HIGHLIGHTS from April 22 Board of Commissioner Meeting and VOTE EXPLANATIONS
Board Agenda – https://boards.miottawa.org/…/01/04222025-BOC-Agenda1.pdf
Board Packet – https://boards.miottawa.org/…/04222025-BOC-Agenda…
Board Meeting Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jz7jY4yIpY0
Action Items:
* Brownfield Plan Amendment for The Landings at Rush Creek
Suggested Motion: To approve a Brownfield Plan Amendment for The Landings at Rush Creek development by LaCati Group LLC in the City of Hudsonville.
I voted against and this motion passed 7-4.
Explanation:I do agree that finding solutions to our housing market in Ottawa County are important. However, this Brownfield project was not blighted property like some of the past Brownfields have been. This one was a straight up financial handout to a developer to build townhouses at the expense of taxpayers in the City of Hudsonville. In recent years, the Democrat controlled legislature created a new use for Brownfield funds that don’t require it to actually be a Brownfield. I have a concern that we are picking winners and losers and I do think it has, potentially, a detrimental effect on our community, long-term wise.
* Data Center Refresh
Suggested Motion: To approve the contract with People Driven Technologies to assist the Innovation and Technology Department with planning, designing, and executing the upcoming data center refresh and cloud integration initiatives (phase 1).
I voted in favor and this motion passed 11-0.
Explanation: Our county depends largely upon updated and properly functioning technologies in order to run efficiently.
* Update to Rules of the Ottawa County Board of Commissioners
Suggested Motion: To approve the amendment to Article I of the Rules of the Ottawa County Board of Commissioners paragraph 3 to read as follows: Roberts Rules of Order 12th Edition shall govern all questions of procedure not otherwise provided by the Rules or by state or
federal law, except for section 16.5 which shall instead require a 3/5th majority vote to pass.
I voted against and this motion passed 7-4.
Explanation: This motion is ridiculous and is a misuse of power. Previously, under Robert’s Rules, two-thirds of the Board of Commissioners (8 of 11 members) were required to vote in favor of ending debate and proceeding to a vote. The intent of this rule has always been to protect the minority’s right to speak—a foundational element of democratic deliberation. Commissioner Moss stated it well, “Robert’s Rules are used by counties, cities, townships across Michigan. Ottawa County has used this book to help govern orderly meetings, probably since its inception. You’re asking us to just take this one page and rip it out of the book. On this page that you want us to rip out, it specifically says in ordinary bodies, the requirement of a two-thirds vote for ordering the question is important in protecting the democratic process. We don’t have a problem that you’re trying to solve. The problem that you’re trying to solve is limiting debate. You don’t get to rip one page out of the rulebook just because it’s inconvenient.”
* Update to Rules of the Ottawa County Board of Commissioners
Suggested Motion: To approve the addition to Article I of the Rules of the Ottawa County Board of Commissioners to include Rule 2.8 Commissioner Letterhead to read as follows: Commissioners, when communicating using letterhead in their individual commissioner capacity, shall use individual letterhead provided by the County Administrator’s Office.
I voted in favor of this item with an amendment added by Commissioner Moss to strike the disclaimer at the bottom of the letterhead and this motion passed 10-1.
Explanation: This topic was intentionally created into a lot of hype by certain commissioners of the majority and the media over the past few weeks. It’s ironic and pleasantly surprising to see that in the end, most commissioners recognized that we can use our voices to speak into things that affect our communities. While we vote as a body of the whole, each of us have been voted in by our districts to work and to advocate on their behalf. For more context, I found this media coverage: https://www.hollander.news/…/ottawa-county-approves-new…
* Campbell Plant Resolution
Suggested Motion: To approve the resolution to initiate litigation to postpone the closure and demolition of the Campbell Plant. I voted in favor and this motion failed 7-4.
Explanation: see my separate post on this item.
* Chatbot Software
Suggested Motion: To approve a 3-year contract with Citibot,Inc to provide chatbot software to the website at a total cost of $96,865. I voted against and this motion passed 7-4.
Explanation: While I am not against Chatbots in general, I do not think that this is the best use of our tax payer dollars at this point in time.
