Revenge Politics was again on full display yesterday at the October 28 Board of Commissioner meeting.
Our Board continues to seek at all costs to destroy and go on political witch hunts vs focusing on caring for the needs of Ottawa County residents.
Those who are focusing on political witch hunts religiously use words such as “transparency” and rely on the fact that many people aren’t aware of proper procedures and the law for open sessions, closed sessions, etc and continue to work with the media to “drip out” information from the past in ways that fit their narrative.
Yesterday, the Board majority voted to accept what I see as a “bribe” to the Holland Sentinel – to release Closed Meeting Minutes from 2023 in reference to the Hambley matter in exchange for them dropping their lawsuit against the county.
If you choose to read the closed session minutes that should be released soon, it will verify that no money was ever exchanged or voted on to give to Health Officer Adeline Hambley. You will also read that the Deputy Health Officer at that time wanted in on the negotiations and desired a hefty amount to leave the county (which had never been part of the county Hambley hearing). Did you know that after no deal was made, that the Deputy Health Officer retired? Do you recall she then ran for the Democrat seat for State Representative vs Republican Brad Slagh (which she lost)? Pretty interesting.
For a quick recap from that time period: The county had a hearing to determine whether there was lawful grounds to dismiss Adeline Hambley as Health Officer due to negligence, incompetence and/or wrongdoing. While I believe many did in fact find that there were grounds for this, the BOC also had to wrestle with multifaceted other factors – our court systems, the length of time it takes to go through the court process, the amount of money it takes for ongoing lawsuits, the ongoing onslaught of attention in the news and the effects it has on a community. Was money requested for the BOC to consider? Yes. Was it deserved? Absolutely not.
I stand by what was printed and distributed during my 2024 campaign regarding Media vs Facts: https://allisonmiedema.com/…/OIPAC_2024_Media-vs-Facts…
One area that could be improved upon for the future: Language matters. The words that were used in a motion back in Open Session were disputed, argued over and the basis for a lawsuit against the County which the County ultimately won.
Commissioner Sylvia Rhodea is spot on during her Commissioner Comments at the end of the meeting – listen in from 4:10:59-4:13:00. https://www.youtube.com/live/YLc4lIGsyk8
I will continue to stand for limited government – keeping government in its lane and doing all I can to protect the children as they are often the target both short and long term.
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