference during Covid is more people were paying attention because it was immediately affecting their families and children. What some know and many more need to know is that this type of governing has been swept back into the county board. Watch/listen to some meetings on youtube and see if you recognize any signs of what I’m sharing here.
For this conversation, begin at minute 3:11:44-3:53:00
https://www.youtube.com/live/YLc4lIGsyk8
