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Are

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>> you healthy?

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>> Yeah.

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>> I had a cold and it's got great now.

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» Let's see if I get it.

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>> Is that the day?

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>> I made this

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last

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Okay.

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» Are we good?

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>> Okay. We are good with technology. Uh

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let's call to order this meeting. Uh

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Ottawa County Board of Commissioners

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meeting for Thursday, April 30th, 2026.

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Um guess Rachel is here today to call

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the uh what am I doing here? Call the

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order. Well, that's me. I do have to

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call the order. We don't do attendance

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yet, so we're good. Sorry. It's been a

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day. We're just getting started. All

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right. Uh let's uh uh open up with an

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invocation. Who's doing the invocation

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today? Have we got that?

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>> Hey,

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>> Doug is.

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Oh. All right. Thank you, Doug.

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If you would uh offer

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Lord, bless us this morning as we

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convene to address the issues pertaining

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to the well-being of Ottawa County

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residents. May your wisdom guide our

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discussions toward fair and successful

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outcomes. Grant us the courage,

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strength, and insight to make decisions

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that benefit all those we serve.

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Be present in our deliberations,

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bestowing your grace upon the choices we

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make as leaders. Help us to lead with

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integrity, ensuring that our actions

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align with goodness and righteousness,

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and grant us humility to always seek

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your will in all our endeavors. Thank

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you for being our guiding light today.

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Amen.

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>> Amen.

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>> All right. And if you would all rise for

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the pledge of allegiance.

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I aliance to the flag of the United

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States of America and to the republic

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for which it stands. One nation under

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God, indivisible, with liberty and

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justice for all.

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>> All right.

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And now, Rachel, if you'd call the role.

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>> Mr. Barry. Mr. Dorsma.

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>> Yeah. Here.

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>> Mr. Zilstra.

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>> Yes.

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>> Bon Mr. Bonama

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>> here. Mr. Moss

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>> here.

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>> Mrs. Wenszel

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>> here.

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>> Mr. Toples

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>> here.

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>> Mrs. Roadie

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>> here.

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>> Mr. Kyers

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>> here.

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>> Mr. Buger

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>> here.

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>> Mrs. Mida

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>> here.

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>> Mr. Chair, we have a quorum.

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>> Thank you. And uh for those of you

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noticing that Commissioner Barry is

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missing, he is in route right now. So,

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he'll be joining us in a little bit. Uh

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first up on uh the agenda today,

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correspondents. We've got some sheriff's

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commendation awards. I spoke with the

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sheriff about mixing the order up just a

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touch because he has a whole bunch of

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people here. And so, um, we're going to

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go with the customer service awards, uh,

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first. So, um, first up is Deputy Evan

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Potter in the room.

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You You have to come up to the middle so

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that we can embarrass you.

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All right. Actually, I'm going to come

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up there and join you. How about that? I

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think that'll be better. Let me grab

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these wards.

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So, these are our Ottawa County customer

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service awards and there were um two

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well there were more than one nominee,

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but two individuals who stood out this

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year. Uh, and I've got Deputy Potter

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from the Sheriff's Office to my left.

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While working at Holland Township,

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Deputy Potter overheard a call about a

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baby being delivered at a home. Feet

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first. Breach. With an AMR still 11

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minutes out, it's an ambulance. Without

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hesitation, Deputy Potter responded to

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the scene in Zealand City and safely

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delivered a healthy baby girl.

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Wow.

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His

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calm under pressure and clinical

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excellence in such a high-risisk

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situation made all the difference for

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that mother and child. This is just one

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example of his dedication. Whether it's

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a challenging medical emergency or

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assisting law enforcement in a difficult

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call, Deputy Potter never hesitates to

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step in, lead, and support those around

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him. He consistently goes above and

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beyond the call of duty. Beyond his duty

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hours, Deputy Potter lives the

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commitment to serve. Just this past

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Friday, there's more. Okay. Just this

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past Friday night, a community member

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shared on Facebook that he saw Deputy

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Potter handing out Halloween candy to

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kids while on a shift. Uh it's small

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moments like this showing kindness,

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building community relationships, and

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making kids smile that truly reflect who

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he is. His heart and soul are poured

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into serving others, and our community

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is better because of them. One more

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applause for Deputy Potter, please.

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» All right. And up next, uh, is Tavia

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here.

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Oh, come on up. We get to embarrass you

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now.

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>> And am I saying that right, Octavia?

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Okay. Thank you. Like Octavia. Battavia.

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All right. So, uh, from the clerk's

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office today, we are honored to

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recognize Tavia Renma from the county

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clerk's register of deeds office for her

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outstanding compassion, professionalism,

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and exceptional service. Recently, a

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distressed customer came into the office

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after being targeted by a sophisticated

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jury duty scam. She had spent nearly

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half an hour on the phone with someone

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impersonating law enforcement, was

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threatened with a $15,000 warrant, and

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was coerced into sending all the funds

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she had available, $900, through a QR

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code payment.

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Tavia immediately stepped in. She

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contacted the Circuit Court Records jury

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division to verify the customer's status

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and quickly confirmed that no jury

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summons had been issued. With great

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care, she informed the customer that she

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had been scammed. then gently guided her

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to a private space to help her regain

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composure. Seeing the customer too

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overwhelmed to advocate for herself,

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Tavia took the lead, contacting the

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sheriff's office, speaking with

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dispatch, and ensuring the situation was

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escalated to a detective. She stayed

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with the customer every step of the way,

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offering support, reassurance, and even

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a comforting hug when the customer's

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emotions became too much for her to

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bear. Davia's actions went far beyond

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the expectations of her role. Her

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empathy, calm leadership, and heartfelt

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concern made a profound difference in

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someone's life on the one of their worst

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days. This is the very definition of

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exceptional public service. Please join

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me in recognizing Tavia.

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All

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right. And now we'll turn the floor over

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to our Ottawa County Sheriff, uh, Eric

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Dbor.

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>> Thank you, Chairman Burgerer. Uh, and I

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appreciate the board and the

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administration for recognizing our

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employees during your customer service

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awards. Um, as is the policy of the

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Ottawa County Sheriff's Office, when uh

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when a member is given an award, uh, it

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is they are notified by letter for their

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personnel file, but then scheduled for

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the next convenient meeting of the

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Ottawa County Board of Commissioners so

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they can be recognized publicly, as has

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been, uh, our our habit here within the

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last two years again. Um, but the

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incident we have today had a significant

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uh number of people and so in uh

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in respect for the time of the board and

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I know you have a busy agenda, we won't

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be bringing each person up to be

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recognized, but I will call their names

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after the description of the award and

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they'll hopefully raise their hands so

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you at least know which ones could make

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it because all of them couldn't even be

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here today. Um, and if after that we'll

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be we'll allow you time to recognize

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them and then we will leave your

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boardroom.

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>> Is this an hold applause until the end?

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>> That's what that is.

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>> All right. Got it.

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>> So, it is my honor to recognize the

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Ottawa County Sheriff's Office personnel

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who exceptional actions during the

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multi-vehicle crash on I96 in Zealand

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Township reflect the very best of public

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service. On that day, more than a 100

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vehicles were involved in one of the

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most complex crash scenes in our

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county's history.

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Despite the extreme weather and chaos,

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these men and women responded with calm

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professionalism, steady leadership, and

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remarkable teamwork. They secured a

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dangerous scene, assisted the injured

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and stranded motorist motorists,

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maintained critical communications, and

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coordinated research resources across

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multiple agencies, all while ensuring

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public safety under extreme pressure.

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Their actions not only saved lives, but

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also demonstrated what it truly means to

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serve with integrity, courage, and

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compassion. The seamless collaboration

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between our road patrol, our

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supervisors, our command staff, our EOC

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personnel along with fire, towing, and

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busing, and other entities exemplify how

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training, preparedness, and character

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come together when it matters most. It

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is a great privilege to present the

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sheriff's commendation award to this

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outstanding team for their dedication

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and professionalism during a nationally

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recognized event. Their service brought

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great credit to themselves, the Ottawa

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County Sheriff's Office, and the people

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of Ottawa County. We would like to

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recognize Deputy Ryan Beering,

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Investigative Support Specialist Greg

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Carlson,

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Deputy Jessica Davidson, Deputy Josh De

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Hogue,

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EOCC Leah Deleno,

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Animal Control Deputy Chris Dit,

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Deputy Brandon Fisk, Deputy Tristan

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Gerbers, Lieutenant Darren Derek Grener,

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Director Lou Hunt, Lieutenant Nick Not,

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Deputy Zack Martini,

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Sergeant Josh McCarthy,

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Deputy Mahar Nie, Deputy Ben Norris,

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Deputy AJ Reapberg,

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EOCC Chris Sadler,

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Deputy Jim Scholma, EOCC Deputy, sorry,

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EOCC Derek Schroeder,

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Captain Jake Sparks, Sergeant Michael

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Taminga, Deputy David Thompson, Deputy

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Brian Tucker, Deputy Adam Vanis,

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Sergeant Tyler Van Ducelar and Captain

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Eric Wester

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once again. I appreciate your time.

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>> Thank you, Sheriff. And thank you to

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00:12:00,000 --> 00:12:03,990
your team.

279
00:12:04,000 --> 00:12:05,440
» Think we'll get sheriff's department a

280
00:12:05,440 --> 00:12:06,560
moment. I think they're going to head

281
00:12:06,560 --> 00:12:28,389
out for a photograph.

282
00:12:28,399 --> 00:12:29,680
You're going to be testing them every

283
00:12:29,680 --> 00:12:40,150
single day.

284
00:12:40,160 --> 00:12:48,150
Right.

285
00:12:48,160 --> 00:12:49,920
As they continue to file out, we'll

286
00:12:49,920 --> 00:12:53,680
invite uh Bob Dere up

287
00:12:53,680 --> 00:13:03,829
for a legislative update.

288
00:13:03,839 --> 00:13:05,920
» Good morning.

289
00:13:05,920 --> 00:13:07,200
>> Morning,

290
00:13:07,200 --> 00:13:10,320
>> Bob. I feel like we Yeah.

291
00:13:10,320 --> 00:13:12,240
little broken ankle deal I'm working on.

292
00:13:12,240 --> 00:13:14,800
But, uh, thank you for my time, uh, this

293
00:13:14,800 --> 00:13:16,240
morning as always. Always good to see

294
00:13:16,240 --> 00:13:18,160
everybody. We're right in the midst of

295
00:13:18,160 --> 00:13:19,760
budget season. Uh, things seem to be

296
00:13:19,760 --> 00:13:20,959
moving a little bit quicker than last

297
00:13:20,959 --> 00:13:23,680
year. As you remember, uh, the the

298
00:13:23,680 --> 00:13:25,279
budget went overtime last year. They had

299
00:13:25,279 --> 00:13:26,800
a little bit of a continuing resolution

300
00:13:26,800 --> 00:13:28,560
situation and didn't get done until

301
00:13:28,560 --> 00:13:30,959
October. Uh this being an election year,

302
00:13:30,959 --> 00:13:32,720
the pressure is on a little bit for the

303
00:13:32,720 --> 00:13:34,880
legislature to get it done, and it feels

304
00:13:34,880 --> 00:13:36,720
like it's headed towards uh an early

305
00:13:36,720 --> 00:13:39,279
July resolution um like we've been used

306
00:13:39,279 --> 00:13:40,800
to the last several years. So, that's a

307
00:13:40,800 --> 00:13:43,040
good thing. Uh but the budget is a

308
00:13:43,040 --> 00:13:44,079
little more challenging than it has

309
00:13:44,079 --> 00:13:46,560
been. There's about a $1.8 billion uh

310
00:13:46,560 --> 00:13:48,399
projected deficit, although we'll learn

311
00:13:48,399 --> 00:13:49,440
a little bit more when the revenue

312
00:13:49,440 --> 00:13:51,440
estimating conference happens uh in

313
00:13:51,440 --> 00:13:53,760
early May. Uh the governor's proposed

314
00:13:53,760 --> 00:13:56,160
closing that deficit uh through several

315
00:13:56,160 --> 00:13:58,000
new taxes, a little bit of decreased

316
00:13:58,000 --> 00:14:00,240
spending and some money from the rainy

317
00:14:00,240 --> 00:14:02,480
day fund to fill the last part of the

318
00:14:02,480 --> 00:14:04,800
hole. The House and Senate um have

319
00:14:04,800 --> 00:14:06,560
decided not to push forward with the tax

320
00:14:06,560 --> 00:14:08,720
proposals. Uh the Senate though is

321
00:14:08,720 --> 00:14:11,199
interested in pulling about $350 million

322
00:14:11,199 --> 00:14:13,040
out of that rainy day fund to help uh

323
00:14:13,040 --> 00:14:15,440
close the budget gap. Uh the governor

324
00:14:15,440 --> 00:14:17,600
and the senate both recommended uh the

325
00:14:17,600 --> 00:14:19,680
same revenue sharing uh numbers that we

326
00:14:19,680 --> 00:14:21,279
received in the budget last year. While

327
00:14:21,279 --> 00:14:24,320
the the house is adding $9.8 million to

328
00:14:24,320 --> 00:14:26,000
the county revenue sharing line, which

329
00:14:26,000 --> 00:14:29,199
is about a 10% increase. Um it's early

330
00:14:29,199 --> 00:14:30,800
to tell where that will land, but it

331
00:14:30,800 --> 00:14:32,959
will certainly be subject to um

332
00:14:32,959 --> 00:14:35,360
negotiation moving forward. Uh one other

333
00:14:35,360 --> 00:14:36,880
good thing I guess on the on the revenue

334
00:14:36,880 --> 00:14:38,320
sharing front is the Senate is starting

335
00:14:38,320 --> 00:14:39,519
to move forward on the bills to

336
00:14:39,519 --> 00:14:40,800
implement the revenue sharing trust

337
00:14:40,800 --> 00:14:42,639
fund, something that Ottawa County has

338
00:14:42,639 --> 00:14:45,199
long supported. Um, and this would take

339
00:14:45,199 --> 00:14:47,120
a portion of tax revenue and permanently

340
00:14:47,120 --> 00:14:48,639
dedicate it to this revenue sharing

341
00:14:48,639 --> 00:14:50,399
trust fund so that revenue sharing would

342
00:14:50,399 --> 00:14:53,199
no longer be subject to negotiations

343
00:14:53,199 --> 00:14:54,720
every single year. There's a pot of

344
00:14:54,720 --> 00:14:56,800
money be divided up. In theory, it goes

345
00:14:56,800 --> 00:14:58,560
up when when the state is doing well and

346
00:14:58,560 --> 00:15:00,560
revenues are up. Revenues ever go down,

347
00:15:00,560 --> 00:15:02,240
that pot of money would also go down,

348
00:15:02,240 --> 00:15:04,720
but it wouldn't be subject to uh annual

349
00:15:04,720 --> 00:15:06,240
negotiations,

350
00:15:06,240 --> 00:15:07,680
uh, cuts, raises, and the political

351
00:15:07,680 --> 00:15:09,440
process. It creates a little bit of

352
00:15:09,440 --> 00:15:11,040
stability and some predictability there.

353
00:15:11,040 --> 00:15:12,880
So, it was good to see the Senate uh

354
00:15:12,880 --> 00:15:14,959
taking some action on that this week. Um

355
00:15:14,959 --> 00:15:16,320
but it's got a little ways to go yet

356
00:15:16,320 --> 00:15:18,720
before it gets across the finish line.

357
00:15:18,720 --> 00:15:20,639
Uh as part of the budget process, uh

358
00:15:20,639 --> 00:15:21,839
there are two projects that we are

359
00:15:21,839 --> 00:15:24,079
working on behalf of Ottawa County. Uh

360
00:15:24,079 --> 00:15:26,480
the first one, um is in process already.

361
00:15:26,480 --> 00:15:28,160
The Michigan Strategic Fund recommended

362
00:15:28,160 --> 00:15:30,160
a $17 million grant to the city of

363
00:15:30,160 --> 00:15:32,399
Coopersville to support infrastructure

364
00:15:32,399 --> 00:15:35,360
upgrades um to help Fairlife expand

365
00:15:35,360 --> 00:15:38,320
their uh facility there in Coopersville.

366
00:15:38,320 --> 00:15:39,920
um Lakeshore Advantage and others are

367
00:15:39,920 --> 00:15:41,440
kind of leading that project and we are

368
00:15:41,440 --> 00:15:43,680
doing what we can to support them. Uh

369
00:15:43,680 --> 00:15:46,160
since the strategic fund uh recommended

370
00:15:46,160 --> 00:15:47,680
that funding, it's up to now to the

371
00:15:47,680 --> 00:15:49,040
House and the Senate appropriations

372
00:15:49,040 --> 00:15:52,240
committees to approve it. Um that money

373
00:15:52,240 --> 00:15:54,320
would come out of the uh state strategic

374
00:15:54,320 --> 00:15:57,440
readiness program uh fund. That fund has

375
00:15:57,440 --> 00:15:59,440
been a little bit less uh popular in the

376
00:15:59,440 --> 00:16:00,800
last year or two. It has funded some of

377
00:16:00,800 --> 00:16:02,399
the more controversial projects like the

378
00:16:02,399 --> 00:16:04,720
Gan Battery Plant up in Big Rapids. So I

379
00:16:04,720 --> 00:16:06,079
think there's a possibility that rather

380
00:16:06,079 --> 00:16:09,040
than use that process, the legislature

381
00:16:09,040 --> 00:16:10,560
will look at just appropriating money

382
00:16:10,560 --> 00:16:13,920
directly um and Rep. Mirman and others

383
00:16:13,920 --> 00:16:15,920
have led the process on asking uh for

384
00:16:15,920 --> 00:16:17,199
that to be part of the budget. So there

385
00:16:17,199 --> 00:16:19,440
we got two different pathways there. Um

386
00:16:19,440 --> 00:16:21,759
and I remain hopeful that that uh will

387
00:16:21,759 --> 00:16:23,920
be part of the budget. Uh the other

388
00:16:23,920 --> 00:16:25,759
project we're working on is with water

389
00:16:25,759 --> 00:16:27,360
resources commissioner Joe Bush a

390
00:16:27,360 --> 00:16:30,399
$500,000 grant request to support a

391
00:16:30,399 --> 00:16:32,240
study for ways to recharge Ottawa

392
00:16:32,240 --> 00:16:35,920
County's uh groundwater aquifers. Um Joe

393
00:16:35,920 --> 00:16:37,759
came to Lancing recently testified in

394
00:16:37,759 --> 00:16:39,199
front of a House Appropriation

395
00:16:39,199 --> 00:16:40,800
Subcommittee about the need for this

396
00:16:40,800 --> 00:16:43,199
project. Um and things are looking good.

397
00:16:43,199 --> 00:16:45,279
All of our Ottawa County delegation has

398
00:16:45,279 --> 00:16:48,880
uh teamed up to push for this. Um it

399
00:16:48,880 --> 00:16:50,079
will really depend on how much money

400
00:16:50,079 --> 00:16:51,680
there is available. These are the types

401
00:16:51,680 --> 00:16:53,519
of things that are the the last the last

402
00:16:53,519 --> 00:16:55,839
types of projects funded. But um if we

403
00:16:55,839 --> 00:16:57,759
do have a decent pot of money for these

404
00:16:57,759 --> 00:16:59,839
legislatively directed spending items, I

405
00:16:59,839 --> 00:17:00,800
think there's a good chance that we'll

406
00:17:00,800 --> 00:17:04,160
get that $500,000 to do that study.

407
00:17:04,160 --> 00:17:05,679
>> Um the other thing that is starting to

408
00:17:05,679 --> 00:17:06,880
get a little bit of movement, the House

409
00:17:06,880 --> 00:17:08,799
Republicans introduced the uh the bills

410
00:17:08,799 --> 00:17:10,959
that would implement their property tax

411
00:17:10,959 --> 00:17:12,640
reform. I talked about that a little bit

412
00:17:12,640 --> 00:17:15,039
uh when I was here last quarter. Um and

413
00:17:15,039 --> 00:17:16,640
these are what we expected them to be.

414
00:17:16,640 --> 00:17:18,319
bills to eliminate the state education

415
00:17:18,319 --> 00:17:20,400
tax, the real estate transfer tax,

416
00:17:20,400 --> 00:17:22,240
eliminate the popup tax, and the

417
00:17:22,240 --> 00:17:24,559
personal property tax on utilities. Uh

418
00:17:24,559 --> 00:17:26,640
there is also a bill that would uh

419
00:17:26,640 --> 00:17:28,880
create a service tax on certain

420
00:17:28,880 --> 00:17:30,799
services, although the list of services

421
00:17:30,799 --> 00:17:33,360
is not yet uh part of it. It's subject

422
00:17:33,360 --> 00:17:36,160
to the negotiations. Um if we would

423
00:17:36,160 --> 00:17:37,760
eliminate all of those, it's about a $5

424
00:17:37,760 --> 00:17:40,559
billion uh amount of revenue that would

425
00:17:40,559 --> 00:17:41,919
need to be replaced, and that's what the

426
00:17:41,919 --> 00:17:45,840
service tax uh bill is designed to do.

427
00:17:45,840 --> 00:17:47,520
Um and so we'll we'll continue to

428
00:17:47,520 --> 00:17:49,039
monitor that. Obviously, anything

429
00:17:49,039 --> 00:17:51,440
property tax related has a potential to

430
00:17:51,440 --> 00:17:53,919
have a significant impact on the county.

431
00:17:53,919 --> 00:17:55,760
Um and we will uh work with

432
00:17:55,760 --> 00:17:57,280
administration to make sure whatever is

433
00:17:57,280 --> 00:18:00,000
happening um we're in the loop. But uh

434
00:18:00,000 --> 00:18:01,600
that's my brief update and I'm happy to

435
00:18:01,600 --> 00:18:04,480
answer any questions you have.

436
00:18:04,480 --> 00:18:06,160
>> Thank you, Bob. Um we have a full

437
00:18:06,160 --> 00:18:08,240
agenda. Does anybody have a brief

438
00:18:08,240 --> 00:18:10,480
question to ask of Bob? We can also act

439
00:18:10,480 --> 00:18:12,000
give you a call. Is that correct?

440
00:18:12,000 --> 00:18:13,440
>> Always happy to take a phone call.

441
00:18:13,440 --> 00:18:15,840
>> Here we go. All right, let's do that.

442
00:18:15,840 --> 00:18:18,480
Thank you very much, Bob.

443
00:18:18,480 --> 00:18:20,720
>> All right, up next, uh, item D on our

444
00:18:20,720 --> 00:18:22,640
agenda, the prosecuting attorney's

445
00:18:22,640 --> 00:18:26,320
office 2025 annual report. I do believe

446
00:18:26,320 --> 00:18:28,400
I saw our prosecutor in the audience and

447
00:18:28,400 --> 00:18:30,320
making her way up. Welcome.

448
00:18:30,320 --> 00:18:32,320
>> Good morning, board. Thank you for

449
00:18:32,320 --> 00:18:35,520
having me today.

450
00:18:35,520 --> 00:18:37,280
Yeah, it's my honor to present to all of

451
00:18:37,280 --> 00:18:39,919
you the 2025 annual budget for the

452
00:18:39,919 --> 00:18:41,840
prosecuting attorney. And yes, in the

453
00:18:41,840 --> 00:18:43,919
interest of time, I'll get right at it.

454
00:18:43,919 --> 00:18:45,919
Um, I hope all of you have had an

455
00:18:45,919 --> 00:18:47,520
opportunity to actually receive our

456
00:18:47,520 --> 00:18:50,720
report when I had a copy of it because I

457
00:18:50,720 --> 00:18:52,240
believe we printed a bunch of copies for

458
00:18:52,240 --> 00:18:54,160
that not knowing you didn't need them.

459
00:18:54,160 --> 00:18:57,200
Okay. All right. Well, as you all know

460
00:18:57,200 --> 00:18:59,679
probably, this was my first year as the

461
00:18:59,679 --> 00:19:02,240
elected prosecutor in 2025 to present to

462
00:19:02,240 --> 00:19:05,120
you the annual report. So, certainly is

463
00:19:05,120 --> 00:19:10,080
my honor. The mission statement. Go. Is

464
00:19:10,080 --> 00:19:15,110
this ready for me to go? Not so much.

465
00:19:15,120 --> 00:19:19,200
if that's easier. Okay. The mission

466
00:19:19,200 --> 00:19:24,400
statement of the prosecutor's office is mainly broken down into three parts.

467
00:19:24,400 --> 00:19:25,679
First of all, obviously, we want to

468
00:19:25,679 --> 00:19:27,200
preserve the quality of life of the

469
00:19:27,200 --> 00:19:29,200
citizens of Ottawa County. So, we want

470
00:19:29,200 --> 00:19:31,120
to make sure that Ottawa County remains

471
00:19:31,120 --> 00:19:32,799
one of the best places to live, work,

472
00:19:32,799 --> 00:19:34,960
and raise our children. And we do so

473
00:19:34,960 --> 00:19:36,720
through consistent enforcement of the

474
00:19:36,720 --> 00:19:38,880
criminal laws of the county and of the

475
00:19:38,880 --> 00:19:41,360
state. We also want to promote lawful

476
00:19:41,360 --> 00:19:43,200
conduct. We want to make sure that our

477
00:19:43,200 --> 00:19:45,600
enforcement of the laws is encouraging

478
00:19:45,600 --> 00:19:47,919
people to comply with those laws by

479
00:19:47,919 --> 00:19:50,080
educating them, by making people

480
00:19:50,080 --> 00:19:51,840
understand that we are going to proceed

481
00:19:51,840 --> 00:19:54,080
with fair prosecution and that there are

482
00:19:54,080 --> 00:19:56,960
consequences for criminal behavior. And

483
00:19:56,960 --> 00:19:58,799
three, that we're enhancing the safety

484
00:19:58,799 --> 00:20:01,440
and the security of Ottawa County and

485
00:20:01,440 --> 00:20:03,360
its citizens. So, we work very

486
00:20:03,360 --> 00:20:05,440
collaborative collaboratively with all

487
00:20:05,440 --> 00:20:07,200
of our law enforcement agencies,

488
00:20:07,200 --> 00:20:09,200
sheriff's department, Zealand Police,

489
00:20:09,200 --> 00:20:12,640
Grand Haven, Holland, Grand Valley, um

490
00:20:12,640 --> 00:20:15,440
all of our police agencies, MSP, etc. We

491
00:20:15,440 --> 00:20:17,600
work with them very closely to make sure

492
00:20:17,600 --> 00:20:20,320
that we are using community enforcement,

493
00:20:20,320 --> 00:20:21,919
creating that safer environment that

494
00:20:21,919 --> 00:20:23,360
we're looking for to make sure that

495
00:20:23,360 --> 00:20:25,280
we're strategically working together to

496
00:20:25,280 --> 00:20:28,960
enforce laws and to create safety.

497
00:20:28,960 --> 00:20:31,360
The responsibilities of the prosecutor

498
00:20:31,360 --> 00:20:34,480
remain very heavy and we take those very

499
00:20:34,480 --> 00:20:36,799
seriously. The prosecuting attorney is

500
00:20:36,799 --> 00:20:39,039
the chief law enforcement officer in

501
00:20:39,039 --> 00:20:41,200
Ottawa County created by the Michigan

502
00:20:41,200 --> 00:20:44,080
Constitution and responsible for common

503
00:20:44,080 --> 00:20:46,480
law statute court rule and appellet case

504
00:20:46,480 --> 00:20:49,440
law. We obviously do criminal case

505
00:20:49,440 --> 00:20:51,679
prosecution both at the criminal level

506
00:20:51,679 --> 00:20:53,520
or excuse me at the adult level and the

507
00:20:53,520 --> 00:20:55,840
juvenile level. So, we handle any type

508
00:20:55,840 --> 00:20:57,760
of criminal case that enters Ottawa

509
00:20:57,760 --> 00:21:00,960
County, no matter what your age. We have

510
00:21:00,960 --> 00:21:04,480
specialty services that we focus on at

511
00:21:04,480 --> 00:21:06,000
the Ottawa County Prosecutor's Office,

512
00:21:06,000 --> 00:21:08,080
which includes a family court division

513
00:21:08,080 --> 00:21:10,000
that is becoming growingly and

514
00:21:10,000 --> 00:21:12,720
increasingly large and timeconuming.

515
00:21:12,720 --> 00:21:14,559
Unfortunately, we have a domestic

516
00:21:14,559 --> 00:21:18,080
violence unit, a very strong and large

517
00:21:18,080 --> 00:21:20,480
victim's rights unit. You may have seen

518
00:21:20,480 --> 00:21:22,240
our May basket spread throughout the

519
00:21:22,240 --> 00:21:24,240
county. Our victims advocates have been

520
00:21:24,240 --> 00:21:27,200
working very hard to get hygiene

521
00:21:27,200 --> 00:21:29,039
products gathered together for victims

522
00:21:29,039 --> 00:21:30,960
of crime and donate those to resilience.

523
00:21:30,960 --> 00:21:32,320
So if you haven't seen those, I think

524
00:21:32,320 --> 00:21:34,799
you have one more day to donate. Um we

525
00:21:34,799 --> 00:21:36,720
have an appellet specialist. Um the

526
00:21:36,720 --> 00:21:40,240
appellet world is truly causing us a lot

527
00:21:40,240 --> 00:21:43,120
of extra work and focus. So we've

528
00:21:43,120 --> 00:21:45,360
divided um some of our units into

529
00:21:45,360 --> 00:21:47,840
creating that specialty department. And

530
00:21:47,840 --> 00:21:49,760
also we have attorneys that are

531
00:21:49,760 --> 00:21:52,000
specialized as we all are in training

532
00:21:52,000 --> 00:21:53,360
law enforcement to make sure that

533
00:21:53,360 --> 00:21:56,000
they're up to speed with our laws and

534
00:21:56,000 --> 00:21:58,400
how we're handling cases.

535
00:21:58,400 --> 00:22:00,240
Third, and very important to us is

536
00:22:00,240 --> 00:22:01,919
community leadership. I think it's more

537
00:22:01,919 --> 00:22:03,679
and more important for us to recognize

538
00:22:03,679 --> 00:22:05,280
our role in the community and the need

539
00:22:05,280 --> 00:22:06,960
for us to make sure that we're out in

540
00:22:06,960 --> 00:22:09,200
the community educating them as much as

541
00:22:09,200 --> 00:22:11,360
possible. I know today we have a couple

542
00:22:11,360 --> 00:22:13,840
of attorneys that are um allowing a

543
00:22:13,840 --> 00:22:15,679
middle school student to job shadow them

544
00:22:15,679 --> 00:22:17,360
today to just kind of give them a little

545
00:22:17,360 --> 00:22:18,720
bit of taste of what we do. But any

546
00:22:18,720 --> 00:22:20,720
opportunity we have to go into schools,

547
00:22:20,720 --> 00:22:22,720
uh senior resource facilities, anything

548
00:22:22,720 --> 00:22:24,080
we can do, we're going to be there and

549
00:22:24,080 --> 00:22:25,600
we're going to educate as but as much as

550
00:22:25,600 --> 00:22:27,120
we can. And we often will team with our

551
00:22:27,120 --> 00:22:29,360
law enforcement to kind of give the full

552
00:22:29,360 --> 00:22:31,760
story of making sure that people and

553
00:22:31,760 --> 00:22:35,520
citizens are safe. Our office locations,

554
00:22:35,520 --> 00:22:37,360
those haven't changed. We still have the

555
00:22:37,360 --> 00:22:39,039
two. So we have our office.

556
00:22:39,039 --> 00:22:40,720
Unfortunately, it's very unique and

557
00:22:40,720 --> 00:22:42,080
difficult when it comes to being a

558
00:22:42,080 --> 00:22:43,679
prosecutor to have these two very

559
00:22:43,679 --> 00:22:46,880
distinct locations. We work very hard

560
00:22:46,880 --> 00:22:48,880
constantly to try to keep that division

561
00:22:48,880 --> 00:22:51,039
as small as possible. We try to get our

562
00:22:51,039 --> 00:22:53,440
teams together as much as we can, but

563
00:22:53,440 --> 00:22:55,039
unfortunately Ottawa County is pretty

564
00:22:55,039 --> 00:22:57,120
spread out. So we've talked many times

565
00:22:57,120 --> 00:22:59,520
about rebringing in a third branch.

566
00:22:59,520 --> 00:23:01,120
We're just not going to do that. We need

567
00:23:01,120 --> 00:23:03,440
to keep our resources together, keep our

568
00:23:03,440 --> 00:23:04,799
teams together. It's one of the thing

569
00:23:04,799 --> 00:23:08,400
that truly makes us great. Um,

570
00:23:08,400 --> 00:23:10,400
we are looking forward to presenting to

571
00:23:10,400 --> 00:23:13,600
this board in our 2026 budget, moving or

572
00:23:13,600 --> 00:23:15,039
at least starting to move into

573
00:23:15,039 --> 00:23:16,799
renovations of the second floor of Grand

574
00:23:16,799 --> 00:23:20,159
Haven. I won't go there yet. Um, the

575
00:23:20,159 --> 00:23:22,480
prosecutor's office staff, we have a

576
00:23:22,480 --> 00:23:24,640
leadership team made of four individuals

577
00:23:24,640 --> 00:23:28,159
and I can tell you I am so incredibly

578
00:23:28,159 --> 00:23:29,679
grateful for this team. I certainly

579
00:23:29,679 --> 00:23:31,840
couldn't do what I do without them. So

580
00:23:31,840 --> 00:23:33,840
me as the prosecutor, my chief assistant

581
00:23:33,840 --> 00:23:35,919
is Jake Jennison. He was going to be

582
00:23:35,919 --> 00:23:37,840
here today, but he had court he had to

583
00:23:37,840 --> 00:23:39,840
handle handling one of our young child

584
00:23:39,840 --> 00:23:43,120
CC victims with our K9 advocate Q.

585
00:23:43,120 --> 00:23:45,760
Mallerie Juel, she's here. She loves

586
00:23:45,760 --> 00:23:48,159
being drawn attention to. She's our

587
00:23:48,159 --> 00:23:50,080
office manager in Holland. And Elizabeth

588
00:23:50,080 --> 00:23:51,840
Cookenmeister is at a training. She's

589
00:23:51,840 --> 00:23:54,559
our office manager in Grand Haven. Um

590
00:23:54,559 --> 00:23:56,640
those three individuals really are

591
00:23:56,640 --> 00:23:58,720
important to me in my work and make this

592
00:23:58,720 --> 00:24:00,799
county and this uh prosecuting office

593
00:24:00,799 --> 00:24:03,840
truly run. The other people that make us

594
00:24:03,840 --> 00:24:07,200
stellar in my humble opinion is the rest

595
00:24:07,200 --> 00:24:09,520
of our staff, including 16 assistant

596
00:24:09,520 --> 00:24:12,000
prosecuting attorneys with specialized

597
00:24:12,000 --> 00:24:13,520
expertise. We've really tried to focus

598
00:24:13,520 --> 00:24:15,279
on where are your strengths. What do you

599
00:24:15,279 --> 00:24:17,039
do the best in? Because we've got crime

600
00:24:17,039 --> 00:24:19,039
coming from all angles. And we want to

601
00:24:19,039 --> 00:24:20,320
know if we've got one that's really

602
00:24:20,320 --> 00:24:21,919
complicated and it involves digital

603
00:24:21,919 --> 00:24:23,919
evidence or if it involves weaponry or

604
00:24:23,919 --> 00:24:25,520
if it involves kids or it involves

605
00:24:25,520 --> 00:24:28,960
adults or or lots of numbers, who who do

606
00:24:28,960 --> 00:24:30,480
we go to on those really complicated

607
00:24:30,480 --> 00:24:32,320
cases? And we try to really focus their

608
00:24:32,320 --> 00:24:34,400
trainings in those areas. Whereas we all

609
00:24:34,400 --> 00:24:36,159
can handle them. If we've got those

610
00:24:36,159 --> 00:24:37,600
really complicated ones, we have ones

611
00:24:37,600 --> 00:24:40,320
that we can go to. very gifted, very

612
00:24:40,320 --> 00:24:42,240
gifted attorneys and very experienced.

613
00:24:42,240 --> 00:24:44,960
We're blessed. 12 legal assistants that

614
00:24:44,960 --> 00:24:46,960
across three divisions. We have legal

615
00:24:46,960 --> 00:24:48,320
assistant ones that kind of handle

616
00:24:48,320 --> 00:24:50,080
triage in our office, the front windows.

617
00:24:50,080 --> 00:24:51,520
We have twos that handle our district

618
00:24:51,520 --> 00:24:53,039
courts. And then we have threes that

619
00:24:53,039 --> 00:24:55,360
handle our circuit courts. Four IT

620
00:24:55,360 --> 00:24:56,720
specialists that handle our digital

621
00:24:56,720 --> 00:24:58,240
evidence. We've had those positions for

622
00:24:58,240 --> 00:24:59,840
several years now. And they are so

623
00:24:59,840 --> 00:25:02,000
crucial. um more and more increasing

624
00:25:02,000 --> 00:25:03,760
their duties when it comes to digital

625
00:25:03,760 --> 00:25:05,760
evidence, receiving from the police

626
00:25:05,760 --> 00:25:07,600
agencies, getting them out to defense

627
00:25:07,600 --> 00:25:09,840
attorneys and then helping the attorneys

628
00:25:09,840 --> 00:25:11,919
prepare those presentations for juries,

629
00:25:11,919 --> 00:25:14,159
which more and more we're being expected

630
00:25:14,159 --> 00:25:16,240
to do. And instead of just reviewing a

631
00:25:16,240 --> 00:25:18,400
police report, we're reviewing about

632
00:25:18,400 --> 00:25:20,480
four to eight plus hours of digital

633
00:25:20,480 --> 00:25:22,000
evidence in addition to those police

634
00:25:22,000 --> 00:25:24,880
reports. So the time that it takes to do

635
00:25:24,880 --> 00:25:28,080
our jobs is very different these days.

636
00:25:28,080 --> 00:25:29,679
We have seven victim's rights unit

637
00:25:29,679 --> 00:25:31,840
members. That's just increasingly more

638
00:25:31,840 --> 00:25:34,000
need in our community to have advocates

639
00:25:34,000 --> 00:25:36,159
that are here for victims. Um, our

640
00:25:36,159 --> 00:25:37,760
seventh is the cheapest one for the

641
00:25:37,760 --> 00:25:39,520
county. So, you all can rest assured

642
00:25:39,520 --> 00:25:41,360
that our most lazy employee is the

643
00:25:41,360 --> 00:25:43,360
cheapest employee and probably one of

644
00:25:43,360 --> 00:25:45,679
our best and that's our K9 advocate

645
00:25:45,679 --> 00:25:48,159
queue. So, we have some new faces in

646
00:25:48,159 --> 00:25:50,880
2025. We hired and we were able to hire

647
00:25:50,880 --> 00:25:54,559
some new attorneys. Kimberly Ronin is an

648
00:25:54,559 --> 00:25:57,120
assistant prosecutor level one. She has

649
00:25:57,120 --> 00:26:00,080
vast experience when it comes to doing

650
00:26:00,080 --> 00:26:01,760
um mental health hearings and some

651
00:26:01,760 --> 00:26:04,000
probate matters. So, she did work for

652
00:26:04,000 --> 00:26:05,600
the county being assigned to some of

653
00:26:05,600 --> 00:26:08,480
those mental health commitment hearings,

654
00:26:08,480 --> 00:26:10,480
defending those individuals and making

655
00:26:10,480 --> 00:26:12,240
sure that those rights are protected.

656
00:26:12,240 --> 00:26:13,840
And now we've snagged her and she's

657
00:26:13,840 --> 00:26:15,200
working with us and she's been assigned

658
00:26:15,200 --> 00:26:17,360
to our juvenile delinquency division and

659
00:26:17,360 --> 00:26:18,960
handling some other probate matters.

660
00:26:18,960 --> 00:26:21,760
She's been a true gift. Rachel Mcenhill,

661
00:26:21,760 --> 00:26:24,080
she was a prosecutor in Moskegan for 15

662
00:26:24,080 --> 00:26:26,080
years and then she decided that she

663
00:26:26,080 --> 00:26:27,520
wanted to do more with regards to

664
00:26:27,520 --> 00:26:30,559
advocacy for children. So she worked as

665
00:26:30,559 --> 00:26:32,720
a forensic interviewer and then became a

666
00:26:32,720 --> 00:26:34,640
senior in the position with

667
00:26:34,640 --> 00:26:37,039
supervisoring at the Moskegan Children's

668
00:26:37,039 --> 00:26:39,520
Advocacy Center. And we have another

669
00:26:39,520 --> 00:26:41,120
prosecutor that we had snagged from

670
00:26:41,120 --> 00:26:43,919
Mskegegan a while back who said, "Hey, I

671
00:26:43,919 --> 00:26:45,360
know you still got that itch to be a

672
00:26:45,360 --> 00:26:46,880
prosecutor. I think Ottawa County is

673
00:26:46,880 --> 00:26:48,720
going to get you what you need." And she

674
00:26:48,720 --> 00:26:50,960
agreed. So, we were very fortunate to

675
00:26:50,960 --> 00:26:53,120
get Rachel McNill to come and help us

676
00:26:53,120 --> 00:26:55,200
out with our cases. She's been focusing

677
00:26:55,200 --> 00:26:58,000
more and more on child abuse cases. Ryan

678
00:26:58,000 --> 00:26:59,760
Seal, he's one of our assistant

679
00:26:59,760 --> 00:27:01,760
prosecutors that actually, if you happen

680
00:27:01,760 --> 00:27:03,760
to recognize his name, it's because he

681
00:27:03,760 --> 00:27:06,240
was a public defender, and I won't go

682
00:27:06,240 --> 00:27:08,320
there, but we're very lucky to have

683
00:27:08,320 --> 00:27:10,640
Brian Seal on our staff. He's he's a

684
00:27:10,640 --> 00:27:13,520
gift. Changes and challenges. Well, I

685
00:27:13,520 --> 00:27:14,640
don't know that I like the title of

686
00:27:14,640 --> 00:27:16,559
Changes and Challenges being my name,

687
00:27:16,559 --> 00:27:19,279
but there it's there. Um certainly it's

688
00:27:19,279 --> 00:27:21,520
been a challenge and a total privilege

689
00:27:21,520 --> 00:27:23,520
for me to have this office and and

690
00:27:23,520 --> 00:27:25,440
hopefully things are going well that you

691
00:27:25,440 --> 00:27:27,520
can see on your end as well. Jake

692
00:27:27,520 --> 00:27:29,760
Jennison was uh promoted to my chief

693
00:27:29,760 --> 00:27:31,600
assistant. He was previously a senior

694
00:27:31,600 --> 00:27:35,360
attorney. Had some promotions of um APAs

695
00:27:35,360 --> 00:27:37,840
that were now senior attorneys. Carol

696
00:27:37,840 --> 00:27:40,880
Wilkinson, Jay Tubergen, and Ben Medma.

697
00:27:40,880 --> 00:27:43,200
um just absolute gifted attorneys that

698
00:27:43,200 --> 00:27:44,880
have a lot of experience that are are

699
00:27:44,880 --> 00:27:46,320
branching out in some other areas and

700
00:27:46,320 --> 00:27:48,559
covering some new topics. We had Joel

701
00:27:48,559 --> 00:27:50,960
and Haz who was probably the only other

702
00:27:50,960 --> 00:27:52,320
attorney that had been there anywhere

703
00:27:52,320 --> 00:27:54,399
near as long as I had. So I think she

704
00:27:54,399 --> 00:27:56,960
was shy of mine by about two years. She

705
00:27:56,960 --> 00:28:00,000
finally retired um for her sake for her

706
00:28:00,000 --> 00:28:03,200
grandchildren back in June of 2025.

707
00:28:03,200 --> 00:28:05,919
Um we went paperless. You are welcome.

708
00:28:05,919 --> 00:28:07,919
That was a very difficult thing for a

709
00:28:07,919 --> 00:28:10,080
lot of us to do. We had been kind of

710
00:28:10,080 --> 00:28:12,000
baby stepping it, but you can only baby

711
00:28:12,000 --> 00:28:13,840
step things for so long. And we figured

712
00:28:13,840 --> 00:28:15,440
after about five, seven years of baby

713
00:28:15,440 --> 00:28:16,640
stepping stepping, we're just going to

714
00:28:16,640 --> 00:28:21,200
rip that band-aid. So, we did. Um, and I think we're pretty cool with it. I

715
00:28:21,200 --> 00:28:22,559
think things are going fine. And I

716
00:28:22,559 --> 00:28:23,840
definitely know that we've we've

717
00:28:23,840 --> 00:28:26,320
experienced a significant um financial

718
00:28:26,320 --> 00:28:29,200
savings. Also, time just duplicating

719
00:28:29,200 --> 00:28:30,720
everything over and over again was just

720
00:28:30,720 --> 00:28:32,320
becoming ridiculous. So, we we fixed

721
00:28:32,320 --> 00:28:34,080
that. Towards the end of last year, we

722
00:28:34,080 --> 00:28:35,919
implemented Carpel as our new case

723
00:28:35,919 --> 00:28:38,320
management system. I also will just wait

724
00:28:38,320 --> 00:28:39,679
and talk to you about that this year

725
00:28:39,679 --> 00:28:41,360
because that's been really a huge

726
00:28:41,360 --> 00:28:44,000
struggle for my staff and I am so

727
00:28:44,000 --> 00:28:45,440
grateful for them for just hanging in

728
00:28:45,440 --> 00:28:47,440
with us on it and um we're getting

729
00:28:47,440 --> 00:28:48,880
through it here pretty well and it will

730
00:28:48,880 --> 00:28:50,640
end up being a real big gift. So

731
00:28:50,640 --> 00:28:52,000
hopefully next year when I'm here I will

732
00:28:52,000 --> 00:28:52,960
tell you all the great things about

733
00:28:52,960 --> 00:28:54,559
Carpal right now. I'm just going to bite

734
00:28:54,559 --> 00:28:56,640
my tongue for a hot minute. Digital

735
00:28:56,640 --> 00:28:58,880
evidence just continues to be expounded.

736
00:28:58,880 --> 00:29:00,799
Ottawa County Sheriff's Office started

737
00:29:00,799 --> 00:29:02,399
their digital evidence. We had been used

738
00:29:02,399 --> 00:29:03,840
to it with Holland and a couple other

739
00:29:03,840 --> 00:29:06,000
agencies, but we were preparing and knew

740
00:29:06,000 --> 00:29:07,440
that that would change things a bit and

741
00:29:07,440 --> 00:29:09,039
it certainly did. So, we're continuing

742
00:29:09,039 --> 00:29:11,360
to enhance our digital evidence pro um

743
00:29:11,360 --> 00:29:13,200
in the courtroom and our discovery

744
00:29:13,200 --> 00:29:14,960
process. Between retirements,

745
00:29:14,960 --> 00:29:16,799
promotions, and positions offing uh

746
00:29:16,799 --> 00:29:18,640
openings, there were 11 different

747
00:29:18,640 --> 00:29:20,720
staffing changes in 2025. Most of those

748
00:29:20,720 --> 00:29:22,960
we were able to gift some really good

749
00:29:22,960 --> 00:29:24,559
talented individuals with promotions

750
00:29:24,559 --> 00:29:27,120
within our office. Criminal case load

751
00:29:27,120 --> 00:29:30,480
overview, we had almost 2,000 felonies.

752
00:29:30,480 --> 00:29:32,960
That rate increased by about 5.5% from

753
00:29:32,960 --> 00:29:35,120
last year. Little over 5,000

754
00:29:35,120 --> 00:29:37,120
misdemeanors which increased just not

755
00:29:37,120 --> 00:29:40,080
even quite 1% from last year. Um the

756
00:29:40,080 --> 00:29:43,840
juvenile case load decreased by about 5%

757
00:29:43,840 --> 00:29:46,799
just under a thousand there um this year

758
00:29:46,799 --> 00:29:49,120
for a total of approximately 8,000 cases

759
00:29:49,120 --> 00:29:53,120
which increased by about 1%. So you know

760
00:29:53,120 --> 00:29:55,279
crime is what crime is going to be and

761
00:29:55,279 --> 00:29:57,039
so when we receive those cases we make

762
00:29:57,039 --> 00:29:59,120
sure we handle them appropriately.

763
00:29:59,120 --> 00:30:00,960
significant crime trends. I know this is

764
00:30:00,960 --> 00:30:02,480
something that everybody likes to kind

765
00:30:02,480 --> 00:30:04,480
of just have a grasp on, especially from

766
00:30:04,480 --> 00:30:06,880
the board here. Notable increases are

767
00:30:06,880 --> 00:30:10,399
felony drunk drivingings. You know, we work really hard with our recovery

768
00:30:10,399 --> 00:30:12,720
courts. They do a tremendous job.

769
00:30:12,720 --> 00:30:14,399
They're not full. So, we need to make

770
00:30:14,399 --> 00:30:15,760
sure that we're reassessing who's

771
00:30:15,760 --> 00:30:17,600
getting into those courts and if maybe

772
00:30:17,600 --> 00:30:19,120
expanding that. So, I know we've had a

773
00:30:19,120 --> 00:30:21,200
lot of conversations about expanding

774
00:30:21,200 --> 00:30:23,279
that application process to see who else

775
00:30:23,279 --> 00:30:26,000
we can serve in those areas. Robberies

776
00:30:26,000 --> 00:30:28,000
up 100%. Well, that just basically means

777
00:30:28,000 --> 00:30:30,320
that if we had maybe two, we had four or

778
00:30:30,320 --> 00:30:31,600
something along those lines. So, you can

779
00:30:31,600 --> 00:30:34,240
refer to our our more detailed report to

780
00:30:34,240 --> 00:30:36,399
get that information. Misdemeanor drunk

781
00:30:36,399 --> 00:30:38,080
driving, not surprisingly, is also

782
00:30:38,080 --> 00:30:40,880
increased. Weapons offenses are up. That

783
00:30:40,880 --> 00:30:42,399
is something that we have always been

784
00:30:42,399 --> 00:30:44,240
very careful of. We're just trying to

785
00:30:44,240 --> 00:30:46,000
work on those as best as we can and our

786
00:30:46,000 --> 00:30:47,840
law enforcement does a tremendous job

787
00:30:47,840 --> 00:30:50,000
making sure that once it comes to us, we

788
00:30:50,000 --> 00:30:51,600
make sure those weapons are forfeited so

789
00:30:51,600 --> 00:30:52,960
they don't get back into the hands of

790
00:30:52,960 --> 00:30:55,360
people who don't need them. Um, domestic

791
00:30:55,360 --> 00:30:56,720
violence is up a little bit, drug

792
00:30:56,720 --> 00:30:58,159
offenses are up. So, those are the kind

793
00:30:58,159 --> 00:31:00,240
of areas that we see usually fairly

794
00:31:00,240 --> 00:31:02,720
consistently in our in our county.

795
00:31:02,720 --> 00:31:04,960
Notable decreases, property crimes, I

796
00:31:04,960 --> 00:31:06,320
know we were dealing with that so much

797
00:31:06,320 --> 00:31:08,080
with break-ins and driveways and things

798
00:31:08,080 --> 00:31:09,760
along those lines. That significantly

799
00:31:09,760 --> 00:31:11,600
went down, which is great. Criminal

800
00:31:11,600 --> 00:31:13,200
sexual conduct is slightly down.

801
00:31:13,200 --> 00:31:15,360
Obviously, that's a great trend. Arson,

802
00:31:15,360 --> 00:31:16,559
again, is one of those where we have

803
00:31:16,559 --> 00:31:18,399
maybe one or two or three a year. So,

804
00:31:18,399 --> 00:31:19,840
you're going to see that percentage one

805
00:31:19,840 --> 00:31:21,919
way or the other pretty significant.

806
00:31:21,919 --> 00:31:23,600
breaking entering extraditions where

807
00:31:23,600 --> 00:31:24,960
we're bringing in other people from

808
00:31:24,960 --> 00:31:26,559
other counties who committed crimes here

809
00:31:26,559 --> 00:31:29,840
that is also down um there's statistics

810
00:31:29,840 --> 00:31:31,679
here I want to keep your time here at

811
00:31:31,679 --> 00:31:33,200
most interest you can take a look at

812
00:31:33,200 --> 00:31:35,039
those with regards to domestic violence

813
00:31:35,039 --> 00:31:38,080
I touched a little bit about on that um

814
00:31:38,080 --> 00:31:40,960
moving on to postconviction workload

815
00:31:40,960 --> 00:31:43,679
that that's appeals so once we get

816
00:31:43,679 --> 00:31:45,360
through the trials we get our

817
00:31:45,360 --> 00:31:48,159
convictions we have served justice as

818
00:31:48,159 --> 00:31:51,360
best as we can we are seeing a huge

819
00:31:51,360 --> 00:31:53,840
increase in our appellet work. The

820
00:31:53,840 --> 00:31:55,519
prosecutor's office as many people might

821
00:31:55,519 --> 00:31:57,679
not know know is that we also have to

822
00:31:57,679 --> 00:31:59,760
handle those. So at any point in time

823
00:31:59,760 --> 00:32:02,000
there is a case there is work involved

824
00:32:02,000 --> 00:32:04,799
in a case we are going to be handling

825
00:32:04,799 --> 00:32:06,880
that. So if we handled the criminal case

826
00:32:06,880 --> 00:32:08,320
we're going to be handling the appeals

827
00:32:08,320 --> 00:32:11,679
and it is just been a huge significant

828
00:32:11,679 --> 00:32:14,320
um issue that we've been dealing with.

829
00:32:14,320 --> 00:32:16,080
So we've had some major significant

830
00:32:16,080 --> 00:32:18,159
appeals. Everyone's probably familiar

831
00:32:18,159 --> 00:32:19,919
with the Karen Bose case because we've

832
00:32:19,919 --> 00:32:21,120
come to you for a lot of money for

833
00:32:21,120 --> 00:32:22,720
experts on the different appeals on that

834
00:32:22,720 --> 00:32:24,240
and we appreciate your support through

835
00:32:24,240 --> 00:32:26,240
that. Um, we're very happy with that

836
00:32:26,240 --> 00:32:28,559
result. Um, and then there's a couple

837
00:32:28,559 --> 00:32:30,720
other noteworthy ones. These cases that

838
00:32:30,720 --> 00:32:32,559
are on here I could talk to you about

839
00:32:32,559 --> 00:32:34,559
for probably hours and all the major

840
00:32:34,559 --> 00:32:36,320
issues that are being handled right now

841
00:32:36,320 --> 00:32:38,799
in our Supreme Courts and our court of

842
00:32:38,799 --> 00:32:40,960
appeals that are going to make some

843
00:32:40,960 --> 00:32:43,840
significant changes in how we handle our

844
00:32:43,840 --> 00:32:46,240
cases. So, we've got a lot of concern

845
00:32:46,240 --> 00:32:47,840
going out there anxiously awaiting for

846
00:32:47,840 --> 00:32:49,120
some of these decisions and

847
00:32:49,120 --> 00:32:50,640
unfortunately we're not looking forward

848
00:32:50,640 --> 00:32:51,840
to some of the results that we're

849
00:32:51,840 --> 00:32:53,840
hearing rumors of. So, it gives you kind

850
00:32:53,840 --> 00:32:56,240
of an outline of of our postconviction

851
00:32:56,240 --> 00:32:59,679
process there. Abuse and neglect cases

852
00:32:59,679 --> 00:33:02,640
are up. Um, I spoke with our abuse and

853
00:33:02,640 --> 00:33:05,279
neglect attorneys before kind of coming

854
00:33:05,279 --> 00:33:07,679
here once they saw the results. They are

855
00:33:07,679 --> 00:33:09,519
definitely trying more cases. They tried

856
00:33:09,519 --> 00:33:14,559
58 between the two of them in 2025 and that's more. But they're doing great

857
00:33:14,559 --> 00:33:15,919
work. They're they're really giving

858
00:33:15,919 --> 00:33:18,240
these cases great attention and using

859
00:33:18,240 --> 00:33:19,919
their skill and their expertise to make

860
00:33:19,919 --> 00:33:21,120
sure that everything is handled

861
00:33:21,120 --> 00:33:23,360
appropriately. Um when it comes to those

862
00:33:23,360 --> 00:33:26,000
very sensitive cases,

863
00:33:26,000 --> 00:33:28,720
homicides in 2025, you know, we

864
00:33:28,720 --> 00:33:30,399
obviously can't get into them, so we

865
00:33:30,399 --> 00:33:32,559
just kind of take some news clips and we

866
00:33:32,559 --> 00:33:34,559
just give them to you. Um there was a

867
00:33:34,559 --> 00:33:36,159
mother charged with killing her teen son

868
00:33:36,159 --> 00:33:38,960
in a Holland apartment. Katie Lee, she

869
00:33:38,960 --> 00:33:41,279
was already sentenced. Um, regarding

870
00:33:41,279 --> 00:33:43,120
Alan Lopez, it was an 18-year-old

871
00:33:43,120 --> 00:33:44,399
charged with manslaughter and the

872
00:33:44,399 --> 00:33:46,799
shooting death of a friend of his in a

873
00:33:46,799 --> 00:33:50,159
vehicle. Um, Grand Valley State

874
00:33:50,159 --> 00:33:51,679
University student was shot through the

875
00:33:51,679 --> 00:33:54,559
floor at a house party. Um, that case

876
00:33:54,559 --> 00:33:58,159
got resolved last year as well. And then

877
00:33:58,159 --> 00:34:01,600
pending trial here in 2026 is Michelle

878
00:34:01,600 --> 00:34:04,000
Matoss Cologne and that's a Jennison

879
00:34:04,000 --> 00:34:06,000
area woman who's accused in the shooting

880
00:34:06,000 --> 00:34:09,909
death of her husband.

881
00:34:09,919 --> 00:34:12,240
Um the last one is Joyce Lockett. She

882
00:34:12,240 --> 00:34:13,359
was charged with involuntary

883
00:34:13,359 --> 00:34:14,800
manslaughter and that was pled to a

884
00:34:14,800 --> 00:34:16,960
lesser charge that involved um a young a

885
00:34:16,960 --> 00:34:18,960
young baby.

886
00:34:18,960 --> 00:34:21,040
>> Victim's rights services. That's where

887
00:34:21,040 --> 00:34:22,560
everything always gets very heavy during

888
00:34:22,560 --> 00:34:24,320
that moment. So, I don't if anybody has

889
00:34:24,320 --> 00:34:26,240
any questions, you know, happy to answer

890
00:34:26,240 --> 00:34:28,960
them. Victim's rights services. Um, our

891
00:34:28,960 --> 00:34:30,720
victim's rights department is second to

892
00:34:30,720 --> 00:34:32,800
none. We have a fairly short staff

893
00:34:32,800 --> 00:34:34,320
considering we're the seventh largest

894
00:34:34,320 --> 00:34:36,480
county in Ottawa County. So, or excuse

895
00:34:36,480 --> 00:34:38,560
me, in Michigan and the amount of

896
00:34:38,560 --> 00:34:41,599
victims that they reach out to is

897
00:34:41,599 --> 00:34:43,280
phenomenal. And to be perfectly honest,

898
00:34:43,280 --> 00:34:45,520
I I don't know how they do it, but they

899
00:34:45,520 --> 00:34:48,879
also were able to um fine-tune all of

900
00:34:48,879 --> 00:34:51,200
our paperwork. we have to send out

901
00:34:51,200 --> 00:34:52,879
information to victims on every single

902
00:34:52,879 --> 00:34:54,639
case and we were just looking at it more

903
00:34:54,639 --> 00:34:56,079
and more just thinking this stuff just

904
00:34:56,079 --> 00:34:57,599
doesn't make sense. If I'm a victim and

905
00:34:57,599 --> 00:34:59,200
I'm receiving this like let's take the

906
00:34:59,200 --> 00:35:00,880
time and see what happens when we're

907
00:35:00,880 --> 00:35:02,880
receiving this information and and we

908
00:35:02,880 --> 00:35:04,320
just weren't satisfied with the quality

909
00:35:04,320 --> 00:35:06,880
of that. So they worked very hard with

910
00:35:06,880 --> 00:35:09,200
our office managers to go through and

911
00:35:09,200 --> 00:35:11,200
revamp all of that and I'm very proud of

912
00:35:11,200 --> 00:35:12,880
the result and they also brought an

913
00:35:12,880 --> 00:35:14,720
intern for that that was no cost to the

914
00:35:14,720 --> 00:35:16,560
county and she helped change our entire

915
00:35:16,560 --> 00:35:18,400
website as well. So hopefully you guys

916
00:35:18,400 --> 00:35:19,680
all have an opportunity to take a look

917
00:35:19,680 --> 00:35:21,760
at our website. Very proud of that as

918
00:35:21,760 --> 00:35:24,000
well. It's been a long time since that's

919
00:35:24,000 --> 00:35:26,000
ever been looked at. A day in the life

920
00:35:26,000 --> 00:35:28,079
of Q. He's probably the most fun thing.

921
00:35:28,079 --> 00:35:29,599
I already kind of talked with him. But

922
00:35:29,599 --> 00:35:32,320
the interesting thing is Q helps us in a

923
00:35:32,320 --> 00:35:34,880
100 plus child victim cases and I don't

924
00:35:34,880 --> 00:35:36,240
know what we would do without him. We've

925
00:35:36,240 --> 00:35:38,400
had other canines in the past and this

926
00:35:38,400 --> 00:35:40,400
one is just working out great. One of

927
00:35:40,400 --> 00:35:41,839
the things is we have them assigned to

928
00:35:41,839 --> 00:35:43,359
an attorney rather than a victim

929
00:35:43,359 --> 00:35:45,760
advocate. So, um, Jake handles a lot of

930
00:35:45,760 --> 00:35:48,880
our child CSC cases with Rachel. And so,

931
00:35:48,880 --> 00:35:51,119
it's really good to have him there with

932
00:35:51,119 --> 00:35:53,280
his dog, um, as they're doing. And so,

933
00:35:53,280 --> 00:35:56,000
he takes Q home with him. It is his dog,

934
00:35:56,000 --> 00:35:59,119
but Q is here every day at work. Um,

935
00:35:59,119 --> 00:36:00,640
we've unfortunately been told that we

936
00:36:00,640 --> 00:36:02,160
can't give him as many treats as we used

937
00:36:02,160 --> 00:36:04,880
to. He's on a wee bit of a diet. Um, but

938
00:36:04,880 --> 00:36:06,640
other than that, he's healthy and happy

939
00:36:06,640 --> 00:36:09,520
and doing a great job. All right. Uh,

940
00:36:09,520 --> 00:36:11,440
last but not least, looking ahead, we've

941
00:36:11,440 --> 00:36:14,880
got a really exciting 2026. Um, we're

942
00:36:14,880 --> 00:36:17,680
integrating learns and Axon to our

943
00:36:17,680 --> 00:36:19,599
Carpel system. That's all boring stuff,

944
00:36:19,599 --> 00:36:21,040
but you all probably have heard these

945
00:36:21,040 --> 00:36:22,640
words, so you know what that's relevant

946
00:36:22,640 --> 00:36:24,480
to. Just integrating, getting the

947
00:36:24,480 --> 00:36:26,960
information to our office faster and

948
00:36:26,960 --> 00:36:29,359
cleaner and without as much work from

949
00:36:29,359 --> 00:36:31,520
our law enforcement agencies. building

950
00:36:31,520 --> 00:36:34,000
reconstruction. We have busted the seams

951
00:36:34,000 --> 00:36:36,400
in all of our offices and you guys have

952
00:36:36,400 --> 00:36:38,320
kindly and graciously provided an

953
00:36:38,320 --> 00:36:39,520
opportunity for us to move up to the

954
00:36:39,520 --> 00:36:41,440
second floor in Grand Haven. So, that'll

955
00:36:41,440 --> 00:36:44,000
give us a lot more space. Um, we also

956
00:36:44,000 --> 00:36:45,359
know that there's some new judges that

957
00:36:45,359 --> 00:36:46,640
might be coming that we're going to be

958
00:36:46,640 --> 00:36:48,480
having to increase our staff a bit too

959
00:36:48,480 --> 00:36:50,720
for. So, we got a lot of stuff going on

960
00:36:50,720 --> 00:36:52,640
and just continuously dealing with

961
00:36:52,640 --> 00:36:54,400
digital evidence and how we can make

962
00:36:54,400 --> 00:36:55,359
sure that we're handling that

963
00:36:55,359 --> 00:36:58,160
appropriately. I appreciate your time.

964
00:36:58,160 --> 00:37:00,160
Um, I know you got a lot going on. If

965
00:37:00,160 --> 00:37:01,599
there's any questions I can answer, I'm

966
00:37:01,599 --> 00:37:03,040
more than happy to do so. Otherwise, I

967
00:37:03,040 --> 00:37:04,400
really am grateful for all that you do

968
00:37:04,400 --> 00:37:06,720
and for having me here today.

969
00:37:06,720 --> 00:37:07,920
>> Sarah, would it be all right if we

970
00:37:07,920 --> 00:37:09,920
reached out to you with an email or a

971
00:37:09,920 --> 00:37:10,800
phone call?

972
00:37:10,800 --> 00:37:11,599
>> Anytime.

973
00:37:11,599 --> 00:37:13,119
>> All right. Thank you very much for the

974
00:37:13,119 --> 00:37:15,920
update, for all you do and your team. My

975
00:37:15,920 --> 00:37:18,800
goodness.

976
00:37:18,800 --> 00:37:21,280
All right. Up next on our agenda item E,

977
00:37:21,280 --> 00:37:23,599
excuse me, F is the equalization

978
00:37:23,599 --> 00:37:26,240
department's 2025 annual report. Nope.

979
00:37:26,240 --> 00:37:29,520
Sorry. I apologize. I went too far. E 20

980
00:37:29,520 --> 00:37:32,240
circuit and probate courts 2025 annual

981
00:37:32,240 --> 00:37:36,480
report. I believe Susan is maybe in the

982
00:37:36,480 --> 00:37:38,160
audience. There she is making her way

983
00:37:38,160 --> 00:37:40,400
for and we have a judge as well. Sir,

984
00:37:40,400 --> 00:37:40,880
welcome.

985
00:37:40,880 --> 00:37:42,079
>> We do.

986
00:37:42,079 --> 00:37:44,560
>> Thank you uh Chairperson Berger and the

987
00:37:44,560 --> 00:37:46,079
Ottawa County Board of Commissioners.

988
00:37:46,079 --> 00:37:48,079
Good morning from the third branch of

989
00:37:48,079 --> 00:37:50,560
government. Uh on behalf of my

990
00:37:50,560 --> 00:37:52,079
colleagues on the circuit and probate

991
00:37:52,079 --> 00:37:53,920
court, it's my privilege to introduce

992
00:37:53,920 --> 00:37:56,960
the 2025 annual report titled Justice

993
00:37:56,960 --> 00:37:59,359
Forward, focusing on innovation and

994
00:37:59,359 --> 00:38:01,839
excellence. Our court administrator,

995
00:38:01,839 --> 00:38:03,599
Susan Franklin, will walk you through

996
00:38:03,599 --> 00:38:05,599
the report in more detail, but I wanted

997
00:38:05,599 --> 00:38:07,839
to offer a few brief remarks from my own

998
00:38:07,839 --> 00:38:10,079
perspective at the outset. First, I want

999
00:38:10,079 --> 00:38:13,040
to express our appreciation on behalf of

1000
00:38:13,040 --> 00:38:15,200
judges, referees, administrators, and

1001
00:38:15,200 --> 00:38:17,760
staff for the board's consistent support

1002
00:38:17,760 --> 00:38:19,599
of the administration of justice in

1003
00:38:19,599 --> 00:38:22,079
Ottawa County. The quality of justice

1004
00:38:22,079 --> 00:38:24,400
we're able to provide is not accidental.

1005
00:38:24,400 --> 00:38:26,079
It's the direct result of a governing

1006
00:38:26,079 --> 00:38:28,160
body that takes seriously its obligation

1007
00:38:28,160 --> 00:38:31,119
to fund the courts. We are recognized

1008
00:38:31,119 --> 00:38:33,520
statewide as a high performing court. We

1009
00:38:33,520 --> 00:38:35,520
have a nationally recognized recovery

1010
00:38:35,520 --> 00:38:37,760
court and legal self-help center and

1011
00:38:37,760 --> 00:38:39,839
they exist because of your investment.

1012
00:38:39,839 --> 00:38:42,000
They deliver real measurable benefit to

1013
00:38:42,000 --> 00:38:44,160
the families of Ottawa County and we do

1014
00:38:44,160 --> 00:38:46,400
not take that partnership for granted.

1015
00:38:46,400 --> 00:38:48,160
I'm here because I want to highlight our

1016
00:38:48,160 --> 00:38:50,560
current challenges. Case loads across

1017
00:38:50,560 --> 00:38:52,480
the circuit court continue to grow and

1018
00:38:52,480 --> 00:38:54,880
the complexity of individual cases is

1019
00:38:54,880 --> 00:38:57,040
increasing as well. Our judges and

1020
00:38:57,040 --> 00:38:58,800
referees are carrying more than

1021
00:38:58,800 --> 00:39:00,960
full-time workloads. The Michigan

1022
00:39:00,960 --> 00:39:02,800
Supreme Court recognized this in the

1023
00:39:02,800 --> 00:39:05,920
2025 judicial resources report issued

1024
00:39:05,920 --> 00:39:08,160
last December and recommended adding an

1025
00:39:08,160 --> 00:39:09,920
additional circuit judge to the 20th

1026
00:39:09,920 --> 00:39:11,440
Circuit.

1027
00:39:11,440 --> 00:39:13,680
We will be pursuing this recommendation

1028
00:39:13,680 --> 00:39:16,000
and what that means for Ottawa County

1029
00:39:16,000 --> 00:39:18,160
with the knowledge that a new judgeship

1030
00:39:18,160 --> 00:39:20,480
cannot now be filled until the general

1031
00:39:20,480 --> 00:39:23,200
election in 2028

1032
00:39:23,200 --> 00:39:25,920
when we will be electing potentially

1033
00:39:25,920 --> 00:39:29,200
three new judges, half our bench. But we

1034
00:39:29,200 --> 00:39:31,200
can't wait for three new judges to deal

1035
00:39:31,200 --> 00:39:33,200
with our current challenges. What we

1036
00:39:33,200 --> 00:39:34,800
need to do is work smarter with the

1037
00:39:34,800 --> 00:39:36,800
technology we have and the technology

1038
00:39:36,800 --> 00:39:39,839
that's now available. So in 2025 we

1039
00:39:39,839 --> 00:39:42,320
launched an AI assisted transcript pilot

1040
00:39:42,320 --> 00:39:45,119
project uh in partnership with the state

1041
00:39:45,119 --> 00:39:47,359
court administrative office. This year

1042
00:39:47,359 --> 00:39:49,760
we've launched a second pilot project to

1043
00:39:49,760 --> 00:39:51,520
improve case and data management and

1044
00:39:51,520 --> 00:39:53,520
analysis by our judicial officers and

1045
00:39:53,520 --> 00:39:55,839
research attorneys. That first pilot

1046
00:39:55,839 --> 00:39:58,000
project has gone very well and the

1047
00:39:58,000 --> 00:40:00,160
second one is uh is just getting started

1048
00:40:00,160 --> 00:40:03,599
and we will be reporting back on those.

1049
00:40:03,599 --> 00:40:05,520
Our probate court has long been a leader

1050
00:40:05,520 --> 00:40:07,599
in virtual hearings, electronic filing

1051
00:40:07,599 --> 00:40:10,320
and digital case management. Looking

1052
00:40:10,320 --> 00:40:12,480
ahead, improvements in our use of

1053
00:40:12,480 --> 00:40:15,040
technology is essential to sustaining

1054
00:40:15,040 --> 00:40:17,760
the quality of and timeliness of

1055
00:40:17,760 --> 00:40:20,640
judicial services for county residents.

1056
00:40:20,640 --> 00:40:22,079
We're committed to moving justice

1057
00:40:22,079 --> 00:40:24,560
forward thoughtfully. responsibility

1058
00:40:24,560 --> 00:40:27,440
responsibly and in partnership with the

1059
00:40:27,440 --> 00:40:29,440
county. I'd welcome any questions you

1060
00:40:29,440 --> 00:40:31,119
have for me. Otherwise, I'm going to

1061
00:40:31,119 --> 00:40:32,800
turn the floor over to our fabulous

1062
00:40:32,800 --> 00:40:35,119
court administrator, Susan Franklin.

1063
00:40:35,119 --> 00:40:36,560
Thank you.

1064
00:40:36,560 --> 00:40:39,599
>> Thank you, your honor.

1065
00:40:39,599 --> 00:40:41,680
>> Thank you very much, judge. And we

1066
00:40:41,680 --> 00:40:43,760
should recognize that in 2025, Judge

1067
00:40:43,760 --> 00:40:45,599
Venolsburg was actually the recipient of

1068
00:40:45,599 --> 00:40:47,440
the Hilda Gage Judicial Excellence

1069
00:40:47,440 --> 00:40:49,520
Award. This award was present pres

1070
00:40:49,520 --> 00:40:52,240
presented to him at uh he was considered

1071
00:40:52,240 --> 00:40:54,640
amongst all the current and retired

1072
00:40:54,640 --> 00:40:57,680
circuit and court of appeals judges and

1073
00:40:57,680 --> 00:40:59,200
he was granted that award by the

1074
00:40:59,200 --> 00:41:01,280
Michigan judges association. So

1075
00:41:01,280 --> 00:41:04,480
congratulations judge.

1076
00:41:04,480 --> 00:41:05,920
Obviously we have more than just judge

1077
00:41:05,920 --> 00:41:07,839
vanber although he does a lot. He can't

1078
00:41:07,839 --> 00:41:10,079
do it all by himself. Our other judicial

1079
00:41:10,079 --> 00:41:12,880
officers are shown here. We the top

1080
00:41:12,880 --> 00:41:14,960
three are all in the family justice

1081
00:41:14,960 --> 00:41:16,880
center as part of our family division.

1082
00:41:16,880 --> 00:41:18,800
And below them, Judge Hullsing and Judge

1083
00:41:18,800 --> 00:41:20,880
Midima work out of the Grand Haven

1084
00:41:20,880 --> 00:41:22,960
courthouse and they handle the civil and

1085
00:41:22,960 --> 00:41:27,270
criminal dockets.

1086
00:41:27,280 --> 00:41:29,760
And Judge Dolman is our chief probate

1087
00:41:29,760 --> 00:41:32,079
judge. He's also located in the Grand

1088
00:41:32,079 --> 00:41:35,440
Haven Courthouse and he also presides

1089
00:41:35,440 --> 00:41:37,359
over a recovery court which Judge

1090
00:41:37,359 --> 00:41:39,920
Vanberg mentioned. that recovery court

1091
00:41:39,920 --> 00:41:42,880
is completely grant-f funded. So that

1092
00:41:42,880 --> 00:41:45,680
has not cost uh Ottawa County any money

1093
00:41:45,680 --> 00:41:49,040
over the term. It's been I think 21

1094
00:41:49,040 --> 00:41:51,040
years now. Um and we're very proud of

1095
00:41:51,040 --> 00:41:53,359
it. It's been recognized statewide and

1096
00:41:53,359 --> 00:41:56,160
nationally and we had 25 participants

1097
00:41:56,160 --> 00:41:58,640
graduate in 2025 which we're very proud

1098
00:41:58,640 --> 00:42:00,880
of.

1099
00:42:00,880 --> 00:42:02,560
Uh Judge Vanlesburg mentioned a little

1100
00:42:02,560 --> 00:42:04,880
bit about our transcript pilot project.

1101
00:42:04,880 --> 00:42:06,560
I would like to say that it did go a

1102
00:42:06,560 --> 00:42:08,720
little further than just transcripts

1103
00:42:08,720 --> 00:42:10,880
because we uploaded basically all of our

1104
00:42:10,880 --> 00:42:13,920
hearing recordings into the cloud and an

1105
00:42:13,920 --> 00:42:16,880
AI converted that to text. But there was

1106
00:42:16,880 --> 00:42:18,720
also a part of the program that allowed

1107
00:42:18,720 --> 00:42:21,680
the judges to ask questions of what

1108
00:42:21,680 --> 00:42:23,520
happened in the hearings. So it could

1109
00:42:23,520 --> 00:42:25,680
provide a separate summary. It could

1110
00:42:25,680 --> 00:42:27,520
provide a summary of what witnesses

1111
00:42:27,520 --> 00:42:30,319
testified to uh what exhibits were

1112
00:42:30,319 --> 00:42:32,720
offered and admitted and allowed the

1113
00:42:32,720 --> 00:42:35,119
judges to actually ask it to summarize

1114
00:42:35,119 --> 00:42:37,119
the order that they gave in those cases

1115
00:42:37,119 --> 00:42:40,240
which we could then uh create a document

1116
00:42:40,240 --> 00:42:42,480
for. So it was definitely a very

1117
00:42:42,480 --> 00:42:44,160
interesting pilot project and we're

1118
00:42:44,160 --> 00:42:47,520
looking to continue potentially that uh

1119
00:42:47,520 --> 00:42:50,880
pilot project into the future. Our trial

1120
00:42:50,880 --> 00:42:52,560
division is the portion of the court

1121
00:42:52,560 --> 00:42:56,079
that hears our criminal and civil cases.

1122
00:42:56,079 --> 00:42:57,680
And I should have mentioned this at the

1123
00:42:57,680 --> 00:42:59,040
beginning, but I do appreciate that we

1124
00:42:59,040 --> 00:43:01,280
were able to follow uh prosecutor

1125
00:43:01,280 --> 00:43:04,079
Matoyek. Uh it's really an Ottawa County

1126
00:43:04,079 --> 00:43:06,880
episode of Law and Order here today. And

1127
00:43:06,880 --> 00:43:09,200
I'll let you uh add the sound effects to

1128
00:43:09,200 --> 00:43:12,480
that yourselves. Uh

1129
00:43:12,480 --> 00:43:15,119
so this as I said this is uh Judge

1130
00:43:15,119 --> 00:43:16,800
Holling and Judge Mima's docket

1131
00:43:16,800 --> 00:43:20,720
generally in Grand Haven and we did have

1132
00:43:20,720 --> 00:43:23,520
an uptick in our case numbers this year.

1133
00:43:23,520 --> 00:43:25,760
Uh not a huge uptick but one of the most

1134
00:43:25,760 --> 00:43:27,119
significant parts were that there were

1135
00:43:27,119 --> 00:43:32,000
46 more felony capital criminal cases

1136
00:43:32,000 --> 00:43:33,440
last year than there had been the year

1137
00:43:33,440 --> 00:43:35,520
before. And those capital cases are the

1138
00:43:35,520 --> 00:43:37,359
ones that are punished by up to life in

1139
00:43:37,359 --> 00:43:40,240
prison. So those take a lot of time both

1140
00:43:40,240 --> 00:43:41,680
for the prosecutor's office, the public

1141
00:43:41,680 --> 00:43:43,920
defender's office, and for the court uh

1142
00:43:43,920 --> 00:43:46,079
to manage.

1143
00:43:46,079 --> 00:43:48,000
We have two legal self-help centers now,

1144
00:43:48,000 --> 00:43:50,000
one in each of our major courouses. So

1145
00:43:50,000 --> 00:43:52,400
one in Grand Haven and one in the family

1146
00:43:52,400 --> 00:43:54,800
justice center here in West Olive. Uh

1147
00:43:54,800 --> 00:43:57,520
this program allows people to represent

1148
00:43:57,520 --> 00:44:00,000
themselves. So we see a lot of use for

1149
00:44:00,000 --> 00:44:02,880
this in family division cases where

1150
00:44:02,880 --> 00:44:05,040
perhaps someone could not afford to hire

1151
00:44:05,040 --> 00:44:07,040
an attorney to represent them. They're

1152
00:44:07,040 --> 00:44:09,280
able to ask questions regarding court

1153
00:44:09,280 --> 00:44:11,760
processes and procedures and get forms

1154
00:44:11,760 --> 00:44:15,440
that are uh make it easier for them to

1155
00:44:15,440 --> 00:44:17,920
represent themselves. Uh a lot of court

1156
00:44:17,920 --> 00:44:21,119
procedures are in legal ease as we say

1157
00:44:21,119 --> 00:44:23,680
and this center allows for that

1158
00:44:23,680 --> 00:44:26,319
translation into English that everyone

1159
00:44:26,319 --> 00:44:28,079
can understand. So we're very proud of

1160
00:44:28,079 --> 00:44:30,560
the work that they've done.

1161
00:44:30,560 --> 00:44:32,480
our case load statistics. You can see

1162
00:44:32,480 --> 00:44:34,800
there compared to last year, we've had

1163
00:44:34,800 --> 00:44:38,400
some upticks. Uh we did have a slight um

1164
00:44:38,400 --> 00:44:40,880
reduction in juvenile delinquency cases.

1165
00:44:40,880 --> 00:44:42,960
Uh but that was made up for in other

1166
00:44:42,960 --> 00:44:46,079
areas where we had upticks. I'd also

1167
00:44:46,079 --> 00:44:49,119
like to highlight our attorney referees.

1168
00:44:49,119 --> 00:44:51,920
Uh these three individuals do a lot of

1169
00:44:51,920 --> 00:44:54,640
pre-work for our family division judges.

1170
00:44:54,640 --> 00:44:57,760
They will hear uh motions for child

1171
00:44:57,760 --> 00:45:00,160
support, parenting time, those type of

1172
00:45:00,160 --> 00:45:02,000
cases. They also do a lot of preliminary

1173
00:45:02,000 --> 00:45:03,839
hearings in juvenile delinquency. And

1174
00:45:03,839 --> 00:45:05,839
that takes some of the stress off our

1175
00:45:05,839 --> 00:45:08,480
judicial dockets, which is particularly

1176
00:45:08,480 --> 00:45:11,119
important because as Judge Vanlberg

1177
00:45:11,119 --> 00:45:13,119
referred to the judicial resources

1178
00:45:13,119 --> 00:45:16,000
report, the Supreme Court determined

1179
00:45:16,000 --> 00:45:19,680
that each Ottawa County judge is doing

1180
00:45:19,680 --> 00:45:22,240
122% of what a judge's full-time

1181
00:45:22,240 --> 00:45:24,480
workload should be. they have a lot of

1182
00:45:24,480 --> 00:45:27,200
cases in front of them. So, our attorney

1183
00:45:27,200 --> 00:45:29,359
referees are also doing a lot of work

1184
00:45:29,359 --> 00:45:31,760
and their number of hearings went up uh

1185
00:45:31,760 --> 00:45:34,240
since last year uh to help deal with

1186
00:45:34,240 --> 00:45:38,240
those docket issues.

1187
00:45:38,240 --> 00:45:39,760
Our friend of the court continues to be

1188
00:45:39,760 --> 00:45:41,280
one of the highest performing in the

1189
00:45:41,280 --> 00:45:42,560
state and certainly one of the highest

1190
00:45:42,560 --> 00:45:45,440
performing in large counties. Uh we are

1191
00:45:45,440 --> 00:45:48,319
very proud to try to maximize every

1192
00:45:48,319 --> 00:45:50,240
dollar we can get reimbursed from

1193
00:45:50,240 --> 00:45:53,359
various grants and programs so that the

1194
00:45:53,359 --> 00:45:55,920
friend of the court can operate as

1195
00:45:55,920 --> 00:45:57,920
efficiently as possible for the citizens

1196
00:45:57,920 --> 00:45:59,839
of Ottawa County. And we do have a

1197
00:45:59,839 --> 00:46:01,280
couple of friend of the court employees

1198
00:46:01,280 --> 00:46:02,960
here today that I want to recognize.

1199
00:46:02,960 --> 00:46:04,720
They took time off so that they could

1200
00:46:04,720 --> 00:46:06,480
attend this meeting. So if you just

1201
00:46:06,480 --> 00:46:08,560
wave, we're very proud of all of our

1202
00:46:08,560 --> 00:46:10,480
friend of the court employees, but those

1203
00:46:10,480 --> 00:46:14,000
two are here today. And there we had a

1204
00:46:14,000 --> 00:46:16,880
50 a 5.7 increase in the number of cases

1205
00:46:16,880 --> 00:46:18,480
in front of the front of the court this

1206
00:46:18,480 --> 00:46:21,520
year. So we've also kind of embarked on

1207
00:46:21,520 --> 00:46:23,440
this GEMS program which is gain

1208
00:46:23,440 --> 00:46:25,839
employment maintain support. So this

1209
00:46:25,839 --> 00:46:28,079
helps people who are having a hard time

1210
00:46:28,079 --> 00:46:30,240
meeting their child support obligations

1211
00:46:30,240 --> 00:46:33,119
to get either because they have a lack

1212
00:46:33,119 --> 00:46:36,000
of employment or insufficient

1213
00:46:36,000 --> 00:46:37,839
employment. So, we work with Michigan

1214
00:46:37,839 --> 00:46:40,640
Works to try to get them better paying

1215
00:46:40,640 --> 00:46:43,440
jobs, help them get GEDs, help them

1216
00:46:43,440 --> 00:46:46,880
navigate any kind of vehicular issues if

1217
00:46:46,880 --> 00:46:51,680
they don't have a car to get to jobs or interviews. So, uh this program is

1218
00:46:51,680 --> 00:46:53,040
we're just starting out on it, but it's

1219
00:46:53,040 --> 00:46:56,960
so far it's been a great aspect of our

1220
00:46:56,960 --> 00:46:58,960
family division and are the far front of

1221
00:46:58,960 --> 00:47:00,079
the court. So, we look forward to

1222
00:47:00,079 --> 00:47:04,230
continuing that.

1223
00:47:04,240 --> 00:47:06,640
Juvenile court services is one of our

1224
00:47:06,640 --> 00:47:09,839
largest sections. So, uh out of our 150

1225
00:47:09,839 --> 00:47:11,359
court employees, most of them are in

1226
00:47:11,359 --> 00:47:14,240
juvenile court services and that is to

1227
00:47:14,240 --> 00:47:16,640
provide probation

1228
00:47:16,640 --> 00:47:19,520
um for juvenile delinquents. We also do

1229
00:47:19,520 --> 00:47:21,680
a lot of work for neglect abuse cases

1230
00:47:21,680 --> 00:47:23,280
and we have our juvenile detention

1231
00:47:23,280 --> 00:47:26,640
center here in Ottawa County. Uh our

1232
00:47:26,640 --> 00:47:28,720
RISE treatment program is in the

1233
00:47:28,720 --> 00:47:30,480
juvenile detention center. It's trying

1234
00:47:30,480 --> 00:47:34,079
to help reduce recidivism and to help

1235
00:47:34,079 --> 00:47:37,040
juveniles learn better ways to cope as

1236
00:47:37,040 --> 00:47:39,359
well as working with their families. Uh

1237
00:47:39,359 --> 00:47:42,240
we have 39 contracts or 39 contracts

1238
00:47:42,240 --> 00:47:45,040
with other counties where they will send

1239
00:47:45,040 --> 00:47:47,599
their juvenile delinquents to us for

1240
00:47:47,599 --> 00:47:50,560
participation in that program and they

1241
00:47:50,560 --> 00:47:52,960
obviously pay for that privilege. But

1242
00:47:52,960 --> 00:47:54,560
that program is well recognized

1243
00:47:54,560 --> 00:47:56,000
throughout the state. We're very proud

1244
00:47:56,000 --> 00:47:57,440
of it.

1245
00:47:57,440 --> 00:48:01,440
We had 296 youth in our detention center

1246
00:48:01,440 --> 00:48:03,440
over last year. That was obviously not

1247
00:48:03,440 --> 00:48:04,800
at all all at one time because we've

1248
00:48:04,800 --> 00:48:07,200
only got 40 beds. Uh but that was over

1249
00:48:07,200 --> 00:48:09,599
the the last year. The average length of

1250
00:48:09,599 --> 00:48:12,560
the their stay was 24 days. We don't

1251
00:48:12,560 --> 00:48:14,079
want to use the juvenile detention

1252
00:48:14,079 --> 00:48:17,359
center as a long-term kind of facility.

1253
00:48:17,359 --> 00:48:19,839
That's really not indicated well for

1254
00:48:19,839 --> 00:48:22,319
juveniles. uh we try to keep them there

1255
00:48:22,319 --> 00:48:25,200
and to try to get a reset basically

1256
00:48:25,200 --> 00:48:28,720
before returning them to their families.

1257
00:48:28,720 --> 00:48:30,880
And finally, our smallest division is

1258
00:48:30,880 --> 00:48:32,720
our probate court. They're small but

1259
00:48:32,720 --> 00:48:35,280
mighty. We've only got seven employees

1260
00:48:35,280 --> 00:48:37,119
other than the judge and I in probate

1261
00:48:37,119 --> 00:48:38,800
court, and they've been dealing with a

1262
00:48:38,800 --> 00:48:41,599
lot. Uh our case loads are very

1263
00:48:41,599 --> 00:48:43,680
challenging for the probate court. These

1264
00:48:43,680 --> 00:48:47,280
are mental health cases uh and cases

1265
00:48:47,280 --> 00:48:48,880
involving obviously deaths of

1266
00:48:48,880 --> 00:48:51,440
individuals and children needing

1267
00:48:51,440 --> 00:48:53,920
guardians or adults needing guardians or

1268
00:48:53,920 --> 00:48:56,880
conservators. So they do a lot of very

1269
00:48:56,880 --> 00:49:02,319
important work. This is kind of really a human focused court because it's

1270
00:49:02,319 --> 00:49:04,160
dealing with people who are in severe

1271
00:49:04,160 --> 00:49:07,520
need. So they're working hard. Um, but

1272
00:49:07,520 --> 00:49:09,520
there's unfortunately a lot of work to

1273
00:49:09,520 --> 00:49:12,480
do and we may be coming to you with a uh

1274
00:49:12,480 --> 00:49:14,240
request for a new employee for the

1275
00:49:14,240 --> 00:49:17,920
probate court to help us out with that.

1276
00:49:17,920 --> 00:49:20,480
So, that is the end of my presentation,

1277
00:49:20,480 --> 00:49:23,359
but I would be remiss if I did not say

1278
00:49:23,359 --> 00:49:25,760
that although we are the judicial branch

1279
00:49:25,760 --> 00:49:27,680
and we do our jobs to the best of the

1280
00:49:27,680 --> 00:49:30,079
ability our abilities, we cannot do that

1281
00:49:30,079 --> 00:49:32,800
without the support of the county. Uh we

1282
00:49:32,800 --> 00:49:34,319
obviously work very closely with the

1283
00:49:34,319 --> 00:49:36,240
clerk register of deeds and the

1284
00:49:36,240 --> 00:49:38,160
sheriff's office, the prosecutor and the

1285
00:49:38,160 --> 00:49:40,319
public defender. Um but we also work

1286
00:49:40,319 --> 00:49:42,880
very closely with HR, facilities, fiscal

1287
00:49:42,880 --> 00:49:45,040
services, it and many other county

1288
00:49:45,040 --> 00:49:47,280
departments. And of course, we've always

1289
00:49:47,280 --> 00:49:49,200
enjoyed the support and appreciated the

1290
00:49:49,200 --> 00:49:50,640
support of this board of commissioners

1291
00:49:50,640 --> 00:49:52,960
and of county administration. So thank

1292
00:49:52,960 --> 00:49:55,359
you very much for your support and we'd

1293
00:49:55,359 --> 00:49:57,359
happy to answer any questions you may

1294
00:49:57,359 --> 00:49:58,160
have.

1295
00:49:58,160 --> 00:50:00,000
>> Thank you, Susan. And uh thank you Judge

1296
00:50:00,000 --> 00:50:02,240
Van Hollsburg for uh joining her today.

1297
00:50:02,240 --> 00:50:04,000
Um just let us know what support you

1298
00:50:04,000 --> 00:50:05,599
need. We will do our best to get it to

1299
00:50:05,599 --> 00:50:08,079
you. Yeah. Thank you. And we will uh

1300
00:50:08,079 --> 00:50:09,599
reach out with questions by email or

1301
00:50:09,599 --> 00:50:10,720
phone.

1302
00:50:10,720 --> 00:50:11,440
>> All right. Thanks.

1303
00:50:11,440 --> 00:50:13,839
>> Thank you.

1304
00:50:13,839 --> 00:50:15,839
>> All right. And now on to item F, the

1305
00:50:15,839 --> 00:50:17,599
equalization

1306
00:50:17,599 --> 00:50:22,319
uh department's 2025 annual report.

1307
00:50:22,319 --> 00:50:27,829
We welcome Brian Busker.

1308
00:50:27,839 --> 00:50:32,630
Morning commissioners.

1309
00:50:32,640 --> 00:50:35,040
I'd like to say this is moment you've

1310
00:50:35,040 --> 00:50:37,040
all been waiting for. So let's get

1311
00:50:37,040 --> 00:50:38,400
started.

1312
00:50:38,400 --> 00:50:39,920
>> All right. I'm pleased to present the

1313
00:50:39,920 --> 00:50:41,440
2025

1314
00:50:41,440 --> 00:50:44,000
uh equalization annual report. Um

1315
00:50:44,000 --> 00:50:46,480
equalization is very cyclical in nature.

1316
00:50:46,480 --> 00:50:48,960
So a lot of this is very similar to what

1317
00:50:48,960 --> 00:50:50,559
it's been every other year. I'll try and

1318
00:50:50,559 --> 00:50:52,880
highlight uh particular parts that that

1319
00:50:52,880 --> 00:50:55,119
have deviated. But uh the equalization

1320
00:50:55,119 --> 00:50:58,880
department uh moving to the next slide

1321
00:50:58,880 --> 00:51:08,790
delay

1322
00:51:08,800 --> 00:51:11,520
there we go may maybe yeah um the

1323
00:51:11,520 --> 00:51:13,680
equalization department has uh I'll just

1324
00:51:13,680 --> 00:51:16,079
say five primary functions four of which

1325
00:51:16,079 --> 00:51:18,240
are statutory meaning this is required

1326
00:51:18,240 --> 00:51:19,920
by the constitution that we do these

1327
00:51:19,920 --> 00:51:22,079
functions one of which is contra cont

1328
00:51:22,079 --> 00:51:23,839
contractual and that is one the

1329
00:51:23,839 --> 00:51:26,079
assessing function uh that I'll be

1330
00:51:26,079 --> 00:51:28,800
speaking about more later. Uh the first

1331
00:51:28,800 --> 00:51:30,240
uh function of the equalization

1332
00:51:30,240 --> 00:51:32,319
department is our our namesake

1333
00:51:32,319 --> 00:51:35,280
equalization itself. Uh equalization

1334
00:51:35,280 --> 00:51:38,640
really is a a process of studying the

1335
00:51:38,640 --> 00:51:41,520
market for purposes of establishing

1336
00:51:41,520 --> 00:51:43,200
assessed values. So that that's what

1337
00:51:43,200 --> 00:51:46,240
equalization does. Uh we do this uh

1338
00:51:46,240 --> 00:51:48,640
through two primary means. Uh number one

1339
00:51:48,640 --> 00:51:50,800
is a sales study where we look at sales

1340
00:51:50,800 --> 00:51:52,480
that have occurred in the market and we

1341
00:51:52,480 --> 00:51:54,880
compare them to the assessed values on

1342
00:51:54,880 --> 00:51:56,880
those properties and from that

1343
00:51:56,880 --> 00:51:58,800
information we can project what the

1344
00:51:58,800 --> 00:52:02,319
value as a whole should be adjusted to.

1345
00:52:02,319 --> 00:52:04,960
So uh we're developing ratios and

1346
00:52:04,960 --> 00:52:07,440
multipliers that we pass down to our

1347
00:52:07,440 --> 00:52:10,640
local uh local unit assessors so that

1348
00:52:10,640 --> 00:52:13,119
they can adjust the assessment roles to

1349
00:52:13,119 --> 00:52:15,920
reflect 50% of market value. that that's

1350
00:52:15,920 --> 00:52:18,800
our that's our primary goal. Um, we have

1351
00:52:18,800 --> 00:52:22,480
a a a team of four uh clerk clerks that

1352
00:52:22,480 --> 00:52:24,880
handle most of those deeds, but I I

1353
00:52:24,880 --> 00:52:26,800
personally handle a lot of the actual

1354
00:52:26,800 --> 00:52:28,640
sales studies themselves, but they do an

1355
00:52:28,640 --> 00:52:30,960
awful lot of work preparing all of those

1356
00:52:30,960 --> 00:52:33,119
sales and and verifying all of that

1357
00:52:33,119 --> 00:52:35,359
information. Uh the second way that we

1358
00:52:35,359 --> 00:52:36,960
study the real estate market is through

1359
00:52:36,960 --> 00:52:39,520
appraisal studies where we have uh three

1360
00:52:39,520 --> 00:52:41,839
staff appraisers that study commercial,

1361
00:52:41,839 --> 00:52:44,000
industrial and agricultural properties

1362
00:52:44,000 --> 00:52:46,400
and then we use those appraised values

1363
00:52:46,400 --> 00:52:48,720
as compared to the assessed values in

1364
00:52:48,720 --> 00:52:53,990
order to set what the market value is.

1365
00:52:54,000 --> 00:52:56,559
Uh on the next slide actually go I think

1366
00:52:56,559 --> 00:53:00,790
a couple of slides up.

1367
00:53:00,800 --> 00:53:03,440
There we go. uh is just a uh couple of

1368
00:53:03,440 --> 00:53:06,240
graphs showing the sales volumes that

1369
00:53:06,240 --> 00:53:07,760
we've been looking at over the last

1370
00:53:07,760 --> 00:53:09,920
couple years. Uh and you can see for

1371
00:53:09,920 --> 00:53:11,760
about the last two or three years, our

1372
00:53:11,760 --> 00:53:14,880
sales volume has actually dropped uh by

1373
00:53:14,880 --> 00:53:17,680
a pretty good margin. Um and while that

1374
00:53:17,680 --> 00:53:20,079
is I'm going to say probably the the

1375
00:53:20,079 --> 00:53:21,920
effect of just not having sufficient

1376
00:53:21,920 --> 00:53:24,000
inventory in the market to have all of

1377
00:53:24,000 --> 00:53:26,640
these sales, the sales, excuse me, the

1378
00:53:26,640 --> 00:53:29,440
sales dollar amounts actually continues

1379
00:53:29,440 --> 00:53:32,079
to increase. uh which which maybe is is

1380
00:53:32,079 --> 00:53:36,880
probably what we would expect, right? As demand increases, supply goes down,

1381
00:53:36,880 --> 00:53:38,559
the price is going to go up. And that

1382
00:53:38,559 --> 00:53:42,000
certainly is what we're seeing. Um but

1383
00:53:42,000 --> 00:53:43,599
the other thing that I want to point out

1384
00:53:43,599 --> 00:53:45,359
there is if you look on the the right

1385
00:53:45,359 --> 00:53:48,000
hand graph, uh the lower line is still

1386
00:53:48,000 --> 00:53:50,800
indicating that we're basing our our

1387
00:53:50,800 --> 00:53:55,440
assessed values, what we're telling our assessors to assess value at is

1388
00:53:55,440 --> 00:53:58,160
still based off from over 6,000 sales.

1389
00:53:58,160 --> 00:53:59,920
So we have a lot of information

1390
00:53:59,920 --> 00:54:01,680
supporting the values that we're putting

1391
00:54:01,680 --> 00:54:05,349
forward.

1392
00:54:05,359 --> 00:54:07,920
Uh the next primary function of uh the

1393
00:54:07,920 --> 00:54:10,319
equalization department is aortionment.

1394
00:54:10,319 --> 00:54:12,559
Uh aortionment is a process that we

1395
00:54:12,559 --> 00:54:14,640
handle every well we handle it

1396
00:54:14,640 --> 00:54:16,160
throughout the year but you guys will

1397
00:54:16,160 --> 00:54:18,400
actually see it in the fall uh typically

1398
00:54:18,400 --> 00:54:22,160
in the month of October and uh in 2025

1399
00:54:22,160 --> 00:54:25,119
when the the year we're looking at um I

1400
00:54:25,119 --> 00:54:26,960
presented the equalization report excuse

1401
00:54:26,960 --> 00:54:29,760
me the aortionment report uh in October

1402
00:54:29,760 --> 00:54:31,599
and for the first time in many many

1403
00:54:31,599 --> 00:54:33,760
years we did not have to amend that

1404
00:54:33,760 --> 00:54:38,400
report as the result of um a November

1405
00:54:38,400 --> 00:54:40,720
ballot measure that changed the millage

1406
00:54:40,720 --> 00:54:45,599
rates on the winter levies. Uh that is quite unusual. One of the things

1407
00:54:45,599 --> 00:54:47,200
that I'm going to point out is one of

1408
00:54:47,200 --> 00:54:49,920
the uh the bills that I think that that

1409
00:54:49,920 --> 00:54:52,319
Bob Dere had mentioned. Uh one of the

1410
00:54:52,319 --> 00:54:54,800
bills is to put all ballot or excuse me

1411
00:54:54,800 --> 00:54:56,960
all milligereated ballot questions on

1412
00:54:56,960 --> 00:54:59,359
the November ballot. Uh which which

1413
00:54:59,359 --> 00:55:01,359
certainly we can we can implement.

1414
00:55:01,359 --> 00:55:03,680
However, that's also going to mean that

1415
00:55:03,680 --> 00:55:05,359
almost certainly we're going to have to

1416
00:55:05,359 --> 00:55:07,839
amend our aortionment report every year.

1417
00:55:07,839 --> 00:55:10,079
So not not we can work through it but

1418
00:55:10,079 --> 00:55:11,119
just letting you know that's something

1419
00:55:11,119 --> 00:55:17,520
that we we would have to do. Um yeah the the aortionment function in general

1420
00:55:17,520 --> 00:55:20,000
is a lot of uh I'll say auditing and

1421
00:55:20,000 --> 00:55:22,880
advising. Uh a lot of local unit clerks

1422
00:55:22,880 --> 00:55:25,839
who are responsible for the actual uh

1423
00:55:25,839 --> 00:55:28,240
levying of the taxes or putting the uh

1424
00:55:28,240 --> 00:55:30,720
the the millage rate uh request forms

1425
00:55:30,720 --> 00:55:33,040
together. These are elected positions

1426
00:55:33,040 --> 00:55:34,640
that tend to have a little bit higher

1427
00:55:34,640 --> 00:55:37,040
turnover. So my office provides a lot of

1428
00:55:37,040 --> 00:55:39,040
guidance on making sure those millage

1429
00:55:39,040 --> 00:55:42,319
rates are are correct.

1430
00:55:42,319 --> 00:55:45,440
Uh the third function is is the uh

1431
00:55:45,440 --> 00:55:46,800
property description and mapping

1432
00:55:46,800 --> 00:55:49,599
function. Uh and that is one uh where

1433
00:55:49,599 --> 00:55:52,079
our our mappers in our department. I'll

1434
00:55:52,079 --> 00:55:54,640
just say largely this this function is

1435
00:55:54,640 --> 00:55:57,119
maintaining the parcel layer. So if you

1436
00:55:57,119 --> 00:55:59,359
go anywhere on the county website and

1437
00:55:59,359 --> 00:56:02,000
you look in you can see parcels um on

1438
00:56:02,000 --> 00:56:04,480
our GIS maps or something like that.

1439
00:56:04,480 --> 00:56:06,720
those layers are maintained by our

1440
00:56:06,720 --> 00:56:09,200
mappers. One additional function that I

1441
00:56:09,200 --> 00:56:11,599
would like to highlight is that uh these

1442
00:56:11,599 --> 00:56:14,240
guys are really good at reading legal

1443
00:56:14,240 --> 00:56:17,359
descriptions and most people are really

1444
00:56:17,359 --> 00:56:19,839
bad at it. So these guys provide a an

1445
00:56:19,839 --> 00:56:22,640
excellent resource. Uh especially I'll

1446
00:56:22,640 --> 00:56:25,280
say to title offices. Uh, a lot of

1447
00:56:25,280 --> 00:56:27,760
attorneys seem to struggle with u, not

1448
00:56:27,760 --> 00:56:29,440
all attorneys, but a lot of attorneys

1449
00:56:29,440 --> 00:56:31,520
seem to struggle with um, legal

1450
00:56:31,520 --> 00:56:33,280
descriptions and these guys are just an

1451
00:56:33,280 --> 00:56:35,359
excellent resource and it's kind of one

1452
00:56:35,359 --> 00:56:37,599
of those behindthe-scenes uh, functions

1453
00:56:37,599 --> 00:56:39,760
of government that if they weren't

1454
00:56:39,760 --> 00:56:41,920
there, you would know about it, right?

1455
00:56:41,920 --> 00:56:43,520
And they they just do a lot of work to

1456
00:56:43,520 --> 00:56:45,040
keep our legal descriptions, tax

1457
00:56:45,040 --> 00:56:47,119
descriptions um, up to date and

1458
00:56:47,119 --> 00:56:50,799
accurate. So, um, one of the things that

1459
00:56:50,799 --> 00:56:52,480
I want to mention on the next slide,

1460
00:56:52,480 --> 00:56:54,880
thank you. um is I had mentioned last

1461
00:56:54,880 --> 00:56:58,799
year that 2024 had a little drop in the

1462
00:56:58,799 --> 00:57:01,040
amount of splits that that our mappers

1463
00:57:01,040 --> 00:57:02,640
were processing and you can see that on

1464
00:57:02,640 --> 00:57:05,599
that grid there. Um one of the things

1465
00:57:05,599 --> 00:57:08,160
that that I can't really explain why it

1466
00:57:08,160 --> 00:57:10,400
is but I can just say that it is and

1467
00:57:10,400 --> 00:57:12,160
that is whenever we have an election

1468
00:57:12,160 --> 00:57:14,720
year we always see a drop in the amount

1469
00:57:14,720 --> 00:57:18,079
of splits coming into the county. Um,

1470
00:57:18,079 --> 00:57:20,160
why that's related, I can't necessarily

1471
00:57:20,160 --> 00:57:21,839
say, but like I say, you can see it in

1472
00:57:21,839 --> 00:57:24,160
the numbers. Election year seems to I'll

1473
00:57:24,160 --> 00:57:25,920
just say it seems to make people nervous

1474
00:57:25,920 --> 00:57:37,270
and they're just not quite as quick to split or combine or or whatever their property uh their property.

1475
00:57:37,280 --> 00:57:38,799
Uh, one of the other functions that we

1476
00:57:38,799 --> 00:57:40,960
provide is local unit assistance and

1477
00:57:40,960 --> 00:57:43,920
this too is largely I'll say advisory

1478
00:57:43,920 --> 00:57:46,960
and education in nature. Um, we provide

1479
00:57:46,960 --> 00:57:49,359
a lot of problem solving. Uh, local unit

1480
00:57:49,359 --> 00:57:52,799
assessors, they'll encounter, uh, I I'll

1481
00:57:52,799 --> 00:57:54,799
just say challenges as they as they go

1482
00:57:54,799 --> 00:57:56,640
through their job. And quite often we

1483
00:57:56,640 --> 00:57:58,880
work with the, uh, local unit assessors

1484
00:57:58,880 --> 00:58:05,839
to develop a plan, look at look at the law and say this is how we apply the law to make

1485
00:58:05,839 --> 00:58:08,400
sure that our taxpayers are are um,

1486
00:58:08,400 --> 00:58:11,680
appropriately served. Um we also provide

1487
00:58:11,680 --> 00:58:13,599
a lot of education and this year we

1488
00:58:13,599 --> 00:58:16,400
started providing uh board of review uh

1489
00:58:16,400 --> 00:58:18,640
education. So we have local unit boards

1490
00:58:18,640 --> 00:58:22,079
of review that that uh um need to

1491
00:58:22,079 --> 00:58:24,240
receive education every other year and

1492
00:58:24,240 --> 00:58:26,640
so we provide that education for them.

1493
00:58:26,640 --> 00:58:28,559
Uh the class really went well. It was

1494
00:58:28,559 --> 00:58:30,240
wellreceived and well attended. So that

1495
00:58:30,240 --> 00:58:32,160
was that was a good class. In addition

1496
00:58:32,160 --> 00:58:35,280
to that, uh Josh uh my deputy, uh does a

1497
00:58:35,280 --> 00:58:38,799
lot of education uh for local realtors,

1498
00:58:38,799 --> 00:58:40,799
just trying to explain the property tax

1499
00:58:40,799 --> 00:58:43,680
process, uh specifically in in regards

1500
00:58:43,680 --> 00:58:45,839
to how uncappings work and letting them

1501
00:58:45,839 --> 00:58:49,040
know um letting realtors know how to let

1502
00:58:49,040 --> 00:58:54,160
their their their customers know um how the taxes are going to be affected

1503
00:58:54,160 --> 00:58:56,079
on those properties. So, we we try and

1504
00:58:56,079 --> 00:58:58,880
get involved in that. just trying to uh

1505
00:58:58,880 --> 00:59:00,960
I'll just say raise awareness to how how

1506
00:59:00,960 --> 00:59:03,520
property taxes work. Um in addition to

1507
00:59:03,520 --> 00:59:08,000
that, we do um we do provide education

1508
00:59:08,000 --> 00:59:09,760
uh at at the state level and various

1509
00:59:09,760 --> 00:59:12,640
other places as well. Um I taught a

1510
00:59:12,640 --> 00:59:14,480
class last week on agricultural

1511
00:59:14,480 --> 00:59:17,040
assessment administration just trying to

1512
00:59:17,040 --> 00:59:18,480
you might say overall help the

1513
00:59:18,480 --> 00:59:21,040
profession uh do better. So that that is

1514
00:59:21,040 --> 00:59:24,400
a function that we provide as well.

1515
00:59:24,400 --> 00:59:26,400
And our last function uh is the

1516
00:59:26,400 --> 00:59:28,319
assessing function which is is

1517
00:59:28,319 --> 00:59:30,880
contractual. It is not statutory. Uh

1518
00:59:30,880 --> 00:59:33,200
this is a function that Ottawa County

1519
00:59:33,200 --> 00:59:36,559
decided in 2011 to offer as a service to

1520
00:59:36,559 --> 00:59:39,680
our to our local units. And to date we

1521
00:59:39,680 --> 00:59:41,440
have seven local units that have taken

1522
00:59:41,440 --> 00:59:44,160
us up on this. Um you can see the list

1523
00:59:44,160 --> 00:59:46,720
on the on the left there. Two of those

1524
00:59:46,720 --> 00:59:48,720
are fairly new. I think we just picked

1525
00:59:48,720 --> 00:59:50,799
those up a couple of years ago. Uh and

1526
00:59:50,799 --> 00:59:53,040
that is Georgetown and Pulton Township.

1527
00:59:53,040 --> 00:59:55,280
Both of those are going extremely well.

1528
00:59:55,280 --> 00:59:57,040
Uh we have some really good division

1529
00:59:57,040 --> 00:59:59,280
managers that are handling those and I I

1530
00:59:59,280 --> 01:00:01,440
always try and touch base with the uh

1531
01:00:01,440 --> 01:00:03,520
the local unit supervisor or manager

1532
01:00:03,520 --> 01:00:05,040
just to make sure they're happy with our

1533
01:00:05,040 --> 01:00:08,240
service and and just rave reviews by uh

1534
01:00:08,240 --> 01:00:12,400
by them. Uh in 2025, we renewed five of

1535
01:00:12,400 --> 01:00:15,520
those contracts. Um those are a

1536
01:00:15,520 --> 01:00:17,920
three-year contract and we renewed uh

1537
01:00:17,920 --> 01:00:20,799
five of those seven last year. Uh the

1538
01:00:20,799 --> 01:00:22,480
reason we only did five is because the

1539
01:00:22,480 --> 01:00:24,240
Georgetown and Pulton, the relatively

1540
01:00:24,240 --> 01:00:26,880
new ones, uh those we did a four-year

1541
01:00:26,880 --> 01:00:29,440
contract. So in 2020, I believe it's

1542
01:00:29,440 --> 01:00:32,480
2028, all seven of them, seven of them

1543
01:00:32,480 --> 01:00:37,910
will be up for renewal. So

1544
01:00:37,920 --> 01:00:40,720
um as part of providing that assessing

1545
01:00:40,720 --> 01:00:42,559
uh services, we do a lot of property

1546
01:00:42,559 --> 01:00:44,880
inspections. Uh the state requires we do

1547
01:00:44,880 --> 01:00:48,160
a 20% review of all properties in in

1548
01:00:48,160 --> 01:00:50,400
those jurisdictions. And that's a lot of

1549
01:00:50,400 --> 01:00:52,319
reviews when you do a lot of units. So,

1550
01:00:52,319 --> 01:00:54,559
you can see the the number of of reviews

1551
01:00:54,559 --> 01:00:57,680
that we do there. Uh we've changed uh a

1552
01:00:57,680 --> 01:00:59,520
little bit of our process just to make

1553
01:00:59,520 --> 01:01:01,520
sure that we're complying with a recent

1554
01:01:01,520 --> 01:01:04,880
Supreme Court decision. Uh just to I'll

1555
01:01:04,880 --> 01:01:07,280
say both to protect our staff and and to

1556
01:01:07,280 --> 01:01:08,960
protect the taxpayers and make sure that

1557
01:01:08,960 --> 01:01:11,040
they're they're uh serviced in the best

1558
01:01:11,040 --> 01:01:14,000
way possible.

1559
01:01:14,000 --> 01:01:16,640
Um then the next slide is the ratios and

1560
01:01:16,640 --> 01:01:18,559
multipliers which really goes back to

1561
01:01:18,559 --> 01:01:20,640
our equalization function. After

1562
01:01:20,640 --> 01:01:22,720
studying the market, we put all of this

1563
01:01:22,720 --> 01:01:25,520
information together and this grid is

1564
01:01:25,520 --> 01:01:30,079
the result of our of our studies. This grid goes to our local unit

1565
01:01:30,079 --> 01:01:32,640
assessors to tell them how much of an

1566
01:01:32,640 --> 01:01:35,599
increase or in this case this year uh

1567
01:01:35,599 --> 01:01:37,520
some of the units or some of the classes

1568
01:01:37,520 --> 01:01:39,599
actually had decreases.

1569
01:01:39,599 --> 01:01:42,720
um the uh industrial class, we had a

1570
01:01:42,720 --> 01:01:46,640
couple of them that had above 50 ratios,

1571
01:01:46,640 --> 01:01:48,240
which means they actually needed to

1572
01:01:48,240 --> 01:01:50,240
lower their values in the industrial

1573
01:01:50,240 --> 01:01:53,760
class this year. Uh the the grid that

1574
01:01:53,760 --> 01:01:55,839
you're seeing there is the grid that

1575
01:01:55,839 --> 01:01:58,240
we're used to put we developed them in

1576
01:01:58,240 --> 01:02:02,319
2025 for the 2026 ratios. So the values

1577
01:02:02,319 --> 01:02:04,960
that you you guys will be voting on uh

1578
01:02:04,960 --> 01:02:07,280
in five 10 minutes here are actually

1579
01:02:07,280 --> 01:02:09,359
developed right from these ratios and

1580
01:02:09,359 --> 01:02:11,440
multipliers. We pass this on to the

1581
01:02:11,440 --> 01:02:14,079
assessors. They change the values to

1582
01:02:14,079 --> 01:02:16,000
come in line with these with these

1583
01:02:16,000 --> 01:02:19,040
ratios and multipliers. And if they do,

1584
01:02:19,040 --> 01:02:20,720
we recommend to you guys that we

1585
01:02:20,720 --> 01:02:25,200
equalize as assessed. So um

1586
01:02:25,200 --> 01:02:26,559
one one of the things that I want to

1587
01:02:26,559 --> 01:02:28,319
point out here is that everything sorry

1588
01:02:28,319 --> 01:02:30,240
if we could go back one everything on

1589
01:02:30,240 --> 01:02:33,520
that grid pertains to assessed value but

1590
01:02:33,520 --> 01:02:35,680
we don't pay taxes based on assessed

1591
01:02:35,680 --> 01:02:37,760
value. We pay taxes based on taxable

1592
01:02:37,760 --> 01:02:42,079
value and in 2025 excuse me for 2025 for

1593
01:02:42,079 --> 01:02:45,680
2026 the taxable value increase is 20

1594
01:02:45,680 --> 01:02:49,839
2.1 excuse me 2.7%. So even if the

1595
01:02:49,839 --> 01:02:52,559
values were going up, you know, 6 8 10%

1596
01:02:52,559 --> 01:02:55,040
whatever it was, the taxable value only

1597
01:02:55,040 --> 01:02:58,400
increases by the the 2.7%.

1598
01:02:58,400 --> 01:03:00,799
Um in residential, which is of course

1599
01:03:00,799 --> 01:03:02,960
what pertains to most of us here,

1600
01:03:02,960 --> 01:03:08,559
residential in um 2026 went up 6.1%.

1601
01:03:08,559 --> 01:03:10,559
Uh and while that is still a healthy

1602
01:03:10,559 --> 01:03:12,559
increase, that's actually down a good

1603
01:03:12,559 --> 01:03:14,880
amount from our last last couple years.

1604
01:03:14,880 --> 01:03:18,000
In 2025, we had a 7.7%

1605
01:03:18,000 --> 01:03:21,119
increase in residential and in 2024, we

1606
01:03:21,119 --> 01:03:25,599
had a 13% increase. So, uh 6% is still a

1607
01:03:25,599 --> 01:03:29,039
good increase. Um, but I I one of the

1608
01:03:29,039 --> 01:03:30,480
other things I'll I'll mention, I don't

1609
01:03:30,480 --> 01:03:33,119
know if this is good or bad, but um this

1610
01:03:33,119 --> 01:03:35,839
also is influenced by election years,

1611
01:03:35,839 --> 01:03:38,400
which means the reason it's down isn't

1612
01:03:38,400 --> 01:03:40,640
because the market is slowing, but

1613
01:03:40,640 --> 01:03:42,880
because well, or maybe the market is

1614
01:03:42,880 --> 01:03:44,160
slowing, but it was slowing because of

1615
01:03:44,160 --> 01:03:46,319
an election year, which means next

1616
01:03:46,319 --> 01:03:49,039
year's values are going to be higher.

1617
01:03:49,039 --> 01:03:51,440
So, I'm going to say kind of kind of

1618
01:03:51,440 --> 01:03:56,950
bank on that one. Um,

1619
01:03:56,960 --> 01:04:00,160
Uh now the the awards one. Uh one of the

1620
01:04:00,160 --> 01:04:01,839
things that I want to point out uh we

1621
01:04:01,839 --> 01:04:03,680
have an excellent staff and I just want

1622
01:04:03,680 --> 01:04:05,200
to point out some of the things that our

1623
01:04:05,200 --> 01:04:08,079
staff have been up to. Uh Chris Vaness

1624
01:04:08,079 --> 01:04:10,880
and uh Sean Canol uh both received their

1625
01:04:10,880 --> 01:04:12,319
certified assessing officer

1626
01:04:12,319 --> 01:04:14,559
certification. This is a year-long

1627
01:04:14,559 --> 01:04:16,480
program and there's a lot of work that

1628
01:04:16,480 --> 01:04:18,319
goes into it. So I want to congratulate

1629
01:04:18,319 --> 01:04:20,960
them on on receiving that certification.

1630
01:04:20,960 --> 01:04:23,039
Uh Jillian Vanvel, she's one of our

1631
01:04:23,039 --> 01:04:25,119
part-time staff. uh she attained her

1632
01:04:25,119 --> 01:04:27,839
Michigan certified assessing technician

1633
01:04:27,839 --> 01:04:31,760
certification. Uh that is a uh not quite

1634
01:04:31,760 --> 01:04:33,680
as extensive of a program that's more of

1635
01:04:33,680 --> 01:04:37,359
an entry level certification, but still want to congratulate her for

1636
01:04:37,359 --> 01:04:39,599
getting that. Uh the other thing I want

1637
01:04:39,599 --> 01:04:42,079
to highlight uh the deputy director Josh

1638
01:04:42,079 --> 01:04:44,559
Morgan. Uh he received the presidential

1639
01:04:44,559 --> 01:04:47,599
citation award from IAAO for his work on

1640
01:04:47,599 --> 01:04:49,920
the experience credit for mass appraisal

1641
01:04:49,920 --> 01:04:54,559
task force which I think is probably the worst possible name you could give

1642
01:04:54,559 --> 01:04:57,920
to an award. Um but it is a really high

1643
01:04:57,920 --> 01:05:00,000
award. So I want to recognize him for

1644
01:05:00,000 --> 01:05:01,920
that. He put a lot of work on that

1645
01:05:01,920 --> 01:05:06,799
committee. Um and I I'll just say just for a brief summary uh it it's

1646
01:05:06,799 --> 01:05:09,599
working with IAO and all of the states

1647
01:05:09,599 --> 01:05:13,599
around the nation uh to accept uh

1648
01:05:13,599 --> 01:05:15,920
assessor certification

1649
01:05:15,920 --> 01:05:20,799
um exed hours for appraisal lensure. So

1650
01:05:20,799 --> 01:05:22,400
uh in the past this has been a problem

1651
01:05:22,400 --> 01:05:24,720
and him and his task force have worked

1652
01:05:24,720 --> 01:05:26,880
um a lot of hours on making that making

1653
01:05:26,880 --> 01:05:29,440
that so. So congratulations to him. Uh,

1654
01:05:29,440 --> 01:05:32,240
and then I won the or I I guess I would

1655
01:05:32,240 --> 01:05:34,720
say recognized for my service on the uh

1656
01:05:34,720 --> 01:05:37,039
the standards committee. I received a

1657
01:05:37,039 --> 01:05:39,039
presidential award on that one. Again,

1658
01:05:39,039 --> 01:05:42,079
um I serve as chair on on the MEED

1659
01:05:42,079 --> 01:05:44,000
standards committee. I've served on that

1660
01:05:44,000 --> 01:05:46,160
for a number of years now. Uh it really

1661
01:05:46,160 --> 01:05:48,960
is a good committee to serve on for

1662
01:05:48,960 --> 01:05:51,200
influencing uh property tax

1663
01:05:51,200 --> 01:05:53,200
administration. So, I'm happy to serve

1664
01:05:53,200 --> 01:05:55,839
on that committee. Um is in terms of

1665
01:05:55,839 --> 01:05:58,720
challenges for our department. Um I'll

1666
01:05:58,720 --> 01:06:01,280
say our assessing division challenges uh

1667
01:06:01,280 --> 01:06:04,319
pretty much remains the same. Um our our

1668
01:06:04,319 --> 01:06:07,599
dayto-day they do really good uh really

1669
01:06:07,599 --> 01:06:09,680
good work. Uh the challenges for our

1670
01:06:09,680 --> 01:06:11,599
department though is tax tribunal

1671
01:06:11,599 --> 01:06:13,839
appeals. Uh they just take up a lot of

1672
01:06:13,839 --> 01:06:16,400
our time and resources. Uh I don't have

1673
01:06:16,400 --> 01:06:18,240
a solution. Right. The the appeals come

1674
01:06:18,240 --> 01:06:21,359
in and and and much like um my

1675
01:06:21,359 --> 01:06:22,880
predecessor speaking, right? those

1676
01:06:22,880 --> 01:06:25,440
appeals just take an awful lot of time.

1677
01:06:25,440 --> 01:06:27,599
Um so so that that certainly is a

1678
01:06:27,599 --> 01:06:30,079
challenge for us. The the difficulty of

1679
01:06:30,079 --> 01:06:32,000
course is that people once they reach

1680
01:06:32,000 --> 01:06:35,200
the tax tribunal level uh tend not to

1681
01:06:35,200 --> 01:06:37,440
appeal their value. They're appealing

1682
01:06:37,440 --> 01:06:39,920
their tax bill. Right? So they don't

1683
01:06:39,920 --> 01:06:42,720
come in and say my value is wrong which

1684
01:06:42,720 --> 01:06:44,559
is what they're supposed to appeal.

1685
01:06:44,559 --> 01:06:47,839
They're coming in saying I pay $3,000 a

1686
01:06:47,839 --> 01:06:49,680
year in taxes but I only want to pay

1687
01:06:49,680 --> 01:06:52,400
2,000. How do we work backwards to get

1688
01:06:52,400 --> 01:06:55,280
down to that $2,000 level? Right? It's

1689
01:06:55,280 --> 01:06:58,000
just a challenge uh because we of course

1690
01:06:58,000 --> 01:07:00,319
can't appeal that bill. We work on

1691
01:07:00,319 --> 01:07:02,480
value. So that's that certainly is a

1692
01:07:02,480 --> 01:07:04,400
challenge for us. On the equalization

1693
01:07:04,400 --> 01:07:07,760
side, uh one of the challenges uh as uh

1694
01:07:07,760 --> 01:07:10,240
Bob Dice mentioned, there are a lot of

1695
01:07:10,240 --> 01:07:12,559
uh bills put forward right now uh both

1696
01:07:12,559 --> 01:07:14,799
by the Republicans and the Democrats.

1697
01:07:14,799 --> 01:07:18,319
And uh we like to I'll say stay on top

1698
01:07:18,319 --> 01:07:21,200
of those. We don't really take positions

1699
01:07:21,200 --> 01:07:22,799
on it. At least as equalization

1700
01:07:22,799 --> 01:07:25,200
director, I I'm an apolitical position.

1701
01:07:25,200 --> 01:07:27,280
So I don't really take a a position on

1702
01:07:27,280 --> 01:07:29,440
it, but I like to speak to those issues

1703
01:07:29,440 --> 01:07:32,160
to say what is the effects if we

1704
01:07:32,160 --> 01:07:34,079
implement this? Right? You're intending

1705
01:07:34,079 --> 01:07:37,200
to accomplish this, but if you do this,

1706
01:07:37,200 --> 01:07:39,760
does it accomplish that objective? Um,

1707
01:07:39,760 --> 01:07:42,160
and unfortunately oftent times what

1708
01:07:42,160 --> 01:07:44,640
seems like a great idea, if you

1709
01:07:44,640 --> 01:07:46,240
understand the property tax system, it

1710
01:07:46,240 --> 01:07:48,319
ends up being a really bad idea. So,

1711
01:07:48,319 --> 01:07:49,920
that's that's just kind of the some of

1712
01:07:49,920 --> 01:07:53,200
the things that we work through.

1713
01:07:53,200 --> 01:07:55,119
And that is where I'm going to wrap it

1714
01:07:55,119 --> 01:07:57,920
up. Uh, thank you very much for for your

1715
01:07:57,920 --> 01:08:00,079
time. Do you have any questions for me

1716
01:08:00,079 --> 01:08:01,760
or or if you have questions that you

1717
01:08:01,760 --> 01:08:03,039
want to wait till later, you're always

1718
01:08:03,039 --> 01:08:04,240
welcome to email me.

1719
01:08:04,240 --> 01:08:05,920
>> All right, we will do that, Brian. Thank

1720
01:08:05,920 --> 01:08:06,559
you very much.

1721
01:08:06,559 --> 01:08:07,839
>> Excellent. Thank you for your time.

1722
01:08:07,839 --> 01:08:09,200
>> I will say I do believe you're going to

1723
01:08:09,200 --> 01:08:10,799
be visiting my house as a part of that

1724
01:08:10,799 --> 01:08:11,359
assessment.

1725
01:08:11,359 --> 01:08:12,000
>> Probably. So,

1726
01:08:12,000 --> 01:08:14,319
>> I think someone is. So, see you then.

1727
01:08:14,319 --> 01:08:16,640
Coffee. Coffee will be on.

1728
01:08:16,640 --> 01:08:18,319
>> All right. Um, I think the next two

1729
01:08:18,319 --> 01:08:20,319
items on our agenda, and Patrick may

1730
01:08:20,319 --> 01:08:22,159
have to assist me with this, um, just

1731
01:08:22,159 --> 01:08:28,000
statutoily. Oh, or Ron. Oh, hi Patrick.

1732
01:08:28,000 --> 01:08:29,279
>> Well, we just have a note here that we

1733
01:08:29,279 --> 01:08:31,120
need to receive the equalization report,

1734
01:08:31,120 --> 01:08:32,719
which was just given, and we also need

1735
01:08:32,719 --> 01:08:34,159
to receive the land bank authority

1736
01:08:34,159 --> 01:08:35,759
annual report, which are both in your

1737
01:08:35,759 --> 01:08:37,600
packets. So, thank you, Patrick. You're

1738
01:08:37,600 --> 01:08:39,839
good. All right, we're going to move on

1739
01:08:39,839 --> 01:08:42,799
to uh item five here on our agenda. Uh,

1740
01:08:42,799 --> 01:08:45,600
public comment. Uh if anyone has come

1741
01:08:45,600 --> 01:08:47,199
prepared to make a comment today, you

1742
01:08:47,199 --> 01:08:48,880
are most welcome to do so. Please come

1743
01:08:48,880 --> 01:08:50,799
up to the podium. Uh comments are

1744
01:08:50,799 --> 01:08:52,719
limited to three minutes and please

1745
01:08:52,719 --> 01:08:55,199
identify yourself by name and voting

1746
01:08:55,199 --> 01:08:56,880
jurisdiction.

1747
01:08:56,880 --> 01:08:58,319
>> Can I interrupt you a minute? Yeah.

1748
01:08:58,319 --> 01:09:00,480
>> Um just point of clarification just a

1749
01:09:00,480 --> 01:09:03,040
reminder maybe to those coming to make

1750
01:09:03,040 --> 01:09:04,719
public comment that if they're wanting

1751
01:09:04,719 --> 01:09:07,679
to make a comment related to their to

1752
01:09:07,679 --> 01:09:10,080
parks or CH that there's going to be a

1753
01:09:10,080 --> 01:09:12,480
hearing set for just those comments.

1754
01:09:12,480 --> 01:09:14,400
Correct. Thank you, uh, Commissioner.

1755
01:09:14,400 --> 01:09:17,679
Yes. Um, regarding CH and regarding the

1756
01:09:17,679 --> 01:09:19,679
parks millillage, if you'd like to wait

1757
01:09:19,679 --> 01:09:21,199
to give your comments on those two

1758
01:09:21,199 --> 01:09:23,120
items, there will be another opportunity

1759
01:09:23,120 --> 01:09:25,520
during the meeting to do so. You are

1760
01:09:25,520 --> 01:09:27,359
also welcome to comment now if you

1761
01:09:27,359 --> 01:09:29,520
prefer. All right. Would anyone like to

1762
01:09:29,520 --> 01:09:32,000
comment today?

1763
01:09:32,000 --> 01:09:35,359
Welcome. Thank you. Hello. My name is

1764
01:09:35,359 --> 01:09:37,679
Tom Nebor from Cooperville. I am a

1765
01:09:37,679 --> 01:09:39,120
health inspector for Ottawa County

1766
01:09:39,120 --> 01:09:41,040
Department of Public Health as well as

1767
01:09:41,040 --> 01:09:44,159
chapter chair of ask me local 43501.

1768
01:09:44,159 --> 01:09:45,920
I'm here to give another perspective on

1769
01:09:45,920 --> 01:09:48,719
the wage study. Um, obviously I would

1770
01:09:48,719 --> 01:09:50,159
like you to reconsider preventing the

1771
01:09:50,159 --> 01:09:51,920
union employees from benefiting from the

1772
01:09:51,920 --> 01:09:54,480
wage study immediately. You can offer

1773
01:09:54,480 --> 01:09:56,320
the wage study increases to union

1774
01:09:56,320 --> 01:09:58,239
employees at any time. The unions will

1775
01:09:58,239 --> 01:10:00,239
call a vote from our members and they

1776
01:10:00,239 --> 01:10:01,840
will decide if they approve it or not.

1777
01:10:01,840 --> 01:10:03,840
This allows for a democratic workplace

1778
01:10:03,840 --> 01:10:05,679
and gives the wage study extra validity

1779
01:10:05,679 --> 01:10:07,840
if it is passed. Not providing this

1780
01:10:07,840 --> 01:10:10,000
option is the same tactic used by Ottawa

1781
01:10:10,000 --> 01:10:12,400
count or Ottawa impact when they ran the

1782
01:10:12,400 --> 01:10:14,239
board previously in order to gain

1783
01:10:14,239 --> 01:10:16,719
leverage in negotiations. That said,

1784
01:10:16,719 --> 01:10:18,320
there are major flaws with the wage

1785
01:10:18,320 --> 01:10:21,199
study. First and most obvious, most

1786
01:10:21,199 --> 01:10:24,080
grade two increases

1787
01:10:24,080 --> 01:10:26,480
more most grade increases of two or more

1788
01:10:26,480 --> 01:10:28,640
managerial positions, admin assistance,

1789
01:10:28,640 --> 01:10:30,800
fiscal, and treasurer. These services

1790
01:10:30,800 --> 01:10:32,719
are clearly favored in the wage study as

1791
01:10:32,719 --> 01:10:35,199
any insignificant grade increase was the

1792
01:10:35,199 --> 01:10:37,199
best outcome for any county employee.

1793
01:10:37,199 --> 01:10:39,679
I'm sure they are all welld deserved,

1794
01:10:39,679 --> 01:10:41,280
but the distribution of these shows

1795
01:10:41,280 --> 01:10:44,400
clear favoritism. Second, the steep wage

1796
01:10:44,400 --> 01:10:46,400
increase or the step wage increases only

1797
01:10:46,400 --> 01:10:48,239
apply after four years and before that

1798
01:10:48,239 --> 01:10:50,640
employees are actually paid less. This

1799
01:10:50,640 --> 01:10:52,960
essentially red circles new employees to

1800
01:10:52,960 --> 01:10:55,280
benefit the long-term employees. And a

1801
01:10:55,280 --> 01:10:56,960
union group that would accept this as

1802
01:10:56,960 --> 01:10:59,280
part of a wage study is hurting itself.

1803
01:10:59,280 --> 01:11:01,120
Public sector unions live and die by

1804
01:11:01,120 --> 01:11:02,880
being able to show new hires that union

1805
01:11:02,880 --> 01:11:05,360
membership is good for everyone. If you

1806
01:11:05,360 --> 01:11:07,280
wish to reward longevity, that is

1807
01:11:07,280 --> 01:11:09,280
admirable, but doing so at the expense

1808
01:11:09,280 --> 01:11:11,440
of new hires across the entirety of the

1809
01:11:11,440 --> 01:11:14,640
county um is not a good idea. Lastly,

1810
01:11:14,640 --> 01:11:16,159
there is an existing issue that this

1811
01:11:16,159 --> 01:11:18,239
wage study does not address. There is a

1812
01:11:18,239 --> 01:11:20,560
massive wage gap between lower earners

1813
01:11:20,560 --> 01:11:22,000
and higher earners at the health

1814
01:11:22,000 --> 01:11:24,320
department. Simply put, and I'm not

1815
01:11:24,320 --> 01:11:27,120
making this up, um there are no union

1816
01:11:27,120 --> 01:11:30,400
employees in grades six or seven um of

1817
01:11:30,400 --> 01:11:32,560
the grades on the wage or wage

1818
01:11:32,560 --> 01:11:35,280
increases. Um this creates unnecessary

1819
01:11:35,280 --> 01:11:36,719
friction between the lower paid and

1820
01:11:36,719 --> 01:11:38,719
higher paid employees. This mixed with

1821
01:11:38,719 --> 01:11:40,480
the fact that new employees are having

1822
01:11:40,480 --> 01:11:42,480
their wages lowered instead of raised

1823
01:11:42,480 --> 01:11:44,400
creates a vicious cycle that is a clear

1824
01:11:44,400 --> 01:11:46,320
attack at the union's ability to recruit

1825
01:11:46,320 --> 01:11:48,719
and bargain. This wage study asked the

1826
01:11:48,719 --> 01:11:50,719
union to sell out the young and the new

1827
01:11:50,719 --> 01:11:53,360
for the experienced and the secure. This

1828
01:11:53,360 --> 01:11:55,360
is exactly what the health department

1829
01:11:55,360 --> 01:11:56,800
well this is exactly what we at the

1830
01:11:56,800 --> 01:11:58,320
health department union have come to

1831
01:11:58,320 --> 01:12:00,480
expect from the county ever since Ottawa

1832
01:12:00,480 --> 01:12:03,600
Impact took over. However, I don't

1833
01:12:03,600 --> 01:12:05,120
necessarily believe this board is the

1834
01:12:05,120 --> 01:12:07,040
same as the previous negotiations this

1835
01:12:07,040 --> 01:12:08,960
year were much smoother and the than the

1836
01:12:08,960 --> 01:12:10,560
previous one and your rhetoric has

1837
01:12:10,560 --> 01:12:12,880
changed significantly. If this board of

1838
01:12:12,880 --> 01:12:14,400
commissioners is truly interested in the

1839
01:12:14,400 --> 01:12:16,480
quality of life of union employees, then

1840
01:12:16,480 --> 01:12:18,719
this board will listen to them. And

1841
01:12:18,719 --> 01:12:20,800
since it is illegal for the county to

1842
01:12:20,800 --> 01:12:22,640
directly bargain with individual

1843
01:12:22,640 --> 01:12:24,800
employees covered by the CBA, according

1844
01:12:24,800 --> 01:12:27,040
to the National Labor Relations Board,

1845
01:12:27,040 --> 01:12:29,600
this includes the grade increases. Allow

1846
01:12:29,600 --> 01:12:32,320
me to give you local 435's position.

1847
01:12:32,320 --> 01:12:33,760
Every position at the health department

1848
01:12:33,760 --> 01:12:35,600
that is grade 5 or below should get a

1849
01:12:35,600 --> 01:12:37,760
two grade increase. They are vastly

1850
01:12:37,760 --> 01:12:40,480
underpaid, desperately needed. No Ottawa

1851
01:12:40,480 --> 01:12:42,480
County Department of uh public health

1852
01:12:42,480 --> 01:12:45,440
employee would jump any other because

1853
01:12:45,440 --> 01:12:47,120
again there are no Union Public Health

1854
01:12:47,120 --> 01:12:49,120
employees at grade six or seven.

1855
01:12:49,120 --> 01:12:51,360
>> All right, Mr. Never time has expired,

1856
01:12:51,360 --> 01:12:52,000
but thank you.

1857
01:12:52,000 --> 01:12:53,760
>> I would like to request to finish. I got

1858
01:12:53,760 --> 01:12:55,120
like 10 seconds more.

1859
01:12:55,120 --> 01:12:55,760
>> Go for it.

1860
01:12:55,760 --> 01:12:56,159
>> Thank you.

1861
01:12:56,159 --> 01:12:57,040
>> Be quick, please.

1862
01:12:57,040 --> 01:12:59,120
>> Um if you're thinking that this was out

1863
01:12:59,120 --> 01:13:01,360
of line to do in public, I agree. That

1864
01:13:01,360 --> 01:13:02,960
is why I made a special meeting request

1865
01:13:02,960 --> 01:13:05,600
on April 16, but HR only gave us dates

1866
01:13:05,600 --> 01:13:08,159
after this wage study. I did not need to

1867
01:13:08,159 --> 01:13:10,080
do this. It's tulip time. We are very

1868
01:13:10,080 --> 01:13:12,080
busy on the food team right now. We

1869
01:13:12,080 --> 01:13:15,199
could have let um things play out and

1870
01:13:15,199 --> 01:13:17,199
then reacted. Instead, we're trying to

1871
01:13:17,199 --> 01:13:19,280
be proactive. I believe communication

1872
01:13:19,280 --> 01:13:20,960
leads to understanding and I think this

1873
01:13:20,960 --> 01:13:22,800
board having this information will

1874
01:13:22,800 --> 01:13:24,320
better allow you to make a decision on

1875
01:13:24,320 --> 01:13:25,199
the wage study.

1876
01:13:25,199 --> 01:13:25,679
>> Thank you, sir.

1877
01:13:25,679 --> 01:13:26,640
>> Thank you for your time.

1878
01:13:26,640 --> 01:13:27,840
>> Thank you.

1879
01:13:27,840 --> 01:13:29,280
>> All right. Would anyone else care to

1880
01:13:29,280 --> 01:13:31,360
approach? Um and I apologize. Usually

1881
01:13:31,360 --> 01:13:33,120
when the threeminut alarm goes off,

1882
01:13:33,120 --> 01:13:34,640
there's a little music that goes with

1883
01:13:34,640 --> 01:13:36,480
it. So, Mr. Neore didn't get the benefit

1884
01:13:36,480 --> 01:13:39,440
of that. Um,

1885
01:13:39,440 --> 01:13:41,040
right. All right. Thank you, sir. If

1886
01:13:41,040 --> 01:13:42,719
you'd state your name and uh uh

1887
01:13:42,719 --> 01:13:44,320
jurisdiction for voting or reason.

1888
01:13:44,320 --> 01:13:46,159
>> Yeah. U My name is Ken Skur and I'm an

1889
01:13:46,159 --> 01:13:47,440
investigator with the Ottawa County

1890
01:13:47,440 --> 01:13:48,880
Friend of the Court, vice president of

1891
01:13:48,880 --> 01:13:50,080
the Friend of the Court Employees

1892
01:13:50,080 --> 01:13:52,640
Association, also known as our union. Um

1893
01:13:52,640 --> 01:13:54,800
I've worked for the county since 2012. I

1894
01:13:54,800 --> 01:13:56,239
wanted to raise two issues that I

1895
01:13:56,239 --> 01:13:58,960
believe are in existence with the 2025

1896
01:13:58,960 --> 01:14:00,480
wage study and how it's about to be

1897
01:14:00,480 --> 01:14:02,320
rolled out. I apologize for bringing

1898
01:14:02,320 --> 01:14:04,320
these issues to you at the last minute,

1899
01:14:04,320 --> 01:14:06,800
but the union employees did not know how

1900
01:14:06,800 --> 01:14:08,239
that was going to be implemented until

1901
01:14:08,239 --> 01:14:10,719
it was in committee two weeks ago. In

1902
01:14:10,719 --> 01:14:13,280
2020, I'll also say I was last in this

1903
01:14:13,280 --> 01:14:15,679
room. An anonymous individual that I had

1904
01:14:15,679 --> 01:14:17,840
taken support action against nominated

1905
01:14:17,840 --> 01:14:19,440
me to receive the quarterly customer

1906
01:14:19,440 --> 01:14:21,440
service award. They stated that I had

1907
01:14:21,440 --> 01:14:23,040
taken the time to communicate with them

1908
01:14:23,040 --> 01:14:24,880
clearly, treated them with respect, and

1909
01:14:24,880 --> 01:14:26,560
left them feeling like an equal, not

1910
01:14:26,560 --> 01:14:28,560
just a case file or number. But the

1911
01:14:28,560 --> 01:14:30,159
truth is that is how most of my office

1912
01:14:30,159 --> 01:14:31,440
works and tries to treat the public

1913
01:14:31,440 --> 01:14:33,760
every day drawing on the experience and

1914
01:14:33,760 --> 01:14:35,679
of our collective years of service to

1915
01:14:35,679 --> 01:14:37,120
serve the public equally and with

1916
01:14:37,120 --> 01:14:39,360
transparency. The issue we find with

1917
01:14:39,360 --> 01:14:42,239
proposal one is with the uh proposal of

1918
01:14:42,239 --> 01:14:43,760
how the wage study is going to be

1919
01:14:43,760 --> 01:14:46,560
implemented is equality. As it reads,

1920
01:14:46,560 --> 01:14:48,000
union employees would remain on the

1921
01:14:48,000 --> 01:14:50,640
outdated wage scale and placement system

1922
01:14:50,640 --> 01:14:52,239
for an additional eight months or after

1923
01:14:52,239 --> 01:14:53,840
the next collective bargaining agreement

1924
01:14:53,840 --> 01:14:55,920
is finished. During this time, union

1925
01:14:55,920 --> 01:14:57,840
employees will be paid less despite

1926
01:14:57,840 --> 01:14:59,600
having the same job titles as others in

1927
01:14:59,600 --> 01:15:02,239
non-UN positions in other departments.

1928
01:15:02,239 --> 01:15:04,000
Worse, veteran employees who have

1929
01:15:04,000 --> 01:15:06,080
experience and positions about to

1930
01:15:06,080 --> 01:15:08,159
receive grade increases will not only

1931
01:15:08,159 --> 01:15:09,760
not move to the new scale, but they will

1932
01:15:09,760 --> 01:15:10,960
not be able to move up on their

1933
01:15:10,960 --> 01:15:13,520
anniversary dates in 2026.

1934
01:15:13,520 --> 01:15:15,520
This penalizes both union positions and

1935
01:15:15,520 --> 01:15:17,280
the most experienced employees that we

1936
01:15:17,280 --> 01:15:19,600
have. We ask the universal wage scale

1937
01:15:19,600 --> 01:15:21,199
that were developed by Baker Tilly to be

1938
01:15:21,199 --> 01:15:22,719
made effective on the same date for

1939
01:15:22,719 --> 01:15:24,480
everyone. We're confident the union

1940
01:15:24,480 --> 01:15:26,080
would vote to adopt it with a one-page

1941
01:15:26,080 --> 01:15:27,600
letter of understanding as we've done in

1942
01:15:27,600 --> 01:15:30,000
the past and this has not been caused to

1943
01:15:30,000 --> 01:15:32,800
reopening to reopen negotiations early.

1944
01:15:32,800 --> 01:15:34,560
I ask for equal treatment for all union

1945
01:15:34,560 --> 01:15:36,159
positions and the same respect for the

1946
01:15:36,159 --> 01:15:38,320
individuals serving in public in those

1947
01:15:38,320 --> 01:15:40,640
positions as our non-UN counterparts are

1948
01:15:40,640 --> 01:15:42,400
going to receive. In the name of

1949
01:15:42,400 --> 01:15:44,800
transparency, I'd also like to point out

1950
01:15:44,800 --> 01:15:47,040
that the full wage study has not been

1951
01:15:47,040 --> 01:15:48,960
released. As an investigator, for

1952
01:15:48,960 --> 01:15:50,480
example, I don't know what positions I

1953
01:15:50,480 --> 01:15:52,080
was compared to in other counties. I

1954
01:15:52,080 --> 01:15:53,280
don't know what their job descriptions

1955
01:15:53,280 --> 01:15:55,360
are, and I don't know what my how my job

1956
01:15:55,360 --> 01:15:57,679
duties were scored in this wage study.

1957
01:15:57,679 --> 01:15:59,440
Providing access to the full study has

1958
01:15:59,440 --> 01:16:00,960
historically allowed employees to better

1959
01:16:00,960 --> 01:16:03,040
understand the process, their grading,

1960
01:16:03,040 --> 01:16:04,880
and to clarify job descriptions when

1961
01:16:04,880 --> 01:16:07,199
necessary. Failing to provide the full

1962
01:16:07,199 --> 01:16:08,719
report creates another transparency

1963
01:16:08,719 --> 01:16:10,640
issue that we in the court feel. We're

1964
01:16:10,640 --> 01:16:12,159
familiar with creating accurate findings

1965
01:16:12,159 --> 01:16:13,840
and calculations that are made known to

1966
01:16:13,840 --> 01:16:15,679
affected that are made known to affected

1967
01:16:15,679 --> 01:16:17,760
case participants and ask for equal

1968
01:16:17,760 --> 01:16:19,280
treatment in this respect with the wage

1969
01:16:19,280 --> 01:16:21,520
study that's about to affect us. In

1970
01:16:21,520 --> 01:16:22,960
closing, I thank everyone for their

1971
01:16:22,960 --> 01:16:24,480
participation in the study. It's been a

1972
01:16:24,480 --> 01:16:26,480
process. It's continued through several

1973
01:16:26,480 --> 01:16:28,560
leadership changes. We simply ask for

1974
01:16:28,560 --> 01:16:30,320
the establishment of a universal county

1975
01:16:30,320 --> 01:16:32,560
wage scale rather than maintaining two

1976
01:16:32,560 --> 01:16:34,000
separate systems for the next eight

1977
01:16:34,000 --> 01:16:36,000
months and for the opportunity to see

1978
01:16:36,000 --> 01:16:38,239
our grades in the full report. Thank

1979
01:16:38,239 --> 01:16:40,800
you. Thank you, Ken. It's almost as if

1980
01:16:40,800 --> 01:16:42,719
you timed that.

1981
01:16:42,719 --> 01:16:45,830
Bravo.

1982
01:16:45,840 --> 01:16:49,120
» Good morning, uh, Greg Coyle, uh, Spring

1983
01:16:49,120 --> 01:16:52,239
Lake, uh, resident and CEO of the Tri

1984
01:16:52,239 --> 01:16:55,120
Cities Family YMCA. Uh, thank you, Mr.

1985
01:16:55,120 --> 01:16:57,120
Chairman, and commissioners for an

1986
01:16:57,120 --> 01:16:59,760
opportunity to speak a bit early on the

1987
01:16:59,760 --> 01:17:04,000
CH um, millillage. I wanted to um

1988
01:17:04,000 --> 01:17:07,040
identify the wise support and

1989
01:17:07,040 --> 01:17:09,280
specifically I'm speaking on behalf of

1990
01:17:09,280 --> 01:17:12,400
our board of directors um to support the

1991
01:17:12,400 --> 01:17:16,880
millillage uh for CH as a recent uh

1992
01:17:16,880 --> 01:17:18,960
millillage uh mental health mill

1993
01:17:18,960 --> 01:17:21,679
provider. We have seen firsthand the

1994
01:17:21,679 --> 01:17:24,239
impact of the mental health millage in

1995
01:17:24,239 --> 01:17:27,360
our county and and with our residents.

1996
01:17:27,360 --> 01:17:30,320
We are in support of the renewal at its

1997
01:17:30,320 --> 01:17:32,320
uh current rate for the additional 10

1998
01:17:32,320 --> 01:17:34,800
years because we think the impact to

1999
01:17:34,800 --> 01:17:37,840
county residents is significant. As a

2000
01:17:37,840 --> 01:17:41,760
social wck provider, the impact between

2001
01:17:41,760 --> 01:17:44,719
um physical, social, and emotional

2002
01:17:44,719 --> 01:17:48,239
well-being. Um being able to utilize

2003
01:17:48,239 --> 01:17:50,800
facilities such as the Y. It has

2004
01:17:50,800 --> 01:17:52,880
literature backed up, evidence-based

2005
01:17:52,880 --> 01:17:56,000
backup that's off the charts. um

2006
01:17:56,000 --> 01:17:59,040
bringing in social well-being combats

2007
01:17:59,040 --> 01:18:01,760
loneliness amongst other illnesses that

2008
01:18:01,760 --> 01:18:03,920
are wide rampant in our communities

2009
01:18:03,920 --> 01:18:07,040
today. The Y is grateful to have been a

2010
01:18:07,040 --> 01:18:08,960
provider over this past year and looks

2011
01:18:08,960 --> 01:18:10,719
forward to being able to serve Ottawa

2012
01:18:10,719 --> 01:18:12,560
County residents in the future. Thank

2013
01:18:12,560 --> 01:18:13,760
you.

2014
01:18:13,760 --> 01:18:16,320
>> Thank you, Mr. Coyle. Is there anyone

2015
01:18:16,320 --> 01:18:18,719
else? Come on up.

2016
01:18:18,719 --> 01:18:20,719
Oh,

2017
01:18:20,719 --> 01:18:22,320
>> hi, my name is Jenny White and I'm a

2018
01:18:22,320 --> 01:18:24,239
Holland resident. I serve as the

2019
01:18:24,239 --> 01:18:26,320
executive director of Bellow Kids, a

2020
01:18:26,320 --> 01:18:28,400
nonprofit organization here in Ottawa

2021
01:18:28,400 --> 01:18:30,960
County focused on getting kids outside

2022
01:18:30,960 --> 01:18:33,679
and on bikes. My husband and I also run

2023
01:18:33,679 --> 01:18:35,679
a small business here in Ottawa County.

2024
01:18:35,679 --> 01:18:37,840
So, we care deeply about this community,

2025
01:18:37,840 --> 01:18:39,600
not just through our work, but also as

2026
01:18:39,600 --> 01:18:42,239
small business owners and as parents.

2027
01:18:42,239 --> 01:18:44,239
I'm here today to express my strong

2028
01:18:44,239 --> 01:18:46,400
support of the Ottawa County parks and

2029
01:18:46,400 --> 01:18:49,280
the open space mill. At Kids, we work

2030
01:18:49,280 --> 01:18:51,199
with thousands of children each year

2031
01:18:51,199 --> 01:18:54,719
across Ottawa County. In 2025 alone, our

2032
01:18:54,719 --> 01:18:57,199
60 coaches biked with more than 4,000

2033
01:18:57,199 --> 01:18:59,199
kids through partnerships with school

2034
01:18:59,199 --> 01:19:00,640
districts like Grand Haven Public

2035
01:19:00,640 --> 01:19:02,880
Schools, Holland Public Schools, West

2036
01:19:02,880 --> 01:19:05,520
Ottawa, and Zealand. But our programs

2037
01:19:05,520 --> 01:19:07,679
don't exist in a vacuum. They depend on

2038
01:19:07,679 --> 01:19:10,239
safe, accessible, and well-maintained

2039
01:19:10,239 --> 01:19:13,440
public spaces. Ottawa County parks are

2040
01:19:13,440 --> 01:19:15,440
that foundation.

2041
01:19:15,440 --> 01:19:17,280
They are where children learn to ride

2042
01:19:17,280 --> 01:19:19,760
bikes, where students build confidence

2043
01:19:19,760 --> 01:19:22,159
beyond the classroom, and where families

2044
01:19:22,159 --> 01:19:25,679
connect outside and away from screens.

2045
01:19:25,679 --> 01:19:27,760
For many kids we serve, especially those

2046
01:19:27,760 --> 01:19:29,760
without easy access to outdoor

2047
01:19:29,760 --> 01:19:32,480
recreation, these parks aren't just nice

2048
01:19:32,480 --> 01:19:35,120
to have, they are essential. We

2049
01:19:35,120 --> 01:19:36,960
absolutely love the rides that we get to

2050
01:19:36,960 --> 01:19:38,800
do with Ottawa County Juvenile Court

2051
01:19:38,800 --> 01:19:41,199
kids. Just last week, I was in

2052
01:19:41,199 --> 01:19:42,880
Bentonville, Arkansas with a group of

2053
01:19:42,880 --> 01:19:44,960
West Michigan leaders studying the

2054
01:19:44,960 --> 01:19:47,360
impact of trails, parks, and bike

2055
01:19:47,360 --> 01:19:49,280
infrastructure. What we saw was

2056
01:19:49,280 --> 01:19:51,840
powerful. Their investment was not only

2057
01:19:51,840 --> 01:19:53,360
improved health and community

2058
01:19:53,360 --> 01:19:56,159
connection. It also has driven economic

2059
01:19:56,159 --> 01:19:58,719
growth, supporting small businesses,

2060
01:19:58,719 --> 01:20:01,120
attracting visitors, and creating a

2061
01:20:01,120 --> 01:20:03,440
vibrant place people want to live and to

2062
01:20:03,440 --> 01:20:07,280
work. That same opportunity exists here.

2063
01:20:07,280 --> 01:20:09,280
parks strengthen our community, support

2064
01:20:09,280 --> 01:20:11,440
local businesses, and help make Ottawa

2065
01:20:11,440 --> 01:20:13,280
County a place where families and

2066
01:20:13,280 --> 01:20:16,640
organizations like ours can thrive. As

2067
01:20:16,640 --> 01:20:18,400
you consider the millillage renewal and

2068
01:20:18,400 --> 01:20:20,640
proposed increase, I encourage you to

2069
01:20:20,640 --> 01:20:22,800
think about the long-term impact.

2070
01:20:22,800 --> 01:20:25,199
Investing in parks is investing in

2071
01:20:25,199 --> 01:20:28,080
people. It's investing in our kids, and

2072
01:20:28,080 --> 01:20:30,080
it's investing in the future of Ottawa

2073
01:20:30,080 --> 01:20:32,400
County. Thank you for your time and your

2074
01:20:32,400 --> 01:20:35,280
commitment to this community.

2075
01:20:35,280 --> 01:20:37,280
>> Thank you, Miss White.

2076
01:20:37,280 --> 01:20:46,709
Is there anyone else? Come on up.

2077
01:20:46,719 --> 01:20:50,320
» Hi, my name is Becca Laren. I'm live in

2078
01:20:50,320 --> 01:20:56,159
Grand Haven and I go to the Y for

2079
01:20:56,159 --> 01:20:56,640
>> team

2080
01:20:56,640 --> 01:21:01,590
>> the social programm.

2081
01:21:01,600 --> 01:21:03,840
» That's a mouthful.

2082
01:21:03,840 --> 01:21:05,920
>> And why are you here today?

2083
01:21:05,920 --> 01:21:08,960
I am here to get

2084
01:21:08,960 --> 01:21:12,560
voted that I can keep going to the Y and

2085
01:21:12,560 --> 01:21:14,800
stuff

2086
01:21:14,800 --> 01:21:18,080
that membership. She has been able to um

2087
01:21:18,080 --> 01:21:20,640
go to the Y. She can't afford it and she

2088
01:21:20,640 --> 01:21:22,560
lives at Gracious Grounds and so she got

2089
01:21:22,560 --> 01:21:26,719
a flyer and went and she has really come

2090
01:21:26,719 --> 01:21:29,920
I'm her mother Trisha and she has really

2091
01:21:29,920 --> 01:21:32,080
come out of her shell the independence.

2092
01:21:32,080 --> 01:21:34,080
She's never wanted to do anything alone.

2093
01:21:34,080 --> 01:21:36,000
And so I know that this has been very

2094
01:21:36,000 --> 01:21:37,440
important and that you're considering

2095
01:21:37,440 --> 01:21:39,520
this on the ballot, but it really is

2096
01:21:39,520 --> 01:21:42,080
important. This me this membership ends

2097
01:21:42,080 --> 01:21:44,480
in September. And if it could get on

2098
01:21:44,480 --> 01:21:46,080
that ballot in August instead of

2099
01:21:46,080 --> 01:21:50,080
November, she has lost 17 18 pounds. Her

2100
01:21:50,080 --> 01:21:51,440
last doctor's appointment, what

2101
01:21:51,440 --> 01:21:52,560
happened?

2102
01:21:52,560 --> 01:21:55,760
>> I'm off my bud push for medicine.

2103
01:21:55,760 --> 01:21:58,000
>> She's enjoyed a couple friends to join

2104
01:21:58,000 --> 01:21:59,920
her as well. So, her independence, her

2105
01:21:59,920 --> 01:22:01,760
socialization and everything has just

2106
01:22:01,760 --> 01:22:05,760
been and then I'm sorry. Um, the biggest

2107
01:22:05,760 --> 01:22:09,040
thing is that she has been so much more

2108
01:22:09,040 --> 01:22:11,120
social and it's really become her second

2109
01:22:11,120 --> 01:22:13,600
home. She spends more time there than

2110
01:22:13,600 --> 01:22:16,800
our house or at work and then at home in

2111
01:22:16,800 --> 01:22:19,920
her apartment. So, I just feel like if

2112
01:22:19,920 --> 01:22:22,400
that membership ends September 30th, I

2113
01:22:22,400 --> 01:22:23,760
believe, and it doesn't get on that

2114
01:22:23,760 --> 01:22:25,840
ballot till November, she's going to

2115
01:22:25,840 --> 01:22:28,960
lose three and four months of routine

2116
01:22:28,960 --> 01:22:31,760
and endurance. And when you started

2117
01:22:31,760 --> 01:22:34,320
swimming, what did you how many laps did

2118
01:22:34,320 --> 01:22:35,360
you do?

2119
01:22:35,360 --> 01:22:36,639
>> 15.

2120
01:22:36,639 --> 01:22:39,199
>> How many are you doing now?

2121
01:22:39,199 --> 01:22:43,360
>> 50 or 60. So if we lose three months for

2122
01:22:43,360 --> 01:22:45,120
these individuals, they're going to lose

2123
01:22:45,120 --> 01:22:47,199
a lot of social and a lot of endurance

2124
01:22:47,199 --> 01:22:49,120
that they've inquired. And I just feel

2125
01:22:49,120 --> 01:22:50,880
like if there's any way that can get on

2126
01:22:50,880 --> 01:22:53,600
that August ballot, I think it's just

2127
01:22:53,600 --> 01:22:55,760
going to be monumental for her and so

2128
01:22:55,760 --> 01:22:58,400
many others. Thank you for listening.

2129
01:22:58,400 --> 01:23:00,159
>> Thank you, Becca. And thank you, Becca's

2130
01:23:00,159 --> 01:23:05,030
mom.

2131
01:23:05,040 --> 01:23:07,840
» Good morning. Um I'm very happy to be

2132
01:23:07,840 --> 01:23:10,080
here. Miss Luakowski, executive director

2133
01:23:10,080 --> 01:23:12,000
of Mosaic Counseling and resident of

2134
01:23:12,000 --> 01:23:14,639
Spring Lake. I apologize I'm not able to

2135
01:23:14,639 --> 01:23:17,040
stay for the second public comment. Um,

2136
01:23:17,040 --> 01:23:19,040
I would like to express to you my

2137
01:23:19,040 --> 01:23:21,679
support for putting the mental health u

2138
01:23:21,679 --> 01:23:24,719
millage renewal on the August ballot.

2139
01:23:24,719 --> 01:23:28,560
Um, Mosaic has been um very very uh

2140
01:23:28,560 --> 01:23:30,800
grateful for receiving funding from the

2141
01:23:30,800 --> 01:23:33,120
mental health millillage that helps us

2142
01:23:33,120 --> 01:23:35,360
with providing um professional

2143
01:23:35,360 --> 01:23:38,080
counseling um for people who are

2144
01:23:38,080 --> 01:23:40,880
uninsured in our county for a

2145
01:23:40,880 --> 01:23:43,679
collaboration that we have with the um

2146
01:23:43,679 --> 01:23:47,440
Tri Cities Family YMCA um also suicide

2147
01:23:47,440 --> 01:23:50,320
prevention and support groups. So,

2148
01:23:50,320 --> 01:23:54,480
speaking on behalf now of Mosaic, um we

2149
01:23:54,480 --> 01:23:56,159
provide accessible, affordable

2150
01:23:56,159 --> 01:23:59,120
counseling to anyone who lives or works

2151
01:23:59,120 --> 01:24:01,600
or goes to school or worships in Ottawa

2152
01:24:01,600 --> 01:24:05,199
County. And that means that um anyone

2153
01:24:05,199 --> 01:24:09,840
who um you know can't afford counseling

2154
01:24:09,840 --> 01:24:12,239
is therefore we are there for them. We

2155
01:24:12,239 --> 01:24:14,480
have a panel now of almost 300

2156
01:24:14,480 --> 01:24:16,960
therapists who are able to pro provide

2157
01:24:16,960 --> 01:24:20,159
that support with no wait list.

2158
01:24:20,159 --> 01:24:23,120
We also provide inschool counseling um

2159
01:24:23,120 --> 01:24:26,239
that's free with parental consent in

2160
01:24:26,239 --> 01:24:28,320
Spring Lake and Grand Haven and West

2161
01:24:28,320 --> 01:24:30,639
Ottawa and Holland and now Sagatuck

2162
01:24:30,639 --> 01:24:32,960
public schools and also West Michigan

2163
01:24:32,960 --> 01:24:36,320
Academy of Arts and Academics also free

2164
01:24:36,320 --> 01:24:39,360
QPR suicide prevention as I mentioned

2165
01:24:39,360 --> 01:24:41,760
support groups and that collaboration

2166
01:24:41,760 --> 01:24:43,840
with the YMCA has been really

2167
01:24:43,840 --> 01:24:45,760
incredible. We've had a therapist

2168
01:24:45,760 --> 01:24:48,800
embedded there and so they're there um

2169
01:24:48,800 --> 01:24:50,800
for five hours a week and then also we

2170
01:24:50,800 --> 01:24:53,120
assist with the summer camp for the uh

2171
01:24:53,120 --> 01:24:56,080
children who have big emotions during

2172
01:24:56,080 --> 01:24:58,320
camp and having um professional

2173
01:24:58,320 --> 01:25:00,239
therapists who are there to assist has

2174
01:25:00,239 --> 01:25:02,800
been really remarkable.

2175
01:25:02,800 --> 01:25:05,679
So I'm talking all these words um but

2176
01:25:05,679 --> 01:25:08,239
they represent people. They represent

2177
01:25:08,239 --> 01:25:11,199
children and adults and couples and

2178
01:25:11,199 --> 01:25:14,000
families in our county and really depend

2179
01:25:14,000 --> 01:25:16,159
on what the mental health millage has

2180
01:25:16,159 --> 01:25:18,639
been able to do for our county. It's a

2181
01:25:18,639 --> 01:25:21,199
such a ripple effect and it affects so

2182
01:25:21,199 --> 01:25:23,520
many other things. So, I appreciate your

2183
01:25:23,520 --> 01:25:26,000
consideration. It would be wonderful um

2184
01:25:26,000 --> 01:25:28,159
for this to be on the August ballot and

2185
01:25:28,159 --> 01:25:30,159
thank you so much.

2186
01:25:30,159 --> 01:25:33,990
>> Thank you, Sarah.

2187
01:25:34,000 --> 01:25:38,790
Morning.

2188
01:25:38,800 --> 01:25:40,560
My name is Elizabeth Brewbaker. I live

2189
01:25:40,560 --> 01:25:42,639
in Holland Township and I'd like to

2190
01:25:42,639 --> 01:25:44,800
comment on the proposed two new well

2191
01:25:44,800 --> 01:25:46,880
permits for the Consumers Energy JH

2192
01:25:46,880 --> 01:25:49,679
Campbell plant. Coal ash has been found

2193
01:25:49,679 --> 01:25:52,159
to contain arsenic, lead, and mercury as

2194
01:25:52,159 --> 01:25:53,679
well as other materials that are known

2195
01:25:53,679 --> 01:25:57,360
carcinogens and biological disruptors. A

2196
01:25:57,360 --> 01:25:59,040
quick search for coal plants that have

2197
01:25:59,040 --> 01:26:00,800
contaminated groundwater will reveal

2198
01:26:00,800 --> 01:26:04,080
that this is not a theoretical concern.

2199
01:26:04,080 --> 01:26:05,920
After high levels of toxins were found

2200
01:26:05,920 --> 01:26:07,679
in some residential wells near the

2201
01:26:07,679 --> 01:26:11,120
Campbell plant in 2019, Consumers Energy

2202
01:26:11,120 --> 01:26:13,679
released the following. Safety is

2203
01:26:13,679 --> 01:26:16,560
consumer energy's top priority. Nothing

2204
01:26:16,560 --> 01:26:18,239
is more important than protecting our

2205
01:26:18,239 --> 01:26:21,120
neighbors, employees, customers, and the

2206
01:26:21,120 --> 01:26:23,600
planet we all cherish. We're working

2207
01:26:23,600 --> 01:26:25,920
hard to safely handle, store, and

2208
01:26:25,920 --> 01:26:29,199
dispose of coal combustion residuals

2209
01:26:29,199 --> 01:26:32,960
commonly known as coal ash.

2210
01:26:32,960 --> 01:26:35,679
Disposing of leeate from coal ash

2211
01:26:35,679 --> 01:26:38,960
storage ponds in wells within 2 miles of

2212
01:26:38,960 --> 01:26:40,560
one of the largest sources of fresh

2213
01:26:40,560 --> 01:26:42,800
water in the world doesn't seem in line

2214
01:26:42,800 --> 01:26:45,360
with that statement. Nor does pushing

2215
01:26:45,360 --> 01:26:46,960
that plan through without a public

2216
01:26:46,960 --> 01:26:49,840
hearing. It's not as if Michigan doesn't

2217
01:26:49,840 --> 01:26:51,760
know the danger of toxic levels of

2218
01:26:51,760 --> 01:26:53,280
dangerous chemicals entering our

2219
01:26:53,280 --> 01:26:55,280
waterways.

2220
01:26:55,280 --> 01:26:57,840
Every person in this room knows the

2221
01:26:57,840 --> 01:27:00,239
value of Lake Michigan, the value of

2222
01:27:00,239 --> 01:27:03,520
fresh water, the value of recreation,

2223
01:27:03,520 --> 01:27:05,760
the value of fishing in the lake, and

2224
01:27:05,760 --> 01:27:07,520
the value of people from all over the

2225
01:27:07,520 --> 01:27:09,199
world coming to the shores of West

2226
01:27:09,199 --> 01:27:11,360
Michigan to discover the value of the

2227
01:27:11,360 --> 01:27:13,360
lake for themselves.

2228
01:27:13,360 --> 01:27:15,440
More studies must be done before these

2229
01:27:15,440 --> 01:27:18,239
wells are approved. our water is worth

2230
01:27:18,239 --> 01:27:19,920
protecting.

2231
01:27:19,920 --> 01:27:22,239
I ask this board of commissioners to

2232
01:27:22,239 --> 01:27:25,360
formally request a delay in any permits

2233
01:27:25,360 --> 01:27:28,000
for these wells and that this board also

2234
01:27:28,000 --> 01:27:30,320
requests specific studies into the

2235
01:27:30,320 --> 01:27:33,120
safety of this means of leech disposal.

2236
01:27:33,120 --> 01:27:35,280
Thank you.

2237
01:27:35,280 --> 01:27:38,800
>> Thank you, Miss Brewbaker.

2238
01:27:38,800 --> 01:27:42,239
>> Anyone else? Come on up.

2239
01:27:42,239 --> 01:27:44,320
>> Hi, my name is Amanda Jonas. I'm in

2240
01:27:44,320 --> 01:27:46,960
Grand Haven. Um, and I appreciate the

2241
01:27:46,960 --> 01:27:49,280
opportunity to speak before the um, next

2242
01:27:49,280 --> 01:27:50,560
public comment. I apologize I have to

2243
01:27:50,560 --> 01:27:52,400
leave, but I wanted to speak in support

2244
01:27:52,400 --> 01:27:54,400
of placing the um, community mental

2245
01:27:54,400 --> 01:27:56,880
health mill on the August 4th ballot um,

2246
01:27:56,880 --> 01:27:59,280
to continue funding those programs at

2247
01:27:59,280 --> 01:28:00,800
the same rate. I don't think the

2248
01:28:00,800 --> 01:28:02,800
importance of funding mental health

2249
01:28:02,800 --> 01:28:06,080
programs can be overstated um, given so

2250
01:28:06,080 --> 01:28:07,600
many of the struggles that we're seeing

2251
01:28:07,600 --> 01:28:10,480
in children, adults, seniors with mental

2252
01:28:10,480 --> 01:28:12,960
health. Um I have worked as a social

2253
01:28:12,960 --> 01:28:14,400
worker, clinical social worker for the

2254
01:28:14,400 --> 01:28:16,560
last 14 years in both community mental

2255
01:28:16,560 --> 01:28:18,480
health in Moskegan County and also in

2256
01:28:18,480 --> 01:28:20,639
emergency departments in um hospitals in

2257
01:28:20,639 --> 01:28:22,560
Ottawa County. Um and I've seen that

2258
01:28:22,560 --> 01:28:24,560
firsthand. Um as I think the director of

2259
01:28:24,560 --> 01:28:26,480
Mosaic Counseling said, it it comes down

2260
01:28:26,480 --> 01:28:29,120
to people. We can cite statistics of

2261
01:28:29,120 --> 01:28:31,760
increasing um suicide rates. It's the

2262
01:28:31,760 --> 01:28:34,239
second largest killer of um adolescence

2263
01:28:34,239 --> 01:28:35,440
in our country, which is pretty

2264
01:28:35,440 --> 01:28:37,360
shocking. Um, but it comes down to

2265
01:28:37,360 --> 01:28:38,960
people and a lot of times in the

2266
01:28:38,960 --> 01:28:40,960
emergency room, the difference between

2267
01:28:40,960 --> 01:28:43,440
being able to create a a plan for a

2268
01:28:43,440 --> 01:28:45,040
person to to leave the emergency room

2269
01:28:45,040 --> 01:28:47,440
versus going to a psychiatric hospital,

2270
01:28:47,440 --> 01:28:49,440
which is a a huge disruption in their

2271
01:28:49,440 --> 01:28:52,159
lives, is do they have access to

2272
01:28:52,159 --> 01:28:53,520
support, outpatient mental health

2273
01:28:53,520 --> 01:28:55,520
treatment? Do they have access to

2274
01:28:55,520 --> 01:28:58,159
support people and community connection?

2275
01:28:58,159 --> 01:28:59,679
um and me community mental health

2276
01:28:59,679 --> 01:29:02,080
services and programs like the Momentum

2277
01:29:02,080 --> 01:29:03,360
Center in Grand Haven where I'm a

2278
01:29:03,360 --> 01:29:05,760
volunteer are providing that connection

2279
01:29:05,760 --> 01:29:08,159
that people need to reduce loneliness,

2280
01:29:08,159 --> 01:29:09,520
isolation, the things that really

2281
01:29:09,520 --> 01:29:11,840
contribute to those deadly conditions.

2282
01:29:11,840 --> 01:29:13,920
Um so I'm in full support of placing

2283
01:29:13,920 --> 01:29:16,000
that on the ballot and I appreciate uh

2284
01:29:16,000 --> 01:29:19,280
the opportunity to to speak here today.

2285
01:29:19,280 --> 01:29:28,629
>> Thank you very much.

2286
01:29:28,639 --> 01:29:31,760
My name is Peter Bogart. Allen Township

2287
01:29:31,760 --> 01:29:34,400
is home for me. It's district 4 where

2288
01:29:34,400 --> 01:29:36,800
we're representative by Commissioner

2289
01:29:36,800 --> 01:29:38,960
Bonama. And Commissioner, I want to say

2290
01:29:38,960 --> 01:29:41,120
thank you to you for the work you do in

2291
01:29:41,120 --> 01:29:42,639
working for the welfare of Ottawa

2292
01:29:42,639 --> 01:29:44,719
County.

2293
01:29:44,719 --> 01:29:47,760
I'm here, as have others before me,

2294
01:29:47,760 --> 01:29:50,400
asking that you pass a resolution which

2295
01:29:50,400 --> 01:29:52,159
calls on the Environmental Protection

2296
01:29:52,159 --> 01:29:55,120
Agency to hold public hearings before

2297
01:29:55,120 --> 01:29:57,600
making any decision and Consumers

2298
01:29:57,600 --> 01:30:00,320
Energy's proposal to drill two deep

2299
01:30:00,320 --> 01:30:03,360
injection wells at the JH Campbell Power

2300
01:30:03,360 --> 01:30:06,320
Plant. I've done as much reading as I

2301
01:30:06,320 --> 01:30:08,239
can about issues related to deep well

2302
01:30:08,239 --> 01:30:10,639
drilling and management. I'm not a

2303
01:30:10,639 --> 01:30:15,760
geologist or a scientist and unless I miss my guest, neither are any

2304
01:30:15,760 --> 01:30:17,520
of you.

2305
01:30:17,520 --> 01:30:19,679
I've been tripping over terminology like

2306
01:30:19,679 --> 01:30:24,080
toxic plumes, modeling, hazardous, and

2307
01:30:24,080 --> 01:30:26,639
deep rock formation.

2308
01:30:26,639 --> 01:30:28,880
I'm willing to trust people who really

2309
01:30:28,880 --> 01:30:30,800
are experts.

2310
01:30:30,800 --> 01:30:33,280
My concern is that the public has so far

2311
01:30:33,280 --> 01:30:35,920
been denied that opportunity.

2312
01:30:35,920 --> 01:30:37,840
We have yet to hear a comprehensive

2313
01:30:37,840 --> 01:30:40,560
defense of all the measures necessary to

2314
01:30:40,560 --> 01:30:43,280
execute this proposal. There are other

2315
01:30:43,280 --> 01:30:46,000
areas of energy systems management where

2316
01:30:46,000 --> 01:30:48,400
operators wait for years to get a

2317
01:30:48,400 --> 01:30:51,280
permit. There may be valid reasons for

2318
01:30:51,280 --> 01:30:52,880
the formatting of this permitting

2319
01:30:52,880 --> 01:30:55,440
process, but the perception the

2320
01:30:55,440 --> 01:30:59,520
perception of haste cannot be avoided.

2321
01:30:59,520 --> 01:31:01,440
The just trust me, we're experts

2322
01:31:01,440 --> 01:31:04,560
approach for transparency.

2323
01:31:04,560 --> 01:31:07,199
Real experts can explain their work.

2324
01:31:07,199 --> 01:31:09,920
Real experts value the community as much

2325
01:31:09,920 --> 01:31:12,480
as the project, and they allow time to

2326
01:31:12,480 --> 01:31:14,880
address community concerns.

2327
01:31:14,880 --> 01:31:19,520
Failing to do so damages public trust.

2328
01:31:19,520 --> 01:31:21,760
I try to avoid TV news these days

2329
01:31:21,760 --> 01:31:23,840
because I'm tired of the polls which

2330
01:31:23,840 --> 01:31:25,840
constantly tell me that people are

2331
01:31:25,840 --> 01:31:29,040
losing their trust in our government. I

2332
01:31:29,040 --> 01:31:30,880
view this deep well proposal as an

2333
01:31:30,880 --> 01:31:33,199
opportunity to rebuild some of that

2334
01:31:33,199 --> 01:31:34,560
trust.

2335
01:31:34,560 --> 01:31:37,679
You as a county commission are in a far

2336
01:31:37,679 --> 01:31:40,000
better position than any one of us

2337
01:31:40,000 --> 01:31:43,360
individually to ask the EPA for a better

2338
01:31:43,360 --> 01:31:46,080
commitment to transparency.

2339
01:31:46,080 --> 01:31:48,719
I'm asking that you petition the EBA

2340
01:31:48,719 --> 01:31:51,760
asking for scheduled public hearings

2341
01:31:51,760 --> 01:31:54,400
before rendering any decision on this

2342
01:31:54,400 --> 01:31:57,280
application from Consumers Energy. Thank

2343
01:31:57,280 --> 01:31:58,880
you.

2344
01:31:58,880 --> 01:32:01,280
>> Thank you, Mr. Bogart.

2345
01:32:01,280 --> 01:32:10,470
There anyone else?

2346
01:32:10,480 --> 01:32:14,480
Uh, for fear of being redundant, um, I'm

2347
01:32:14,480 --> 01:32:18,880
also here to, um, make the same plea as

2348
01:32:18,880 --> 01:32:22,480
Mr. Bogart. I'm Peter Evers and I am a

2349
01:32:22,480 --> 01:32:25,440
constituent in Mr. Jeritzma's district.

2350
01:32:25,440 --> 01:32:29,920
Um, and I am asking you to consider

2351
01:32:29,920 --> 01:32:33,199
passing a resolution calling on the EPA

2352
01:32:33,199 --> 01:32:36,719
to hold public hearings before approving

2353
01:32:36,719 --> 01:32:39,520
Consumer Energy's request to drill two

2354
01:32:39,520 --> 01:32:41,280
deep injection wells at the Campbell

2355
01:32:41,280 --> 01:32:43,199
Power Plant.

2356
01:32:43,199 --> 01:32:45,199
Um,

2357
01:32:45,199 --> 01:32:47,440
Consumers Energy has argued that they

2358
01:32:47,440 --> 01:32:50,239
will dispose of what they state as

2359
01:32:50,239 --> 01:32:53,440
non-hazardous waste. And the wells they

2360
01:32:53,440 --> 01:32:55,840
propose to drill apparently meet the

2361
01:32:55,840 --> 01:33:01,040
standards of EPA's class one wells,

2362
01:33:01,040 --> 01:33:03,760
whatever that means. I that's what I

2363
01:33:03,760 --> 01:33:07,280
read. However, I read also that there

2364
01:33:07,280 --> 01:33:09,040
are counterarguments

2365
01:33:09,040 --> 01:33:11,679
being made by hydrogeeological experts

2366
01:33:11,679 --> 01:33:14,639
who are very familiar with the

2367
01:33:14,639 --> 01:33:17,440
geological structures here in Michigan

2368
01:33:17,440 --> 01:33:20,400
who believe that these injections could

2369
01:33:20,400 --> 01:33:22,800
create pressure underground, possibly

2370
01:33:22,800 --> 01:33:25,679
creating fractures in a fragile

2371
01:33:25,679 --> 01:33:28,480
geological structures and that could

2372
01:33:28,480 --> 01:33:31,440
create pathways for waste material to

2373
01:33:31,440 --> 01:33:34,480
eventually enter our drinking water.

2374
01:33:34,480 --> 01:33:37,840
Um there's other uh concerns expressed

2375
01:33:37,840 --> 01:33:40,239
as well and that's the one I've chosen

2376
01:33:40,239 --> 01:33:44,159
to um highlight. As our water tables are

2377
01:33:44,159 --> 01:33:46,719
already lowering in our state and the

2378
01:33:46,719 --> 01:33:48,960
salinity of our drinking water is on the

2379
01:33:48,960 --> 01:33:52,400
rise, can we afford to increase the risk

2380
01:33:52,400 --> 01:33:56,080
of losing access to drinkable water

2381
01:33:56,080 --> 01:33:59,520
should these wells fail or leak?

2382
01:33:59,520 --> 01:34:00,960
And what happens when another

2383
01:34:00,960 --> 01:34:02,880
administration takes over the federal

2384
01:34:02,880 --> 01:34:05,600
government and rescends the emer energy

2385
01:34:05,600 --> 01:34:07,199
emergencies,

2386
01:34:07,199 --> 01:34:09,840
promotes cheaper and cleaner renewable

2387
01:34:09,840 --> 01:34:12,560
um energy sources when the Campbell

2388
01:34:12,560 --> 01:34:16,080
Power Plant eventually closes? Uh who

2389
01:34:16,080 --> 01:34:18,480
will be responsible for monitoring the

2390
01:34:18,480 --> 01:34:20,560
safety and the maintenance of these

2391
01:34:20,560 --> 01:34:22,239
wells?

2392
01:34:22,239 --> 01:34:24,320
As it stands right now, Ottawa County

2393
01:34:24,320 --> 01:34:27,120
residents are being asked to accept a

2394
01:34:27,120 --> 01:34:30,000
decision-making process without full

2395
01:34:30,000 --> 01:34:32,800
opportunity for public input.

2396
01:34:32,800 --> 01:34:34,639
This is not how decisions of this

2397
01:34:34,639 --> 01:34:38,239
magnitude should be made. People who

2398
01:34:38,239 --> 01:34:41,440
live, work, and raise families here

2399
01:34:41,440 --> 01:34:44,080
deserve to understand the risks, ask

2400
01:34:44,080 --> 01:34:46,480
questions, and have their concerns

2401
01:34:46,480 --> 01:34:49,360
formally heard before permits are

2402
01:34:49,360 --> 01:34:52,400
granted. Public hearings are not a

2403
01:34:52,400 --> 01:34:56,159
barrier. They are a basic safeguard.

2404
01:34:56,159 --> 01:34:58,800
They ensure transparency,

2405
01:34:58,800 --> 01:35:02,000
build trust, and ultimately lead to

2406
01:35:02,000 --> 01:35:05,199
better and more informed decisions.

2407
01:35:05,199 --> 01:35:08,080
On April 22nd, the Port Sheldon Township

2408
01:35:08,080 --> 01:35:10,880
Board did the right thing. They

2409
01:35:10,880 --> 01:35:12,400
requested the EPA.

2410
01:35:12,400 --> 01:35:15,120
>> Mr. Evers, your time is up. If you have

2411
01:35:15,120 --> 01:35:16,639
a moment to wrap it up, go for it.

2412
01:35:16,639 --> 01:35:20,159
>> Okay. Um, I would just ask you to join

2413
01:35:20,159 --> 01:35:22,320
what has been passed by the Port Sheldon

2414
01:35:22,320 --> 01:35:26,400
Township Board and um, send a resolution

2415
01:35:26,400 --> 01:35:29,760
to the EPA asking for a public hearing.

2416
01:35:29,760 --> 01:35:30,239
Thank you.

2417
01:35:30,239 --> 01:35:33,440
>> Thank you, sir.

2418
01:35:33,440 --> 01:35:39,110
Is there anyone else?

2419
01:35:39,120 --> 01:35:42,480
» Hi, my name is Kate Armstrong. I am a

2420
01:35:42,480 --> 01:35:45,280
resident of Grand Heaven Township and an

2421
01:35:45,280 --> 01:35:47,679
employee of Ottawa County, currently

2422
01:35:47,679 --> 01:35:49,280
serving as an investigator with the

2423
01:35:49,280 --> 01:35:51,520
Ottawa County Friend of the Court and

2424
01:35:51,520 --> 01:35:52,800
president of the Friend of the Court

2425
01:35:52,800 --> 01:35:55,360
Employees Association. I stand before

2426
01:35:55,360 --> 01:35:57,600
you today to respectfully express my

2427
01:35:57,600 --> 01:35:59,360
concerns regarding the proposed

2428
01:35:59,360 --> 01:36:02,000
implementation of the wage study and ask

2429
01:36:02,000 --> 01:36:04,000
the board to reconsider the recommended

2430
01:36:04,000 --> 01:36:07,679
approach. At issue is the proposed delay

2431
01:36:07,679 --> 01:36:10,000
in applying the updated wage study to

2432
01:36:10,000 --> 01:36:11,920
union employees until the completion of

2433
01:36:11,920 --> 01:36:14,320
collective bargaining anticipated to

2434
01:36:14,320 --> 01:36:18,239
occur this fall and take effect in 2027.

2435
01:36:18,239 --> 01:36:21,040
In contrast, my non-UN peers are

2436
01:36:21,040 --> 01:36:22,960
recommended for immediate placement on

2437
01:36:22,960 --> 01:36:25,120
the updated wage scale. Whether

2438
01:36:25,120 --> 01:36:27,280
knowingly or unknowingly, this

2439
01:36:27,280 --> 01:36:29,199
recommendation has created a growing

2440
01:36:29,199 --> 01:36:31,760
divide between employees. And I continue

2441
01:36:31,760 --> 01:36:33,760
to hear consistent concerns from my

2442
01:36:33,760 --> 01:36:36,000
association regarding fairness,

2443
01:36:36,000 --> 01:36:37,679
transparency,

2444
01:36:37,679 --> 01:36:40,159
accountability, resulting in declining

2445
01:36:40,159 --> 01:36:42,560
morale, and diminished trust in county

2446
01:36:42,560 --> 01:36:45,199
leadership. In recent years, our

2447
01:36:45,199 --> 01:36:47,119
association members have continued to

2448
01:36:47,119 --> 01:36:49,600
provide customer service and perform as

2449
01:36:49,600 --> 01:36:50,960
one of the top friend of the courts

2450
01:36:50,960 --> 01:36:53,280
throughout Michigan despite repeated

2451
01:36:53,280 --> 01:36:56,239
administrative administration changes

2452
01:36:56,239 --> 01:36:59,199
and turnover of HR personnel. All while

2453
01:36:59,199 --> 01:37:01,840
hoping for a positive, transparent, and

2454
01:37:01,840 --> 01:37:04,239
equitable outcome of the wage study.

2455
01:37:04,239 --> 01:37:06,639
Instead, at the April 14th finance board

2456
01:37:06,639 --> 01:37:08,560
meeting, we were informed that the Baker

2457
01:37:08,560 --> 01:37:11,199
Tilly study would only be negotiating

2458
01:37:11,199 --> 01:37:14,639
data going into negotiations.

2459
01:37:14,639 --> 01:37:16,159
Many Friend of the Court employees

2460
01:37:16,159 --> 01:37:17,840
remain in the position of needing second

2461
01:37:17,840 --> 01:37:20,320
jobs on the weekends and evenings

2462
01:37:20,320 --> 01:37:22,159
despite working full-time in public

2463
01:37:22,159 --> 01:37:25,280
service, demonstrating the continued gap

2464
01:37:25,280 --> 01:37:27,760
between compensation and the real cost

2465
01:37:27,760 --> 01:37:30,239
of living. I myself serve at a local

2466
01:37:30,239 --> 01:37:32,639
restaurant every weekend, often working

2467
01:37:32,639 --> 01:37:34,560
seven days a week to be able to afford

2468
01:37:34,560 --> 01:37:37,199
the rising cost of daycare, groceries,

2469
01:37:37,199 --> 01:37:40,000
and raising a family in Ottawa County.

2470
01:37:40,000 --> 01:37:41,920
My association respectfully requests

2471
01:37:41,920 --> 01:37:43,040
that the board of commissioners

2472
01:37:43,040 --> 01:37:45,040
reconsider the current approach and

2473
01:37:45,040 --> 01:37:46,880
instead implement the wage study results

2474
01:37:46,880 --> 01:37:48,639
for all employees on a consistent

2475
01:37:48,639 --> 01:37:51,199
timeline. We are not seeking to reopen

2476
01:37:51,199 --> 01:37:54,159
or accelerate our contract negotiations.

2477
01:37:54,159 --> 01:37:55,840
Instead, we request that the wage

2478
01:37:55,840 --> 01:37:57,760
adjustments be implemented through a

2479
01:37:57,760 --> 01:37:59,920
letter of understanding attached to our

2480
01:37:59,920 --> 01:38:01,360
current agreement as has been

2481
01:38:01,360 --> 01:38:03,760
historically done, allowing for the

2482
01:38:03,760 --> 01:38:06,000
timely and equitable application of the

2483
01:38:06,000 --> 01:38:07,760
wage study while preserving our existing

2484
01:38:07,760 --> 01:38:10,159
agreement. Thank you for your time.

2485
01:38:10,159 --> 01:38:20,229
>> Thank you, Miss Armstrong.

2486
01:38:20,239 --> 01:38:23,119
Ian Zimmer, Port Sheldon Township. An

2487
01:38:23,119 --> 01:38:25,199
update on the online petition concerning

2488
01:38:25,199 --> 01:38:28,239
ethics involving Joe Moss narrative and

2489
01:38:28,239 --> 01:38:30,080
the board handling of the same.

2490
01:38:30,080 --> 01:38:34,560
Currently 504 signatures online and 187

2491
01:38:34,560 --> 01:38:37,119
paper signed within two hours on March

2492
01:38:37,119 --> 01:38:40,639
28, 2026.

2493
01:38:40,639 --> 01:38:43,600
After voting 10 to one to pursue not to

2494
01:38:43,600 --> 01:38:45,840
pursue an ethics inquiry, John Tele

2495
01:38:45,840 --> 01:38:47,920
stated, "We have nothing more to learn

2496
01:38:47,920 --> 01:38:50,880
or gain. There is much more to be

2497
01:38:50,880 --> 01:38:53,760
learned." Per the May 2, 2025

2498
01:38:53,760 --> 01:38:56,159
memorandum, employment investigation

2499
01:38:56,159 --> 01:38:59,679
2024, Jordan Eper timeline prepared by

2500
01:38:59,679 --> 01:39:02,239
Nate Wolf and submitted to Gary Rosema

2501
01:39:02,239 --> 01:39:04,480
and Ron Frans. It is clear and

2502
01:39:04,480 --> 01:39:07,040
self-evident the allegations lodged had

2503
01:39:07,040 --> 01:39:09,760
not been fully vetted and investigation

2504
01:39:09,760 --> 01:39:12,639
was still ongoing when Joe Moss

2505
01:39:12,639 --> 01:39:14,239
instructed Nate to terminate the

2506
01:39:14,239 --> 01:39:15,760
investigation.

2507
01:39:15,760 --> 01:39:18,480
There exists the possibility of a false

2508
01:39:18,480 --> 01:39:21,280
bottom. Presuming allegations made by

2509
01:39:21,280 --> 01:39:24,000
Jordan Eperson were true, then it is

2510
01:39:24,000 --> 01:39:26,239
only the false narrative of severance

2511
01:39:26,239 --> 01:39:29,360
terms Joe Moss outlined to the full

2512
01:39:29,360 --> 01:39:31,679
board in closed session. But if the

2513
01:39:31,679 --> 01:39:34,400
allegations presented by Jordan were

2514
01:39:34,400 --> 01:39:36,480
just as false as the severance terms

2515
01:39:36,480 --> 01:39:39,840
outlined by Mr. Moss, a matter of one

2516
01:39:39,840 --> 01:39:42,480
hand washing the other. During close

2517
01:39:42,480 --> 01:39:44,960
session, Gresian Cosby

2518
01:39:44,960 --> 01:39:47,280
gave commentary about the release of the

2519
01:39:47,280 --> 01:39:51,760
Eper resume and the only source was HR.

2520
01:39:51,760 --> 01:39:54,560
Sylvia stated HR was malicious in the

2521
01:39:54,560 --> 01:39:57,199
leak. All statements building a reason

2522
01:39:57,199 --> 01:40:00,800
to reward Jordan. Jack Jordan processed

2523
01:40:00,800 --> 01:40:07,990
foyer request 2023-00008802143

2524
01:40:08,000 --> 01:40:10,960
and legal appeal that released the Eper

2525
01:40:10,960 --> 01:40:13,760
resume. Commissioners listened to public

2526
01:40:13,760 --> 01:40:16,080
comment concerning the heavy 98%

2527
01:40:16,080 --> 01:40:18,560
redaction. However, during close

2528
01:40:18,560 --> 01:40:20,960
session, corporate council and

2529
01:40:20,960 --> 01:40:25,040
commissioners alike had factual amnesia.

2530
01:40:25,040 --> 01:40:28,320
No one challenged the HR leak narrative.

2531
01:40:28,320 --> 01:40:30,480
If the material facts surrounding the

2532
01:40:30,480 --> 01:40:33,760
resumeé foyer request can be overlooked,

2533
01:40:33,760 --> 01:40:35,760
what lesser but equally important

2534
01:40:35,760 --> 01:40:38,239
material facts were circumvented,

2535
01:40:38,239 --> 01:40:41,119
overlooked, or simply not given the

2536
01:40:41,119 --> 01:40:43,760
opportunity for discovery?

2537
01:40:43,760 --> 01:40:46,880
The definition of malfecence is

2538
01:40:46,880 --> 01:40:49,600
applicable on many levels. The material

2539
01:40:49,600 --> 01:40:51,840
facts of which occurred and the

2540
01:40:51,840 --> 01:40:54,159
expediency the new board treated the

2541
01:40:54,159 --> 01:40:58,239
ethics involved as radioactive.

2542
01:40:58,239 --> 01:41:00,880
Impersonating an attorney to promugate a

2543
01:41:00,880 --> 01:41:03,600
$100,000 severance based on false

2544
01:41:03,600 --> 01:41:10,310
pretenses is no significant matter.

2545
01:41:10,320 --> 01:41:13,119
» Thank you, Mr. Zimmer. Is there anyone

2546
01:41:13,119 --> 01:41:16,870
else?

2547
01:41:16,880 --> 01:41:20,560
It's a busy mic today. Come on up.

2548
01:41:20,560 --> 01:41:23,920
>> Busy day. You have a busy busy docket.

2549
01:41:23,920 --> 01:41:26,159
Thank you for commissioners. My name is

2550
01:41:26,159 --> 01:41:29,199
Bruce Greenley. I live in Park Township.

2551
01:41:29,199 --> 01:41:33,360
I'm uh I'm here uh a little ahead of

2552
01:41:33,360 --> 01:41:36,560
time from the public hearing to support

2553
01:41:36,560 --> 01:41:40,719
the um increase in parks and open spaces

2554
01:41:40,719 --> 01:41:45,440
millillage. Um my wife and I are um uh

2555
01:41:45,440 --> 01:41:49,520
residents of uh of Michigan about 17

2556
01:41:49,520 --> 01:41:52,159
years now. Uh we moved from the western

2557
01:41:52,159 --> 01:41:54,719
United States, western Colorado. I've

2558
01:41:54,719 --> 01:41:59,280
spent many times uh hiking and and

2559
01:41:59,280 --> 01:42:01,600
visiting national parks and the first

2560
01:42:01,600 --> 01:42:04,960
time I came to a a uh county park in

2561
01:42:04,960 --> 01:42:07,040
Ottawa County, Rosie Mound, I was

2562
01:42:07,040 --> 01:42:10,719
impressed by the infrastructure there,

2563
01:42:10,719 --> 01:42:16,320
the steps um and all the infrastructure

2564
01:42:16,320 --> 01:42:19,520
there and in especially other parks as

2565
01:42:19,520 --> 01:42:23,520
well. um in the

2566
01:42:23,520 --> 01:42:26,880
um the new park and all of all of Shores

2567
01:42:26,880 --> 01:42:29,840
is now not a new park. It's uh several

2568
01:42:29,840 --> 01:42:32,719
years old now, but uh same kind of

2569
01:42:32,719 --> 01:42:35,840
thing. Uh Ottawa County Parks does not

2570
01:42:35,840 --> 01:42:41,679
do things poorly. the trails and uh and

2571
01:42:41,679 --> 01:42:43,840
facilities that have been supported by

2572
01:42:43,840 --> 01:42:48,639
the public uh in the uh ser scientific

2573
01:42:48,639 --> 01:42:51,199
survey uh about a year ago and then an

2574
01:42:51,199 --> 01:42:55,920
update in February support um the

2575
01:42:55,920 --> 01:42:57,760
public's

2576
01:42:57,760 --> 01:43:01,600
um great great support for for parks as

2577
01:43:01,600 --> 01:43:04,719
we all know things are more expensive

2578
01:43:04,719 --> 01:43:07,679
whether it's engineering studies or your

2579
01:43:07,679 --> 01:43:12,239
um your meal at Red Robin, everything is

2580
01:43:12,239 --> 01:43:14,239
quite a bit more expensive than it was

2581
01:43:14,239 --> 01:43:17,760
five years ago or so. Um those

2582
01:43:17,760 --> 01:43:20,560
engineering studies that get the item

2583
01:43:20,560 --> 01:43:24,960
explorers trail um parts um uh stages

2584
01:43:24,960 --> 01:43:29,040
complete and all of those things cost

2585
01:43:29,040 --> 01:43:31,360
cons significantly more money than they

2586
01:43:31,360 --> 01:43:33,440
did a few years ago.

2587
01:43:33,440 --> 01:43:37,920
um the millillage um would help with

2588
01:43:37,920 --> 01:43:40,639
getting more than just operations done,

2589
01:43:40,639 --> 01:43:42,560
which is what's going to happen within

2590
01:43:42,560 --> 01:43:46,480
the next year or so. Um, our the staff

2591
01:43:46,480 --> 01:43:49,679
at the parks department do an incredible

2592
01:43:49,679 --> 01:43:51,920
job in getting hundreds of thousands of

2593
01:43:51,920 --> 01:43:54,639
dollars from the Michigan uh natural

2594
01:43:54,639 --> 01:43:57,840
resources trust fund allocated for park

2595
01:43:57,840 --> 01:44:02,320
operations and um land purchases and

2596
01:44:02,320 --> 01:44:05,119
upgrades. I just thank you f uh thank

2597
01:44:05,119 --> 01:44:09,360
you for helping uh consider uh

2598
01:44:09,360 --> 01:44:11,440
increasing the millillage for the Ottawa

2599
01:44:11,440 --> 01:44:14,400
County Parks and open spaces. Thank you.

2600
01:44:14,400 --> 01:44:23,189
>> Thank you, Mr. Greenley.

2601
01:44:23,199 --> 01:44:26,000
Sheila Detloff Holland Township. When

2602
01:44:26,000 --> 01:44:28,159
this board took office, you stated that

2603
01:44:28,159 --> 01:44:30,320
you would be transparent to a fault and

2604
01:44:30,320 --> 01:44:32,080
that you wanted to increase morale of

2605
01:44:32,080 --> 01:44:34,880
county employees. But two recent events

2606
01:44:34,880 --> 01:44:36,719
are painful examples of how much you are

2607
01:44:36,719 --> 01:44:38,400
still like Ottawa impact in both of

2608
01:44:38,400 --> 01:44:41,440
those respects. The first is this insane

2609
01:44:41,440 --> 01:44:43,040
backroom deal with the treasure and

2610
01:44:43,040 --> 01:44:44,719
water resources commissioner revealed by

2611
01:44:44,719 --> 01:44:46,400
Doug Venison in the compensation

2612
01:44:46,400 --> 01:44:49,040
commission meeting. Patrick Waterman

2613
01:44:49,040 --> 01:44:51,119
says that these stipens were fully

2614
01:44:51,119 --> 01:44:53,760
disclosed after the fact to the

2615
01:44:53,760 --> 01:44:56,000
commission in materials received by

2616
01:44:56,000 --> 01:44:58,719
them. But in the meeting, Lynn Jansen

2617
01:44:58,719 --> 01:45:00,639
asked Doug Vanesson what he meant when

2618
01:45:00,639 --> 01:45:02,480
he said increases for the two were being

2619
01:45:02,480 --> 01:45:05,600
handled internally. So Lind seemed

2620
01:45:05,600 --> 01:45:08,560
unaware of any such materials. Doug had

2621
01:45:08,560 --> 01:45:10,320
to spell it out for him, adding that

2622
01:45:10,320 --> 01:45:12,800
they were, and I quote, an internal

2623
01:45:12,800 --> 01:45:15,040
decision that the board of commissioners

2624
01:45:15,040 --> 01:45:17,679
approved and made. Of course, that's

2625
01:45:17,679 --> 01:45:19,360
impossible.

2626
01:45:19,360 --> 01:45:21,679
So, is Doug Vaness openly admitting a

2627
01:45:21,679 --> 01:45:24,560
massive OMA violation?

2628
01:45:24,560 --> 01:45:26,560
No one is denying that our treasurer and

2629
01:45:26,560 --> 01:45:28,320
water resources commissioner deserve a

2630
01:45:28,320 --> 01:45:30,960
fair wage. But you don't achieve that by

2631
01:45:30,960 --> 01:45:33,600
undermining the statutory authority of

2632
01:45:33,600 --> 01:45:35,920
the compensation commission or by

2633
01:45:35,920 --> 01:45:37,679
approving secret contracts in an

2634
01:45:37,679 --> 01:45:40,239
apparent violation of OMA.

2635
01:45:40,239 --> 01:45:42,400
This reeks of the same Ottawa impact

2636
01:45:42,400 --> 01:45:44,719
backroom deals that landed cushy parting

2637
01:45:44,719 --> 01:45:46,800
gifts in the laps of Ben Wetmore and

2638
01:45:46,800 --> 01:45:48,880
Jordan Eper.

2639
01:45:48,880 --> 01:45:50,639
The second issue is the wage study

2640
01:45:50,639 --> 01:45:53,199
that's on today's agenda. It's

2641
01:45:53,199 --> 01:45:54,880
interesting that the study has now been

2642
01:45:54,880 --> 01:45:57,520
pulled from the employee portal. I think

2643
01:45:57,520 --> 01:45:59,520
you know how flawed it is and that's why

2644
01:45:59,520 --> 01:46:01,840
Patrick Waterman wanted broad authority

2645
01:46:01,840 --> 01:46:04,880
to fix it post approval. Is that what

2646
01:46:04,880 --> 01:46:06,480
you're going to do now with all board

2647
01:46:06,480 --> 01:46:08,560
decisions? Say, "Hey, it's close enough.

2648
01:46:08,560 --> 01:46:11,360
We'll just vote yes and fix it later."

2649
01:46:11,360 --> 01:46:14,000
That's crazy. Obviously,

2650
01:46:14,000 --> 01:46:16,000
the recommendation concentrates wage

2651
01:46:16,000 --> 01:46:18,000
increases on managers and min and

2652
01:46:18,000 --> 01:46:20,000
administrators with the notable

2653
01:46:20,000 --> 01:46:23,040
exception of Adeline Hamley. deja vu oi

2654
01:46:23,040 --> 01:46:24,560
anyone.

2655
01:46:24,560 --> 01:46:26,400
But it defaulted to the option that

2656
01:46:26,400 --> 01:46:29,600
excludes unions completely. If you want

2657
01:46:29,600 --> 01:46:31,600
to demoralize your breadandbut

2658
01:46:31,600 --> 01:46:33,600
employees, that would be a great way to

2659
01:46:33,600 --> 01:46:36,320
do it. It seems to me it's easier to

2660
01:46:36,320 --> 01:46:38,000
give raises across the board than

2661
01:46:38,000 --> 01:46:39,760
dealing with retroactive pay and

2662
01:46:39,760 --> 01:46:42,320
individual unions later, but that's just

2663
01:46:42,320 --> 01:46:44,400
me being pragmatic.

2664
01:46:44,400 --> 01:46:46,159
And that's not even getting into the

2665
01:46:46,159 --> 01:46:48,239
confusion and uncertainty this will

2666
01:46:48,239 --> 01:46:50,880
cause for CH union employees for obvious

2667
01:46:50,880 --> 01:46:52,400
reasons.

2668
01:46:52,400 --> 01:46:54,320
You might want to look up the 2023

2669
01:46:54,320 --> 01:46:56,880
decision by the NLRB on Starbucks

2670
01:46:56,880 --> 01:46:59,440
attempt to exclude union employees from

2671
01:46:59,440 --> 01:47:02,719
wage from a wage increase. If that's not

2672
01:47:02,719 --> 01:47:04,880
enough to make you vote no on this wage

2673
01:47:04,880 --> 01:47:07,440
study and send it back to be fixed, then

2674
01:47:07,440 --> 01:47:09,360
at least vote no to show us that you

2675
01:47:09,360 --> 01:47:11,520
truly care about county employees and

2676
01:47:11,520 --> 01:47:14,560
it's not all lip service. Thank you.

2677
01:47:14,560 --> 01:47:18,629
Miss Love.

2678
01:47:18,639 --> 01:47:25,109
I see movement. We'll hold the mic.

2679
01:47:25,119 --> 01:47:28,080
» Good morning. Um, I am an Ottawa County

2680
01:47:28,080 --> 01:47:30,400
employee, Brandy Mitchum, but I took

2681
01:47:30,400 --> 01:47:32,159
time off this morning to talk as a

2682
01:47:32,159 --> 01:47:34,159
resident. I am a resident of Holland

2683
01:47:34,159 --> 01:47:36,159
Charter Township. My husband and I moved

2684
01:47:36,159 --> 01:47:38,560
here 30 years ago. Um, and as

2685
01:47:38,560 --> 01:47:40,239
transplants from Iowa, I immediately

2686
01:47:40,239 --> 01:47:42,639
recognized the value of our parks and

2687
01:47:42,639 --> 01:47:44,880
open spaces. Over the years, we've spent

2688
01:47:44,880 --> 01:47:46,480
countless hours mountain biking and

2689
01:47:46,480 --> 01:47:48,560
hiking in Riley Trails and enjoying the

2690
01:47:48,560 --> 01:47:51,040
unique landscapes of a tunnel park. Um,

2691
01:47:51,040 --> 01:47:53,040
we've raised our four children here and

2692
01:47:53,040 --> 01:47:57,920
we've spent time in our parks. Um,

2693
01:47:57,920 --> 01:47:59,760
they've become a foundation of some of

2694
01:47:59,760 --> 01:48:02,159
our most meaningful family experiences.

2695
01:48:02,159 --> 01:48:04,400
Our children have taken opportunity to

2696
01:48:04,400 --> 01:48:06,400
take walking field trips at Tunnel Park

2697
01:48:06,400 --> 01:48:08,320
as part of elementary school and those

2698
01:48:08,320 --> 01:48:09,920
have created great memories for our

2699
01:48:09,920 --> 01:48:12,320
family as well. During 2020 shutdowns,

2700
01:48:12,320 --> 01:48:14,239
our appreciation of parks deepened even

2701
01:48:14,239 --> 01:48:16,560
further. It provided our family a safe

2702
01:48:16,560 --> 01:48:18,800
and accessible way to get outdoors, stay

2703
01:48:18,800 --> 01:48:21,679
active, and maintain connection. Um,

2704
01:48:21,679 --> 01:48:23,760
time reinforced exactly how essential

2705
01:48:23,760 --> 01:48:25,920
these public spaces are to not just our

2706
01:48:25,920 --> 01:48:28,320
family, but also to our community. My

2707
01:48:28,320 --> 01:48:30,480
husband has led Cub Scout and Boy Scout

2708
01:48:30,480 --> 01:48:32,560
troops in Holland over the last 25

2709
01:48:32,560 --> 01:48:35,199
years, regularly utilizing Ottawa County

2710
01:48:35,199 --> 01:48:38,400
Parks trails at Riley and Pisca have

2711
01:48:38,400 --> 01:48:42,149
developed. Um

2712
01:48:42,159 --> 01:48:45,679
these boys um some of their skills have

2713
01:48:45,679 --> 01:48:48,239
come from um spending time in these

2714
01:48:48,239 --> 01:48:50,480
parks for their high adventure trips and

2715
01:48:50,480 --> 01:48:53,040
locations like the Kirk Park Lounge

2716
01:48:53,040 --> 01:48:55,920
Lodge, not lounge and Pigeon Creek

2717
01:48:55,920 --> 01:48:58,159
Campground have created opportunities

2718
01:48:58,159 --> 01:49:01,360
for them to spend time outdoors with

2719
01:49:01,360 --> 01:49:03,360
their skill building and earning merit

2720
01:49:03,360 --> 01:49:05,360
badges. These parks do more than serve

2721
01:49:05,360 --> 01:49:07,040
just our individuals and our families,

2722
01:49:07,040 --> 01:49:09,199
but they also are helping our community,

2723
01:49:09,199 --> 01:49:11,520
building young lives. Our family

2724
01:49:11,520 --> 01:49:13,520
continues to support the parks, and two

2725
01:49:13,520 --> 01:49:15,920
of my Jol adult children have chosen

2726
01:49:15,920 --> 01:49:18,320
careers rooted in the outdoors because

2727
01:49:18,320 --> 01:49:20,320
of all the time that they have spent um

2728
01:49:20,320 --> 01:49:22,800
as children thriving in the nature. When

2729
01:49:22,800 --> 01:49:25,840
I reflect on decades of our value that

2730
01:49:25,840 --> 01:49:28,080
our family has received, renewing and

2731
01:49:28,080 --> 01:49:30,239
restoring Parks Village is the bare

2732
01:49:30,239 --> 01:49:33,600
minimum I'm wanting to support. I

2733
01:49:33,600 --> 01:49:35,440
strongly favor and will encourage others

2734
01:49:35,440 --> 01:49:38,639
to vote for also the 2.2 mil increase to

2735
01:49:38,639 --> 01:49:40,960
preserve and enhance the greenways of

2736
01:49:40,960 --> 01:49:43,440
Ottawa County. As a resident, I deeply

2737
01:49:43,440 --> 01:49:45,199
value the stewardship and the long-term

2738
01:49:45,199 --> 01:49:46,880
planning required to maintain these

2739
01:49:46,880 --> 01:49:50,000
spaces. Nearly 500page

2740
01:49:50,000 --> 01:49:52,000
parks, recreation, and open space plan

2741
01:49:52,000 --> 01:49:53,600
submitted to the state as part of their

2742
01:49:53,600 --> 01:49:56,239
grant funding requirements reflects just

2743
01:49:56,239 --> 01:49:58,320
a portion of the thoughtful long-range

2744
01:49:58,320 --> 01:50:00,880
planning undertaken by park staff. Their

2745
01:50:00,880 --> 01:50:02,719
detailed budgeting and preparation over

2746
01:50:02,719 --> 01:50:04,400
the last three years that I've been part

2747
01:50:04,400 --> 01:50:06,639
of it have demonstrated diligence,

2748
01:50:06,639 --> 01:50:08,480
responsibility, and a clear commitment

2749
01:50:08,480 --> 01:50:11,679
to managing these public spaces wisely.

2750
01:50:11,679 --> 01:50:14,719
I respect and encourage um you to

2751
01:50:14,719 --> 01:50:16,560
approve the ballot language for both the

2752
01:50:16,560 --> 01:50:18,880
renewal and restoration of the CH and

2753
01:50:18,880 --> 01:50:21,040
parks millage along with the proposed

2754
01:50:21,040 --> 01:50:23,199
increase for parks in November. With

2755
01:50:23,199 --> 01:50:25,040
well over two million visits a year, the

2756
01:50:25,040 --> 01:50:27,840
community has clearly demonstrated

2757
01:50:27,840 --> 01:50:30,080
um vital spaces are important to the

2758
01:50:30,080 --> 01:50:32,000
quality of life. Thank you for your time

2759
01:50:32,000 --> 01:50:33,679
and for your support and for your

2760
01:50:33,679 --> 01:50:36,480
continued um dedication to serve our

2761
01:50:36,480 --> 01:50:37,360
community. Thank you.

2762
01:50:37,360 --> 01:50:40,400
>> Thank Thank you, Miss Mitchell.

2763
01:50:40,400 --> 01:50:49,430
Is there anyone else?

2764
01:50:49,440 --> 01:50:51,119
» Good morning, commissioners. Becky

2765
01:50:51,119 --> 01:50:53,760
Patrick Allenale. I'm following up on

2766
01:50:53,760 --> 01:50:55,440
the emails I sent to you regarding

2767
01:50:55,440 --> 01:50:57,280
statements made at a recent meeting of

2768
01:50:57,280 --> 01:50:59,760
the Officer's Compensation Commission.

2769
01:50:59,760 --> 01:51:01,600
As you know, the Officer's Compensation

2770
01:51:01,600 --> 01:51:03,440
Commission is the only body that has the

2771
01:51:03,440 --> 01:51:05,520
statutory authority to set salaries for

2772
01:51:05,520 --> 01:51:07,520
non-judicial elected officials in this

2773
01:51:07,520 --> 01:51:10,480
county. According to statements your

2774
01:51:10,480 --> 01:51:12,320
corporate council made at that meeting,

2775
01:51:12,320 --> 01:51:14,320
you, the board of commissioners,

2776
01:51:14,320 --> 01:51:17,119
recently made a quote internal decision

2777
01:51:17,119 --> 01:51:19,280
to increase the salaries of two of those

2778
01:51:19,280 --> 01:51:22,080
elected officials. This was truly a

2779
01:51:22,080 --> 01:51:24,880
breathtaking statement. So I asked you

2780
01:51:24,880 --> 01:51:26,880
for an explanation.

2781
01:51:26,880 --> 01:51:28,480
Commissioners Midima, Roodie, and

2782
01:51:28,480 --> 01:51:31,679
Zyestra responded to my emails.

2783
01:51:31,679 --> 01:51:33,280
I learned that the three of them were

2784
01:51:33,280 --> 01:51:36,800
unaware of this internal decision. They

2785
01:51:36,800 --> 01:51:38,560
agreed with me that the compensation

2786
01:51:38,560 --> 01:51:39,840
commission, not the board of

2787
01:51:39,840 --> 01:51:41,760
commissioners, has the authority to set

2788
01:51:41,760 --> 01:51:44,480
salaries of elected officials.

2789
01:51:44,480 --> 01:51:46,400
This revelation about an internal

2790
01:51:46,400 --> 01:51:48,800
decision to increase increase salaries

2791
01:51:48,800 --> 01:51:51,040
was especially astonishing because you

2792
01:51:51,040 --> 01:51:53,040
all were asked to do this very thing at

2793
01:51:53,040 --> 01:51:54,719
your December 9th finance committee

2794
01:51:54,719 --> 01:51:57,679
meeting. You declined to do so.

2795
01:51:57,679 --> 01:51:59,679
Yesterday, I rewatched that entire

2796
01:51:59,679 --> 01:52:02,560
discussion on video. That meeting was

2797
01:52:02,560 --> 01:52:04,239
characterized by commissioners

2798
01:52:04,239 --> 01:52:06,320
expressing discomfort at the idea of

2799
01:52:06,320 --> 01:52:08,400
increasing those salaries because you

2800
01:52:08,400 --> 01:52:11,280
were concerned about the legality of it.

2801
01:52:11,280 --> 01:52:13,599
You voted unanimously to table the

2802
01:52:13,599 --> 01:52:15,679
matter and ask the administrator to

2803
01:52:15,679 --> 01:52:17,440
collect additional information and bring

2804
01:52:17,440 --> 01:52:20,080
it back to you at a subsequent meeting.

2805
01:52:20,080 --> 01:52:22,719
That did not happen. Instead, according

2806
01:52:22,719 --> 01:52:24,639
to corporate counsel, the salaries are

2807
01:52:24,639 --> 01:52:27,840
ways raised quote internally out of

2808
01:52:27,840 --> 01:52:30,320
public view in spite of all your high

2809
01:52:30,320 --> 01:52:31,920
sounding public statements that you

2810
01:52:31,920 --> 01:52:33,360
weren't comfortable taking such an

2811
01:52:33,360 --> 01:52:35,280
action.

2812
01:52:35,280 --> 01:52:38,800
Let us be clear, the issue is not the

2813
01:52:38,800 --> 01:52:41,360
amount of money involved. The issue is

2814
01:52:41,360 --> 01:52:43,520
not whether elected salary elected

2815
01:52:43,520 --> 01:52:46,239
officials should have a salary increase.

2816
01:52:46,239 --> 01:52:48,560
The issue is purely and simply your

2817
01:52:48,560 --> 01:52:52,000
obligation to act in the public trust.

2818
01:52:52,000 --> 01:52:54,159
Acting in the public trust means acting

2819
01:52:54,159 --> 01:52:56,960
within your authority. It means making

2820
01:52:56,960 --> 01:52:59,199
decisions as a full board, not by a

2821
01:52:59,199 --> 01:53:02,000
subset of the board. It means making

2822
01:53:02,000 --> 01:53:05,119
decisions in public. It means refusing

2823
01:53:05,119 --> 01:53:07,280
to circumvent your colleagues in state

2824
01:53:07,280 --> 01:53:08,719
law when they get in the way of an

2825
01:53:08,719 --> 01:53:11,599
outcome you want. It means respecting

2826
01:53:11,599 --> 01:53:13,599
the residents of Ottawa County enough to

2827
01:53:13,599 --> 01:53:15,840
do all of those things.

2828
01:53:15,840 --> 01:53:18,800
So, what is the remedy? At a minimum,

2829
01:53:18,800 --> 01:53:21,280
you owe the public an explanation, and

2830
01:53:21,280 --> 01:53:23,280
today would be a good time for that.

2831
01:53:23,280 --> 01:53:25,440
Thank you.

2832
01:53:25,440 --> 01:53:27,040
>> All right. Thank you, Miss Patrick. Is

2833
01:53:27,040 --> 01:53:32,950
there anybody else?

2834
01:53:32,960 --> 01:53:35,679
» Good morning, Karen, Spring Lake. On

2835
01:53:35,679 --> 01:53:37,679
more than one occasion over the past 16

2836
01:53:37,679 --> 01:53:39,679
months, I've heard this board state its

2837
01:53:39,679 --> 01:53:43,040
desire and intent to move forward. I

2838
01:53:43,040 --> 01:53:45,040
admit I've struggled at times over these

2839
01:53:45,040 --> 01:53:46,960
past months to understand exactly what

2840
01:53:46,960 --> 01:53:49,840
you mean by that. So my comment today is

2841
01:53:49,840 --> 01:53:51,920
a plea that you demonstrate by your

2842
01:53:51,920 --> 01:53:54,080
words and actions that you understand

2843
01:53:54,080 --> 01:53:56,320
the need to restore public trust as a

2844
01:53:56,320 --> 01:53:59,199
critical component of moving forward in

2845
01:53:59,199 --> 01:54:00,800
a way that acknowledges the broader

2846
01:54:00,800 --> 01:54:04,159
community beyond your own board. Because

2847
01:54:04,159 --> 01:54:06,080
I stand here before you today to express

2848
01:54:06,080 --> 01:54:08,159
the dismay I felt when I watched the

2849
01:54:08,159 --> 01:54:10,000
recent Ottawa County Compensation

2850
01:54:10,000 --> 01:54:12,400
Commission meeting and struggled to make

2851
01:54:12,400 --> 01:54:14,719
sense of the explanation Mr. Vaness

2852
01:54:14,719 --> 01:54:17,040
offered the members of that commission

2853
01:54:17,040 --> 01:54:19,040
as to how the county had dealt

2854
01:54:19,040 --> 01:54:21,280
internally to resolve the compensation

2855
01:54:21,280 --> 01:54:22,880
difference for the county treasurer and

2856
01:54:22,880 --> 01:54:25,119
water commissioner that resulted from

2857
01:54:25,119 --> 01:54:26,880
the work of the last compensation

2858
01:54:26,880 --> 01:54:28,480
commission.

2859
01:54:28,480 --> 01:54:30,560
And while the email pertinent to this

2860
01:54:30,560 --> 01:54:32,400
matter which Mr. Waterman sent to this

2861
01:54:32,400 --> 01:54:34,480
board upon the request of Chair Buger

2862
01:54:34,480 --> 01:54:36,639
does offer helpful background and a more

2863
01:54:36,639 --> 01:54:39,040
detailed summary of actions taken to

2864
01:54:39,040 --> 01:54:41,280
address the compensation issue in

2865
01:54:41,280 --> 01:54:43,599
question. It does little to restore my

2866
01:54:43,599 --> 01:54:45,440
trust that this board is committed to

2867
01:54:45,440 --> 01:54:47,920
good process, the kind of transparent

2868
01:54:47,920 --> 01:54:49,920
good governance process it instills and

2869
01:54:49,920 --> 01:54:52,719
restores public trust. And as for what

2870
01:54:52,719 --> 01:54:54,400
moving forward might mean to our county

2871
01:54:54,400 --> 01:54:56,560
staff, I would also like to encourage

2872
01:54:56,560 --> 01:54:58,480
you, as others have done before me, to

2873
01:54:58,480 --> 01:55:00,880
consider carefully the agenda item

2874
01:55:00,880 --> 01:55:02,320
related to the need to approve the

2875
01:55:02,320 --> 01:55:05,199
classification and compensation study as

2876
01:55:05,199 --> 01:55:07,760
recommended. Specifically, I'm concerned

2877
01:55:07,760 --> 01:55:09,760
about the impact of the exclusion of our

2878
01:55:09,760 --> 01:55:12,400
union employees from this wage study.

2879
01:55:12,400 --> 01:55:14,000
But concerns are even greater in terms

2880
01:55:14,000 --> 01:55:16,159
of the potential impact of that decision

2881
01:55:16,159 --> 01:55:19,520
as it relates to our CH employees who as

2882
01:55:19,520 --> 01:55:21,679
you well know are also facing job

2883
01:55:21,679 --> 01:55:23,920
related uncertainties due to the ongoing

2884
01:55:23,920 --> 01:55:26,480
transition to an authority.

2885
01:55:26,480 --> 01:55:28,320
So I ask that you carefully consider

2886
01:55:28,320 --> 01:55:31,440
whether further review is warranted. And

2887
01:55:31,440 --> 01:55:33,679
finally, as both Mr. Evers and Mr.

2888
01:55:33,679 --> 01:55:35,599
Bogurt stated in their public comments

2889
01:55:35,599 --> 01:55:37,599
here this morning. I agree that this

2890
01:55:37,599 --> 01:55:39,840
board would do well to pass a resolution

2891
01:55:39,840 --> 01:55:42,800
asking the EPA hold a public hearing

2892
01:55:42,800 --> 01:55:44,880
related to the two deep injection wells

2893
01:55:44,880 --> 01:55:46,880
for which Consumers Energy is seeking a

2894
01:55:46,880 --> 01:55:49,840
permit. In doing so, you will

2895
01:55:49,840 --> 01:55:52,239
demonstrate your commitment to building

2896
01:55:52,239 --> 01:55:54,960
public trust in yet another area of

2897
01:55:54,960 --> 01:55:58,960
public concern. Thank you for your time.

2898
01:55:58,960 --> 01:56:01,520
>> Thank you, Miss Oittz. Is there anyone

2899
01:56:01,520 --> 01:56:04,159
else?

2900
01:56:04,159 --> 01:56:06,800
Is there anybody online?

2901
01:56:06,800 --> 01:56:07,760
>> Yes, there are two.

2902
01:56:07,760 --> 01:56:09,599
>> Two online. All right.

2903
01:56:09,599 --> 01:56:12,960
>> Um, Kimberly Whitten Meyer,

2904
01:56:12,960 --> 01:56:14,400
>> you can unmute and you have three

2905
01:56:14,400 --> 01:56:15,360
minutes if you could say your

2906
01:56:15,360 --> 01:56:20,390
jurisdiction.

2907
01:56:20,400 --> 01:56:23,040
» My name is Kimberly Whittener. I'm the

2908
01:56:23,040 --> 01:56:24,000
executive director.

2909
01:56:24,000 --> 01:56:26,239
>> Whitmer, are you there?

2910
01:56:26,239 --> 01:56:28,159
>> What are you there?

2911
01:56:28,159 --> 01:56:31,040
>> Um, hello.

2912
01:56:31,040 --> 01:56:33,920
All right, let's the next one.

2913
01:56:33,920 --> 01:56:39,430
>> Daniel Bectal.

2914
01:56:39,440 --> 01:56:40,719
» Hello. Can you hear me?

2915
01:56:40,719 --> 01:56:42,000
>> I wonder if we're having technical

2916
01:56:42,000 --> 01:56:45,440
difficulties that we're not

2917
01:56:45,440 --> 01:56:47,679
might be. All right, Miss Beal and Miss

2918
01:56:47,679 --> 01:56:49,599
Whitmire, if you are listening, give us

2919
01:56:49,599 --> 01:56:51,520
60 seconds. If we can resolve this, we

2920
01:56:51,520 --> 01:56:53,119
will. Otherwise, we'll have another

2921
01:56:53,119 --> 01:56:55,119
opportunity to speak at the end of the

2922
01:56:55,119 --> 01:56:57,199
meeting or call into the audience from

2923
01:56:57,199 --> 01:56:59,040
the audience.

2924
01:56:59,040 --> 01:57:00,800
Yeah, staff is shaking their head that

2925
01:57:00,800 --> 01:57:02,159
60 seconds probably isn't going to do

2926
01:57:02,159 --> 01:57:02,400
it.

2927
01:57:02,400 --> 01:57:04,320
>> I wonder if we would take a short recess

2928
01:57:04,320 --> 01:57:05,280
a minute.

2929
01:57:05,280 --> 01:57:07,440
>> I We'll have them comment at the end.

2930
01:57:07,440 --> 01:57:16,310
Yeah, thanks.

2931
01:57:16,320 --> 01:57:18,400
Okay. All right. Staff has indicated

2932
01:57:18,400 --> 01:57:20,560
that um we'll have to do this at the

2933
01:57:20,560 --> 01:57:21,920
end. We'll work on that during the

2934
01:57:21,920 --> 01:57:24,239
meeting. Uh so if Miss Whitmer and uh

2935
01:57:24,239 --> 01:57:26,480
Mr. Beal are listening, uh please stay

2936
01:57:26,480 --> 01:57:27,599
tuned and call in at the end of the

2937
01:57:27,599 --> 01:57:28,719
meeting. We'll be happy to take your

2938
01:57:28,719 --> 01:57:31,280
comments. All right. And with that, we

2939
01:57:31,280 --> 01:57:33,599
will close the public comment section of

2940
01:57:33,599 --> 01:57:37,840
our meeting and we will move on to one

2941
01:57:37,840 --> 01:57:38,880
moment.

2942
01:57:38,880 --> 01:57:40,159
>> Motion to approve the agenda.

2943
01:57:40,159 --> 01:57:41,760
>> Yeah. Thank you, Joe. Motion to approve

2944
01:57:41,760 --> 01:57:43,119
the agenda. We got a motion. Is there a

2945
01:57:43,119 --> 01:57:44,000
second?

2946
01:57:44,000 --> 01:57:44,719
>> Mr. Chair,

2947
01:57:44,719 --> 01:57:48,239
>> motion and support. And uh Miss Mea,

2948
01:57:48,239 --> 01:57:50,719
>> um as I sent an email to you yesterday,

2949
01:57:50,719 --> 01:57:54,080
I'd like to uh make a motion to add a

2950
01:57:54,080 --> 01:57:57,360
discussion item um on the water resource

2951
01:57:57,360 --> 01:57:59,840
commissioner and the county treasurer um

2952
01:57:59,840 --> 01:58:03,040
being paid additional compensation.

2953
01:58:03,040 --> 01:58:06,320
>> There's a motion. Is there a second?

2954
01:58:06,320 --> 01:58:08,159
Got support from was that Commissioner

2955
01:58:08,159 --> 01:58:11,760
Wenszel. All right.

2956
01:58:11,760 --> 01:58:15,119
Any further comments?

2957
01:58:15,119 --> 01:58:16,960
Okay, let's take a vote. Uh, if you

2958
01:58:16,960 --> 01:58:18,719
would do roll call, Miss Sanchez, that

2959
01:58:18,719 --> 01:58:20,159
would be great.

2960
01:58:20,159 --> 01:58:22,320
>> Mr. Moss,

2961
01:58:22,320 --> 01:58:23,440
>> yes.

2962
01:58:23,440 --> 01:58:24,400
>> Mr. Kyers,

2963
01:58:24,400 --> 01:58:24,960
>> no.

2964
01:58:24,960 --> 01:58:26,400
>> Mr. Barry,

2965
01:58:26,400 --> 01:58:27,360
>> yes.

2966
01:58:27,360 --> 01:58:28,639
>> Mr. Bonama,

2967
01:58:28,639 --> 01:58:29,520
>> yes.

2968
01:58:29,520 --> 01:58:30,560
>> Mrs. Roadie,

2969
01:58:30,560 --> 01:58:31,040
>> yes.

2970
01:58:31,040 --> 01:58:32,159
>> Mr. Zystra,

2971
01:58:32,159 --> 01:58:32,639
>> yes.

2972
01:58:32,639 --> 01:58:33,520
>> Mrs. Wel,

2973
01:58:33,520 --> 01:58:34,000
>> yes.

2974
01:58:34,000 --> 01:58:34,960
>> Mrs. Midama,

2975
01:58:34,960 --> 01:58:35,440
>> yes.

2976
01:58:35,440 --> 01:58:36,480
>> Mr. Dortzma,

2977
01:58:36,480 --> 01:58:37,119
>> yes.

2978
01:58:37,119 --> 01:58:38,080
>> Mr. Tuples,

2979
01:58:38,080 --> 01:58:38,800
>> no.

2980
01:58:38,800 --> 01:58:39,760
>> Mr. Buger,

2981
01:58:39,760 --> 01:58:41,040
>> uh, no.

2982
01:58:41,040 --> 01:58:42,000
>> Motion passes.

2983
01:58:42,000 --> 01:58:44,159
>> All right. Thank you. Let's add that as

2984
01:58:44,159 --> 01:58:48,229
item

2985
01:58:48,239 --> 01:58:50,800
under additional business

2986
01:58:50,800 --> 01:58:53,440
discussion on consumers deep well report

2987
01:58:53,440 --> 01:58:55,280
by county minister let's slide that in

2988
01:58:55,280 --> 01:58:57,119
under a

2989
01:58:57,119 --> 01:59:00,480
call it b discussion

2990
01:59:00,480 --> 01:59:02,159
re

2991
01:59:02,159 --> 01:59:05,040
making this note for me compensation

2992
01:59:05,040 --> 01:59:07,119
of elected officials is that good

2993
01:59:07,119 --> 01:59:08,719
>> I'm sorry where's that going

2994
01:59:08,719 --> 01:59:12,320
>> so under uh item 11 additional business

2995
01:59:12,320 --> 01:59:13,920
Oh, okay.

2996
01:59:13,920 --> 01:59:16,239
>> Discussion on consumers energy wells and

2997
01:59:16,239 --> 01:59:18,880
B will be discussion regarding consumers

2998
01:59:18,880 --> 01:59:20,560
uh compensation or excuse me consumers

2999
01:59:20,560 --> 01:59:23,679
compensate. Uh yeah, elected officials

3000
01:59:23,679 --> 01:59:28,080
compensation. All right. Anything else?

3001
01:59:28,080 --> 01:59:31,199
Okay. Oh, sorry. Nope. You're good.

3002
01:59:31,199 --> 01:59:33,199
>> Okay. All right. Uh we've got a motion

3003
01:59:33,199 --> 01:59:34,639
on the table to approve the agenda. All

3004
01:59:34,639 --> 01:59:37,840
in favor say I. I. I. Those opposed. All

3005
01:59:37,840 --> 01:59:43,270
right. Motion carries.

3006
01:59:43,280 --> 01:59:45,119
All right. Sorry, guys. Got a lot on

3007
01:59:45,119 --> 01:59:47,920
this one here. All right. So, item

3008
01:59:47,920 --> 01:59:49,920
number seven, the consent resolutions.

3009
01:59:49,920 --> 01:59:51,679
Uh, the suggested motion is to approve

3010
01:59:51,679 --> 01:59:53,920
the consent resolutions as presented.

3011
01:59:53,920 --> 01:59:54,639
>> So, moved

3012
01:59:54,639 --> 01:59:58,960
>> or moved in support. Any discussion?

3013
01:59:58,960 --> 02:00:02,880
>> So, sorry. Uh, letter H. We could remove

3014
02:00:02,880 --> 02:00:06,080
that, please. a request for a letter H

3015
02:00:06,080 --> 02:00:09,040
to be removed to an action item

3016
02:00:09,040 --> 02:00:10,320
that is the classification and

3017
02:00:10,320 --> 02:00:15,040
compensation study and we will put that

3018
02:00:15,040 --> 02:00:18,239
as item G

3019
02:00:18,239 --> 02:00:19,920
to be the next one in sequence there

3020
02:00:19,920 --> 02:00:21,840
under

3021
02:00:21,840 --> 02:00:24,480
it's a three-page agenda under item

3022
02:00:24,480 --> 02:00:26,960
under section eight so item G will

3023
02:00:26,960 --> 02:00:28,960
become

3024
02:00:28,960 --> 02:00:34,709
classification and compensation study

3025
02:00:34,719 --> 02:00:36,159
If I can read my handwriting later,

3026
02:00:36,159 --> 02:00:39,199
it'll be a miracle. I'm sure Rachel will

3027
02:00:39,199 --> 02:00:41,280
be able to assist. All right, with that,

3028
02:00:41,280 --> 02:00:42,400
uh, all in favor of approving the

3029
02:00:42,400 --> 02:00:43,520
agenda, say I.

3030
02:00:43,520 --> 02:00:43,840
>> I.

3031
02:00:43,840 --> 02:00:45,280
Those opposed?

3032
02:00:45,280 --> 02:00:46,000
>> We're on the

3033
02:00:46,000 --> 02:00:47,440
>> Excuse me. Consent agenda. Apologies.

3034
02:00:47,440 --> 02:00:49,040
Yeah, let's do that again. Uh, all in

3035
02:00:49,040 --> 02:00:51,280
favor of approving the consent agenda as

3036
02:00:51,280 --> 02:00:51,760
amended.

3037
02:00:51,760 --> 02:00:53,440
>> Mr. Chair, could I request a roll call,

3038
02:00:53,440 --> 02:00:54,320
please?

3039
02:00:54,320 --> 02:00:56,560
>> Sure. Can

3040
02:00:56,560 --> 02:00:57,840
>> Mrs. Roie?

3041
02:00:57,840 --> 02:00:58,239
>> Yes.

3042
02:00:58,239 --> 02:00:59,199
>> Mr. Teles?

3043
02:00:59,199 --> 02:00:59,599
>> Yes.

3044
02:00:59,599 --> 02:01:01,679
>> Mr. Mr. Zystra,

3045
02:01:01,679 --> 02:01:02,320
>> yes.

3046
02:01:02,320 --> 02:01:03,440
>> Mr. Bonama,

3047
02:01:03,440 --> 02:01:03,920
>> yes.

3048
02:01:03,920 --> 02:01:04,800
>> Mrs. Wel,

3049
02:01:04,800 --> 02:01:05,280
>> yes.

3050
02:01:05,280 --> 02:01:06,239
>> Mrs. Midama,

3051
02:01:06,239 --> 02:01:06,719
>> yes.

3052
02:01:06,719 --> 02:01:07,599
>> Mr. Moss,

3053
02:01:07,599 --> 02:01:08,080
>> yes.

3054
02:01:08,080 --> 02:01:09,040
>> Mr. Jordma,

3055
02:01:09,040 --> 02:01:09,520
>> yes.

3056
02:01:09,520 --> 02:01:10,480
>> Mr. Kyers,

3057
02:01:10,480 --> 02:01:10,960
>> yes.

3058
02:01:10,960 --> 02:01:11,920
>> Mr. Barry,

3059
02:01:11,920 --> 02:01:12,400
>> yes.

3060
02:01:12,400 --> 02:01:13,280
>> Mr. Buger,

3061
02:01:13,280 --> 02:01:13,840
>> yes.

3062
02:01:13,840 --> 02:01:15,040
>> Motion passes.

3063
02:01:15,040 --> 02:01:17,599
>> All right. Thank you. Uh, item eight,

3064
02:01:17,599 --> 02:01:20,239
agenda and action requests. First up is

3065
02:01:20,239 --> 02:01:22,480
a public hearing regarding the CH

3066
02:01:22,480 --> 02:01:25,040
Militch and parks and open space. The

3067
02:01:25,040 --> 02:01:26,960
suggested motion is to open the public

3068
02:01:26,960 --> 02:01:28,560
hearing to receive comments on the

3069
02:01:28,560 --> 02:01:30,480
proposed CH millillage and parks and

3070
02:01:30,480 --> 02:01:32,639
open space mill. Anyone care?

3071
02:01:32,639 --> 02:01:33,280
>> Support.

3072
02:01:33,280 --> 02:01:36,159
>> Motion by Jorrettzma, second by Moss.

3073
02:01:36,159 --> 02:01:38,000
All those in favor say I.

3074
02:01:38,000 --> 02:01:38,880
>> I.

3075
02:01:38,880 --> 02:01:41,920
>> Those opposed. All right. So, at this

3076
02:01:41,920 --> 02:01:44,480
time, if anyone who didn't already

3077
02:01:44,480 --> 02:01:46,960
comment uh would like to approach the

3078
02:01:46,960 --> 02:01:48,800
board to comment regarding the CH

3079
02:01:48,800 --> 02:01:51,920
millillage and the um parks millillage,

3080
02:01:51,920 --> 02:01:54,000
now is the time. Please state your name.

3081
02:01:54,000 --> 02:01:56,400
voting jurisdiction if you know it and

3082
02:01:56,400 --> 02:01:58,000
uh keep your comments to about three

3083
02:01:58,000 --> 02:01:59,520
minutes. Thank you.

3084
02:01:59,520 --> 02:02:01,360
>> Good morning. This is Bob Davis,

3085
02:02:01,360 --> 02:02:03,599
Georgetown Township.

3086
02:02:03,599 --> 02:02:05,360
I'm simply here to ask this board to

3087
02:02:05,360 --> 02:02:07,119
place a mental health millage renewal on

3088
02:02:07,119 --> 02:02:10,080
the August 4th ballot and to make the

3089
02:02:10,080 --> 02:02:12,480
case for why Ottawa County voters have

3090
02:02:12,480 --> 02:02:16,080
earned the chance to say yes again.

3091
02:02:16,080 --> 02:02:18,400
10 years ago, the voters of this county

3092
02:02:18,400 --> 02:02:20,560
made a commitment.

3093
02:02:20,560 --> 02:02:22,320
They said that mental health services

3094
02:02:22,320 --> 02:02:26,320
matter, that their neighbors deserve

3095
02:02:26,320 --> 02:02:29,360
access to care, and that this community

3096
02:02:29,360 --> 02:02:32,639
was willing to invest in that vision.

3097
02:02:32,639 --> 02:02:34,639
I'm here to tell you that that invest in

3098
02:02:34,639 --> 02:02:37,840
investment has paid dividends.

3099
02:02:37,840 --> 02:02:39,920
Over the past decade, millage funding

3100
02:02:39,920 --> 02:02:41,520
has allowed Ottawa County Community

3101
02:02:41,520 --> 02:02:44,080
Mental Health to expand access to

3102
02:02:44,080 --> 02:02:47,040
services for thousands of residents,

3103
02:02:47,040 --> 02:02:50,560
children, adults, seniors,

3104
02:02:50,560 --> 02:02:52,239
and people with developmental

3105
02:02:52,239 --> 02:02:54,080
disabilities

3106
02:02:54,080 --> 02:02:56,080
who might otherwise have gone without

3107
02:02:56,080 --> 02:02:57,760
care.

3108
02:02:57,760 --> 02:03:00,719
It has supported crisis intervention,

3109
02:03:00,719 --> 02:03:03,599
outpatient therapy, substance use

3110
02:03:03,599 --> 02:03:06,560
treatment, and community-based programs

3111
02:03:06,560 --> 02:03:09,199
that help people live stable, productive

3112
02:03:09,199 --> 02:03:11,440
lives,

3113
02:03:11,440 --> 02:03:14,719
and people connected to their families,

3114
02:03:14,719 --> 02:03:18,000
their jobs, and their communities.

3115
02:03:18,000 --> 02:03:20,960
These are not abstract ideas or

3116
02:03:20,960 --> 02:03:23,440
outcomes. These are real people. You've

3117
02:03:23,440 --> 02:03:26,239
heard some of them earlier today. They

3118
02:03:26,239 --> 02:03:29,599
are our neighbors and our families who

3119
02:03:29,599 --> 02:03:31,679
received help because Ottawa County

3120
02:03:31,679 --> 02:03:34,880
chose to fund it. That is something

3121
02:03:34,880 --> 02:03:37,520
worth renewing and actually to be proud

3122
02:03:37,520 --> 02:03:40,880
of. A renewal millage is exactly what it

3123
02:03:40,880 --> 02:03:43,280
sounds like, a continuation of something

3124
02:03:43,280 --> 02:03:46,080
that is already working. It doesn't

3125
02:03:46,080 --> 02:03:48,960
create a new tax burden. It asks voters

3126
02:03:48,960 --> 02:03:50,719
whether they want to maintain the

3127
02:03:50,719 --> 02:03:53,280
progress that they have already made.

3128
02:03:53,280 --> 02:03:55,360
Given the track record of the past 10

3129
02:03:55,360 --> 02:03:57,280
years, I believe the answer would be a

3130
02:03:57,280 --> 02:03:59,920
resounding yes, but only if this board

3131
02:03:59,920 --> 02:04:02,719
gives them the opportunity to vote.

3132
02:04:02,719 --> 02:04:05,040
Placing this on the August 4th ballot is

3133
02:04:05,040 --> 02:04:07,920
the efficient and responsible path. The

3134
02:04:07,920 --> 02:04:10,080
deadline is approaching and the work of

3135
02:04:10,080 --> 02:04:12,000
certifying ballot language needs to

3136
02:04:12,000 --> 02:04:14,639
happen now. I want to thank the board

3137
02:04:14,639 --> 02:04:16,960
for the support you have shown for

3138
02:04:16,960 --> 02:04:19,520
community mental health over the years.

3139
02:04:19,520 --> 02:04:21,760
The renewal is an opportunity to build

3140
02:04:21,760 --> 02:04:25,040
on that legacy to signal to residents,

3141
02:04:25,040 --> 02:04:26,800
to providers, and to the people who

3142
02:04:26,800 --> 02:04:28,560
depend on these services that Ottawa

3143
02:04:28,560 --> 02:04:30,480
County maintains

3144
02:04:30,480 --> 02:04:32,639
remains committed to the work of serving

3145
02:04:32,639 --> 02:04:34,880
our most vulnerable.

3146
02:04:34,880 --> 02:04:36,800
And since I have a minute left, a quick

3147
02:04:36,800 --> 02:04:40,239
shout out to the parks.

3148
02:04:40,239 --> 02:04:42,320
Good parks

3149
02:04:42,320 --> 02:04:46,480
help improve mental health. Thank you.

3150
02:04:46,480 --> 02:04:48,800
>> Thank you, Mr. Davis. And just a

3151
02:04:48,800 --> 02:04:50,480
clarification, if anybody who spoke

3152
02:04:50,480 --> 02:04:52,159
earlier would like to speak again to add

3153
02:04:52,159 --> 02:04:53,679
an exclamation point to your comments,

3154
02:04:53,679 --> 02:04:55,199
you are most welcome to approach as

3155
02:04:55,199 --> 02:04:57,199
well.

3156
02:04:57,199 --> 02:05:02,390
Anyone else?

3157
02:05:02,400 --> 02:05:05,040
Almost took out Barb on my way up here.

3158
02:05:05,040 --> 02:05:08,800
Sheila Lafalen Township. Um, I am going

3159
02:05:08,800 --> 02:05:11,520
to add my voice to the support for uh

3160
02:05:11,520 --> 02:05:13,199
putting the CH millillage on the August

3161
02:05:13,199 --> 02:05:15,679
ballot. Until the woman spoke earlier

3162
02:05:15,679 --> 02:05:18,080
about her experience with the Y, it

3163
02:05:18,080 --> 02:05:20,320
really had not occurred to me of that

3164
02:05:20,320 --> 02:05:23,679
kind of tangible benefit to having that

3165
02:05:23,679 --> 02:05:25,599
millillage approved earlier rather than

3166
02:05:25,599 --> 02:05:28,560
later. Um, so I really encourage you to

3167
02:05:28,560 --> 02:05:31,599
do that. As far as parks go, um when we

3168
02:05:31,599 --> 02:05:33,440
moved here five years ago for my

3169
02:05:33,440 --> 02:05:36,239
husband's job, um

3170
02:05:36,239 --> 02:05:38,480
the parks were a huge attraction in

3171
02:05:38,480 --> 02:05:40,159
coming here. Um not that I had a whole

3172
02:05:40,159 --> 02:05:41,440
lot of choice of where we were moving

3173
02:05:41,440 --> 02:05:44,480
to, but um the parks made it extremely

3174
02:05:44,480 --> 02:05:46,080
attractive. When we lived on the east

3175
02:05:46,080 --> 02:05:49,119
side, I had to drive 20 minutes at a

3176
02:05:49,119 --> 02:05:51,360
minimum to a nice park that had place

3177
02:05:51,360 --> 02:05:54,400
for kayaking and hiking. And now I can

3178
02:05:54,400 --> 02:05:56,080
practically walk out my back door and

3179
02:05:56,080 --> 02:05:59,599
get the same thing. Um, so I am fully in

3180
02:05:59,599 --> 02:06:01,599
support of the parks renewal and

3181
02:06:01,599 --> 02:06:03,920
increase. Personally, I do understand

3182
02:06:03,920 --> 02:06:05,520
that these are very difficult times

3183
02:06:05,520 --> 02:06:08,000
financially for a lot of people. Um, gas

3184
02:06:08,000 --> 02:06:10,080
prices are approaching $5 a gallon as

3185
02:06:10,080 --> 02:06:12,480
you all know. Um, so I do understand

3186
02:06:12,480 --> 02:06:16,719
that there might be some um, hesitancy

3187
02:06:16,719 --> 02:06:19,840
about the increase. Um, but I personally

3188
02:06:19,840 --> 02:06:22,800
support both of them. Thank you.

3189
02:06:22,800 --> 02:06:25,440
>> Thank you, Miss Detaf. Is there anyone

3190
02:06:25,440 --> 02:06:27,280
else who would like to talk about parks

3191
02:06:27,280 --> 02:06:30,870
or the chillage?

3192
02:06:30,880 --> 02:06:33,119
» Hello everybody. Uh my name is Kelly

3193
02:06:33,119 --> 02:06:36,079
Ruffing. I'm um from Robinson Township.

3194
02:06:36,079 --> 02:06:38,560
So um I just want to also in I don't

3195
02:06:38,560 --> 02:06:39,840
know it's hard to think of what to say

3196
02:06:39,840 --> 02:06:42,400
that our CEO or Becca didn't already say

3197
02:06:42,400 --> 02:06:45,520
but um I work at the YMCA and we've been

3198
02:06:45,520 --> 02:06:47,760
implementing a social wreck uh program

3199
02:06:47,760 --> 02:06:50,320
under the millillage since uh last May.

3200
02:06:50,320 --> 02:06:52,560
So almost a year and it has been so eye

3201
02:06:52,560 --> 02:06:55,040
opening for us. Our mission is really to

3202
02:06:55,040 --> 02:06:57,280
reach more of the vulnerable populations

3203
02:06:57,280 --> 02:06:59,599
that don't just come in for a swim in a

3204
02:06:59,599 --> 02:07:01,599
gym and this has given us the

3205
02:07:01,599 --> 02:07:03,280
opportunity to do that. It's been an

3206
02:07:03,280 --> 02:07:05,760
absolute joy and I believe it's brought

3207
02:07:05,760 --> 02:07:07,599
people out of the woodwork. Um people

3208
02:07:07,599 --> 02:07:09,360
with substance use disorder,

3209
02:07:09,360 --> 02:07:11,199
developmental disabilities, and mental

3210
02:07:11,199 --> 02:07:14,800
health challenges. um those it the Y is

3211
02:07:14,800 --> 02:07:17,520
so welcoming to all and I feel like it's

3212
02:07:17,520 --> 02:07:19,199
really helping to destigmatize people

3213
02:07:19,199 --> 02:07:21,360
that might not otherwise qualify for

3214
02:07:21,360 --> 02:07:23,760
mental health services or access them

3215
02:07:23,760 --> 02:07:25,920
just of their own free will have told me

3216
02:07:25,920 --> 02:07:28,560
especially with the substance um use and

3217
02:07:28,560 --> 02:07:31,760
the mental health members they are they

3218
02:07:31,760 --> 02:07:33,360
are thrilled to be able to just walk

3219
02:07:33,360 --> 02:07:35,440
into the Y and reap the benefits of

3220
02:07:35,440 --> 02:07:37,280
improved physical health and how that's

3221
02:07:37,280 --> 02:07:39,360
impacted their mental health and how

3222
02:07:39,360 --> 02:07:41,440
they can um do programs with their

3223
02:07:41,440 --> 02:07:42,880
families amilies and how it strengthened

3224
02:07:42,880 --> 02:07:44,079
their relationships with their friends

3225
02:07:44,079 --> 02:07:46,159
and they've made new friends and our

3226
02:07:46,159 --> 02:07:48,239
staff have just been um really enjoying

3227
02:07:48,239 --> 02:07:50,960
the program as well. So, I encourage you

3228
02:07:50,960 --> 02:07:52,800
to put it on the August ballot to reduce

3229
02:07:52,800 --> 02:07:54,000
the likelihood of any kind of

3230
02:07:54,000 --> 02:07:56,320
interruption of services and to say

3231
02:07:56,320 --> 02:07:58,560
thank you for allowing me to speak and

3232
02:07:58,560 --> 02:08:00,880
leave Grand Haven and everybody else of

3233
02:08:00,880 --> 02:08:03,440
Grand Haven and everybody else. We would

3234
02:08:03,440 --> 02:08:05,920
like you to put the Momentum Center on

3235
02:08:05,920 --> 02:08:08,239
the ballot for August.

3236
02:08:08,239 --> 02:08:10,560
We do a they do a lot for us. we go

3237
02:08:10,560 --> 02:08:13,599
places and if the but militism passed

3238
02:08:13,599 --> 02:08:16,159
then we wouldn't be able to go. I

3239
02:08:16,159 --> 02:08:18,639
finally decided to go to Momentum

3240
02:08:18,639 --> 02:08:21,040
because

3241
02:08:21,040 --> 02:08:22,719
oops

3242
02:08:22,719 --> 02:08:25,520
um I decided to go to Momentum Center to

3243
02:08:25,520 --> 02:08:28,239
get out of my apartment because I'm not

3244
02:08:28,239 --> 02:08:30,079
really a social person. I like to stay

3245
02:08:30,079 --> 02:08:32,639
home and I'm just real quiet. Thank you

3246
02:08:32,639 --> 02:08:34,960
for everything I meant.

3247
02:08:34,960 --> 02:08:39,840
>> Right. Thank you. Is there anyone else?

3248
02:08:39,840 --> 02:08:42,079
>> Greenwood.

3249
02:08:42,079 --> 02:08:43,920
>> Yeah. Hello. Glad to be here this

3250
02:08:43,920 --> 02:08:46,320
morning. My name is Caleb H Caleb

3251
02:08:46,320 --> 02:08:48,880
Higgins and I reside in Holland Township

3252
02:08:48,880 --> 02:08:51,040
and therefore I'm a member of the

3253
02:08:51,040 --> 02:08:53,920
Holland Momentum Center and I am here

3254
02:08:53,920 --> 02:08:55,760
this morning to show my support for the

3255
02:08:55,760 --> 02:08:57,679
renewal of the mental health millage and

3256
02:08:57,679 --> 02:08:59,520
to support it being placed on the August

3257
02:08:59,520 --> 02:09:02,239
ballot. One program that receives mental

3258
02:09:02,239 --> 02:09:04,159
health millage funding is the Momentum

3259
02:09:04,159 --> 02:09:06,639
Center. So, I'm certainly grateful for

3260
02:09:06,639 --> 02:09:08,560
the momentum center for the fact that

3261
02:09:08,560 --> 02:09:11,440
it's a great way for me to spend time

3262
02:09:11,440 --> 02:09:13,199
because a lot of people like myself may

3263
02:09:13,199 --> 02:09:15,280
be disabled and unable to work and

3264
02:09:15,280 --> 02:09:17,760
single at the time. So, the Momentum

3265
02:09:17,760 --> 02:09:19,599
Center really helps me and others like

3266
02:09:19,599 --> 02:09:21,360
myself deal with the boredom and

3267
02:09:21,360 --> 02:09:22,880
loneliness.

3268
02:09:22,880 --> 02:09:24,639
And I'd also like to add that the M

3269
02:09:24,639 --> 02:09:26,880
momentum center is some very interesting

3270
02:09:26,880 --> 02:09:28,960
activities which I think are very

3271
02:09:28,960 --> 02:09:32,000
educational and almost comparable to the

3272
02:09:32,000 --> 02:09:34,000
extracurricular activities in the

3273
02:09:34,000 --> 02:09:36,719
schools. It's also a very great way to

3274
02:09:36,719 --> 02:09:38,639
socialize with a lot of people and learn

3275
02:09:38,639 --> 02:09:40,880
a great deal of skills. Like it's taught

3276
02:09:40,880 --> 02:09:44,800
me how to be a lot better cook.

3277
02:09:44,800 --> 02:09:46,960
The Momentum Center also provides

3278
02:09:46,960 --> 02:09:48,800
opportunities for us to keep up on our

3279
02:09:48,800 --> 02:09:52,320
good health. They do some offering of

3280
02:09:52,320 --> 02:09:54,159
activities like walking outside,

3281
02:09:54,159 --> 02:09:56,239
especially when the weather is good or

3282
02:09:56,239 --> 02:09:58,960
during what we call our open gym time at

3283
02:09:58,960 --> 02:10:03,040
the church we meet in now. And I would

3284
02:10:03,040 --> 02:10:05,119
actually believe I'd be lost without the

3285
02:10:05,119 --> 02:10:08,159
M momentum center. So I hurtly hope that

3286
02:10:08,159 --> 02:10:10,960
you vote to add add to the renewal to

3287
02:10:10,960 --> 02:10:13,599
the August ballot and renew the mental

3288
02:10:13,599 --> 02:10:16,400
health millage so that others and I can

3289
02:10:16,400 --> 02:10:19,679
continue to grow and keep it operating.

3290
02:10:19,679 --> 02:10:21,040
Thank you.

3291
02:10:21,040 --> 02:10:28,390
>> Thank you Mr. Higgins.

3292
02:10:28,400 --> 02:10:30,800
» Hi Gwen Foss um from Spring Lake

3293
02:10:30,800 --> 02:10:33,440
Fairiesburg. Um, and I was not intending

3294
02:10:33,440 --> 02:10:37,119
to make a comment. Um, but I just I work

3295
02:10:37,119 --> 02:10:39,280
for University of Michigan Health and I

3296
02:10:39,280 --> 02:10:41,280
just think it's ironic that I got an

3297
02:10:41,280 --> 02:10:43,199
email that came in just a few minutes

3298
02:10:43,199 --> 02:10:46,880
ago that says May is mental health month

3299
02:10:46,880 --> 02:10:49,280
and um encourages everybody to get

3300
02:10:49,280 --> 02:10:51,040
involved. It talked about different

3301
02:10:51,040 --> 02:10:53,360
webinars and symposiums

3302
02:10:53,360 --> 02:10:56,880
um about AI and mental health risks um

3303
02:10:56,880 --> 02:11:00,880
maternal um mental health addiction

3304
02:11:00,880 --> 02:11:05,280
services different um drug agents

3305
02:11:05,280 --> 02:11:09,040
um breakthroughs for bipolar disorder

3306
02:11:09,040 --> 02:11:12,400
and um supporting kids at of every age.

3307
02:11:12,400 --> 02:11:15,360
Um, so I just thought it made sense to

3308
02:11:15,360 --> 02:11:18,159
also put my word in for supporting

3309
02:11:18,159 --> 02:11:20,159
community mental health.

3310
02:11:20,159 --> 02:11:22,400
>> Thank you, Miss Boss.

3311
02:11:22,400 --> 02:11:26,480
Is there anyone else? Come on up.

3312
02:11:26,480 --> 02:11:27,920
>> My name is Elizabeth Brewbaker from

3313
02:11:27,920 --> 02:11:30,239
Holland Township. I've lived in Holland

3314
02:11:30,239 --> 02:11:32,800
Township for 30 years. When my children

3315
02:11:32,800 --> 02:11:34,639
were young, we spent a lot of our summer

3316
02:11:34,639 --> 02:11:38,639
at the parks and took part in some of

3317
02:11:38,639 --> 02:11:40,560
the programming. We even started an

3318
02:11:40,560 --> 02:11:42,960
annual tradition of taking a hike to

3319
02:11:42,960 --> 02:11:44,960
Rosie Mound on Labor Day, which we still

3320
02:11:44,960 --> 02:11:48,000
do. My husband and I continue to enjoy

3321
02:11:48,000 --> 02:11:50,320
walks in Adawa County parks and we also

3322
02:11:50,320 --> 02:11:51,760
enjoy programming, especially the

3323
02:11:51,760 --> 02:11:53,840
birding programs. In fact, we enjoyed

3324
02:11:53,840 --> 02:11:55,440
the yearly program to see the Eagle's

3325
02:11:55,440 --> 02:11:57,599
Nest at the Grand Ravines just this past

3326
02:11:57,599 --> 02:11:59,440
weekend.

3327
02:11:59,440 --> 02:12:01,599
We also continue to enjoy exploring the

3328
02:12:01,599 --> 02:12:03,760
steady expansion of the county parks and

3329
02:12:03,760 --> 02:12:05,840
trails. And it's hard to believe we get

3330
02:12:05,840 --> 02:12:07,760
to enjoy the beauty of these parks and

3331
02:12:07,760 --> 02:12:10,079
actively enjoy making use of them all

3332
02:12:10,079 --> 02:12:12,719
for only an average of about $66 a year

3333
02:12:12,719 --> 02:12:15,520
per household. With the proposal to

3334
02:12:15,520 --> 02:12:17,920
increase the millillage by2 mills or an

3335
02:12:17,920 --> 02:12:21,040
average about $40 a year per household

3336
02:12:21,040 --> 02:12:22,480
to fund further expansions and

3337
02:12:22,480 --> 02:12:24,480
renovations, we still come out at a

3338
02:12:24,480 --> 02:12:26,560
total of less than $10 a month for an

3339
02:12:26,560 --> 02:12:28,800
incredible park system. I don't have

3340
02:12:28,800 --> 02:12:30,480
hard data about how much this county

3341
02:12:30,480 --> 02:12:32,159
park system adds to the value of my

3342
02:12:32,159 --> 02:12:34,239
home, but I feel confident it's more

3343
02:12:34,239 --> 02:12:37,040
than $110 a year. I'm fully in support

3344
02:12:37,040 --> 02:12:39,599
of the renewal of the existing uh.33

3345
02:12:39,599 --> 02:12:41,599
mills as well as the proposed 2 mills

3346
02:12:41,599 --> 02:12:43,840
for parks and open space. And I urge you

3347
02:12:43,840 --> 02:12:45,440
to vote yes to adopt the resolution

3348
02:12:45,440 --> 02:12:47,760
approving the ballot language. I also

3349
02:12:47,760 --> 02:12:49,520
urge you to vote in favor of the

3350
02:12:49,520 --> 02:12:51,599
community mental health millage. Hearing

3351
02:12:51,599 --> 02:12:54,719
these stories today reminds me of how

3352
02:12:54,719 --> 02:12:57,280
much work goes on in the background to

3353
02:12:57,280 --> 02:13:00,159
make sure that so many people in Ottawa

3354
02:13:00,159 --> 02:13:03,280
County get to live the life that makes

3355
02:13:03,280 --> 02:13:06,719
it a quality life for them. Thank you.

3356
02:13:06,719 --> 02:13:10,079
>> Thank you, Miss Brewbaker.

3357
02:13:10,079 --> 02:13:15,109
>> Come on up.

3358
02:13:15,119 --> 02:13:16,880
» My name is Katie Oswald and I live in

3359
02:13:16,880 --> 02:13:18,560
the city of Holland. I'm here as someone

3360
02:13:18,560 --> 02:13:20,239
who really needs a place like Momentum

3361
02:13:20,239 --> 02:13:22,159
Center. When people hear mental health

3362
02:13:22,159 --> 02:13:23,520
millage, I think many who don't know

3363
02:13:23,520 --> 02:13:26,159
what the funds it funds simp assume it's

3364
02:13:26,159 --> 02:13:28,400
simply a tax increase. To me, it's a

3365
02:13:28,400 --> 02:13:30,159
reminder of how far I come from a season

3366
02:13:30,159 --> 02:13:31,920
when I wasn't sure how I was going to

3367
02:13:31,920 --> 02:13:33,840
get through. When even small steps

3368
02:13:33,840 --> 02:13:35,920
forward took everything I had before I

3369
02:13:35,920 --> 02:13:37,679
found the Momentum Center, I was in a

3370
02:13:37,679 --> 02:13:39,520
really dark place. I felt alone all the

3371
02:13:39,520 --> 02:13:42,239
time, even when I was around people. I

3372
02:13:42,239 --> 02:13:43,920
was dealing with suicidal thoughts and

3373
02:13:43,920 --> 02:13:45,440
it felt like I was trapped in my own

3374
02:13:45,440 --> 02:13:47,360
mind with no way out. I heard about

3375
02:13:47,360 --> 02:13:48,960
Momentum Center after being discharged

3376
02:13:48,960 --> 02:13:50,880
from Holland Hospital. They told me it

3377
02:13:50,880 --> 02:13:52,480
could be a resource in the community to

3378
02:13:52,480 --> 02:13:55,280
support my mental health. The M momentum

3379
02:13:55,280 --> 02:13:57,040
center welcomed me into a space where I

3380
02:13:57,040 --> 02:13:58,800
didn't have to pretend I was okay. I

3381
02:13:58,800 --> 02:14:00,639
could come exactly as I was. It's a

3382
02:14:00,639 --> 02:14:02,320
place where I'm not too much, not a

3383
02:14:02,320 --> 02:14:03,760
burden, and not a problem that needs

3384
02:14:03,760 --> 02:14:06,159
fixing. The Momentum Center gave me what

3385
02:14:06,159 --> 02:14:08,159
I didn't realize I was aching for. A

3386
02:14:08,159 --> 02:14:09,760
place where I could simply exist, take

3387
02:14:09,760 --> 02:14:11,920
up space without apology. And that

3388
02:14:11,920 --> 02:14:13,920
changed everything. When you spend your

3389
02:14:13,920 --> 02:14:15,199
whole life feeling like you have to

3390
02:14:15,199 --> 02:14:16,719
shrink yourself, stay quiet, or

3391
02:14:16,719 --> 02:14:18,320
disappear. Being in a place where you're

3392
02:14:18,320 --> 02:14:20,000
allowed to just be there fully and

3393
02:14:20,000 --> 02:14:21,840
without apology is powerful. It's

3394
02:14:21,840 --> 02:14:24,000
healing. It can literally keep you

3395
02:14:24,000 --> 02:14:26,079
going. That's what the mental health

3396
02:14:26,079 --> 02:14:28,000
means to me. It's not just progress.

3397
02:14:28,000 --> 02:14:29,840
It's survival. It's the small moments

3398
02:14:29,840 --> 02:14:31,599
that build up into something bigger.

3399
02:14:31,599 --> 02:14:33,360
It's showing up one day and then finding

3400
02:14:33,360 --> 02:14:37,199
the strength to come back again.

3401
02:14:37,199 --> 02:14:39,040
It's going from feeling completely alone

3402
02:14:39,040 --> 02:14:41,119
to realizing you are a part of something

3403
02:14:41,119 --> 02:14:43,360
bigger than yourself. I need to say this

3404
02:14:43,360 --> 02:14:45,199
clearly. The Momentum Center is not the

3405
02:14:45,199 --> 02:14:46,719
only place doing this work. There are

3406
02:14:46,719 --> 02:14:48,480
other social recreation programs out

3407
02:14:48,480 --> 02:14:50,560
there and they matter just as much.

3408
02:14:50,560 --> 02:14:52,320
Maybe more than people realize because

3409
02:14:52,320 --> 02:14:54,079
not everyone finds connection in the

3410
02:14:54,079 --> 02:14:56,000
same place. Not everybody needs the same

3411
02:14:56,000 --> 02:14:57,679
kind of support, but every person

3412
02:14:57,679 --> 02:14:59,840
deserves a place to go, a place to be in

3413
02:14:59,840 --> 02:15:02,400
their community where they can choose.

3414
02:15:02,400 --> 02:15:04,560
These funded programs like the Momentum

3415
02:15:04,560 --> 02:15:06,320
Center give people a reason to get out

3416
02:15:06,320 --> 02:15:08,320
of bed. They give people somewhere safe

3417
02:15:08,320 --> 02:15:10,639
to land when life feels unbearable. They

3418
02:15:10,639 --> 02:15:12,320
give people connection which for me

3419
02:15:12,320 --> 02:15:14,480
helps reduce going into crisis. They

3420
02:15:14,480 --> 02:15:16,639
give people hope and that's why we it's

3421
02:15:16,639 --> 02:15:18,239
so important to get the millillage on

3422
02:15:18,239 --> 02:15:20,480
the ballot in August. It is bigger than

3423
02:15:20,480 --> 02:15:22,320
just the momentum center. One program,

3424
02:15:22,320 --> 02:15:24,400
one story. People deserve a voice and

3425
02:15:24,400 --> 02:15:25,920
whether support like this continues,

3426
02:15:25,920 --> 02:15:27,440
grows, and reaches the people who are

3427
02:15:27,440 --> 02:15:29,599
barely hanging on. For me, this kind of

3428
02:15:29,599 --> 02:15:31,119
support has made all the difference. And

3429
02:15:31,119 --> 02:15:33,280
I know I'm not the only one. Mental

3430
02:15:33,280 --> 02:15:35,040
health is about more than progress. It's

3431
02:15:35,040 --> 02:15:36,960
about survival. It's about dignity. It's

3432
02:15:36,960 --> 02:15:38,400
about being reminded that your life

3433
02:15:38,400 --> 02:15:40,480
matters. Your presence matters and your

3434
02:15:40,480 --> 02:15:42,639
future matters. That is why I'm asking

3435
02:15:42,639 --> 02:15:44,320
you to add the mil mental health millage

3436
02:15:44,320 --> 02:15:46,159
to the ballot in August to give people a

3437
02:15:46,159 --> 02:15:47,440
place and a voice where they wouldn't

3438
02:15:47,440 --> 02:15:49,520
normally have one. Thank you.

3439
02:15:49,520 --> 02:15:52,960
>> Thank you, Miss Oswald.

3440
02:15:52,960 --> 02:15:58,069
Is there anyone else?

3441
02:15:58,079 --> 02:16:00,239
» Barbara Lee, city of Miss uh city of

3442
02:16:00,239 --> 02:16:03,040
Grand Haven and the Momentum Center. I'm

3443
02:16:03,040 --> 02:16:05,760
here today as so many others are because

3444
02:16:05,760 --> 02:16:07,920
we want to make something really clear.

3445
02:16:07,920 --> 02:16:09,599
The community mental health millillage

3446
02:16:09,599 --> 02:16:13,040
is not an abstract policy decision. It

3447
02:16:13,040 --> 02:16:15,440
is the difference between stability and

3448
02:16:15,440 --> 02:16:18,400
crisis for thousands of our neighbors.

3449
02:16:18,400 --> 02:16:20,320
For the past decade, this millillage has

3450
02:16:20,320 --> 02:16:22,320
quietly done exactly what it was

3451
02:16:22,320 --> 02:16:25,119
designed to do. Support people before

3452
02:16:25,119 --> 02:16:28,000
they reach a breaking point. Every day

3453
02:16:28,000 --> 02:16:30,560
we see the impact. We see individuals

3454
02:16:30,560 --> 02:16:32,639
who because of these services are not

3455
02:16:32,639 --> 02:16:35,120
sitting in an emergency room, not

3456
02:16:35,120 --> 02:16:37,519
cycling through the jail system, but

3457
02:16:37,519 --> 02:16:40,240
instead are finding connection, purpose,

3458
02:16:40,240 --> 02:16:43,200
and a path forward. And that matters not

3459
02:16:43,200 --> 02:16:45,760
just morally, but financially. Because

3460
02:16:45,760 --> 02:16:47,840
when we invest in mental health early,

3461
02:16:47,840 --> 02:16:50,399
we reduce the strain on law enforcement,

3462
02:16:50,399 --> 02:16:53,519
hospitals, and the broader system. But

3463
02:16:53,519 --> 02:16:55,040
here's the part that's really important

3464
02:16:55,040 --> 02:16:57,760
to say clearly. This only continues if

3465
02:16:57,760 --> 02:17:00,399
the millage continues. If it's not

3466
02:17:00,399 --> 02:17:02,479
renewed, these programs, the ones you've

3467
02:17:02,479 --> 02:17:04,080
been hearing about throughout this

3468
02:17:04,080 --> 02:17:07,280
meeting, will be reduced or lost. And

3469
02:17:07,280 --> 02:17:09,359
the people who rely on them won't

3470
02:17:09,359 --> 02:17:12,080
disappear. They will simply show up in

3471
02:17:12,080 --> 02:17:14,719
systems that are most more costly and

3472
02:17:14,719 --> 02:17:17,280
often less effective. So today, I'm

3473
02:17:17,280 --> 02:17:19,840
asking you to do two things. first vote

3474
02:17:19,840 --> 02:17:21,679
to place the millillage on the August

3475
02:17:21,679 --> 02:17:23,840
4th ballot so that the people of Ottawa

3476
02:17:23,840 --> 02:17:25,679
County can decide whether to continue

3477
02:17:25,679 --> 02:17:28,160
this investment in their neighbors. And

3478
02:17:28,160 --> 02:17:30,080
second, I invite you to come and see

3479
02:17:30,080 --> 02:17:32,399
this work for yourselves. Visit the

3480
02:17:32,399 --> 02:17:34,080
programs that have been speaking here

3481
02:17:34,080 --> 02:17:36,399
today. I joined the momentum center at

3482
02:17:36,399 --> 02:17:38,880
our annual prom with a purpose. Come

3483
02:17:38,880 --> 02:17:40,960
meet the people whose lives are shaped

3484
02:17:40,960 --> 02:17:43,599
by these services because once you see

3485
02:17:43,599 --> 02:17:46,880
it up close, it stops being theoretical.

3486
02:17:46,880 --> 02:17:50,240
it becomes personal. Mental health is a

3487
02:17:50,240 --> 02:17:52,080
community issue, one that's been

3488
02:17:52,080 --> 02:17:54,960
chronically underfunded. This community

3489
02:17:54,960 --> 02:17:57,040
saw that problem and chose to respond

3490
02:17:57,040 --> 02:18:00,880
with a truly unique community solution.

3491
02:18:00,880 --> 02:18:03,040
The millillage isn't just about funding

3492
02:18:03,040 --> 02:18:05,200
services. It's about continuing

3493
02:18:05,200 --> 02:18:07,519
something that this community chose to

3494
02:18:07,519 --> 02:18:11,040
build together. Thank you for your time,

3495
02:18:11,040 --> 02:18:13,200
your leadership, and your commitment to

3496
02:18:13,200 --> 02:18:17,439
the well-being of this community.

3497
02:18:17,439 --> 02:18:24,709
Thank you, Miss Lee.

3498
02:18:24,719 --> 02:18:26,880
» Good morning, commissioners. My name is

3499
02:18:26,880 --> 02:18:30,880
Vonnie Vanderswag and I am I'm from um

3500
02:18:30,880 --> 02:18:32,960
Olive Township. I'm also a board member

3501
02:18:32,960 --> 02:18:34,960
for community mental health. You've

3502
02:18:34,960 --> 02:18:37,679
already heard a lot about both the

3503
02:18:37,679 --> 02:18:39,599
services that our millillage has been

3504
02:18:39,599 --> 02:18:42,319
able to fund and the importance of it

3505
02:18:42,319 --> 02:18:45,599
being on the August ballot. Um, I would

3506
02:18:45,599 --> 02:18:48,160
just like to add a little bit to this by

3507
02:18:48,160 --> 02:18:50,399
sharing with you. I was a board member

3508
02:18:50,399 --> 02:18:53,040
prior to our first millillage being

3509
02:18:53,040 --> 02:18:55,679
passed and currently I'm a board member

3510
02:18:55,679 --> 02:18:58,719
as well. I have seen firsthand what a

3511
02:18:58,719 --> 02:19:01,359
difference it has made and so I just

3512
02:19:01,359 --> 02:19:03,679
encourage you to put it on the ballot

3513
02:19:03,679 --> 02:19:08,790
for August. Um, additionally,

3514
02:19:08,800 --> 02:19:12,080
um, I am currently serving as the

3515
02:19:12,080 --> 02:19:14,719
chairperson of our finance committee.

3516
02:19:14,719 --> 02:19:17,120
And I just want to also assure you that

3517
02:19:17,120 --> 02:19:20,000
we look at all of the dollars so

3518
02:19:20,000 --> 02:19:23,120
carefully as we make determinations and

3519
02:19:23,120 --> 02:19:25,599
recommendations about how to spend them.

3520
02:19:25,599 --> 02:19:27,599
Just like all the funding that comes in

3521
02:19:27,599 --> 02:19:29,840
through Medicaid and other sources, our

3522
02:19:29,840 --> 02:19:32,639
millage money is looked at through a a

3523
02:19:32,639 --> 02:19:34,800
very close lens.

3524
02:19:34,800 --> 02:19:37,040
And finally, I want to thank all of you

3525
02:19:37,040 --> 02:19:39,280
for the work that you do and for the

3526
02:19:39,280 --> 02:19:41,439
support that you have given in the past

3527
02:19:41,439 --> 02:19:44,240
for the community mental health services

3528
02:19:44,240 --> 02:19:47,679
and all of our members of our community

3529
02:19:47,679 --> 02:19:51,120
who need that service. Thank you.

3530
02:19:51,120 --> 02:19:53,120
>> Thank you, Vonnie.

3531
02:19:53,120 --> 02:19:57,750
I know there's at least one more.

3532
02:19:57,760 --> 02:20:00,319
» Rosalie Austin, city of Holland. I'd

3533
02:20:00,319 --> 02:20:01,760
like to support the mental health

3534
02:20:01,760 --> 02:20:04,319
millage also and that mental health not

3535
02:20:04,319 --> 02:20:06,960
only serves mental health consumers but

3536
02:20:06,960 --> 02:20:09,120
also the intellectual developmental

3537
02:20:09,120 --> 02:20:10,640
disability

3538
02:20:10,640 --> 02:20:14,720
population that supports my daughter and

3539
02:20:14,720 --> 02:20:16,960
I'm thankful and grateful for our

3540
02:20:16,960 --> 02:20:18,880
community for putting the community in

3541
02:20:18,880 --> 02:20:22,000
community mental health because it's

3542
02:20:22,000 --> 02:20:24,399
priceless the millillage and what it

3543
02:20:24,399 --> 02:20:29,910
does for our community neighbors.

3544
02:20:29,920 --> 02:20:34,640
You can't. It's undervalued that we

3545
02:20:34,640 --> 02:20:38,319
can't. It's the best we can do. Okay.

3546
02:20:38,319 --> 02:20:39,280
Thanks.

3547
02:20:39,280 --> 02:20:42,080
>> Thank you, Rosalie.

3548
02:20:42,080 --> 02:20:48,630
Is there anyone else? Come on up.

3549
02:20:48,640 --> 02:20:51,120
» Good morning. Uh, Kelly Rice, Crockery

3550
02:20:51,120 --> 02:20:53,359
Township. Most of you know me as the

3551
02:20:53,359 --> 02:20:54,880
president of the Ottawa County Parks and

3552
02:20:54,880 --> 02:20:56,560
Recreation Commission, and I've

3553
02:20:56,560 --> 02:20:58,319
previously spoken about the amount of

3554
02:20:58,319 --> 02:21:00,399
work that parks has done to arrive at

3555
02:21:00,399 --> 02:21:03,120
the proposed 0.53 mill rate for the

3556
02:21:03,120 --> 02:21:05,439
upcoming ballot. But I'm here today to

3557
02:21:05,439 --> 02:21:08,240
talk to you about what parks mean to me.

3558
02:21:08,240 --> 02:21:10,479
Ottawa County Parks hold a special place

3559
02:21:10,479 --> 02:21:12,399
in my heart. Although I've lived here

3560
02:21:12,399 --> 02:21:14,479
for over 20 years, I've also lived all

3561
02:21:14,479 --> 02:21:16,319
across the country, and I've seen the

3562
02:21:16,319 --> 02:21:18,640
local park systems across the country,

3563
02:21:18,640 --> 02:21:21,040
or lack thereof. And I can tell you that

3564
02:21:21,040 --> 02:21:22,880
our Ottawa County parks are truly

3565
02:21:22,880 --> 02:21:25,600
something special. In addition to the

3566
02:21:25,600 --> 02:21:27,840
ecological benefits and services they

3567
02:21:27,840 --> 02:21:30,240
provide, such as clean water, critical

3568
02:21:30,240 --> 02:21:33,040
wildlife habitat, pollination services,

3569
02:21:33,040 --> 02:21:35,680
and storm water management, or the

3570
02:21:35,680 --> 02:21:38,160
physical benefits of hiking, biking, or

3571
02:21:38,160 --> 02:21:39,680
running in the beautiful natural

3572
02:21:39,680 --> 02:21:42,640
communities in open spaces. Our parks

3573
02:21:42,640 --> 02:21:44,960
also provide sometimes more intangible

3574
02:21:44,960 --> 02:21:47,840
benefits such as solace, just simple

3575
02:21:47,840 --> 02:21:50,880
unplugged family time, stress reduction,

3576
02:21:50,880 --> 02:21:53,760
and healing. I can personally vouch for

3577
02:21:53,760 --> 02:21:55,760
these benefits as I was diagnosed with

3578
02:21:55,760 --> 02:21:58,319
breast cancer in 2023.

3579
02:21:58,319 --> 02:22:00,240
The energy I received from the natural

3580
02:22:00,240 --> 02:22:02,319
world and our parks during my journey

3581
02:22:02,319 --> 02:22:04,880
was immeasurable. Having the privilege

3582
02:22:04,880 --> 02:22:06,960
to observe something as simple as a

3583
02:22:06,960 --> 02:22:09,120
chorus of wood frogs in the vernal pools

3584
02:22:09,120 --> 02:22:11,920
at Crockery Creek, a carpet of spring

3585
02:22:11,920 --> 02:22:15,280
wild flowers at Grand Ravines, a downy

3586
02:22:15,280 --> 02:22:17,280
woodpecker mama popping in and out of

3587
02:22:17,280 --> 02:22:19,280
her cavity next nest tree while I could

3588
02:22:19,280 --> 02:22:20,560
hear her babies chirping in the

3589
02:22:20,560 --> 02:22:23,680
background on the Grand Explorers Trail,

3590
02:22:23,680 --> 02:22:25,439
and an or maybe something like a native

3591
02:22:25,439 --> 02:22:27,200
prairie that was flowing like waves in

3592
02:22:27,200 --> 02:22:29,840
the wind at Upper Makatawa Natural Area.

3593
02:22:29,840 --> 02:22:31,520
These sometimes provided me with the

3594
02:22:31,520 --> 02:22:33,200
energy I needed just to simply get

3595
02:22:33,200 --> 02:22:36,240
through the day. And they still do. My

3596
02:22:36,240 --> 02:22:38,240
friend, who's also a cancer survivor and

3597
02:22:38,240 --> 02:22:40,560
thor organizes walks for a friend group

3598
02:22:40,560 --> 02:22:42,479
that I try to attend in our parks every

3599
02:22:42,479 --> 02:22:45,359
single week. These natural wonders make

3600
02:22:45,359 --> 02:22:47,520
you realize that you're an integral part

3601
02:22:47,520 --> 02:22:49,760
of something bigger. And these benefits

3602
02:22:49,760 --> 02:22:51,280
are something we should be looking to

3603
02:22:51,280 --> 02:22:53,520
preserve and enhance for our children,

3604
02:22:53,520 --> 02:22:55,600
grandchildren, and the many generations

3605
02:22:55,600 --> 02:22:58,240
coming after us. I hope you will all

3606
02:22:58,240 --> 02:22:59,680
support placement of the parks

3607
02:22:59,680 --> 02:23:01,760
millillage on the ballot and allow our

3608
02:23:01,760 --> 02:23:03,680
residents the opportunity to continue

3609
02:23:03,680 --> 02:23:06,160
and enhance this legacy. And since I

3610
02:23:06,160 --> 02:23:07,760
have a bit of time, I do want to give a

3611
02:23:07,760 --> 02:23:09,359
shout out. I'm very supportive of the

3612
02:23:09,359 --> 02:23:11,280
community mental health millage as well.

3613
02:23:11,280 --> 02:23:12,720
So, I would like to go on record for

3614
02:23:12,720 --> 02:23:15,600
saying that. Um, also a couple folks

3615
02:23:15,600 --> 02:23:17,040
contacted me and said they weren't able

3616
02:23:17,040 --> 02:23:18,399
to attend the public hearing today

3617
02:23:18,399 --> 02:23:20,479
because there wasn't a designated time.

3618
02:23:20,479 --> 02:23:22,160
And I just wanted to offer up, it may or

3619
02:23:22,160 --> 02:23:23,520
may not work, but at the parks

3620
02:23:23,520 --> 02:23:25,520
commission, we have a published time at

3621
02:23:25,520 --> 02:23:27,520
which the public hearing starts. So we

3622
02:23:27,520 --> 02:23:29,520
start the meeting at three. We have the

3623
02:23:29,520 --> 02:23:31,359
public hearing at 4. So we stop the

3624
02:23:31,359 --> 02:23:33,120
agenda where we are and just have like a

3625
02:23:33,120 --> 02:23:35,439
hard time so people know, especially

3626
02:23:35,439 --> 02:23:37,200
during the workday because some people

3627
02:23:37,200 --> 02:23:38,960
weren't that able to take off an

3628
02:23:38,960 --> 02:23:40,640
indefinite amount of time to be here

3629
02:23:40,640 --> 02:23:42,800
today. So just wanted to offer that up.

3630
02:23:42,800 --> 02:23:44,319
But thank you so much for your time and

3631
02:23:44,319 --> 02:23:45,200
support.

3632
02:23:45,200 --> 02:23:47,439
>> All right. Thank you, Kelly.

3633
02:23:47,439 --> 02:23:50,960
There anyone else? Come on up.

3634
02:23:50,960 --> 02:23:54,560
Seeing none. No, I'm kidding.

3635
02:23:54,560 --> 02:23:57,439
>> Story of my life.

3636
02:23:57,439 --> 02:23:59,200
>> Uh, good morning. I think it's still

3637
02:23:59,200 --> 02:24:01,840
morning. Um, Gordon Gallagher, Spring

3638
02:24:01,840 --> 02:24:04,000
Lake Township Manager. I promise I'll be

3639
02:24:04,000 --> 02:24:06,640
brief. Uh, Spring Lake Township and

3640
02:24:06,640 --> 02:24:08,880
Ottawa County Parks Department have a

3641
02:24:08,880 --> 02:24:11,120
long and productive partnership. We

3642
02:24:11,120 --> 02:24:13,439
deeply value the access our residents

3643
02:24:13,439 --> 02:24:16,399
have to high-quality parks, trails, and

3644
02:24:16,399 --> 02:24:19,439
natural spaces. These assets are not

3645
02:24:19,439 --> 02:24:21,600
just amenities. They are essential to

3646
02:24:21,600 --> 02:24:24,319
our residents quality of life and to the

3647
02:24:24,319 --> 02:24:27,040
economic vitality of our region. Parks

3648
02:24:27,040 --> 02:24:28,720
attract visitors, support local

3649
02:24:28,720 --> 02:24:30,640
business, and make our communities

3650
02:24:30,640 --> 02:24:32,640
places where people want to live and

3651
02:24:32,640 --> 02:24:35,439
invest. As our population continues to

3652
02:24:35,439 --> 02:24:37,840
grow, so does the demand for outdoor

3653
02:24:37,840 --> 02:24:41,280
recreation, environmental education, and

3654
02:24:41,280 --> 02:24:44,080
accessible natural areas. Without

3655
02:24:44,080 --> 02:24:46,080
continued investment, we risk falling

3656
02:24:46,080 --> 02:24:49,920
behind that demand. Investing in parks

3657
02:24:49,920 --> 02:24:52,960
is investing in community well-being.

3658
02:24:52,960 --> 02:24:55,520
Parks are places to learn, to gather,

3659
02:24:55,520 --> 02:24:57,439
and to spend meaningful time with

3660
02:24:57,439 --> 02:25:00,240
family. They are also critical to

3661
02:25:00,240 --> 02:25:02,319
preserving the natural resources that

3662
02:25:02,319 --> 02:25:04,720
define Ottawa County.

3663
02:25:04,720 --> 02:25:07,680
We respectfully ask that you support the

3664
02:25:07,680 --> 02:25:09,280
parks department by placing the

3665
02:25:09,280 --> 02:25:12,319
millillage requests on the ballot and

3666
02:25:12,319 --> 02:25:15,200
supporting their passage. Importantly,

3667
02:25:15,200 --> 02:25:17,120
millage dollars in Ottawa County are

3668
02:25:17,120 --> 02:25:19,600
leveraged with state and local grants as

3669
02:25:19,600 --> 02:25:22,399
well as private donations.

3670
02:25:22,399 --> 02:25:24,720
This multiplies the return on investment

3671
02:25:24,720 --> 02:25:26,880
and maximizes the benefit to our

3672
02:25:26,880 --> 02:25:30,160
residents and taxpayers. So again,

3673
02:25:30,160 --> 02:25:32,800
please put these on the ballot, but also

3674
02:25:32,800 --> 02:25:35,120
you have a lot of constituents. Please

3675
02:25:35,120 --> 02:25:37,439
consider supporting these individually

3676
02:25:37,439 --> 02:25:39,920
as your constituents listen to you.

3677
02:25:39,920 --> 02:25:41,280
Thank you.

3678
02:25:41,280 --> 02:25:42,479
>> Thank you, Gordon.

3679
02:25:42,479 --> 02:25:45,920
>> Ty. Yeah, nicely done.

3680
02:25:45,920 --> 02:25:47,680
>> Everybody else did a nice job, too, just

3681
02:25:47,680 --> 02:25:52,950
to put that on the record.

3682
02:25:52,960 --> 02:25:54,640
» Hello, commissioners. My name is Allison

3683
02:25:54,640 --> 02:25:57,280
Shamblin of Fairiesburg. Many of you

3684
02:25:57,280 --> 02:25:58,640
know my wonderful husband, Jason

3685
02:25:58,640 --> 02:26:00,880
Shamblin. I'd like to share a personal

3686
02:26:00,880 --> 02:26:02,640
story about what the parks mean to our

3687
02:26:02,640 --> 02:26:04,880
family and why the proposed increase is

3688
02:26:04,880 --> 02:26:07,040
really important. Over 23 years of

3689
02:26:07,040 --> 02:26:08,319
marriage, we've moved three different

3690
02:26:08,319 --> 02:26:10,319
times so my husband could further his

3691
02:26:10,319 --> 02:26:13,040
career in parks. Each move met new

3692
02:26:13,040 --> 02:26:15,040
schools, new friends, and starting over

3693
02:26:15,040 --> 02:26:18,080
for our family. In 2015, we visited West

3694
02:26:18,080 --> 02:26:19,840
Michigan on a family vacation and fell

3695
02:26:19,840 --> 02:26:21,600
in love with it, especially Lake

3696
02:26:21,600 --> 02:26:24,080
Michigan and the dunes. A few years

3697
02:26:24,080 --> 02:26:26,399
later in 2019, we moved here for his

3698
02:26:26,399 --> 02:26:28,880
role with Otto County Parks.

3699
02:26:28,880 --> 02:26:30,960
Our kids were 11, nine, and eight at the

3700
02:26:30,960 --> 02:26:32,720
time, and they didn't see it as the

3701
02:26:32,720 --> 02:26:35,280
dream we did. They saw it as leaving

3702
02:26:35,280 --> 02:26:37,520
everything they knew. Their question was

3703
02:26:37,520 --> 02:26:39,200
simple and honest. Why did we have to

3704
02:26:39,200 --> 02:26:42,000
move to Michigan for dad's job? We moved

3705
02:26:42,000 --> 02:26:43,920
to our home a few days before school

3706
02:26:43,920 --> 02:26:45,760
started, and the kids were just

3707
02:26:45,760 --> 02:26:47,920
beginning to adjust. And like everyone

3708
02:26:47,920 --> 02:26:50,160
else, March of 2020 hit, and the world

3709
02:26:50,160 --> 02:26:52,880
shut down. Once again, the kids question

3710
02:26:52,880 --> 02:26:55,760
came. Why did we move here? So, we did

3711
02:26:55,760 --> 02:26:58,000
what many families did. We went outside.

3712
02:26:58,000 --> 02:27:00,399
We explored the trails, the beaches, the

3713
02:27:00,399 --> 02:27:02,240
water, the woods, and all the open

3714
02:27:02,240 --> 02:27:04,560
spaces. We discovered places like Grand

3715
02:27:04,560 --> 02:27:07,439
Ravines, upper Makataba natural area,

3716
02:27:07,439 --> 02:27:09,920
Ottawa Sands, and Eastmanville Bayou.

3717
02:27:09,920 --> 02:27:12,640
And slowly things began to shift. One

3718
02:27:12,640 --> 02:27:13,920
evening, my husband took our two

3719
02:27:13,920 --> 02:27:15,840
youngest on a mission to find Virginia

3720
02:27:15,840 --> 02:27:18,080
blue bells. something common where we

3721
02:27:18,080 --> 02:27:21,200
used to live but very rare here. After

3722
02:27:21,200 --> 02:27:23,040
searching, they finally found them. An

3723
02:27:23,040 --> 02:27:26,319
entire forest floor covered in blue.

3724
02:27:26,319 --> 02:27:28,720
They stayed until sunset exploring,

3725
02:27:28,720 --> 02:27:30,960
taking photos, and enjoying it all. And

3726
02:27:30,960 --> 02:27:32,640
on the way back, our daughter looked up

3727
02:27:32,640 --> 02:27:37,429
and said, "I get it now, Dad.

3728
02:27:37,439 --> 02:27:39,760
I understand why we moved here. So you

3729
02:27:39,760 --> 02:27:41,280
could work in beautiful places like

3730
02:27:41,280 --> 02:27:44,560
this." He said, 'You're close, but we

3731
02:27:44,560 --> 02:27:46,319
moved here so I could help make sure you

3732
02:27:46,319 --> 02:27:48,399
could explore experience places like

3733
02:27:48,399 --> 02:27:51,280
this. Parks aren't just land. They're

3734
02:27:51,280 --> 02:27:52,880
where kids discover something bigger

3735
02:27:52,880 --> 02:27:55,040
than themselves. They're where families

3736
02:27:55,040 --> 02:27:57,040
reconnect. They're where lifelong

3737
02:27:57,040 --> 02:27:59,359
memories are made. That is why this

3738
02:27:59,359 --> 02:28:01,520
continued investment is all about. It's

3739
02:28:01,520 --> 02:28:03,040
about making sure that those moments are

3740
02:28:03,040 --> 02:28:04,960
there not just for our family, but for

3741
02:28:04,960 --> 02:28:06,640
every family in Ottawa County for

3742
02:28:06,640 --> 02:28:08,880
generations to come. Thank you for your

3743
02:28:08,880 --> 02:28:10,080
time.

3744
02:28:10,080 --> 02:28:17,990
>> Thank you, Allison.

3745
02:28:18,000 --> 02:28:19,840
Good morning, commissioners. Uh, my name

3746
02:28:19,840 --> 02:28:21,520
is Nick Smith. I currently serve as the

3747
02:28:21,520 --> 02:28:22,880
coordinator of visitor and business

3748
02:28:22,880 --> 02:28:24,479
services for Ottawa County Parks

3749
02:28:24,479 --> 02:28:26,479
Department. I took some time off to come

3750
02:28:26,479 --> 02:28:28,000
down today to share a different

3751
02:28:28,000 --> 02:28:29,359
perspective about the parks with you

3752
02:28:29,359 --> 02:28:32,240
all. Um, so I'll do that now. My name is

3753
02:28:32,240 --> 02:28:34,399
Nick Smith. I I have worked in parks and

3754
02:28:34,399 --> 02:28:37,040
recreation since 2007, starting as a

3755
02:28:37,040 --> 02:28:38,720
seasonal park attendant in a Metro

3756
02:28:38,720 --> 02:28:40,880
Detroit city park department. Since

3757
02:28:40,880 --> 02:28:42,560
then, I've worked at the city, township,

3758
02:28:42,560 --> 02:28:44,720
federal, metrop park, and county levels,

3759
02:28:44,720 --> 02:28:46,000
and I hold a degree in parks

3760
02:28:46,000 --> 02:28:47,680
administration from Central Michigan

3761
02:28:47,680 --> 02:28:49,840
University. And my passion has always

3762
02:28:49,840 --> 02:28:51,520
been operating and improving park

3763
02:28:51,520 --> 02:28:53,760
facilities to help people enjoy

3764
02:28:53,760 --> 02:28:55,520
meaningful experience outdoors and make

3765
02:28:55,520 --> 02:28:58,000
those special lifelong memories. Through

3766
02:28:58,000 --> 02:28:59,359
my statewide involvement with the

3767
02:28:59,359 --> 02:29:00,800
Michigan Recreation and Park

3768
02:29:00,800 --> 02:29:02,560
Association, as well as the Michigan

3769
02:29:02,560 --> 02:29:04,160
Association of County Park and Recreck

3770
02:29:04,160 --> 02:29:05,840
Officials, I've had the great

3771
02:29:05,840 --> 02:29:07,200
opportunity to work with park

3772
02:29:07,200 --> 02:29:09,760
professionals across Michigan.

3773
02:29:09,760 --> 02:29:11,439
That perspective has shown me something

3774
02:29:11,439 --> 02:29:13,840
very important. Ottawa County Parks are

3775
02:29:13,840 --> 02:29:15,760
truly exceptional.

3776
02:29:15,760 --> 02:29:17,840
And sometimes those of us who work in

3777
02:29:17,840 --> 02:29:19,840
them or live around them all the time

3778
02:29:19,840 --> 02:29:21,439
don't fully realize how special they

3779
02:29:21,439 --> 02:29:24,560
are. For roughly 30 years, Ottawa County

3780
02:29:24,560 --> 02:29:26,720
residents have invested in parks. And

3781
02:29:26,720 --> 02:29:28,720
that investment has helped create a park

3782
02:29:28,720 --> 02:29:31,680
system and over 7,000 acres, including

3783
02:29:31,680 --> 02:29:33,359
high-quality parkland, trails,

3784
02:29:33,359 --> 02:29:36,240
facilities, public access. It has also

3785
02:29:36,240 --> 02:29:39,200
helped build a professional organization

3786
02:29:39,200 --> 02:29:42,000
that has re sorry

3787
02:29:42,000 --> 02:29:44,319
uh respected across the state. Before

3788
02:29:44,319 --> 02:29:46,240
coming to Ottawa County, I spent eight

3789
02:29:46,240 --> 02:29:47,920
and a half years as the parks and

3790
02:29:47,920 --> 02:29:50,080
recreation director for Niggo County

3791
02:29:50,080 --> 02:29:51,760
where I had a very successful career

3792
02:29:51,760 --> 02:29:53,760
managing four campgrounds, multiple day

3793
02:29:53,760 --> 02:29:56,319
use parks, and helped oversee the

3794
02:29:56,319 --> 02:29:57,600
construction and development of

3795
02:29:57,600 --> 02:30:00,960
Michigan's Dragon of Hardy Dam 47 mile

3796
02:30:00,960 --> 02:30:02,800
multi-use trail that draws people from

3797
02:30:02,800 --> 02:30:04,960
all over the country.

3798
02:30:04,960 --> 02:30:07,359
Through that involvement, I saw uh

3799
02:30:07,359 --> 02:30:09,359
firsthand how parks support tourism,

3800
02:30:09,359 --> 02:30:12,240
local businesses, and community pride. I

3801
02:30:12,240 --> 02:30:14,560
also saw what happens when park systems

3802
02:30:14,560 --> 02:30:16,560
do not receive the same level of public

3803
02:30:16,560 --> 02:30:19,200
investment. Uh, NEGO County parks does

3804
02:30:19,200 --> 02:30:21,280
not receive um investment from the

3805
02:30:21,280 --> 02:30:23,760
county itself or from a millillage is

3806
02:30:23,760 --> 02:30:26,880
all self-funded. And because of that,

3807
02:30:26,880 --> 02:30:30,160
our focus was on um amenities and things

3808
02:30:30,160 --> 02:30:32,160
that generate revenue and not

3809
02:30:32,160 --> 02:30:34,479
necessarily serve the public in all the

3810
02:30:34,479 --> 02:30:37,840
areas we probably should. Um so that

3811
02:30:37,840 --> 02:30:39,840
experience strengthened my belief that

3812
02:30:39,840 --> 02:30:42,160
parks must be fiscally responsible but

3813
02:30:42,160 --> 02:30:44,640
they also must be remain focused on

3814
02:30:44,640 --> 02:30:46,640
public service. Parks should serve

3815
02:30:46,640 --> 02:30:49,200
families, seniors, children, visitors,

3816
02:30:49,200 --> 02:30:51,439
people with disabilities and residents

3817
02:30:51,439 --> 02:30:54,399
of all income levels. This is one of the

3818
02:30:54,399 --> 02:30:56,399
reasons I came to Ottawa County. I saw a

3819
02:30:56,399 --> 02:30:58,479
community that values their parks,

3820
02:30:58,479 --> 02:31:00,479
invests in them, and understands that

3821
02:31:00,479 --> 02:31:02,560
parks are a part of the quality of life,

3822
02:31:02,560 --> 02:31:04,640
and make people want to live here, visit

3823
02:31:04,640 --> 02:31:06,960
here, and return here. Ottawa County

3824
02:31:06,960 --> 02:31:08,960
Parks has done an excellent job using

3825
02:31:08,960 --> 02:31:11,200
local investment to leverage grants,

3826
02:31:11,200 --> 02:31:13,120
helping the public's dollars go further,

3827
02:31:13,120 --> 02:31:15,439
and making major projects possible.

3828
02:31:15,439 --> 02:31:17,120
Ottawa County has something truly

3829
02:31:17,120 --> 02:31:20,160
special. It did not happen by accident.

3830
02:31:20,160 --> 02:31:22,399
It happened by residents, leaders,

3831
02:31:22,399 --> 02:31:25,439
staff, and partners. Believe parks are

3832
02:31:25,439 --> 02:31:27,200
worth investing in. My hope is that we

3833
02:31:27,200 --> 02:31:29,600
will continue to recognize, protect, and

3834
02:31:29,600 --> 02:31:31,439
responsibly invest in that legacy for

3835
02:31:31,439 --> 02:31:33,280
the future generations. Thank you.

3836
02:31:33,280 --> 02:31:37,760
>> Thank you, Mr. Smith. Wow. That uh maybe

3837
02:31:37,760 --> 02:31:39,280
a little different tune there.

3838
02:31:39,280 --> 02:31:40,800
>> New music.

3839
02:31:40,800 --> 02:31:43,280
>> All right. Is there anyone else? Uh this

3840
02:31:43,280 --> 02:31:45,600
has been great. All right. I understand

3841
02:31:45,600 --> 02:31:48,880
we have an online comment and we've got

3842
02:31:48,880 --> 02:31:51,359
two and we're going to try this again.

3843
02:31:51,359 --> 02:31:53,120
Uh if it doesn't work this time because

3844
02:31:53,120 --> 02:31:55,040
this is the only opportunity to speak,

3845
02:31:55,040 --> 02:31:58,000
we will take a brief recess uh to make

3846
02:31:58,000 --> 02:32:00,399
sure that they have the opportunity. So

3847
02:32:00,399 --> 02:32:02,640
go ahead. Who have we got?

3848
02:32:02,640 --> 02:32:03,200
>> Kimberly.

3849
02:32:03,200 --> 02:32:04,080
>> Hello.

3850
02:32:04,080 --> 02:32:04,479
>> Oh,

3851
02:32:04,479 --> 02:32:06,479
>> yep. Go ahead. If you could just

3852
02:32:06,479 --> 02:32:08,479
jurisdiction.

3853
02:32:08,479 --> 02:32:10,960
>> Hello. My name is Kimberly Whittenmeer

3854
02:32:10,960 --> 02:32:12,800
and I'm the executive director of the

3855
02:32:12,800 --> 02:32:16,160
Holland Dropin Center and we as my

3856
02:32:16,160 --> 02:32:18,240
members and I are encouraging you to

3857
02:32:18,240 --> 02:32:20,479
vote for the mental health millage on

3858
02:32:20,479 --> 02:32:24,800
the August ballot. Um we are 100% mill

3859
02:32:24,800 --> 02:32:27,840
funded. So without this millillage we

3860
02:32:27,840 --> 02:32:30,479
would cease to exist. We are also

3861
02:32:30,479 --> 02:32:34,160
peerrun, meaning we have been down the

3862
02:32:34,160 --> 02:32:36,319
road that some of our members have,

3863
02:32:36,319 --> 02:32:39,520
which allows us to better support them.

3864
02:32:39,520 --> 02:32:41,600
Some of the things that my members would

3865
02:32:41,600 --> 02:32:43,200
like me to share with you is that

3866
02:32:43,200 --> 02:32:45,280
they've had the opportunity to serve on

3867
02:32:45,280 --> 02:32:48,240
the board and have personally witnessed

3868
02:32:48,240 --> 02:32:50,640
many success stories of others receiving

3869
02:32:50,640 --> 02:32:54,080
services here. Without the drop-in,

3870
02:32:54,080 --> 02:32:55,920
their recovery would not be in the place

3871
02:32:55,920 --> 02:32:58,880
it would be today. We need each other to

3872
02:32:58,880 --> 02:33:00,720
be there for each other because it takes

3873
02:33:00,720 --> 02:33:03,600
a team to succeed.

3874
02:33:03,600 --> 02:33:06,720
And I've often heard from members how it

3875
02:33:06,720 --> 02:33:09,359
has kept them out of the hospital.

3876
02:33:09,359 --> 02:33:11,760
Having a space to come where they truly

3877
02:33:11,760 --> 02:33:15,359
are stigmafree and a safe place to be is

3878
02:33:15,359 --> 02:33:16,880
crucial.

3879
02:33:16,880 --> 02:33:19,680
We meet people where they are and we

3880
02:33:19,680 --> 02:33:21,920
allow many opportunities for them to

3881
02:33:21,920 --> 02:33:25,280
participate in various activities.

3882
02:33:25,280 --> 02:33:28,240
It keeps their mind strong. It builds

3883
02:33:28,240 --> 02:33:30,240
character which helps them overcome

3884
02:33:30,240 --> 02:33:33,200
their illness. Many of our members like

3885
02:33:33,200 --> 02:33:35,840
to come multiple times a week, a few

3886
02:33:35,840 --> 02:33:38,319
every day.

3887
02:33:38,319 --> 02:33:43,280
We are in need of better and more mental

3888
02:33:43,280 --> 02:33:46,720
health opportunities to support our

3889
02:33:46,720 --> 02:33:48,080
community.

3890
02:33:48,080 --> 02:33:51,040
As many of you already know, our mental

3891
02:33:51,040 --> 02:33:53,680
health is at an all-time high in terms

3892
02:33:53,680 --> 02:33:56,640
of crisis, and we don't have enough

3893
02:33:56,640 --> 02:33:59,760
resources to reach everyone for

3894
02:33:59,760 --> 02:34:03,359
everything. And so, our space allows

3895
02:34:03,359 --> 02:34:06,240
people to come in, have a place to come

3896
02:34:06,240 --> 02:34:09,920
where they're welcome and accepted. Some

3897
02:34:09,920 --> 02:34:12,399
people who have been in recovery for a

3898
02:34:12,399 --> 02:34:16,479
while, um, have clinicians and etc. uh

3899
02:34:16,479 --> 02:34:18,800
to help them in their journey of

3900
02:34:18,800 --> 02:34:21,040
recovery, but the drop-in is a

3901
02:34:21,040 --> 02:34:23,600
non-clinical place for them to come and

3902
02:34:23,600 --> 02:34:27,040
many times it's the first person that

3903
02:34:27,040 --> 02:34:30,080
they meet to hear their story. And we

3904
02:34:30,080 --> 02:34:32,800
value people's voices here. We believe

3905
02:34:32,800 --> 02:34:34,960
everyone's voice is worthy of being

3906
02:34:34,960 --> 02:34:37,359
heard as well as their story. And

3907
02:34:37,359 --> 02:34:39,120
sometimes it's a matter of just sitting

3908
02:34:39,120 --> 02:34:41,840
with someone and not saying anything and

3909
02:34:41,840 --> 02:34:45,600
other times it's just listening. Um, and

3910
02:34:45,600 --> 02:34:48,000
so we just want to thank you for your

3911
02:34:48,000 --> 02:34:50,160
time and your consideration in hearing

3912
02:34:50,160 --> 02:34:54,880
from us. Um, and we just appreciate the

3913
02:34:54,880 --> 02:34:58,000
time you have given us. Thank you.

3914
02:34:58,000 --> 02:35:00,800
>> Thank you, Miss Whitmire.

3915
02:35:00,800 --> 02:35:02,479
>> All right. And I believe we have someone

3916
02:35:02,479 --> 02:35:04,080
else online.

3917
02:35:04,080 --> 02:35:05,439
>> The other person put their hand down, so

3918
02:35:05,439 --> 02:35:06,720
I think we're all set.

3919
02:35:06,720 --> 02:35:11,510
>> All set. They put their hand down.

3920
02:35:11,520 --> 02:35:13,840
All right,

3921
02:35:13,840 --> 02:35:17,200
we got it. Okay, thank you. Uh would uh

3922
02:35:17,200 --> 02:35:19,200
I would at this time entertain a motion

3923
02:35:19,200 --> 02:35:21,040
to close the public hearing.

3924
02:35:21,040 --> 02:35:23,040
>> So moved.

3925
02:35:23,040 --> 02:35:25,600
>> Moved by Moss, supported by Kyers, will

3926
02:35:25,600 --> 02:35:28,000
say. All those in favor say I.

3927
02:35:28,000 --> 02:35:28,640
>> I.

3928
02:35:28,640 --> 02:35:30,800
>> Those opposed. All right. Motion

3929
02:35:30,800 --> 02:35:32,800
carries.

3930
02:35:32,800 --> 02:35:35,200
Motion to take a short recess.

3931
02:35:35,200 --> 02:35:38,080
>> Got a motion for a recess. Is there a

3932
02:35:38,080 --> 02:35:42,319
second? We May I suggest five minutes?

3933
02:35:42,319 --> 02:35:43,280
>> How about 10?

3934
02:35:43,280 --> 02:35:45,600
>> 10 minutes of the negotiation. Sounds

3935
02:35:45,600 --> 02:35:47,359
great. All those in favor of a 10-minute

3936
02:35:47,359 --> 02:35:49,040
break, say I.

3937
02:35:49,040 --> 02:35:50,080
>> Those opposed?

3938
02:35:50,080 --> 02:35:51,280
>> I I.

3939
02:35:51,280 --> 02:35:52,960
>> All right. Motion carries.

3940
02:35:52,960 --> 02:35:54,960
>> Moving on, man.

3941
02:35:54,960 --> 02:35:57,040
>> Moving on.

3942
02:35:57,040 --> 02:36:00,160
>> I'd rather keep moving than take a half

3943
02:36:00,160 --> 02:36:03,760
hour break in 45 minutes.

3944
02:36:03,760 --> 02:36:05,359
>> But now it's off the network, so I can't

3945
02:36:05,359 --> 02:45:08,309
reset it.

3946
02:45:08,319 --> 02:45:11,120
All right. If Boy, could someone close

3947
02:45:11,120 --> 02:45:14,960
the door to the back, please?

3948
02:45:14,960 --> 02:45:16,560
>> Anyone?

3949
02:45:16,560 --> 02:45:19,520
>> Patrick, you got that?

3950
02:45:19,520 --> 02:45:20,800
welcome them in if they'd like to come

3951
02:45:20,800 --> 02:45:25,190
in. But

3952
02:45:25,200 --> 02:45:29,510
» back there,

3953
02:45:29,520 --> 02:45:31,439
» all right, and we will call the meeting

3954
02:45:31,439 --> 02:45:34,640
back to order. Um,

3955
02:45:34,640 --> 02:45:37,040
the April 30th, 2026 Board of

3956
02:45:37,040 --> 02:45:38,640
Commissioners meeting is now back in

3957
02:45:38,640 --> 02:45:41,680
session. Uh, item B on our agenda is the

3958
02:45:41,680 --> 02:45:45,439
CH and parks and open space ballot

3959
02:45:45,439 --> 02:45:47,680
language. Uh, this will be a roll call

3960
02:45:47,680 --> 02:45:50,000
vote. Uh suggested motion is to adopt

3961
02:45:50,000 --> 02:45:51,840
the resolution approving the ballot

3962
02:45:51,840 --> 02:45:53,920
language to place the renewal and the

3963
02:45:53,920 --> 02:45:58,880
restoration of the 10year 0.30 mil

3964
02:45:58,880 --> 02:46:00,319
dedicated millillage for community

3965
02:46:00,319 --> 02:46:03,439
mental health on the August 4, 2026

3966
02:46:03,439 --> 02:46:05,920
ballot. the renewal and restoration of

3967
02:46:05,920 --> 02:46:09,920
the 10-year 0.33 mil dedicated

3968
02:46:09,920 --> 02:46:12,479
millillage for the parks and open space

3969
02:46:12,479 --> 02:46:16,960
on August 4, 2026 ballot and placing the

3970
02:46:16,960 --> 02:46:20,880
10-year 0.20 mil increase dedicated

3971
02:46:20,880 --> 02:46:23,439
millillage for the parks and open space

3972
02:46:23,439 --> 02:46:27,520
on the November 3, 2026 ballot. Would

3973
02:46:27,520 --> 02:46:29,359
anyone care to make that motion? make

3974
02:46:29,359 --> 02:46:31,439
that motion or

3975
02:46:31,439 --> 02:46:33,279
>> motion by Kyers and I think I had

3976
02:46:33,279 --> 02:46:35,840
Jorrettzma as the support

3977
02:46:35,840 --> 02:46:39,840
we will open up for discussion. Um I

3978
02:46:39,840 --> 02:46:42,240
think uh just protocol-wise Commissioner

3979
02:46:42,240 --> 02:46:43,680
Kyers I don't know if you were prepared

3980
02:46:43,680 --> 02:46:45,760
but making the motion you are welcome to

3981
02:46:45,760 --> 02:46:46,399
start off.

3982
02:46:46,399 --> 02:46:49,040
>> Perfect. Thank you. Yes, I'd like to uh

3983
02:46:49,040 --> 02:46:51,040
um supported this. I think the parks did

3984
02:46:51,040 --> 02:46:54,640
a really good job um starting off with

3985
02:46:54,640 --> 02:46:58,160
um the 0.53 and I know there was not

3986
02:46:58,160 --> 02:47:00,319
agreement with that. So all we did was

3987
02:47:00,319 --> 02:47:01,680
separate them and Jason did a really

3988
02:47:01,680 --> 02:47:03,279
good job of separating discussion with

3989
02:47:03,279 --> 02:47:05,439
our work sessions and came at a really

3990
02:47:05,439 --> 02:47:07,600
good solution here that we would give

3991
02:47:07,600 --> 02:47:10,160
the voters the chance to uh have the say

3992
02:47:10,160 --> 02:47:12,240
in in November. And I know there were

3993
02:47:12,240 --> 02:47:14,000
some concerns about having it all in

3994
02:47:14,000 --> 02:47:15,840
November and I'm I think we split it

3995
02:47:15,840 --> 02:47:17,840
both ways which is a compromise also.

3996
02:47:17,840 --> 02:47:21,680
So, I'll be in favor of this uh this motion.

3997
02:47:21,680 --> 02:47:23,279
>> All right. Thanks, Commissioner Kyers.

3998
02:47:23,279 --> 02:47:25,359
Anyone else? I think I saw Joe uh

3999
02:47:25,359 --> 02:47:26,319
earlier. Go ahead, Joe.

4000
02:47:26,319 --> 02:47:27,680
>> Yeah, thank you. I'll just start by

4001
02:47:27,680 --> 02:47:29,279
echoing some of what Commissioner Kyers

4002
02:47:29,279 --> 02:47:32,240
just said. Uh I know that there has been

4003
02:47:32,240 --> 02:47:34,160
some discussion and maybe a little bit

4004
02:47:34,160 --> 02:47:36,720
of concern about putting a 0 53 in

4005
02:47:36,720 --> 02:47:39,439
August. So, I appreciate the the change.

4006
02:47:39,439 --> 02:47:42,960
Um I believe that there's strong support

4007
02:47:42,960 --> 02:47:45,439
for the two August millages that are in

4008
02:47:45,439 --> 02:47:47,840
this motion. And I think most of the

4009
02:47:47,840 --> 02:47:49,359
discussion that might happen today is

4010
02:47:49,359 --> 02:47:52,399
probably about the increase. So uh what

4011
02:47:52,399 --> 02:47:55,040
I would like to do is uh make a motion

4012
02:47:55,040 --> 02:47:58,720
to divide this question and uh have the

4013
02:47:58,720 --> 02:48:02,479
first vote on the two renewals and a

4014
02:48:02,479 --> 02:48:04,880
second vote on the increase.

4015
02:48:04,880 --> 02:48:06,319
>> Would you take a friendly amendment to

4016
02:48:06,319 --> 02:48:09,040
having it divided three ways?

4017
02:48:09,040 --> 02:48:11,840
>> I would be happy to divide it three

4018
02:48:11,840 --> 02:48:13,520
ways. Um

4019
02:48:13,520 --> 02:48:15,600
>> I would support that motion.

4020
02:48:15,600 --> 02:48:17,200
>> Okay. Okay. So, we have a motion on the

4021
02:48:17,200 --> 02:48:20,319
table to divide item B into three

4022
02:48:20,319 --> 02:48:22,720
separate motions.

4023
02:48:22,720 --> 02:48:25,840
I'm going to say one regarding the

4024
02:48:25,840 --> 02:48:27,840
community mental health millage with

4025
02:48:27,840 --> 02:48:31,279
the.3 ms, one vote regarding the 10-year

4026
02:48:31,279 --> 02:48:34,000
33 mil for parks and open space and an

4027
02:48:34,000 --> 02:48:37,359
additional one for the 2 mil increase uh

4028
02:48:37,359 --> 02:48:39,920
for parks and open space. I articulated

4029
02:48:39,920 --> 02:48:41,279
that about right?

4030
02:48:41,279 --> 02:48:41,840
>> Yes.

4031
02:48:41,840 --> 02:48:43,200
>> All right. And we've got a second by

4032
02:48:43,200 --> 02:48:44,560
Commissioner Mima. We'll open for

4033
02:48:44,560 --> 02:48:46,319
discussion. Uh, Commissioner Moss.

4034
02:48:46,319 --> 02:48:48,640
>> Yep. I believe that if we move forward

4035
02:48:48,640 --> 02:48:51,600
with this uh now that we could im

4036
02:48:51,600 --> 02:48:53,600
probably immediately handle the first

4037
02:48:53,600 --> 02:48:54,880
two

4038
02:48:54,880 --> 02:48:57,120
>> and I think that would be very good for

4039
02:48:57,120 --> 02:48:59,680
CH. I think it'd be very good for parks.

4040
02:48:59,680 --> 02:49:02,560
>> Okay. Anyone else?

4041
02:49:02,560 --> 02:49:04,640
>> Uh, Commissioner Rodie. Um, on that

4042
02:49:04,640 --> 02:49:06,880
particular motion, I would say that I I

4043
02:49:06,880 --> 02:49:09,840
agree with it because I I think that we

4044
02:49:09,840 --> 02:49:12,560
may have, you know, pretty universal

4045
02:49:12,560 --> 02:49:15,600
support or large support on these two

4046
02:49:15,600 --> 02:49:19,040
items. And by putting them all together,

4047
02:49:19,040 --> 02:49:21,600
um, I think you're probably you might

4048
02:49:21,600 --> 02:49:24,960
not obtain a full, you know, a unanimous

4049
02:49:24,960 --> 02:49:26,720
vote on some of these things. And so

4050
02:49:26,720 --> 02:49:28,720
where where we have agreement, I think

4051
02:49:28,720 --> 02:49:30,960
it's good to be able to demonstrate that

4052
02:49:30,960 --> 02:49:32,960
to the community. I know I will not be

4053
02:49:32,960 --> 02:49:35,520
able to vote yes on each of these, but I

4054
02:49:35,520 --> 02:49:37,760
don't want to have to vote no on all of

4055
02:49:37,760 --> 02:49:40,160
them by them being combined.

4056
02:49:40,160 --> 02:49:41,840
>> Thank you, Commissioner Toples.

4057
02:49:41,840 --> 02:49:43,439
>> I agree. I have no problem splitting

4058
02:49:43,439 --> 02:49:45,840
this. Um I think the public also has a

4059
02:49:45,840 --> 02:49:47,920
right to hear the positions of each

4060
02:49:47,920 --> 02:49:49,120
commissioner on each one of these

4061
02:49:49,120 --> 02:49:50,880
issues.

4062
02:49:50,880 --> 02:49:52,560
>> Anyone else? Commissioner Mima,

4063
02:49:52,560 --> 02:49:54,800
>> I echo exactly what Commissioner Tles

4064
02:49:54,800 --> 02:49:56,800
just said.

4065
02:49:56,800 --> 02:49:58,880
>> All right. Anyone else? Commissioner

4066
02:49:58,880 --> 02:50:00,000
Barry. Uh I personally

4067
02:50:00,000 --> 02:50:00,880
>> you leaned

4068
02:50:00,880 --> 02:50:04,080
>> I personally like the uh putting this

4069
02:50:04,080 --> 02:50:07,920
together. I think uh the two renewals um

4070
02:50:07,920 --> 02:50:10,720
going together I I think for the benefit

4071
02:50:10,720 --> 02:50:13,600
of voters to see that those two issues

4072
02:50:13,600 --> 02:50:15,439
being renewed

4073
02:50:15,439 --> 02:50:18,560
um and pushing the increase into the

4074
02:50:18,560 --> 02:50:21,840
November ballot. Um I think it's a

4075
02:50:21,840 --> 02:50:24,399
little easier to understand for uh for

4076
02:50:24,399 --> 02:50:27,120
voters. Uh I'm comfortable with the

4077
02:50:27,120 --> 02:50:30,319
language in the um uh proposal as

4078
02:50:30,319 --> 02:50:33,359
presented. Uh however, I would like to

4079
02:50:33,359 --> 02:50:37,040
get as close to a um unanimous vote on

4080
02:50:37,040 --> 02:50:39,040
these issues as we possibly can. And if

4081
02:50:39,040 --> 02:50:41,279
we have to break this up to get there, I

4082
02:50:41,279 --> 02:50:44,319
guess I'm willing to do that. But

4083
02:50:44,319 --> 02:50:45,359
>> All right. Thank you, Commissioner

4084
02:50:45,359 --> 02:50:47,439
Barry. Anyone else?

4085
02:50:47,439 --> 02:50:49,120
>> All right. I'll throw my two cents out.

4086
02:50:49,120 --> 02:50:51,120
Um, I would be in favor of splitting

4087
02:50:51,120 --> 02:50:54,240
these, putting parks as one and CH as

4088
02:50:54,240 --> 02:50:55,840
the second one, but both millages with

4089
02:50:55,840 --> 02:50:58,000
parks. I think a lot of extra effort

4090
02:50:58,000 --> 02:50:59,840
went into the compromise that resulted

4091
02:50:59,840 --> 02:51:02,720
in the.3 and the point 2, and I would

4092
02:51:02,720 --> 02:51:06,080
hate to see that compromise uh taken

4093
02:51:06,080 --> 02:51:08,399
down by people voting against one or the

4094
02:51:08,399 --> 02:51:10,560
other of those two options. So, on the

4095
02:51:10,560 --> 02:51:12,479
motion on the table, I'll be voting no,

4096
02:51:12,479 --> 02:51:15,200
but we'll see what happens after that.

4097
02:51:15,200 --> 02:51:17,200
>> Made me think of one thing for what you

4098
02:51:17,200 --> 02:51:20,319
just said, Commissioner. Um, Buger, I

4099
02:51:20,319 --> 02:51:22,160
one of the reasons I want them to be

4100
02:51:22,160 --> 02:51:25,920
divided is because I am for sure in

4101
02:51:25,920 --> 02:51:27,520
support of a couple of them and I think

4102
02:51:27,520 --> 02:51:29,840
there's one one that I want to have

4103
02:51:29,840 --> 02:51:33,120
further discussion on and I do want to

4104
02:51:33,120 --> 02:51:35,920
show support for sure where I'm at.

4105
02:51:35,920 --> 02:51:38,240
>> Okay, thank you. All right, let's uh

4106
02:51:38,240 --> 02:51:39,920
might as well do a roll call vote. Um,

4107
02:51:39,920 --> 02:51:43,439
Rachel, if you'd take the role.

4108
02:51:43,439 --> 02:51:45,359
>> And this is just to divide, correct?

4109
02:51:45,359 --> 02:51:46,880
>> Correct. The motion to the motion on the

4110
02:51:46,880 --> 02:51:47,760
table is to divide.

4111
02:51:47,760 --> 02:51:48,560
>> Mr. Bonama

4112
02:51:48,560 --> 02:51:49,680
>> into three threes.

4113
02:51:49,680 --> 02:51:51,200
>> Three.

4114
02:51:51,200 --> 02:51:52,160
>> Yes.

4115
02:51:52,160 --> 02:51:53,200
>> Mr. Dortzma.

4116
02:51:53,200 --> 02:51:53,920
>> No.

4117
02:51:53,920 --> 02:51:54,800
>> Mr. Toples.

4118
02:51:54,800 --> 02:51:55,439
>> Yes.

4119
02:51:55,439 --> 02:51:56,399
>> Mrs. Nema?

4120
02:51:56,399 --> 02:51:56,880
>> Yes.

4121
02:51:56,880 --> 02:51:57,680
>> Mrs. Wel?

4122
02:51:57,680 --> 02:51:58,240
>> Yes.

4123
02:51:58,240 --> 02:51:59,279
>> Mr. Barry?

4124
02:51:59,279 --> 02:52:00,479
>> Uh, yes.

4125
02:52:00,479 --> 02:52:01,439
>> Mrs. Broie,

4126
02:52:01,439 --> 02:52:01,920
>> yes.

4127
02:52:01,920 --> 02:52:03,200
>> Mr. Moss,

4128
02:52:03,200 --> 02:52:03,760
>> yes.

4129
02:52:03,760 --> 02:52:04,960
>> Mr. Zystra,

4130
02:52:04,960 --> 02:52:05,600
>> no.

4131
02:52:05,600 --> 02:52:06,640
>> Mr. Kyers,

4132
02:52:06,640 --> 02:52:07,359
>> yes.

4133
02:52:07,359 --> 02:52:08,319
>> Mr. Buger,

4134
02:52:08,319 --> 02:52:09,279
>> no.

4135
02:52:09,279 --> 02:52:10,479
>> Motion passes.

4136
02:52:10,479 --> 02:52:12,319
>> Okay. So, we will do these one at a

4137
02:52:12,319 --> 02:52:16,640
time. Uh, may I suggest um boy, do we

4138
02:52:16,640 --> 02:52:17,920
need to make another motion here, Ron,

4139
02:52:17,920 --> 02:52:20,160
or are we how how can we clarify this as

4140
02:52:20,160 --> 02:52:21,520
far as procedure goes?

4141
02:52:21,520 --> 02:52:23,520
>> Well, I think you could just take them

4142
02:52:23,520 --> 02:52:24,880
in the order that they're in the

4143
02:52:24,880 --> 02:52:25,760
resolution.

4144
02:52:25,760 --> 02:52:27,279
>> All right, so we'll do the first one on

4145
02:52:27,279 --> 02:52:29,439
the table, which will be the.3 mil

4146
02:52:29,439 --> 02:52:31,760
dedicated millillage for CH to place

4147
02:52:31,760 --> 02:52:34,720
that on the ballot for August 4th, 2026.

4148
02:52:34,720 --> 02:52:35,439
>> So moved.

4149
02:52:35,439 --> 02:52:36,720
>> Support.

4150
02:52:36,720 --> 02:52:38,000
>> All right, we've got a Do we need a

4151
02:52:38,000 --> 02:52:39,200
motion in a second on that round? Was

4152
02:52:39,200 --> 02:52:40,880
that We did that correct? Okay. All

4153
02:52:40,880 --> 02:52:42,560
right. Sorry. I know I just asked the

4154
02:52:42,560 --> 02:52:44,080
same question twice. Apologies. Uh,

4155
02:52:44,080 --> 02:52:46,080
Commissioner Kyers, um, motioned and

4156
02:52:46,080 --> 02:52:47,279
Commissioner Moss second it.

4157
02:52:47,279 --> 02:52:49,200
Commissioner Kyers, one more time, sir.

4158
02:52:49,200 --> 02:52:50,720
>> I think it's pretty obvious this morning

4159
02:52:50,720 --> 02:52:52,240
with the discussion and what we got

4160
02:52:52,240 --> 02:52:54,000
going here in our county and support we

4161
02:52:54,000 --> 02:52:56,479
need for the mental health is it's it's

4162
02:52:56,479 --> 02:52:59,760
just a a yes vote for me.

4163
02:52:59,760 --> 02:53:01,439
>> All right. Thank you, sir. Anyone else?

4164
02:53:01,439 --> 02:53:02,160
Commissioner Moss,

4165
02:53:02,160 --> 02:53:04,000
>> I'll echo that and say that um there's

4166
02:53:04,000 --> 02:53:06,399
currently a large change happening um

4167
02:53:06,399 --> 02:53:08,560
with converting CH from a department to

4168
02:53:08,560 --> 02:53:10,800
an authority and maintaining the current

4169
02:53:10,800 --> 02:53:12,319
millillage also helps with the stability

4170
02:53:12,319 --> 02:53:14,319
during that change.

4171
02:53:14,319 --> 02:53:16,080
>> Thank you, sir. Commissioner Mina,

4172
02:53:16,080 --> 02:53:18,160
>> um I also support the millillage. I do

4173
02:53:18,160 --> 02:53:20,080
still have one remaining question that I

4174
02:53:20,080 --> 02:53:23,920
don't believe was answered um during our

4175
02:53:23,920 --> 02:53:26,960
work session. I made a request that we

4176
02:53:26,960 --> 02:53:28,800
could uh make sure that we were being

4177
02:53:28,800 --> 02:53:30,800
proactive so that 10 years from now,

4178
02:53:30,800 --> 02:53:34,399
whoever's sitting here um has the option

4179
02:53:34,399 --> 02:53:36,160
to having it on the November ballot

4180
02:53:36,160 --> 02:53:38,319
without it affecting residents as what

4181
02:53:38,319 --> 02:53:40,960
was demonstrated here today by um

4182
02:53:40,960 --> 02:53:43,200
certain individ individuals sharing from

4183
02:53:43,200 --> 02:53:45,760
the YMCA and others sharing that if it

4184
02:53:45,760 --> 02:53:47,520
wasn't on the August ballot that there

4185
02:53:47,520 --> 02:53:50,319
there's a service gap. And so I I do

4186
02:53:50,319 --> 02:53:52,640
still have that remaining question if if

4187
02:53:52,640 --> 02:53:55,200
we are looking ahead with this ballot

4188
02:53:55,200 --> 02:53:57,840
language of being proactive looking

4189
02:53:57,840 --> 02:53:59,760
ahead 10 years from now. And so I would

4190
02:53:59,760 --> 02:54:01,439
like that question answered before the

4191
02:54:01,439 --> 02:54:04,319
vote today.

4192
02:54:04,319 --> 02:54:06,319
>> Sorry, could you clarify your question

4193
02:54:06,319 --> 02:54:08,080
just for a moment and we'll ask legal

4194
02:54:08,080 --> 02:54:09,920
Ron if you're about ready for it. Say

4195
02:54:09,920 --> 02:54:11,359
that one more time, Commissioner Mima,

4196
02:54:11,359 --> 02:54:12,479
please.

4197
02:54:12,479 --> 02:54:12,960
>> I think

4198
02:54:12,960 --> 02:54:13,840
>> you don't have to do the whole thing.

4199
02:54:13,840 --> 02:54:16,160
Just the question.

4200
02:54:16,160 --> 02:54:16,960
Can you

4201
02:54:16,960 --> 02:54:21,680
>> My question is is will the

4202
02:54:21,680 --> 02:54:24,000
I don't know if it's the ballot language

4203
02:54:24,000 --> 02:54:26,240
um I I think that would be the case the

4204
02:54:26,240 --> 02:54:28,880
ballot language um or whatever needs to

4205
02:54:28,880 --> 02:54:30,720
take place

4206
02:54:30,720 --> 02:54:32,720
to make sure that we're not in the same

4207
02:54:32,720 --> 02:54:35,439
predicament 10 years from now

4208
02:54:35,439 --> 02:54:37,600
um saying that we can't put it on the

4209
02:54:37,600 --> 02:54:40,000
November ballot because we have a

4210
02:54:40,000 --> 02:54:43,680
service gap. And so that's because 10

4211
02:54:43,680 --> 02:54:47,920
years ago we put this on.

4212
02:54:47,920 --> 02:54:49,520
>> Does that make sense? What I might be

4213
02:54:49,520 --> 02:54:51,600
able I might be able to help you out

4214
02:54:51,600 --> 02:54:53,920
with that and maybe Dr. Bashers can as

4215
02:54:53,920 --> 02:54:56,240
well. But um I believe some of that can

4216
02:54:56,240 --> 02:54:59,600
be done by pacing the expenditure of the

4217
02:54:59,600 --> 02:55:02,240
funds that come in so that they would go

4218
02:55:02,240 --> 02:55:05,600
up, you know, and be be spent up until

4219
02:55:05,600 --> 02:55:09,120
the the November election. And Dr.

4220
02:55:09,120 --> 02:55:10,960
can correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't

4221
02:55:10,960 --> 02:55:12,240
think it's necessarily something that

4222
02:55:12,240 --> 02:55:15,760
has to happen with this, but it can

4223
02:55:15,760 --> 02:55:18,560
happen with planning within CH itself.

4224
02:55:18,560 --> 02:55:22,640
>> And and I'm I'm not sure are we if you

4225
02:55:22,640 --> 02:55:24,720
don't mind answering I I'm not sure are

4226
02:55:24,720 --> 02:55:26,640
we going to have a much of a gap with

4227
02:55:26,640 --> 02:55:30,950
some of those services,

4228
02:55:30,960 --> 02:55:36,630
» right?

4229
02:55:36,640 --> 02:55:39,279
TH board just approved extending all of

4230
02:55:39,279 --> 02:55:41,200
the programs that were supposed to end.

4231
02:55:41,200 --> 02:55:44,479
They were onetime funding this um on May

4232
02:55:44,479 --> 02:55:47,120
1st to September 30th.

4233
02:55:47,120 --> 02:55:50,160
So there could potentially be an issue

4234
02:55:50,160 --> 02:55:53,040
if it if there's an issue in August,

4235
02:55:53,040 --> 02:55:55,200
which I'm not anticipating, but we can

4236
02:55:55,200 --> 02:55:58,080
deal with some of those of your concerns

4237
02:55:58,080 --> 02:56:00,880
contractually with the providers and so

4238
02:56:00,880 --> 02:56:02,960
they know

4239
02:56:02,960 --> 02:56:04,720
>> when they're like I gave adequate notice

4240
02:56:04,720 --> 02:56:06,960
to all of them months ago saying this

4241
02:56:06,960 --> 02:56:09,200
could happen. Let's prepare for that.

4242
02:56:09,200 --> 02:56:12,080
And we can also have a strategy of

4243
02:56:12,080 --> 02:56:15,359
saving millage in reserve

4244
02:56:15,359 --> 02:56:18,160
>> to extend out to cover any issues as

4245
02:56:18,160 --> 02:56:20,880
well. I'm fine with August for this

4246
02:56:20,880 --> 02:56:23,600
time, but going forward, it would be

4247
02:56:23,600 --> 02:56:26,640
great if I I understand that's 10 years

4248
02:56:26,640 --> 02:56:28,319
out, but

4249
02:56:28,319 --> 02:56:30,080
>> there's no reason why we can't address

4250
02:56:30,080 --> 02:56:33,359
it now once we once we're in that period

4251
02:56:33,359 --> 02:56:39,200
and demonstrate protections to both the citizens and the programs and for

4252
02:56:39,200 --> 02:56:41,840
you. So, we're not in that situation.

4253
02:56:41,840 --> 02:56:44,160
>> All right. Thank you, Dr. Commissioner

4254
02:56:44,160 --> 02:56:45,920
Ro. I know that Commissioner Barry does

4255
02:56:45,920 --> 02:56:47,359
have his hand up, so go ahead quickly.

4256
02:56:47,359 --> 02:56:49,680
Sorry. And I believe that we're we're

4257
02:56:49,680 --> 02:56:52,240
adjusting contract years on some of

4258
02:56:52,240 --> 02:56:54,080
those. So, we could simply adjust

4259
02:56:54,080 --> 02:56:54,479
>> correct

4260
02:56:54,479 --> 02:56:55,439
>> that. Okay.

4261
02:56:55,439 --> 02:56:55,680
>> Yes.

4262
02:56:55,680 --> 02:56:56,880
>> Thank you, Commissioner Barry.

4263
02:56:56,880 --> 02:56:58,800
>> I I guess my question was uh how does

4264
02:56:58,800 --> 02:57:02,640
this line up with um fiscal year on

4265
02:57:02,640 --> 02:57:05,670
funding?

4266
02:57:05,680 --> 02:57:06,960
» I don't know who to direct that question

4267
02:57:06,960 --> 02:57:09,120
to, Commissioner Barry. Uh maybe that is

4268
02:57:09,120 --> 02:57:13,200
uh Oh, Doug. Uh

4269
02:57:13,200 --> 02:57:16,309
Dr.

4270
02:57:16,319 --> 02:57:17,760
take a shot at it.

4271
02:57:17,760 --> 02:57:19,279
>> All right.

4272
02:57:19,279 --> 02:57:23,040
>> So, legally the the levy occurs in

4273
02:57:23,040 --> 02:57:27,359
December. So, a vote in no August or

4274
02:57:27,359 --> 02:57:31,840
November doesn't affect the levy. Okay.

4275
02:57:31,840 --> 02:57:35,120
It affects budgeting. So under the

4276
02:57:35,120 --> 02:57:39,040
Uniform Budgeting and Accounting Act in

4277
02:57:39,040 --> 02:57:42,070
September,

4278
02:57:42,080 --> 02:57:45,439
the Mental Health Board cannot

4279
02:57:45,439 --> 02:57:47,200
appropriate

4280
02:57:47,200 --> 02:57:51,680
into October and beyond

4281
02:57:51,680 --> 02:57:56,240
with funds it doesn't have. Now, if it's

4282
02:57:56,240 --> 02:57:59,040
ex if it has a levy that will occur in

4283
02:57:59,040 --> 02:58:02,960
December, it can freely appropriate

4284
02:58:02,960 --> 02:58:05,920
uh with these contracts indefinitely

4285
02:58:05,920 --> 02:58:09,200
into that fiscal year. If it doesn't

4286
02:58:09,200 --> 02:58:13,040
know in by the August election that it's

4287
02:58:13,040 --> 02:58:15,520
going to have those funds, the best it

4288
02:58:15,520 --> 02:58:18,479
could do would be to appropriate a

4289
02:58:18,479 --> 02:58:20,720
budget

4290
02:58:20,720 --> 02:58:23,359
recognizing that it might be extending

4291
02:58:23,359 --> 02:58:26,080
some of these contracts and coming up

4292
02:58:26,080 --> 02:58:29,840
with some funding to show that if the

4293
02:58:29,840 --> 02:58:32,880
millage doesn't occur, it yet is not

4294
02:58:32,880 --> 02:58:36,640
going to deficit spend. So, it puts a

4295
02:58:36,640 --> 02:58:40,960
real burden on Michael and his staff for

4296
02:58:40,960 --> 02:58:44,399
budgeting for the next fiscal year if

4297
02:58:44,399 --> 02:58:47,200
they don't know in August that they're

4298
02:58:47,200 --> 02:58:48,399
going to have the millage funds

4299
02:58:48,399 --> 02:58:49,760
available.

4300
02:58:49,760 --> 02:58:51,920
>> I think that carries risk to the

4301
02:58:51,920 --> 02:58:54,960
organization to do do that.

4302
02:58:54,960 --> 02:58:56,720
>> And just to clarify, we're not proposing

4303
02:58:56,720 --> 02:59:00,640
any language changes to the U ballot

4304
02:59:00,640 --> 02:59:02,960
initiative in order to create that. Uh,

4305
02:59:02,960 --> 02:59:04,399
Commissioner Roodie just wants to make

4306
02:59:04,399 --> 02:59:06,399
sure that should a future board wish to

4307
02:59:06,399 --> 02:59:07,840
put this on a November ballot, they

4308
02:59:07,840 --> 02:59:09,040
would be able to do so. There's a

4309
02:59:09,040 --> 02:59:10,399
mechanism. Is that an accurate

4310
02:59:10,399 --> 02:59:11,439
statement?

4311
02:59:11,439 --> 02:59:13,120
>> I agree. And that's just that is a

4312
02:59:13,120 --> 02:59:15,920
budgeting and planning decision. We

4313
02:59:15,920 --> 02:59:17,760
don't have play we don't have ability to

4314
02:59:17,760 --> 02:59:24,479
play with the date of the vote or the uh purpose of the uh millillage

4315
02:59:24,479 --> 02:59:27,439
proceeds. So uh that is what it is.

4316
02:59:27,439 --> 02:59:29,359
>> Okay. All right. Thank you.

4317
02:59:29,359 --> 02:59:31,120
>> Any problems with technology right now?

4318
02:59:31,120 --> 02:59:36,870
It says preparing live stream.

4319
02:59:36,880 --> 02:59:38,640
» We've had that up for quite a while.

4320
02:59:38,640 --> 02:59:40,800
Unfortunately, without rebooting, I'm

4321
02:59:40,800 --> 02:59:42,319
not sure I can make that go away.

4322
02:59:42,319 --> 02:59:43,359
>> Is it recording?

4323
02:59:43,359 --> 02:59:45,439
>> It is. We double checked.

4324
02:59:45,439 --> 02:59:47,439
>> Yeah. All right. Thank you. Any other

4325
02:59:47,439 --> 02:59:49,920
questions on the CH mill or comments? Um

4326
02:59:49,920 --> 02:59:51,279
I think Yeah, Commissioner Rodie, go for

4327
02:59:51,279 --> 02:59:51,439
it.

4328
02:59:51,439 --> 02:59:53,840
>> I just have some comments. Um I just

4329
02:59:53,840 --> 02:59:56,960
want to say that um I do support this

4330
02:59:56,960 --> 02:59:58,960
millillage um with rigorous

4331
02:59:58,960 --> 03:00:01,520
accountability and utilization data

4332
03:00:01,520 --> 03:00:04,800
about what the mill is used for which I

4333
03:00:04,800 --> 03:00:08,880
have seen um CH uh begin to require and

4334
03:00:08,880 --> 03:00:12,240
to utilize and making um decisions on

4335
03:00:12,240 --> 03:00:14,640
what to do with millillage funds. Um, so

4336
03:00:14,640 --> 03:00:17,279
I think there's now high accountability

4337
03:00:17,279 --> 03:00:21,040
and um and and some good decision-

4338
03:00:21,040 --> 03:00:24,080
making going on there. Um, the needs in

4339
03:00:24,080 --> 03:00:26,319
our community have changed um from when

4340
03:00:26,319 --> 03:00:28,720
the millillage was passed 10 years ago

4341
03:00:28,720 --> 03:00:30,640
and there are new beautiful new and

4342
03:00:30,640 --> 03:00:33,200
effective services that it's now funding

4343
03:00:33,200 --> 03:00:36,240
which I very strongly support. Um I've

4344
03:00:36,240 --> 03:00:38,399
also seen it used effectively to support

4345
03:00:38,399 --> 03:00:41,120
Iikus um for some of its prior purposes

4346
03:00:41,120 --> 03:00:44,319
in my area. So, um I think it's very

4347
03:00:44,319 --> 03:00:48,240
worthwhile and um I will be encouraging

4348
03:00:48,240 --> 03:00:51,120
my community to support it.

4349
03:00:51,120 --> 03:00:52,160
>> Thank you, Commissioner Rodie.

4350
03:00:52,160 --> 03:00:53,439
Commissioner Deeples.

4351
03:00:53,439 --> 03:00:56,000
>> Um I'm not going to reiterate kind of

4352
03:00:56,000 --> 03:00:57,439
where I've been for the last year on

4353
03:00:57,439 --> 03:00:59,840
this issue. U I'm a huge supporter of

4354
03:00:59,840 --> 03:01:05,040
our county's CH. Uh and uh I I trust Dr.

4355
03:01:05,040 --> 03:01:07,600
Brchur's. I felt that I've I've tested

4356
03:01:07,600 --> 03:01:10,640
him many times over the last year uh on

4357
03:01:10,640 --> 03:01:12,720
your fiscal responsibility and prudence.

4358
03:01:12,720 --> 03:01:15,200
I trust your board uh the people that

4359
03:01:15,200 --> 03:01:16,960
have been this board has put on your

4360
03:01:16,960 --> 03:01:20,720
board. Uh so I think this is u a great

4361
03:01:20,720 --> 03:01:25,120
thing. Uh I'm 100% support of this of

4362
03:01:25,120 --> 03:01:26,319
this motion.

4363
03:01:26,319 --> 03:01:27,439
>> All right. Thank you, Commissioner

4364
03:01:27,439 --> 03:01:30,399
Debbles. Anyone else?

4365
03:01:30,399 --> 03:01:32,640
All right. I'll just add uh that I am

4366
03:01:32,640 --> 03:01:34,800
fully in support of this as well. I

4367
03:01:34,800 --> 03:01:37,200
think if anything, today's speakers did

4368
03:01:37,200 --> 03:01:39,520
a fabulous job advocating on behalf of

4369
03:01:39,520 --> 03:01:42,399
the CH Mill and absolutely underscored

4370
03:01:42,399 --> 03:01:44,640
the purpose and the reason for it. Our

4371
03:01:44,640 --> 03:01:46,319
job is to put it on the ballot for

4372
03:01:46,319 --> 03:01:48,240
voters to ultimately decide and my hope

4373
03:01:48,240 --> 03:01:50,880
is that voters will vote in favor of

4374
03:01:50,880 --> 03:01:53,680
this message. So with that, uh, Miss

4375
03:01:53,680 --> 03:01:55,120
Sanchez, would you care to call the

4376
03:01:55,120 --> 03:01:56,160
role?

4377
03:01:56,160 --> 03:01:57,359
>> Sure. Mr. Kyers,

4378
03:01:57,359 --> 03:01:57,840
>> yes.

4379
03:01:57,840 --> 03:01:58,720
>> Mr. Moss,

4380
03:01:58,720 --> 03:01:59,200
>> yes.

4381
03:01:59,200 --> 03:02:00,240
>> Mrs. Midama,

4382
03:02:00,240 --> 03:02:00,720
>> yes.

4383
03:02:00,720 --> 03:02:01,680
>> Mrs. Wel,

4384
03:02:01,680 --> 03:02:02,160
>> yes.

4385
03:02:02,160 --> 03:02:03,200
>> Mr. Barry,

4386
03:02:03,200 --> 03:02:04,960
>> yes. Mr. Zystra,

4387
03:02:04,960 --> 03:02:05,439
>> yes.

4388
03:02:05,439 --> 03:02:06,319
>> Mr. Toples,

4389
03:02:06,319 --> 03:02:06,800
>> yes.

4390
03:02:06,800 --> 03:02:07,840
>> Mr. Bonama,

4391
03:02:07,840 --> 03:02:08,399
>> yes.

4392
03:02:08,399 --> 03:02:09,359
>> Mrs. Roadie,

4393
03:02:09,359 --> 03:02:09,760
>> yes.

4394
03:02:09,760 --> 03:02:10,720
>> Mr. Jordma,

4395
03:02:10,720 --> 03:02:11,120
>> yes.

4396
03:02:11,120 --> 03:02:12,080
>> Mr. Buger,

4397
03:02:12,080 --> 03:02:12,560
>> yes.

4398
03:02:12,560 --> 03:02:13,760
>> Motion passes.

4399
03:02:13,760 --> 03:02:15,680
>> All right. Thank you. And then up next,

4400
03:02:15,680 --> 03:02:17,279
we will have I guess we'll do the

4401
03:02:17,279 --> 03:02:20,080
suggested motion would be to

4402
03:02:20,080 --> 03:02:22,560
place on the ballot the renewal and

4403
03:02:22,560 --> 03:02:26,240
restoration of the 10-year 0.33 mil

4404
03:02:26,240 --> 03:02:28,960
dedic mill dedicated millillage for the

4405
03:02:28,960 --> 03:02:30,960
parks and open space on the August 4,

4406
03:02:30,960 --> 03:02:34,399
2026 ballot. So moved.

4407
03:02:34,399 --> 03:02:36,319
>> All right. Motion by Moss, support by

4408
03:02:36,319 --> 03:02:39,520
George, Commissioner Moss. Go for it.

4409
03:02:39,520 --> 03:02:42,240
>> I support the motion.

4410
03:02:42,240 --> 03:02:44,640
>> Thank you for uh the amazing work that

4411
03:02:44,640 --> 03:02:46,479
Parks has done. And we'll keep this

4412
03:02:46,479 --> 03:02:47,520
short.

4413
03:02:47,520 --> 03:02:49,439
>> All right. Thank you. Uh Commissioner

4414
03:02:49,439 --> 03:02:50,720
Dors, may you second to that. Would you

4415
03:02:50,720 --> 03:02:52,160
care to comment or

4416
03:02:52,160 --> 03:02:54,080
>> I would agree. I'm I'm very appreciative

4417
03:02:54,080 --> 03:02:56,960
to Jason for uh I sat down with him and

4418
03:02:56,960 --> 03:02:59,600
we kind of talked through their plan and

4419
03:02:59,600 --> 03:03:02,800
I feel very confident that parks is in

4420
03:03:02,800 --> 03:03:05,040
strong hands and has good leadership

4421
03:03:05,040 --> 03:03:07,439
over there. So, thanks Jason and rest

4422
03:03:07,439 --> 03:03:08,720
the parks commission.

4423
03:03:08,720 --> 03:03:10,000
>> All right. Thank you, commissioner.

4424
03:03:10,000 --> 03:03:11,200
Anyone else?

4425
03:03:11,200 --> 03:03:12,479
>> Uh Commissioner Toples.

4426
03:03:12,479 --> 03:03:13,760
>> So, I'm going to reiterate what I

4427
03:03:13,760 --> 03:03:15,120
basically just said about the the

4428
03:03:15,120 --> 03:03:18,720
management of CH. Um what I've seen with

4429
03:03:18,720 --> 03:03:20,960
parks and the administration under under

4430
03:03:20,960 --> 03:03:25,200
Jason's uh watch is a consistent

4431
03:03:25,200 --> 03:03:28,240
proactive forthought

4432
03:03:28,240 --> 03:03:31,520
approach to running this

4433
03:03:31,520 --> 03:03:34,640
business, this community serviceoriented

4434
03:03:34,640 --> 03:03:36,880
business. Um I think your board's

4435
03:03:36,880 --> 03:03:40,560
fantastic. Um the communication also I

4436
03:03:40,560 --> 03:03:42,960
think is excellent um not only to the

4437
03:03:42,960 --> 03:03:44,720
community but to this board and we've

4438
03:03:44,720 --> 03:03:48,240
seen this time and time again. Um I I

4439
03:03:48,240 --> 03:03:50,800
think you know so often when we have

4440
03:03:50,800 --> 03:03:52,560
governmental agencies run things we

4441
03:03:52,560 --> 03:03:54,479
wonder are we getting our bang for the

4442
03:03:54,479 --> 03:03:57,359
buck? Is the money being spent wisely?

4443
03:03:57,359 --> 03:03:59,120
Those kind of questions fundamental

4444
03:03:59,120 --> 03:04:01,920
questions. Um I have absolutely no

4445
03:04:01,920 --> 03:04:04,720
quarrel with how you and your team have

4446
03:04:04,720 --> 03:04:07,760
done this your work. It's fantastic. So,

4447
03:04:07,760 --> 03:04:10,319
I will also be supporting this.

4448
03:04:10,319 --> 03:04:12,080
>> Thank you, Commissioner Deeples. Anyone

4449
03:04:12,080 --> 03:04:13,439
else? Commissioner Kyers.

4450
03:04:13,439 --> 03:04:16,560
>> Yeah. Um, I can't say enough about parks

4451
03:04:16,560 --> 03:04:18,319
and and how I approve of parks and what

4452
03:04:18,319 --> 03:04:20,479
we do at parks. I've been on the parks

4453
03:04:20,479 --> 03:04:22,479
longer than any commissioner has and

4454
03:04:22,479 --> 03:04:23,760
I've seen what they've done and how

4455
03:04:23,760 --> 03:04:25,359
they've grown and what they do to our

4456
03:04:25,359 --> 03:04:28,399
community. This goes handinhand with CH

4457
03:04:28,399 --> 03:04:30,640
Mill because it is part of what um

4458
03:04:30,640 --> 03:04:31,920
controls people in their minds and their

4459
03:04:31,920 --> 03:04:34,000
bodies. heard about that this morning,

4460
03:04:34,000 --> 03:04:35,600
especially from Kelly, how it affects

4461
03:04:35,600 --> 03:04:37,279
you when you have trials in your life.

4462
03:04:37,279 --> 03:04:39,760
So, um, I'll be supporting this. Thank

4463
03:04:39,760 --> 03:04:40,319
you.

4464
03:04:40,319 --> 03:04:41,680
>> All right. Thank you, Commissioner.

4465
03:04:41,680 --> 03:04:43,600
Anyone else?

4466
03:04:43,600 --> 03:04:45,279
All right. I will just echo what has

4467
03:04:45,279 --> 03:04:47,120
been said here that I am fully in

4468
03:04:47,120 --> 03:04:48,720
support of placing this millillage on

4469
03:04:48,720 --> 03:04:51,279
the ballot before the voters, and I do

4470
03:04:51,279 --> 03:04:52,800
hope that they will vote in support of

4471
03:04:52,800 --> 03:04:55,920
it. Our parks are an absolute treasure,

4472
03:04:55,920 --> 03:04:59,200
and it takes uh community support to

4473
03:04:59,200 --> 03:05:01,279
create that treasure and to maintain it.

4474
03:05:01,279 --> 03:05:03,520
So, I hope that uh our our citizens will

4475
03:05:03,520 --> 03:05:05,120
vote in favor of this. Uh with that,

4476
03:05:05,120 --> 03:05:06,880
Miss Sanchez, would you call the role?

4477
03:05:06,880 --> 03:05:08,800
>> Just for clarification on the motion

4478
03:05:08,800 --> 03:05:10,960
itself, it has to read at the beginning

4479
03:05:10,960 --> 03:05:13,439
to approve to adopt a resolution

4480
03:05:13,439 --> 03:05:15,439
approving the ballot language. Correct,

4481
03:05:15,439 --> 03:05:17,200
Mr. Bulchie.

4482
03:05:17,200 --> 03:05:18,240
>> Correct. Correct. Okay.

4483
03:05:18,240 --> 03:05:19,760
>> Yeah. I apologize. I did not articulate

4484
03:05:19,760 --> 03:05:20,319
that. You're right.

4485
03:05:20,319 --> 03:05:21,279
>> I just wanted to make sure. So, that's

4486
03:05:21,279 --> 03:05:23,359
what I put in there. Okay. Perfect. Mrs.

4487
03:05:23,359 --> 03:05:25,279
Oh, I'm sorry. Mr. Tles.

4488
03:05:25,279 --> 03:05:25,840
>> Yes.

4489
03:05:25,840 --> 03:05:27,279
>> Mr. Zystra.

4490
03:05:27,279 --> 03:05:27,840
>> Yes.

4491
03:05:27,840 --> 03:05:28,800
>> Mr. Kyers.

4492
03:05:28,800 --> 03:05:29,200
>> Yes.

4493
03:05:29,200 --> 03:05:30,240
>> Mr. Barry.

4494
03:05:30,240 --> 03:05:31,680
>> Yes. Mr. Moss,

4495
03:05:31,680 --> 03:05:32,240
>> yes.

4496
03:05:32,240 --> 03:05:33,279
>> Mr. Jordma,

4497
03:05:33,279 --> 03:05:33,760
>> yes.

4498
03:05:33,760 --> 03:05:34,800
>> Mrs. Roadie,

4499
03:05:34,800 --> 03:05:35,279
>> yes.

4500
03:05:35,279 --> 03:05:36,319
>> Mrs. Midima,

4501
03:05:36,319 --> 03:05:36,800
>> yes.

4502
03:05:36,800 --> 03:05:37,920
>> Mr. Bonama,

4503
03:05:37,920 --> 03:05:38,399
>> yes.

4504
03:05:38,399 --> 03:05:39,439
>> Mrs. Wzel,

4505
03:05:39,439 --> 03:05:39,920
>> yes.

4506
03:05:39,920 --> 03:05:40,880
>> Mr. Buger,

4507
03:05:40,880 --> 03:05:41,359
>> yes.

4508
03:05:41,359 --> 03:05:43,040
>> Motion passes.

4509
03:05:43,040 --> 03:05:45,439
>> All right. Thank you. Up next, we have a

4510
03:05:45,439 --> 03:05:47,040
guess we'll read the suggested motion is

4511
03:05:47,040 --> 03:05:48,960
to place on the ballot and to approve

4512
03:05:48,960 --> 03:05:50,800
the placement on the ballot. Did I say

4513
03:05:50,800 --> 03:05:56,230
that correctly, Rachel? Of the

4514
03:05:56,240 --> 03:06:00,240
uh 10year 0.20 20 mil increase dedicated

4515
03:06:00,240 --> 03:06:02,319
millillage for the parks and open space

4516
03:06:02,319 --> 03:06:05,840
on the November 3, 2026 ballot. Is there

4517
03:06:05,840 --> 03:06:07,760
a motion?

4518
03:06:07,760 --> 03:06:11,200
>> A motion by Ky, support by Joritzma and

4519
03:06:11,200 --> 03:06:13,279
uh boy, Phil getting a lot of activity

4520
03:06:13,279 --> 03:06:14,080
today.

4521
03:06:14,080 --> 03:06:14,479
>> Thank you.

4522
03:06:14,479 --> 03:06:19,680
>> Right over to you, sir. Um, you know, I we talked about with our work sessions

4523
03:06:19,680 --> 03:06:22,240
and and the parks did a lot of work and

4524
03:06:22,240 --> 03:06:24,560
a lot of surveys and and got really good

4525
03:06:24,560 --> 03:06:27,120
feedback from what our community wanted

4526
03:06:27,120 --> 03:06:29,040
and and what they treasure in Ottawa

4527
03:06:29,040 --> 03:06:31,520
County and the parks do make Ottawa

4528
03:06:31,520 --> 03:06:33,520
County what it is. I mean, I've sat on a

4529
03:06:33,520 --> 03:06:34,880
lot of interview committees and people

4530
03:06:34,880 --> 03:06:36,960
that interview um they've literally

4531
03:06:36,960 --> 03:06:39,600
moved here because of the parks. So, I

4532
03:06:39,600 --> 03:06:41,359
think separating this gives the people

4533
03:06:41,359 --> 03:06:44,319
the choice that our board wanted because

4534
03:06:44,319 --> 03:06:46,240
we didn't uh we didn't want it all in

4535
03:06:46,240 --> 03:06:48,240
one because we thought it was too much

4536
03:06:48,240 --> 03:06:51,279
to ask um tax increase and I understand

4537
03:06:51,279 --> 03:06:53,120
that. But to give them the decision that

4538
03:06:53,120 --> 03:06:55,760
they want and put it forward to them, I

4539
03:06:55,760 --> 03:06:57,520
think is a perfect compromise. So, I

4540
03:06:57,520 --> 03:06:59,120
would definitely be supporting this.

4541
03:06:59,120 --> 03:07:00,000
Thank you.

4542
03:07:00,000 --> 03:07:02,000
>> Thank you, Commissioner. Uh anyone else?

4543
03:07:02,000 --> 03:07:03,359
Uh Commissioner Rodie?

4544
03:07:03,359 --> 03:07:07,760
>> Yes. Um, so I I absolutely love our

4545
03:07:07,760 --> 03:07:11,200
parks and I think it's um always amazing

4546
03:07:11,200 --> 03:07:12,800
when we can give our kids and our

4547
03:07:12,800 --> 03:07:14,560
community the opportunity to get out

4548
03:07:14,560 --> 03:07:18,080
into God's creation and it's certainly

4549
03:07:18,080 --> 03:07:21,520
um helpful to all of us in many regards

4550
03:07:21,520 --> 03:07:26,240
um for that. Um I am concerned with um

4551
03:07:26,240 --> 03:07:28,800
continuing to add to the tax burden on

4552
03:07:28,800 --> 03:07:31,840
our citizens. And one of one of the

4553
03:07:31,840 --> 03:07:35,920
reasons that um that it concerns me is

4554
03:07:35,920 --> 03:07:37,200
we're you know we're seeing a lot of

4555
03:07:37,200 --> 03:07:39,760
movements throughout our state um a lot

4556
03:07:39,760 --> 03:07:42,720
of indications that uh the property

4557
03:07:42,720 --> 03:07:45,520
taxation has just become too much. And

4558
03:07:45,520 --> 03:07:48,000
we see that through um you know there

4559
03:07:48,000 --> 03:07:50,399
was the acts by tax initiative. Uh we

4560
03:07:50,399 --> 03:07:52,000
were in Lancing this week and they were

4561
03:07:52,000 --> 03:07:55,520
talking about um the popup tax relief.

4562
03:07:55,520 --> 03:08:00,000
You know, the population is making, you

4563
03:08:00,000 --> 03:08:02,240
know, is making it known that they are

4564
03:08:02,240 --> 03:08:06,319
stressed by property taxes and um we

4565
03:08:06,319 --> 03:08:09,200
wouldn't be seeing things on a statewide

4566
03:08:09,200 --> 03:08:11,920
um basis happening to try to reform

4567
03:08:11,920 --> 03:08:14,880
property tax if citizens didn't feel

4568
03:08:14,880 --> 03:08:17,920
like it was becoming too much. And so

4569
03:08:17,920 --> 03:08:20,640
I'm particularly concerned about our

4570
03:08:20,640 --> 03:08:22,960
young people who um you know, we talk

4571
03:08:22,960 --> 03:08:25,200
about affordable housing and people um

4572
03:08:25,200 --> 03:08:28,800
being able to um buy homes. I'm also

4573
03:08:28,800 --> 03:08:31,600
concerned about our our elderly and some

4574
03:08:31,600 --> 03:08:34,640
of them can't even downsize um to a

4575
03:08:34,640 --> 03:08:36,720
smaller home to open up their home, you

4576
03:08:36,720 --> 03:08:38,080
know, so we can have that movement

4577
03:08:38,080 --> 03:08:40,479
through the market um because if they

4578
03:08:40,479 --> 03:08:42,560
did that, their property taxes will

4579
03:08:42,560 --> 03:08:44,319
increase so much that they can't they

4580
03:08:44,319 --> 03:08:50,720
can't afford to downsize. So, um, that's my concern on this. I love our

4581
03:08:50,720 --> 03:08:54,640
parks, but, um, I think that we are

4582
03:08:54,640 --> 03:08:56,000
possibly getting to the point where

4583
03:08:56,000 --> 03:08:58,080
we're we're starting to ask too much of

4584
03:08:58,080 --> 03:08:59,680
our people when it comes to property

4585
03:08:59,680 --> 03:09:02,399
taxes. I'm also cognizant of the fact

4586
03:09:02,399 --> 03:09:06,160
that we have a 044 mill for our 911 call

4587
03:09:06,160 --> 03:09:08,000
center. That's not coming up for a vote

4588
03:09:08,000 --> 03:09:10,240
anytime soon. But, you know, we have

4589
03:09:10,240 --> 03:09:18,240
critical services that have to that are essential that are needed that we have to um you know, fund

4590
03:09:18,240 --> 03:09:21,760
through through millages. Um so, so

4591
03:09:21,760 --> 03:09:27,040
while I love our parks, um I think that sometimes we also have to

4592
03:09:27,040 --> 03:09:29,120
prioritize where our people are at and

4593
03:09:29,120 --> 03:09:31,439
what they can personally afford. And to

4594
03:09:31,439 --> 03:09:33,439
me, I I feel like we're we're at our

4595
03:09:33,439 --> 03:09:35,359
limit. So, I'm not going to be able to

4596
03:09:35,359 --> 03:09:36,800
vote yes on this one.

4597
03:09:36,800 --> 03:09:37,840
>> All right. Thank you, Commissioner

4598
03:09:37,840 --> 03:09:39,920
Roodie. Uh, Commissioner Wenszel.

4599
03:09:39,920 --> 03:09:42,960
>> Um, I agree with Sylvia. Um, our parks

4600
03:09:42,960 --> 03:09:45,520
are beautiful. I use them. Our family

4601
03:09:45,520 --> 03:09:47,520
uses them. All of our kids use them. We

4602
03:09:47,520 --> 03:09:49,760
love them. Um, but I'm hearing from

4603
03:09:49,760 --> 03:09:51,520
individuals right now about being so

4604
03:09:51,520 --> 03:09:54,319
strapped financially. Um, and how just

4605
03:09:54,319 --> 03:09:56,399
expensive life is. And just this

4606
03:09:56,399 --> 03:09:58,399
morning, I received a text message with

4607
03:09:58,399 --> 03:10:02,399
a picture of

4608
03:10:02,399 --> 03:10:05,279
the screen when an individual purchased

4609
03:10:05,279 --> 03:10:08,640
gas and to fill their tank for the

4610
03:10:08,640 --> 03:10:10,000
vehicle that they needed to use for

4611
03:10:10,000 --> 03:10:11,520
work.

4612
03:10:11,520 --> 03:10:13,600
It was, I think, if I'm remembering

4613
03:10:13,600 --> 03:10:16,960
correctly, like $150. It was insane. Um,

4614
03:10:16,960 --> 03:10:19,920
and this is a young individual. I think

4615
03:10:19,920 --> 03:10:22,880
that our parks are amazing as they are

4616
03:10:22,880 --> 03:10:25,840
without any more increases. All right.

4617
03:10:25,840 --> 03:10:27,439
Thank you, Commissioner. Uh,

4618
03:10:27,439 --> 03:10:28,240
Commissioner Baron,

4619
03:10:28,240 --> 03:10:29,920
>> just a few thoughts I've got on this.

4620
03:10:29,920 --> 03:10:32,240
Uh, I think, um, parks have demonstrated

4621
03:10:32,240 --> 03:10:34,800
they're good stewards with the resources

4622
03:10:34,800 --> 03:10:37,359
they've been given. Um, I think there's

4623
03:10:37,359 --> 03:10:40,560
probably universal, um, feeling that,

4624
03:10:40,560 --> 03:10:42,000
uh, the parks we have are really

4625
03:10:42,000 --> 03:10:45,439
special. Uh I think having this increase

4626
03:10:45,439 --> 03:10:48,880
put out as a separate vote uh allows

4627
03:10:48,880 --> 03:10:51,120
parks to make the case to voters what

4628
03:10:51,120 --> 03:10:54,240
they would do with the money and uh then

4629
03:10:54,240 --> 03:10:56,240
voters would be able to decide whether

4630
03:10:56,240 --> 03:10:58,080
that that

4631
03:10:58,080 --> 03:10:59,840
cost whether you look at that as a cost

4632
03:10:59,840 --> 03:11:03,600
or an investment is worth it. Um

4633
03:11:03,600 --> 03:11:06,640
the whole property tax question in

4634
03:11:06,640 --> 03:11:07,920
general though was kind of interesting

4635
03:11:07,920 --> 03:11:10,720
and I talked about this on WHTC last

4636
03:11:10,720 --> 03:11:13,920
week. There is a populist movement uh

4637
03:11:13,920 --> 03:11:17,920
regarding property taxes and uh I said

4638
03:11:17,920 --> 03:11:21,040
on the air that property taxes are the

4639
03:11:21,040 --> 03:11:24,319
only tax that voters get to vote on

4640
03:11:24,319 --> 03:11:27,279
themselves. All the other taxes are

4641
03:11:27,279 --> 03:11:29,520
handed down to them, but property taxes

4642
03:11:29,520 --> 03:11:31,840
you get to vote on. Those are also the

4643
03:11:31,840 --> 03:11:35,040
only tax revenue that stays within your

4644
03:11:35,040 --> 03:11:38,399
county or school district or township.

4645
03:11:38,399 --> 03:11:41,040
Um, it it's a direct benefit to the

4646
03:11:41,040 --> 03:11:43,040
taxpayers, the money that comes from

4647
03:11:43,040 --> 03:11:45,040
property taxes. I don't know why we

4648
03:11:45,040 --> 03:11:47,439
don't roll back sales tax. I don't know

4649
03:11:47,439 --> 03:11:50,880
why we don't reduce the gas tax. I don't

4650
03:11:50,880 --> 03:11:52,479
there's a lot of things you could take a

4651
03:11:52,479 --> 03:11:54,479
look at. I don't I'm not exactly sure

4652
03:11:54,479 --> 03:11:56,800
why the focus is is so intent on

4653
03:11:56,800 --> 03:11:59,200
property taxes, but anyway, in this

4654
03:11:59,200 --> 03:12:01,920
case, I I think um parks have been great

4655
03:12:01,920 --> 03:12:04,240
stewards and I think uh voters should

4656
03:12:04,240 --> 03:12:06,080
have the opportunity to decide whether

4657
03:12:06,080 --> 03:12:07,840
that's uh an investment they care to

4658
03:12:07,840 --> 03:12:08,720
make.

4659
03:12:08,720 --> 03:12:09,840
>> Thank you, Commissioner. Commissioner

4660
03:12:09,840 --> 03:12:11,200
Mima,

4661
03:12:11,200 --> 03:12:14,319
>> um I first just really loved hearing

4662
03:12:14,319 --> 03:12:16,800
from the um

4663
03:12:16,800 --> 03:12:18,640
all our constituents, all the people who

4664
03:12:18,640 --> 03:12:22,160
live here. They had so many um beautiful

4665
03:12:22,160 --> 03:12:24,160
stories to share about parks. I echo

4666
03:12:24,160 --> 03:12:27,600
many of those. Um my family and I use

4667
03:12:27,600 --> 03:12:30,080
parks on a very regular basis. That was

4668
03:12:30,080 --> 03:12:31,840
part of my last job was teaching a

4669
03:12:31,840 --> 03:12:34,000
nature-based preschool program um

4670
03:12:34,000 --> 03:12:36,160
working with outdoor discovery center.

4671
03:12:36,160 --> 03:12:38,240
And so I can't say enough good about our

4672
03:12:38,240 --> 03:12:41,439
parks. Um this has been a topic that I

4673
03:12:41,439 --> 03:12:43,760
have spent a lot of time wrestling with.

4674
03:12:43,760 --> 03:12:47,439
Um, and I think where I've where I've

4675
03:12:47,439 --> 03:12:53,520
landed is I believe that we can honor

4676
03:12:53,520 --> 03:12:57,120
the overall thoughts of many of the um

4677
03:12:57,120 --> 03:13:00,000
people that shared their their desire to

4678
03:13:00,000 --> 03:13:02,399
continue our great parks. If we don't

4679
03:13:02,399 --> 03:13:05,680
vote today for um putting an increase on

4680
03:13:05,680 --> 03:13:07,200
our

4681
03:13:07,200 --> 03:13:09,600
um on our residents on the millillage,

4682
03:13:09,600 --> 03:13:12,399
that does not mean that our parks are

4683
03:13:12,399 --> 03:13:14,960
all of a sudden going to

4684
03:13:14,960 --> 03:13:17,520
um not be of good standing. If you look

4685
03:13:17,520 --> 03:13:19,600
at all the things in the 33 millillage

4686
03:13:19,600 --> 03:13:22,479
rate, line by line by line, it is

4687
03:13:22,479 --> 03:13:24,560
continuing to do the great work that has

4688
03:13:24,560 --> 03:13:27,359
been happening here already. Um, when

4689
03:13:27,359 --> 03:13:30,640
you look at the 0.53,

4690
03:13:30,640 --> 03:13:32,000
I think there's some really good

4691
03:13:32,000 --> 03:13:34,239
thoughts there. I think there's some

4692
03:13:34,239 --> 03:13:36,720
really good hopes. Um I look at it a

4693
03:13:36,720 --> 03:13:40,239
little bit as when I in to a much um

4694
03:13:40,239 --> 03:13:43,040
lesser degree each year I had to put

4695
03:13:43,040 --> 03:13:45,760
together a budget for my own classroom

4696
03:13:45,760 --> 03:13:49,120
and I started broad and then that slowly

4697
03:13:49,120 --> 03:13:52,960
got um brought down and some years I got

4698
03:13:52,960 --> 03:13:55,359
to have more brought in and some years I

4699
03:13:55,359 --> 03:14:00,080
did not. And what I'm sensing um our

4700
03:14:00,080 --> 03:14:01,680
role is as a board of commissioner and

4701
03:14:01,680 --> 03:14:04,560
why we why we have to vote for a

4702
03:14:04,560 --> 03:14:07,439
millillage to even go on a ballot is

4703
03:14:07,439 --> 03:14:09,840
because we we should have a broader

4704
03:14:09,840 --> 03:14:11,359
purview

4705
03:14:11,359 --> 03:14:14,479
of everything all at once. So we we are

4706
03:14:14,479 --> 03:14:15,760
the ones that are looking at the

4707
03:14:15,760 --> 03:14:17,200
budgets. We're looking at the things

4708
03:14:17,200 --> 03:14:20,000
that are coming before us in a little

4709
03:14:20,000 --> 03:14:23,040
bit from the 911 call center. we're able

4710
03:14:23,040 --> 03:14:25,600
to look at the different um things in

4711
03:14:25,600 --> 03:14:27,359
our community that are affected by

4712
03:14:27,359 --> 03:14:30,800
school millages. We have a better caveat

4713
03:14:30,800 --> 03:14:33,040
of understanding sometimes the whole

4714
03:14:33,040 --> 03:14:35,600
scope and sometimes when it comes on a

4715
03:14:35,600 --> 03:14:37,439
ballot just for a couple things at a

4716
03:14:37,439 --> 03:14:39,840
time, people aren't stopping to think

4717
03:14:39,840 --> 03:14:43,200
about I said yes to this here, I said

4718
03:14:43,200 --> 03:14:45,680
yes to this over here. And so I do think

4719
03:14:45,680 --> 03:14:48,640
it's we have a greater responsibility

4720
03:14:48,640 --> 03:14:51,439
as commissioners to

4721
03:14:51,439 --> 03:14:53,920
properly um understand what we're

4722
03:14:53,920 --> 03:14:56,399
actually voting for. And and when I hear

4723
03:14:56,399 --> 03:14:59,520
people say that they can't afford to

4724
03:14:59,520 --> 03:15:01,600
live here at the moment. I I want people

4725
03:15:01,600 --> 03:15:03,359
to come

4726
03:15:03,359 --> 03:15:05,359
to continue to enjoy our parks. One of

4727
03:15:05,359 --> 03:15:06,640
the things we've been known for is

4728
03:15:06,640 --> 03:15:08,160
people move here because of our parks.

4729
03:15:08,160 --> 03:15:10,399
But if we can't have an affordable place

4730
03:15:10,399 --> 03:15:11,760
to live, then people are no longer

4731
03:15:11,760 --> 03:15:14,319
moving in to enjoy our parks.

4732
03:15:14,319 --> 03:15:16,880
Can I personally afford a an additional

4733
03:15:16,880 --> 03:15:18,720
increase for my family? Yes. But I think

4734
03:15:18,720 --> 03:15:21,760
there's many people here that don't feel

4735
03:15:21,760 --> 03:15:23,680
like they're in that spot. And I think

4736
03:15:23,680 --> 03:15:25,439
it's the responsible thing to do at the

4737
03:15:25,439 --> 03:15:28,239
moment is to create a pause and to ask

4738
03:15:28,239 --> 03:15:32,960
parks to pause on that their wish list

4739
03:15:32,960 --> 03:15:36,239
um and to come back to us at a later

4740
03:15:36,239 --> 03:15:40,399
date when things are maybe not so hard

4741
03:15:40,399 --> 03:15:43,439
um here in Ottawa County. So, for that

4742
03:15:43,439 --> 03:15:47,600
reason, um I I will be voting um against

4743
03:15:47,600 --> 03:15:49,600
the increase military.

4744
03:15:49,600 --> 03:15:49,920
>> Okay.

4745
03:15:49,920 --> 03:15:51,359
>> Thank you, Commissioner. I've got

4746
03:15:51,359 --> 03:15:52,560
Commissioner Zielstra and then

4747
03:15:52,560 --> 03:15:53,600
Commissioner Tles.

4748
03:15:53,600 --> 03:15:55,120
>> John, would you go first?

4749
03:15:55,120 --> 03:15:55,840
>> Sure.

4750
03:15:55,840 --> 03:15:57,040
>> I'm sure.

4751
03:15:57,040 --> 03:15:59,760
>> So, uh I'll be making more comments

4752
03:15:59,760 --> 03:16:02,479
about uh this. But my fundamental

4753
03:16:02,479 --> 03:16:04,800
question for the board is, and I've been

4754
03:16:04,800 --> 03:16:06,479
challenging this for a year and a half,

4755
03:16:06,479 --> 03:16:09,279
is what is our role as commissioners? I

4756
03:16:09,279 --> 03:16:11,760
think we as a board often times step out

4757
03:16:11,760 --> 03:16:15,040
of our duty and our responsibilities and

4758
03:16:15,040 --> 03:16:17,520
think that we the government is not here

4759
03:16:17,520 --> 03:16:20,080
to fix everything and that's not our job

4760
03:16:20,080 --> 03:16:23,920
to do that. Um unlike what Commissioner

4761
03:16:23,920 --> 03:16:25,600
Medium just said where people aren't

4762
03:16:25,600 --> 03:16:27,680
thinking about what they're voting for.

4763
03:16:27,680 --> 03:16:30,000
I absolutely trust our public to make

4764
03:16:30,000 --> 03:16:32,239
the best decision for themselves and I'm

4765
03:16:32,239 --> 03:16:33,680
willing to live with it regardless of

4766
03:16:33,680 --> 03:16:36,000
their decision. And I think they have a

4767
03:16:36,000 --> 03:16:37,760
right to make that decision. And I don't

4768
03:16:37,760 --> 03:16:40,640
think my vote here should to should take

4769
03:16:40,640 --> 03:16:42,800
that right away from them. That's not my

4770
03:16:42,800 --> 03:16:45,760
role. I'm a commissioner, a county

4771
03:16:45,760 --> 03:16:47,760
commissioner, and my job is to watch the

4772
03:16:47,760 --> 03:16:50,239
county budget. It is to set policy for

4773
03:16:50,239 --> 03:16:52,239
the county that deals with safety and

4774
03:16:52,239 --> 03:16:55,200
other issues. It is not to take away a

4775
03:16:55,200 --> 03:16:56,640
vote that the public can make for

4776
03:16:56,640 --> 03:16:59,840
themselves. And that's where we have to

4777
03:16:59,840 --> 03:17:02,319
understand where our lane is. And

4778
03:17:02,319 --> 03:17:05,680
sometimes we jump over it. And it's not

4779
03:17:05,680 --> 03:17:08,640
our duty. I trust the public to make the

4780
03:17:08,640 --> 03:17:10,880
decision. I respect that parks has

4781
03:17:10,880 --> 03:17:13,520
divided this so that the public can be

4782
03:17:13,520 --> 03:17:15,840
well informed that there's a distinction

4783
03:17:15,840 --> 03:17:18,160
between what happens in August and what

4784
03:17:18,160 --> 03:17:20,560
happens here in November. The public is

4785
03:17:20,560 --> 03:17:23,040
well informed of that. The park had a

4786
03:17:23,040 --> 03:17:26,239
survey and showed that by far the public

4787
03:17:26,239 --> 03:17:28,399
supports the 0.53.

4788
03:17:28,399 --> 03:17:32,640
Well, if I'm going to vote against that, means all those people that did a

4789
03:17:32,640 --> 03:17:35,600
scientific sur survey, a statistically

4790
03:17:35,600 --> 03:17:37,920
reliable survey, I'm just throwing out

4791
03:17:37,920 --> 03:17:40,319
the window as if they're those people

4792
03:17:40,319 --> 03:17:43,840
are illrelevant. That's not my job as a

4793
03:17:43,840 --> 03:17:47,120
commissioner. Again, I trust the public.

4794
03:17:47,120 --> 03:17:49,520
If they vote yes, I vote I support it.

4795
03:17:49,520 --> 03:17:51,840
If they vote no, I understand. I support

4796
03:17:51,840 --> 03:17:55,120
it. I certainly support the point, too.

4797
03:17:55,120 --> 03:17:58,319
But more so, my role as a commissioner

4798
03:17:58,319 --> 03:18:00,560
is not to take that that right away from

4799
03:18:00,560 --> 03:18:01,760
the people where they can do it

4800
03:18:01,760 --> 03:18:04,000
themselves. That's just not my role.

4801
03:18:04,000 --> 03:18:05,359
That's how I see my role as a

4802
03:18:05,359 --> 03:18:07,040
commissioner.

4803
03:18:07,040 --> 03:18:08,080
>> Thank you, Commissioner. Commissioner

4804
03:18:08,080 --> 03:18:08,640
Zstra.

4805
03:18:08,640 --> 03:18:10,000
>> Sure. So, one of the reasons I like to

4806
03:18:10,000 --> 03:18:11,840
have John go before me because he covers

4807
03:18:11,840 --> 03:18:13,200
a lot of the terrain for the summer

4808
03:18:13,200 --> 03:18:15,600
anyway. So, it makes my life a lot

4809
03:18:15,600 --> 03:18:18,000
easier. I I let you go as well, Jim. Did

4810
03:18:18,000 --> 03:18:19,279
I not let you go as well? Because I knew

4811
03:18:19,279 --> 03:18:20,479
you were going to cover the same terrain

4812
03:18:20,479 --> 03:18:22,560
and you know, you know, we split this

4813
03:18:22,560 --> 03:18:25,200
into two uh two different votes.

4814
03:18:25,200 --> 03:18:27,680
uh for the public like John said, two

4815
03:18:27,680 --> 03:18:30,239
different days to let the public have a

4816
03:18:30,239 --> 03:18:32,960
very clear voice on these on these

4817
03:18:32,960 --> 03:18:34,960
issues. I think we should allow them to

4818
03:18:34,960 --> 03:18:36,399
have that voice, right? I think

4819
03:18:36,399 --> 03:18:38,720
depriving them of the right to vote on

4820
03:18:38,720 --> 03:18:42,560
this um is not doing the public service.

4821
03:18:42,560 --> 03:18:43,680
Thank you, Commissioner. Commissioner

4822
03:18:43,680 --> 03:18:45,680
Barry, did you have a comment again or

4823
03:18:45,680 --> 03:18:47,359
you're good? Okay. All right. Anyone

4824
03:18:47,359 --> 03:18:49,359
else? Oh, sorry. Commissioner Bonama,

4825
03:18:49,359 --> 03:18:50,319
you know, I think I was supposed to come

4826
03:18:50,319 --> 03:18:51,680
back to you a little bit ago. Apologies.

4827
03:18:51,680 --> 03:18:52,800
>> It's all right. It's all right.

4828
03:18:52,800 --> 03:18:56,800
>> Thank you for your patience. Hey, it's been a great day. Um, no, I think

4829
03:18:56,800 --> 03:18:58,399
uh this is a great opportunity for the

4830
03:18:58,399 --> 03:19:00,800
public to weigh in on whether they want

4831
03:19:00,800 --> 03:19:02,800
a tax increase or not. I think we get

4832
03:19:02,800 --> 03:19:05,600
very few opportunities as voters to vote

4833
03:19:05,600 --> 03:19:08,479
on that. And so, here's a chance to um I

4834
03:19:08,479 --> 03:19:10,239
was on a journey with this. Uh this is

4835
03:19:10,239 --> 03:19:11,920
one where originally it was all together

4836
03:19:11,920 --> 03:19:13,920
and it was just to vote on an increase.

4837
03:19:13,920 --> 03:19:16,399
Uh I was a hard no on that because I I

4838
03:19:16,399 --> 03:19:22,080
hate my taxes getting raised, right? I'm with y'all. Uh but I was uh you know

4839
03:19:22,080 --> 03:19:24,399
persuaded that there's power and options

4840
03:19:24,399 --> 03:19:26,160
and I want to give that power to the

4841
03:19:26,160 --> 03:19:30,000
public to say hey uh yes yes yes or no

4842
03:19:30,000 --> 03:19:32,160
on you know maintaining I think that's

4843
03:19:32,160 --> 03:19:34,319
being a good steward and then yes or no

4844
03:19:34,319 --> 03:19:36,319
on increasing and that's a decision that

4845
03:19:36,319 --> 03:19:38,720
they can decide. So uh I'll be

4846
03:19:38,720 --> 03:19:40,080
supporting that as well.

4847
03:19:40,080 --> 03:19:41,840
>> All right thank you uh Commissioner

4848
03:19:41,840 --> 03:19:43,040
Moss.

4849
03:19:43,040 --> 03:19:45,760
>> All right I try to keep it short. Uh I

4850
03:19:45,760 --> 03:19:47,200
agree someone said in the beginning we

4851
03:19:47,200 --> 03:19:48,479
have good stewards in our parks

4852
03:19:48,479 --> 03:19:50,960
department. I appreciate that. Um, we

4853
03:19:50,960 --> 03:19:54,239
have great parks. Uh, we got unanimous

4854
03:19:54,239 --> 03:19:57,600
support for the renewal today. And

4855
03:19:57,600 --> 03:20:01,680
lastly, government is taxing too much.

4856
03:20:01,680 --> 03:20:04,880
Uh, I recommend to the board, to my

4857
03:20:04,880 --> 03:20:06,960
fellow board members, that you vote no

4858
03:20:06,960 --> 03:20:10,479
on this particular item. Uh, it is a tax

4859
03:20:10,479 --> 03:20:13,040
increase. Right now in Lancing, we just

4860
03:20:13,040 --> 03:20:14,880
heard from Bob this morning and we heard

4861
03:20:14,880 --> 03:20:17,200
uh at the MAC conference that at the

4862
03:20:17,200 --> 03:20:19,279
state level, the Democrats are looking

4863
03:20:19,279 --> 03:20:21,520
at tax increases.

4864
03:20:21,520 --> 03:20:23,040
At the same time, Republicans are

4865
03:20:23,040 --> 03:20:24,720
looking at multiple ways and have new

4866
03:20:24,720 --> 03:20:28,399
proposals to cut taxes. So, I'm opposed

4867
03:20:28,399 --> 03:20:31,279
to this particular increase, and I'd ask

4868
03:20:31,279 --> 03:20:34,160
that you all vote no and come back to

4869
03:20:34,160 --> 03:20:36,720
this sometime next year.

4870
03:20:36,720 --> 03:20:38,800
>> Thank you, Commissioner.

4871
03:20:38,800 --> 03:20:41,040
Um yeah. Okay. All right. All right,

4872
03:20:41,040 --> 03:20:43,520
I'll go for it. Um, I am going to uh say

4873
03:20:43,520 --> 03:20:45,920
that I I do wish given the effort that

4874
03:20:45,920 --> 03:20:49,040
went in and the consiliatory

4875
03:20:49,040 --> 03:20:51,279
um grac I say let's say given the

4876
03:20:51,279 --> 03:20:53,920
graciousness of the parks board uh and

4877
03:20:53,920 --> 03:20:57,040
the parks director in uh accepting a

4878
03:20:57,040 --> 03:20:58,640
split of these votes. I really did want

4879
03:20:58,640 --> 03:21:00,720
to vote on these both together um

4880
03:21:00,720 --> 03:21:01,920
because I thought that was a very

4881
03:21:01,920 --> 03:21:04,239
valuable compromise. Uh from the get-go,

4882
03:21:04,239 --> 03:21:06,080
I have supported these both being

4883
03:21:06,080 --> 03:21:09,200
separate um to be put before the uh the

4884
03:21:09,200 --> 03:21:11,279
public separately. uh so that they have

4885
03:21:11,279 --> 03:21:13,120
as many options and they can choose what

4886
03:21:13,120 --> 03:21:14,960
they want to do. It's interesting that

4887
03:21:14,960 --> 03:21:18,239
uh uh township uh supervisor Gordon

4888
03:21:18,239 --> 03:21:20,880
Gallagher is in the house today. Uh they

4889
03:21:20,880 --> 03:21:23,359
had a millillage uh put before the

4890
03:21:23,359 --> 03:21:25,279
people of Spring Lake Township about a

4891
03:21:25,279 --> 03:21:29,359
year ago regarding their um bike path

4892
03:21:29,359 --> 03:21:31,279
and they broke that millillage into two

4893
03:21:31,279 --> 03:21:33,200
proposals. One was a maintaining what

4894
03:21:33,200 --> 03:21:35,120
they have, the other one was expanding

4895
03:21:35,120 --> 03:21:37,520
what they have. uh that was the right

4896
03:21:37,520 --> 03:21:38,880
approach and I believe that the right

4897
03:21:38,880 --> 03:21:40,160
approach is putting these two

4898
03:21:40,160 --> 03:21:43,200
separately. Uh I in the case of the bike

4899
03:21:43,200 --> 03:21:44,800
millillage in Spring Lake voters voted

4900
03:21:44,800 --> 03:21:47,359
in favor of both of those and uh I think

4901
03:21:47,359 --> 03:21:48,720
that was an excellent outcome all

4902
03:21:48,720 --> 03:21:50,640
around. So I am very much in favor of

4903
03:21:50,640 --> 03:21:52,800
putting this before the voters. Uh we

4904
03:21:52,800 --> 03:21:55,120
are essentially on this one a pass

4905
03:21:55,120 --> 03:21:56,880
through entity and I want to give every

4906
03:21:56,880 --> 03:21:58,560
voter the opportunity to vote as they

4907
03:21:58,560 --> 03:22:00,319
see fit. I do not want to take that

4908
03:22:00,319 --> 03:22:02,239
opportunity away from them. So with

4909
03:22:02,239 --> 03:22:04,000
that, I'll be voting in favor of this.

4910
03:22:04,000 --> 03:22:06,560
And Rachel, would you call the role?

4911
03:22:06,560 --> 03:22:08,160
>> Mr. Zielstra,

4912
03:22:08,160 --> 03:22:08,960
>> uh, yes.

4913
03:22:08,960 --> 03:22:09,920
>> Mr. Tles,

4914
03:22:09,920 --> 03:22:10,560
>> yes.

4915
03:22:10,560 --> 03:22:11,680
>> Mr. JSMA,

4916
03:22:11,680 --> 03:22:12,239
>> yes.

4917
03:22:12,239 --> 03:22:13,279
>> Mr. Kyers,

4918
03:22:13,279 --> 03:22:13,840
>> yes.

4919
03:22:13,840 --> 03:22:14,880
>> Mr. Barry,

4920
03:22:14,880 --> 03:22:15,439
>> yes.

4921
03:22:15,439 --> 03:22:16,399
>> Mrs. Nema,

4922
03:22:16,399 --> 03:22:16,960
>> no.

4923
03:22:16,960 --> 03:22:18,080
>> Mr. Bonama,

4924
03:22:18,080 --> 03:22:18,640
>> yes.

4925
03:22:18,640 --> 03:22:19,600
>> Mrs. Roodie,

4926
03:22:19,600 --> 03:22:20,080
>> no.

4927
03:22:20,080 --> 03:22:21,120
>> Mr. Moss,

4928
03:22:21,120 --> 03:22:21,760
>> no.

4929
03:22:21,760 --> 03:22:22,640
>> Mrs. Wel,

4930
03:22:22,640 --> 03:22:23,200
>> no.

4931
03:22:23,200 --> 03:22:24,239
>> Mr. Buger,

4932
03:22:24,239 --> 03:22:24,800
>> yes.

4933
03:22:24,800 --> 03:22:26,000
>> Motion passes.

4934
03:22:26,000 --> 03:22:27,120
>> All right. Thank you. Thank you

4935
03:22:27,120 --> 03:22:29,120
everyone. And thank you again to uh

4936
03:22:29,120 --> 03:22:32,319
Jason and to uh Dr. Bashier for your

4937
03:22:32,319 --> 03:22:33,920
efforts with this. Uh we know you put a

4938
03:22:33,920 --> 03:22:35,120
lot of work into it and your teams did

4939
03:22:35,120 --> 03:22:37,359
too. So thank you. Uh item C

4940
03:22:37,359 --> 03:22:40,160
postexecution contract ratification. The

4941
03:22:40,160 --> 03:22:41,760
suggested motion is to ratify all

4942
03:22:41,760 --> 03:22:43,359
contracts on the ratification report

4943
03:22:43,359 --> 03:22:45,200
pursuant to the county's contracting

4944
03:22:45,200 --> 03:22:45,760
policy.

4945
03:22:45,760 --> 03:22:47,279
>> So move support.

4946
03:22:47,279 --> 03:22:49,600
>> Motion by Jorzma, second by Moss. Any

4947
03:22:49,600 --> 03:22:51,200
discussion?

4948
03:22:51,200 --> 03:22:52,960
All those in favor? Oh, sorry. Roll call

4949
03:22:52,960 --> 03:22:54,319
vote.

4950
03:22:54,319 --> 03:22:55,840
>> I have one question.

4951
03:22:55,840 --> 03:22:58,720
>> Okay. Commissioner Mima. Um

4952
03:22:58,720 --> 03:23:02,479
so contract 2970 which has to do with

4953
03:23:02,479 --> 03:23:04,399
the marijuana

4954
03:23:04,399 --> 03:23:08,880
um classes and substance abuse

4955
03:23:08,880 --> 03:23:11,040
um education. It mentions in that

4956
03:23:11,040 --> 03:23:13,200
contract about going into five schools

4957
03:23:13,200 --> 03:23:16,000
within Ottawa County. And I would just I

4958
03:23:16,000 --> 03:23:17,120
would really like to have some more

4959
03:23:17,120 --> 03:23:18,560
information on that. That was a request

4960
03:23:18,560 --> 03:23:20,560
I had at the last time that anytime we

4961
03:23:20,560 --> 03:23:23,359
are going into schools um with public

4962
03:23:23,359 --> 03:23:25,040
health, I would appreciate a heads up

4963
03:23:25,040 --> 03:23:27,520
and I would like that conversation to

4964
03:23:27,520 --> 03:23:30,160
take place before a vote on that.

4965
03:23:30,160 --> 03:23:32,399
>> Understanding is it is after school

4966
03:23:32,399 --> 03:23:35,840
engagement. Um this is a this is a grant

4967
03:23:35,840 --> 03:23:37,840
for 44,000

4968
03:23:37,840 --> 03:23:40,560
uh for marijuana medical um medical

4969
03:23:40,560 --> 03:23:43,439
marijuana act awareness training and

4970
03:23:43,439 --> 03:23:45,120
it's a grant that we've received since

4971
03:23:45,120 --> 03:23:47,680
2019. And I think prior to that, these

4972
03:23:47,680 --> 03:23:50,160
same funds came in and were channeled to

4973
03:23:50,160 --> 03:23:51,840
law enforcement. So now they're running

4974
03:23:51,840 --> 03:23:53,520
through public health. But

4975
03:23:53,520 --> 03:23:55,359
>> which schools are we looking to

4976
03:23:55,359 --> 03:23:56,560
implement them in?

4977
03:23:56,560 --> 03:23:57,600
>> I can't answer that.

4978
03:23:57,600 --> 03:23:59,120
>> I think that's really important for us

4979
03:23:59,120 --> 03:24:01,600
to have that conversation. So anytime as

4980
03:24:01,600 --> 03:24:03,439
a county that we are going into our

4981
03:24:03,439 --> 03:24:07,600
school systems, we have a very um small

4982
03:24:07,600 --> 03:24:10,720
role within our purview of going into

4983
03:24:10,720 --> 03:24:13,920
schools as count as a county and I think

4984
03:24:13,920 --> 03:24:16,080
that is really pertinent that we

4985
03:24:16,080 --> 03:24:18,479
understand a little bit more about this

4986
03:24:18,479 --> 03:24:24,640
contract before we approve it. Um and I I'm sensing that maybe there's

4987
03:24:24,640 --> 03:24:26,640
some questions that you're not aware of.

4988
03:24:26,640 --> 03:24:30,000
I I'm going to ask to move contract 2970

4989
03:24:30,000 --> 03:24:33,439
outside of um the contract the rest of

4990
03:24:33,439 --> 03:24:35,680
the contracts to vote on separately.

4991
03:24:35,680 --> 03:24:37,439
>> And we've got a motion on the table. Is

4992
03:24:37,439 --> 03:24:39,200
there a second?

4993
03:24:39,200 --> 03:24:40,319
>> Support.

4994
03:24:40,319 --> 03:24:42,880
by Commissioner Roie.

4995
03:24:42,880 --> 03:24:44,800
Discussion. I think uh Commissioner

4996
03:24:44,800 --> 03:24:46,720
Mima, you led up to that one with a

4997
03:24:46,720 --> 03:24:48,000
motion. So, do you have anything further

4998
03:24:48,000 --> 03:24:49,040
to say?

4999
03:24:49,040 --> 03:24:51,600
>> I just think it's our responsibility to

5000
03:24:51,600 --> 03:24:54,000
better understand how we are going into

5001
03:24:54,000 --> 03:24:56,720
our schools. I it would be great if our

5002
03:24:56,720 --> 03:24:59,040
health department could come um before

5003
03:24:59,040 --> 03:25:02,080
us potentially at one of the committees

5004
03:25:02,080 --> 03:25:05,200
to present the information and I think

5005
03:25:05,200 --> 03:25:08,000
with a little bit of um discussion my

5006
03:25:08,000 --> 03:25:09,760
guess is the board will probably get

5007
03:25:09,760 --> 03:25:12,399
behind it but I do think it's our I

5008
03:25:12,399 --> 03:25:14,479
think it would just do be due diligence

5009
03:25:14,479 --> 03:25:17,359
to better understand

5010
03:25:17,359 --> 03:25:20,000
>> any further discussion.

5011
03:25:20,000 --> 03:25:21,600
All right, let's do a roll call vote.

5012
03:25:21,600 --> 03:25:23,600
Uh, Miss Sanchez.

5013
03:25:23,600 --> 03:25:25,200
>> This is just to separate it, right?

5014
03:25:25,200 --> 03:25:26,479
>> Correct.

5015
03:25:26,479 --> 03:25:27,520
>> Mrs. Wel,

5016
03:25:27,520 --> 03:25:28,000
>> yes.

5017
03:25:28,000 --> 03:25:29,520
>> Mr. Moss,

5018
03:25:29,520 --> 03:25:30,160
>> yes.

5019
03:25:30,160 --> 03:25:31,359
>> Mr. Zystra,

5020
03:25:31,359 --> 03:25:32,239
>> yes.

5021
03:25:32,239 --> 03:25:33,200
>> Mr. Kyers,

5022
03:25:33,200 --> 03:25:33,920
>> no.

5023
03:25:33,920 --> 03:25:35,120
>> Mrs. Roadie,

5024
03:25:35,120 --> 03:25:35,680
>> yes.

5025
03:25:35,680 --> 03:25:36,640
>> Mrs. Mida,

5026
03:25:36,640 --> 03:25:37,200
>> yes.

5027
03:25:37,200 --> 03:25:38,160
>> Mr. Jordma,

5028
03:25:38,160 --> 03:25:38,720
>> no.

5029
03:25:38,720 --> 03:25:39,680
>> Mr. Teles,

5030
03:25:39,680 --> 03:25:40,160
>> no.

5031
03:25:40,160 --> 03:25:41,200
>> Mr. Bonama,

5032
03:25:41,200 --> 03:25:41,760
>> no.

5033
03:25:41,760 --> 03:25:42,720
>> Mr. Barry,

5034
03:25:42,720 --> 03:25:43,359
>> no.

5035
03:25:43,359 --> 03:25:44,239
>> Mr. Buger,

5036
03:25:44,239 --> 03:25:47,040
>> no.

5037
03:25:47,040 --> 03:25:48,239
>> Motion fails.

5038
03:25:48,239 --> 03:25:49,439
>> All right. Thank you. We've got back to

5039
03:25:49,439 --> 03:25:50,800
the original motion on the table, which

5040
03:25:50,800 --> 03:25:52,640
is to ratify all contracts on the

5041
03:25:52,640 --> 03:25:54,720
ratification report pursuant to the

5042
03:25:54,720 --> 03:25:56,880
county's contracting policy. Anything

5043
03:25:56,880 --> 03:25:59,200
further?

5044
03:25:59,200 --> 03:26:01,279
>> I'll I'll just be voting no then since

5045
03:26:01,279 --> 03:26:03,600
we I wasn't able to vote separately on

5046
03:26:03,600 --> 03:26:04,080
this one.

5047
03:26:04,080 --> 03:26:05,760
>> Okay. Thank you. All right, Rachel,

5048
03:26:05,760 --> 03:26:06,800
would you call the role?

5049
03:26:06,800 --> 03:26:08,319
>> Mr. Jordma?

5050
03:26:08,319 --> 03:26:08,800
>> Yes.

5051
03:26:08,800 --> 03:26:09,840
>> Mr. Barry?

5052
03:26:09,840 --> 03:26:10,319
>> Yes.

5053
03:26:10,319 --> 03:26:11,279
>> Mrs. Nema?

5054
03:26:11,279 --> 03:26:11,760
>> No.

5055
03:26:11,760 --> 03:26:12,800
>> Mr. Moss?

5056
03:26:12,800 --> 03:26:13,359
>> Yes.

5057
03:26:13,359 --> 03:26:14,479
>> Mrs. Roadie?

5058
03:26:14,479 --> 03:26:15,359
>> No.

5059
03:26:15,359 --> 03:26:16,560
>> Mr. Zielstra?

5060
03:26:16,560 --> 03:26:17,120
>> Yes.

5061
03:26:17,120 --> 03:26:18,720
>> Mrs. Wel? No.

5062
03:26:18,720 --> 03:26:19,760
>> Mr. Kyers,

5063
03:26:19,760 --> 03:26:20,319
>> yes.

5064
03:26:20,319 --> 03:26:21,439
>> Mr. Bonama,

5065
03:26:21,439 --> 03:26:22,000
>> yes.

5066
03:26:22,000 --> 03:26:22,880
>> Mr. Teles,

5067
03:26:22,880 --> 03:26:23,279
>> yes.

5068
03:26:23,279 --> 03:26:24,160
>> Mr. Buger,

5069
03:26:24,160 --> 03:26:24,640
>> yes.

5070
03:26:24,640 --> 03:26:25,920
>> Motion passes.

5071
03:26:25,920 --> 03:26:27,520
>> All right. Thank you. Uh, next item on

5072
03:26:27,520 --> 03:26:29,840
the agenda, the investment policy. The

5073
03:26:29,840 --> 03:26:31,279
motion is to approve the revised

5074
03:26:31,279 --> 03:26:33,359
investment policy for a first reading.

5075
03:26:33,359 --> 03:26:34,640
>> So moved.

5076
03:26:34,640 --> 03:26:35,200
>> Support.

5077
03:26:35,200 --> 03:26:37,520
>> Moved by Joritzma, second by Moss. Any

5078
03:26:37,520 --> 03:26:39,600
discussion?

5079
03:26:39,600 --> 03:26:42,000
>> All right. All those in favor say I.

5080
03:26:42,000 --> 03:26:45,520
>> I. Those opposed? Motion carries. Uh

5081
03:26:45,520 --> 03:26:49,040
item E, artificial intelligence policy.

5082
03:26:49,040 --> 03:26:50,720
The suggested motion is to approve the

5083
03:26:50,720 --> 03:26:52,800
new artificial intelligence policy for a

5084
03:26:52,800 --> 03:26:55,040
first reading with the change of

5085
03:26:55,040 --> 03:26:58,080
revisiting the policy every one year. Is

5086
03:26:58,080 --> 03:26:59,600
there a move?

5087
03:26:59,600 --> 03:27:01,439
>> Motion by Moss, second by George. You

5088
03:27:01,439 --> 03:27:03,200
guys got a thing going over there. Any

5089
03:27:03,200 --> 03:27:05,680
further discussion? All right. All those

5090
03:27:05,680 --> 03:27:07,040
in favor say I.

5091
03:27:07,040 --> 03:27:07,760
>> I.

5092
03:27:07,760 --> 03:27:11,600
>> Those opposed? Motion carries. Item F,

5093
03:27:11,600 --> 03:27:13,760
remote work policy. The suggested motion

5094
03:27:13,760 --> 03:27:15,680
is to approve the new remote work policy

5095
03:27:15,680 --> 03:27:17,040
for a first reading.

5096
03:27:17,040 --> 03:27:18,479
>> So moved support.

5097
03:27:18,479 --> 03:27:20,640
>> Motion by Jorrettzma, second by Moss.

5098
03:27:20,640 --> 03:27:23,279
Any discussion?

5099
03:27:23,279 --> 03:27:24,800
>> Mr. George, do you have anything or are

5100
03:27:24,800 --> 03:27:28,319
you okay? All right. Miss Maima, sorry.

5101
03:27:28,319 --> 03:27:32,000
>> Um, so as I made a motion at committee

5102
03:27:32,000 --> 03:27:33,200
level, I'm going to make the same

5103
03:27:33,200 --> 03:27:36,960
motion. Um, so I will make a motion to

5104
03:27:36,960 --> 03:27:41,840
add a letter C under procedure.

5105
03:27:41,840 --> 03:27:44,000
Um

5106
03:27:44,000 --> 03:27:46,880
uh for reporting department heads will

5107
03:27:46,880 --> 03:27:49,680
submit a report to administration for

5108
03:27:49,680 --> 03:27:52,160
board of commissioner review each year

5109
03:27:52,160 --> 03:27:55,120
showing number of hours worked remotely

5110
03:27:55,120 --> 03:27:57,040
in their department

5111
03:27:57,040 --> 03:28:00,800
>> support. We got a motion and a support.

5112
03:28:00,800 --> 03:28:03,120
Rachel, do you have that motion

5113
03:28:03,120 --> 03:28:05,920
documented sufficiently?

5114
03:28:05,920 --> 03:28:07,439
>> I can go back and listen to it.

5115
03:28:07,439 --> 03:28:08,479
>> Okay. All right.

5116
03:28:08,479 --> 03:28:09,920
>> I can bring up the two later. Thank you

5117
03:28:09,920 --> 03:28:10,479
for

5118
03:28:10,479 --> 03:28:12,000
>> All right. Sounds good. Uh, Commissioner

5119
03:28:12,000 --> 03:28:13,520
Mima, would you care to lead this one

5120
03:28:13,520 --> 03:28:14,160
off?

5121
03:28:14,160 --> 03:28:16,399
>> Um, yep. As as stated already at the

5122
03:28:16,399 --> 03:28:19,439
committee level, um, I think it's really

5123
03:28:19,439 --> 03:28:22,960
important that we have some

5124
03:28:22,960 --> 03:28:26,399
accountability um, by hours worked um,

5125
03:28:26,399 --> 03:28:28,880
internally versus remotely. I think it's

5126
03:28:28,880 --> 03:28:31,520
really great for any administrator

5127
03:28:31,520 --> 03:28:34,479
whether it was um Patrick here or if

5128
03:28:34,479 --> 03:28:36,239
it's someone else down the line that

5129
03:28:36,239 --> 03:28:38,720
they can easily come into their position

5130
03:28:38,720 --> 03:28:40,800
and have a quick glance of going okay

5131
03:28:40,800 --> 03:28:42,720
this is how many this is how many people

5132
03:28:42,720 --> 03:28:45,120
are working remotely this is the trends

5133
03:28:45,120 --> 03:28:48,000
that I'm seeing yearbyear it makes for a

5134
03:28:48,000 --> 03:28:50,800
very quick checkin um by department

5135
03:28:50,800 --> 03:28:51,920
levels I would think at the

5136
03:28:51,920 --> 03:28:53,840
administration level I also think it

5137
03:28:53,840 --> 03:28:56,399
provides great checks and balances um

5138
03:28:56,399 --> 03:28:58,640
for department heads with their staff.

5139
03:28:58,640 --> 03:28:59,760
It gives them a little bit of

5140
03:28:59,760 --> 03:29:03,760
discernment of wondering um is is this a

5141
03:29:03,760 --> 03:29:07,120
good use of somebody's working remotely

5142
03:29:07,120 --> 03:29:08,960
or not? It gives them a little bit of a

5143
03:29:08,960 --> 03:29:12,080
check going, "Yep, I can easily explain

5144
03:29:12,080 --> 03:29:13,920
this to a board if I were ever to be

5145
03:29:13,920 --> 03:29:16,399
asked, why did you have so many hours?"

5146
03:29:16,399 --> 03:29:19,680
It gives them um just kind of another um

5147
03:29:19,680 --> 03:29:22,160
way to look at that. And I would say

5148
03:29:22,160 --> 03:29:23,840
that

5149
03:29:23,840 --> 03:29:27,760
um in-person work shows by studies that

5150
03:29:27,760 --> 03:29:30,960
you're going to get um better quality of

5151
03:29:30,960 --> 03:29:35,840
work. And I think in a government as a

5152
03:29:35,840 --> 03:29:37,840
whole um when you look at the national

5153
03:29:37,840 --> 03:29:39,920
level and you look at our state level

5154
03:29:39,920 --> 03:29:42,319
and when you're finding a lot of

5155
03:29:42,319 --> 03:29:45,520
potential issues for abuse um I think

5156
03:29:45,520 --> 03:29:48,239
it's just impertinent that we put some

5157
03:29:48,239 --> 03:29:50,800
safeguards out there, some guard rails.

5158
03:29:50,800 --> 03:29:53,359
um that just allows us to have um better

5159
03:29:53,359 --> 03:29:57,840
communication with one another and with our community.

5160
03:29:57,840 --> 03:30:00,239
>> Thank you, Commissioner. Uh anyone else?

5161
03:30:00,239 --> 03:30:01,680
>> Uh Commissioner T.

5162
03:30:01,680 --> 03:30:03,680
>> So again, this is going back to the same

5163
03:30:03,680 --> 03:30:05,520
issue. What is our role as

5164
03:30:05,520 --> 03:30:09,510
commissioners?

5165
03:30:09,520 --> 03:30:10,960
What we're doing now is telling the

5166
03:30:10,960 --> 03:30:13,439
administrator how to run the county uh

5167
03:30:13,439 --> 03:30:16,319
with this kind of a a motion. Next thing

5168
03:30:16,319 --> 03:30:17,760
we're going to want to know is how many

5169
03:30:17,760 --> 03:30:20,160
people work? uh what's the overtime for

5170
03:30:20,160 --> 03:30:22,080
each employee in the county? How many

5171
03:30:22,080 --> 03:30:24,239
people take lunch at what time? How much

5172
03:30:24,239 --> 03:30:26,160
micromanaging are we going to do as a

5173
03:30:26,160 --> 03:30:29,040
board? This is not our Bailey Wick in my

5174
03:30:29,040 --> 03:30:31,279
opinion as a commissioner. This is

5175
03:30:31,279 --> 03:30:32,880
micromanaging the administrator

5176
03:30:32,880 --> 03:30:34,800
regardless of who the administrator is.

5177
03:30:34,800 --> 03:30:37,600
We need to my mind from my perspective,

5178
03:30:37,600 --> 03:30:40,560
we need to stay in our lane.

5179
03:30:40,560 --> 03:30:43,279
>> Okay. Thank you, Commissioner. Oh, wow.

5180
03:30:43,279 --> 03:30:44,800
Okay. Uh Commissioner Barry, I saw you

5181
03:30:44,800 --> 03:30:46,160
first and I'll come over to this end of

5182
03:30:46,160 --> 03:30:47,760
the table. Mr. Barry,

5183
03:30:47,760 --> 03:30:49,680
>> just the first just the first paragraph

5184
03:30:49,680 --> 03:30:51,600
and this is the county of Ottawa's

5185
03:30:51,600 --> 03:30:53,200
general standard is for work to be

5186
03:30:53,200 --> 03:30:55,200
performed in the county office setting.

5187
03:30:55,200 --> 03:30:57,600
However, there are seldom uh there are

5188
03:30:57,600 --> 03:30:59,520
seldom occasions where remote work may

5189
03:30:59,520 --> 03:31:02,479
be permissible. The policy provides the

5190
03:31:02,479 --> 03:31:04,560
guidelines and procedures for both staff

5191
03:31:04,560 --> 03:31:07,359
and management of what expected what

5192
03:31:07,359 --> 03:31:09,439
expectations are in a remote work

5193
03:31:09,439 --> 03:31:12,960
scenario. So we we are doing our job by

5194
03:31:12,960 --> 03:31:14,720
pro providing policy to the

5195
03:31:14,720 --> 03:31:18,000
administrator and then they're able to I

5196
03:31:18,000 --> 03:31:21,200
expect them to manage that policy as the

5197
03:31:21,200 --> 03:31:23,200
will of the board.

5198
03:31:23,200 --> 03:31:24,399
>> Thank you Commissioner Barry. I think

5199
03:31:24,399 --> 03:31:25,680
we'll go Commissioner Moss and then

5200
03:31:25,680 --> 03:31:26,319
George.

5201
03:31:26,319 --> 03:31:26,560
>> Sure.

5202
03:31:26,560 --> 03:31:28,479
>> I'd actually like to echo what um

5203
03:31:28,479 --> 03:31:30,000
Commissioner Barry just said. I'd like

5204
03:31:30,000 --> 03:31:31,200
to take it just a slightly different

5205
03:31:31,200 --> 03:31:33,760
direction though. Um this is board

5206
03:31:33,760 --> 03:31:35,359
policy. I think it's good this is a new

5207
03:31:35,359 --> 03:31:37,120
policy. It's good to get these things

5208
03:31:37,120 --> 03:31:39,200
written down so that they're very clear.

5209
03:31:39,200 --> 03:31:41,680
Just like Jim just said, um I think we

5210
03:31:41,680 --> 03:31:45,760
can add um I'll just call it a le a

5211
03:31:45,760 --> 03:31:48,479
level of coverage for our administrator.

5212
03:31:48,479 --> 03:31:50,720
If this is board policy, it's very easy

5213
03:31:50,720 --> 03:31:52,800
to generate. You just get it from HR,

5214
03:31:52,800 --> 03:31:56,080
payroll or whatever. Um it makes it very

5215
03:31:56,080 --> 03:31:59,520
easy uh for him to make the request and

5216
03:31:59,520 --> 03:32:02,000
to do some of that due diligence and

5217
03:32:02,000 --> 03:32:04,399
it's it's coming directly from the

5218
03:32:04,399 --> 03:32:07,600
board. uh it's not coming from him. Um

5219
03:32:07,600 --> 03:32:09,200
it doesn't seem like, you know, he's

5220
03:32:09,200 --> 03:32:11,279
trying to micromanage the departments.

5221
03:32:11,279 --> 03:32:13,040
This is a simple high level board

5222
03:32:13,040 --> 03:32:14,479
policy. I think that's a better position

5223
03:32:14,479 --> 03:32:16,560
for all of us to be in.

5224
03:32:16,560 --> 03:32:17,680
>> Thank you, Commissioner. Commissioner

5225
03:32:17,680 --> 03:32:18,640
Dorsma.

5226
03:32:18,640 --> 03:32:23,920
>> Yeah, I um I actually agree with this policy as well. I I think it it is

5227
03:32:23,920 --> 03:32:26,720
in our purview as as commissioners. Um

5228
03:32:26,720 --> 03:32:28,880
Commissioner Bonama frequently says that

5229
03:32:28,880 --> 03:32:31,200
um what we do needs to be relatable,

5230
03:32:31,200 --> 03:32:33,200
repeatable, and measurable. And this

5231
03:32:33,200 --> 03:32:35,520
falls into that measurable category. Um

5232
03:32:35,520 --> 03:32:37,439
we're not making it any judgment call on

5233
03:32:37,439 --> 03:32:39,520
whether the number is too high or too

5234
03:32:39,520 --> 03:32:41,920
low. We're getting information and we're

5235
03:32:41,920 --> 03:32:43,920
asking those department heads to say,

5236
03:32:43,920 --> 03:32:46,640
"Hey, if you can stamp your name behind

5237
03:32:46,640 --> 03:32:49,439
that number of remote work hours, then

5238
03:32:49,439 --> 03:32:51,040
good. And if there's a problem, we have

5239
03:32:51,040 --> 03:32:52,319
that information." I actually think this

5240
03:32:52,319 --> 03:32:54,160
would be a benefit to the administrator

5241
03:32:54,160 --> 03:32:56,080
to have. And I'm just not sure that

5242
03:32:56,080 --> 03:32:56,960
we're

5243
03:32:56,960 --> 03:33:02,479
>> tracking this at all. I mean, there is more of a push to um return to

5244
03:33:02,479 --> 03:33:05,920
work in person. So, I'm I'm curious. I

5245
03:33:05,920 --> 03:33:07,439
mean, if if we hear from department

5246
03:33:07,439 --> 03:33:10,479
heads that this is unreasonable to

5247
03:33:10,479 --> 03:33:12,640
measure and they're having a very hard

5248
03:33:12,640 --> 03:33:15,040
time tracking this information, we I'm

5249
03:33:15,040 --> 03:33:16,319
willing to circle back on the

5250
03:33:16,319 --> 03:33:20,560
discussion, but um yeah, I I support it.

5251
03:33:20,560 --> 03:33:22,640
>> Okay, I got Commissioner Jarrettzma. Uh

5252
03:33:22,640 --> 03:33:24,800
thank you. And uh Commissioner Tbles has

5253
03:33:24,800 --> 03:33:26,319
indicated he'd like to speak again. I do

5254
03:33:26,319 --> 03:33:27,279
want to give everyone else the

5255
03:33:27,279 --> 03:33:29,200
opportunity one time before we go back

5256
03:33:29,200 --> 03:33:30,640
to uh Commissioner Tles. So,

5257
03:33:30,640 --> 03:33:31,680
Commissioner Roodie.

5258
03:33:31,680 --> 03:33:34,399
>> Yeah. So, uh I agree with Commissioner

5259
03:33:34,399 --> 03:33:38,479
George and Commissioner Medima and um I

5260
03:33:38,479 --> 03:33:41,040
appreciate and respect and agree with

5261
03:33:41,040 --> 03:33:45,760
the desire to provide oversight um to

5262
03:33:45,760 --> 03:33:47,840
our bureaucracies and the county. I

5263
03:33:47,840 --> 03:33:49,279
think it's I think it's really

5264
03:33:49,279 --> 03:33:51,920
important. I think um we're seeing a lot

5265
03:33:51,920 --> 03:33:53,680
of things that are not receiving

5266
03:33:53,680 --> 03:33:55,760
appropriate oversight on a national

5267
03:33:55,760 --> 03:33:58,479
level. And so anytime that we're we are

5268
03:33:58,479 --> 03:34:00,800
providing, you know, good oversight, I

5269
03:34:00,800 --> 03:34:03,439
think it provides our administrator, you

5270
03:34:03,439 --> 03:34:06,800
know, um a really good path forward on,

5271
03:34:06,800 --> 03:34:08,239
you know, on doing this. I don't see

5272
03:34:08,239 --> 03:34:10,640
this as micromanaging our administrator.

5273
03:34:10,640 --> 03:34:12,319
I think it it's just setting good

5274
03:34:12,319 --> 03:34:13,600
policy.

5275
03:34:13,600 --> 03:34:15,200
>> All right. Thank you, Commissioner. Is

5276
03:34:15,200 --> 03:34:16,960
there anyone else who hasn't spoken who

5277
03:34:16,960 --> 03:34:19,920
would like to? One moment, Mr. Waterman.

5278
03:34:19,920 --> 03:34:21,120
All right. I think we've gone around

5279
03:34:21,120 --> 03:34:23,920
once. Uh do you mind if uh our county

5280
03:34:23,920 --> 03:34:25,840
administrator speaks of course ahead of

5281
03:34:25,840 --> 03:34:27,279
you? All right.

5282
03:34:27,279 --> 03:34:29,359
>> Thank you. U so just a general comment.

5283
03:34:29,359 --> 03:34:31,840
We we spent a lot of time on this on

5284
03:34:31,840 --> 03:34:34,160
this policy and and just for the

5285
03:34:34,160 --> 03:34:35,520
background of the folks that aren't on

5286
03:34:35,520 --> 03:34:36,800
the policy committee where this was

5287
03:34:36,800 --> 03:34:39,200
introduced. The idea the intent with

5288
03:34:39,200 --> 03:34:40,880
this is to really change the cultural

5289
03:34:40,880 --> 03:34:43,840
mindset to postcoid return to work which

5290
03:34:43,840 --> 03:34:46,880
is in in most businesses the the the

5291
03:34:46,880 --> 03:34:49,520
best practice now. So, um, recognizing

5292
03:34:49,520 --> 03:34:51,600
that there are departments that have

5293
03:34:51,600 --> 03:34:54,000
remote work situations that do make

5294
03:34:54,000 --> 03:34:56,800
sense and and, um, are beneficial to the

5295
03:34:56,800 --> 03:34:59,200
county, equalization is a very good

5296
03:34:59,200 --> 03:35:02,080
example of that. Um, so we wanted to

5297
03:35:02,080 --> 03:35:04,160
write it broadly enough that it worked

5298
03:35:04,160 --> 03:35:06,479
for the current situation, but not too

5299
03:35:06,479 --> 03:35:09,760
restrictive where it created chaos. If

5300
03:35:09,760 --> 03:35:13,200
you look at section uh 4A, the end of it

5301
03:35:13,200 --> 03:35:15,279
states that uh department heads may

5302
03:35:15,279 --> 03:35:17,520
require employees to provide reports,

5303
03:35:17,520 --> 03:35:19,600
updates of work performed while working

5304
03:35:19,600 --> 03:35:21,920
remotely at any time. So that is in

5305
03:35:21,920 --> 03:35:24,800
there as a protection clause. U it it

5306
03:35:24,800 --> 03:35:26,800
allows us to look at those situations

5307
03:35:26,800 --> 03:35:28,640
where we may think there there might be

5308
03:35:28,640 --> 03:35:31,200
an issue we need to address, but it it's

5309
03:35:31,200 --> 03:35:34,080
not a requirement. I don't like to write

5310
03:35:34,080 --> 03:35:37,120
work assignments into policy and and to

5311
03:35:37,120 --> 03:35:38,800
introduce a new work assignment per

5312
03:35:38,800 --> 03:35:41,439
policy um creates an administrative

5313
03:35:41,439 --> 03:35:44,239
burden. This accomplishes our ability to

5314
03:35:44,239 --> 03:35:46,560
do it as written without without taking

5315
03:35:46,560 --> 03:35:48,239
that next step. So I'm comfortable with

5316
03:35:48,239 --> 03:35:50,239
the language as written. I spent we

5317
03:35:50,239 --> 03:35:51,439
talked about this with leadership

5318
03:35:51,439 --> 03:35:54,399
committee or leadership team and u we we

5319
03:35:54,399 --> 03:35:56,239
think the the language addresses the

5320
03:35:56,239 --> 03:35:57,600
concerns and allows for the

5321
03:35:57,600 --> 03:36:00,399
accountability should there be an issue.

5322
03:36:00,399 --> 03:36:02,160
>> Thank you sir. And actually I didn't get

5323
03:36:02,160 --> 03:36:03,760
a chance to speak myself before we went

5324
03:36:03,760 --> 03:36:06,479
over to Patrick. And um my comments

5325
03:36:06,479 --> 03:36:08,800
first round would essentially be which

5326
03:36:08,800 --> 03:36:10,720
you just answered the question. Uh is

5327
03:36:10,720 --> 03:36:12,960
this a request from administration to

5328
03:36:12,960 --> 03:36:16,399
add this or not? And it is not. And so

5329
03:36:16,399 --> 03:36:18,640
uh I'm supportive of our administration.

5330
03:36:18,640 --> 03:36:20,880
Um and I believe that if they were

5331
03:36:20,880 --> 03:36:22,479
making this request, I'd be happy to

5332
03:36:22,479 --> 03:36:24,399
support it, but as they're not, I'm

5333
03:36:24,399 --> 03:36:25,920
going to let them do their jobs. Uh

5334
03:36:25,920 --> 03:36:26,800
Commissioner Toples.

5335
03:36:26,800 --> 03:36:28,720
>> Yeah, maybe I got mixed up. Uh because I

5336
03:36:28,720 --> 03:36:30,800
thought what we were talking about is

5337
03:36:30,800 --> 03:36:33,760
Commissioner Ma's motion if it ever got

5338
03:36:33,760 --> 03:36:35,840
to that. Maybe it wasn't seconded about

5339
03:36:35,840 --> 03:36:37,439
whether you had to report this to the

5340
03:36:37,439 --> 03:36:38,880
board every year. That's what I'm

5341
03:36:38,880 --> 03:36:41,359
against. The policy itself. Absolutely.

5342
03:36:41,359 --> 03:36:43,439
I'm in favor of that. So I just want to

5343
03:36:43,439 --> 03:36:45,120
make sure that we're talking and

5344
03:36:45,120 --> 03:36:46,319
whatever we're going to vote here that

5345
03:36:46,319 --> 03:36:47,840
it's clear what we're voting on. I guess

5346
03:36:47,840 --> 03:36:49,359
I got maybe I got confused on

5347
03:36:49,359 --> 03:36:50,080
>> No, you're right.

5348
03:36:50,080 --> 03:36:50,640
>> You're correct.

5349
03:36:50,640 --> 03:36:53,760
>> Y we're uh the motion on the table is to

5350
03:36:53,760 --> 03:36:56,080
add an item C. Can't remember what

5351
03:36:56,080 --> 03:36:58,000
section it was. Rachel will go back for

5352
03:36:58,000 --> 03:37:00,640
the tape on that one as needed. Um,

5353
03:37:00,640 --> 03:37:04,080
which will require reporting of, uh,

5354
03:37:04,080 --> 03:37:07,120
atome work hours. All right. Um, any

5355
03:37:07,120 --> 03:37:08,560
further discussion? I think we're ready

5356
03:37:08,560 --> 03:37:10,640
for the vote. Uh, Rachel, would you do a

5357
03:37:10,640 --> 03:37:11,920
roll call on this one, please?

5358
03:37:11,920 --> 03:37:13,120
>> Sure. Mr. Moss,

5359
03:37:13,120 --> 03:37:13,600
>> yes.

5360
03:37:13,600 --> 03:37:14,560
>> Mr. Kyers,

5361
03:37:14,560 --> 03:37:15,120
>> no.

5362
03:37:15,120 --> 03:37:16,160
>> Mr. Barry,

5363
03:37:16,160 --> 03:37:16,640
>> no.

5364
03:37:16,640 --> 03:37:17,840
>> Mr. Bonama,

5365
03:37:17,840 --> 03:37:18,479
>> no.

5366
03:37:18,479 --> 03:37:19,439
>> Mrs. Roodie,

5367
03:37:19,439 --> 03:37:19,920
>> yes.

5368
03:37:19,920 --> 03:37:21,120
>> Mr. Zystra,

5369
03:37:21,120 --> 03:37:22,000
>> no.

5370
03:37:22,000 --> 03:37:22,960
>> Mrs. Wel,

5371
03:37:22,960 --> 03:37:23,520
>> yes.

5372
03:37:23,520 --> 03:37:24,479
>> Mrs. Mida,

5373
03:37:24,479 --> 03:37:25,040
>> yes.

5374
03:37:25,040 --> 03:37:26,080
>> Mr. Jordzma,

5375
03:37:26,080 --> 03:37:26,640
>> yes.

5376
03:37:26,640 --> 03:37:27,520
>> Mr. Teles,

5377
03:37:27,520 --> 03:37:28,080
>> no.

5378
03:37:28,080 --> 03:37:29,200
>> Mr. Buger,

5379
03:37:29,200 --> 03:37:31,359
>> uh, no.

5380
03:37:31,359 --> 03:37:32,960
>> Motion fails.

5381
03:37:32,960 --> 03:37:34,080
>> All right. So, we're back to the

5382
03:37:34,080 --> 03:37:35,600
original motion on the table, which is

5383
03:37:35,600 --> 03:37:37,680
to approve the new remote work policy

5384
03:37:37,680 --> 03:37:39,760
for first reading. Any further

5385
03:37:39,760 --> 03:37:40,479
discussion?

5386
03:37:40,479 --> 03:37:42,960
>> Mr. Chair, just one other comment. Um, I

5387
03:37:42,960 --> 03:37:45,279
did note uh, Commissioner Zalstra

5388
03:37:45,279 --> 03:37:47,520
submitted some some recommended changes

5389
03:37:47,520 --> 03:37:49,040
between committee and now those are

5390
03:37:49,040 --> 03:37:51,120
redlined in the version. We looked at

5391
03:37:51,120 --> 03:37:52,800
those. We think they were good changes

5392
03:37:52,800 --> 03:37:54,880
and and those are incorporated. So you

5393
03:37:54,880 --> 03:37:56,239
are voting on a little bit different

5394
03:37:56,239 --> 03:37:56,640
version.

5395
03:37:56,640 --> 03:37:58,319
>> Let me

5396
03:37:58,319 --> 03:38:00,399
just talk about that Patrick steal your

5397
03:38:00,399 --> 03:38:02,080
>> thought. No, no, no. I mean, let me just

5398
03:38:02,080 --> 03:38:03,040
check the

5399
03:38:03,040 --> 03:38:05,040
>> I I know I checked the AI and I

5400
03:38:05,040 --> 03:38:08,160
appreciate the the red line on that one.

5401
03:38:08,160 --> 03:38:08,800
Um,

5402
03:38:08,800 --> 03:38:10,800
>> Commissioner Zra, you have the floor. Go

5403
03:38:10,800 --> 03:38:14,469
for it.

5404
03:38:14,479 --> 03:38:15,760
» I don't know. I got to throw it up.

5405
03:38:15,760 --> 03:38:17,279
>> And you can tell me because the the

5406
03:38:17,279 --> 03:38:20,080
suggested recommendations were for

5407
03:38:20,080 --> 03:38:21,279
deletion of seldom.

5408
03:38:21,279 --> 03:38:23,680
>> Pardon me. Pardon me. Yes, that you're

5409
03:38:23,680 --> 03:38:26,000
right. That was not redlined. But we did

5410
03:38:26,000 --> 03:38:28,319
agree with that correction to re remove

5411
03:38:28,319 --> 03:38:30,560
the word seldom in the

5412
03:38:30,560 --> 03:38:32,399
>> maybe we can just make that change then

5413
03:38:32,399 --> 03:38:33,279
chair.

5414
03:38:33,279 --> 03:38:34,399
>> Yes, that is

5415
03:38:34,399 --> 03:38:36,160
>> I just think that it it didn't really

5416
03:38:36,160 --> 03:38:37,920
make sense to me the two sentences

5417
03:38:37,920 --> 03:38:38,880
against each other.

5418
03:38:38,880 --> 03:38:41,520
>> And then in the second paragraph for any

5419
03:38:41,520 --> 03:38:44,800
reason at all with or without notice

5420
03:38:44,800 --> 03:38:46,239
um I thought it was a little bit

5421
03:38:46,239 --> 03:38:48,560
capricious uh with or without notice. I

5422
03:38:48,560 --> 03:38:50,080
mean at some point you have to give the

5423
03:38:50,080 --> 03:38:51,760
employee notice. You can't just expect

5424
03:38:51,760 --> 03:38:54,800
them to read minds. So

5425
03:38:54,800 --> 03:38:55,920
um

5426
03:38:55,920 --> 03:38:57,200
>> where is this? Give us

5427
03:38:57,200 --> 03:38:57,520
>> Yeah.

5428
03:38:57,520 --> 03:38:59,279
>> So second paragraph where it says remote

5429
03:38:59,279 --> 03:39:01,840
work requires department head approval

5430
03:39:01,840 --> 03:39:03,840
and can be revoked at the discretion of

5431
03:39:03,840 --> 03:39:06,720
the department head. Just put a period

5432
03:39:06,720 --> 03:39:08,640
there.

5433
03:39:08,640 --> 03:39:11,600
>> This this one we did not I can dialogue

5434
03:39:11,600 --> 03:39:12,239
with commission.

5435
03:39:12,239 --> 03:39:14,640
>> Right. So if if if we're okay with the

5436
03:39:14,640 --> 03:39:15,840
seldom them, I would like to make a

5437
03:39:15,840 --> 03:39:17,760
motion to delete for any reason at all

5438
03:39:17,760 --> 03:39:19,439
with or without notice just because I

5439
03:39:19,439 --> 03:39:20,880
just think that sounds a little bit

5440
03:39:20,880 --> 03:39:24,319
capricious for department heads to say,

5441
03:39:24,319 --> 03:39:27,600
"Hey, you were had this arrangement

5442
03:39:27,600 --> 03:39:30,160
and I'm taking it away without giving

5443
03:39:30,160 --> 03:39:32,479
that employee any rationale whatsoever

5444
03:39:32,479 --> 03:39:34,560
and without notice, which I think is

5445
03:39:34,560 --> 03:39:35,840
kind of impossible. How can you take

5446
03:39:35,840 --> 03:39:37,200
something away without actually telling

5447
03:39:37,200 --> 03:39:39,359
somebody you're taking them away?" So,

5448
03:39:39,359 --> 03:39:40,560
>> excuse me. as I explain.

5449
03:39:40,560 --> 03:39:41,840
>> Hold on just a moment before you go

5450
03:39:41,840 --> 03:39:43,520
there. We've got a motion on the table.

5451
03:39:43,520 --> 03:39:44,880
Good parliamentary. How am I doing, Ron?

5452
03:39:44,880 --> 03:39:45,760
Did I get that one?

5453
03:39:45,760 --> 03:39:46,239
>> You got it.

5454
03:39:46,239 --> 03:39:47,600
>> All right. Is there a second for that

5455
03:39:47,600 --> 03:39:51,279
motion so we can discuss it or

5456
03:39:51,279 --> 03:39:51,840
>> There's no second.

5457
03:39:51,840 --> 03:39:53,120
>> Oh, no. Second.

5458
03:39:53,120 --> 03:39:54,800
>> I'll I'll second it if you so that gives

5459
03:39:54,800 --> 03:39:57,279
you a chance to second from Commissioner

5460
03:39:57,279 --> 03:40:02,080
Teles. Patrick, take it away. is uh and I apologize for not removing the

5461
03:40:02,080 --> 03:40:04,640
word seldom, Commissioner Zelstra, but

5462
03:40:04,640 --> 03:40:07,600
the second change that you suggested was

5463
03:40:07,600 --> 03:40:10,000
to essentially require that we give

5464
03:40:10,000 --> 03:40:12,239
notice in the situations where remote

5465
03:40:12,239 --> 03:40:14,800
work authorization is revoked. And as I

5466
03:40:14,800 --> 03:40:17,359
said, we want to have the ability to do

5467
03:40:17,359 --> 03:40:19,279
that because there may be circumstances

5468
03:40:19,279 --> 03:40:21,120
that it needs to be revoked immediately

5469
03:40:21,120 --> 03:40:24,160
without notice. In any case like that,

5470
03:40:24,160 --> 03:40:26,239
the vast likelihood is that we're going

5471
03:40:26,239 --> 03:40:28,080
to be having a conversation with that

5472
03:40:28,080 --> 03:40:30,560
person if there's an issue where the at

5473
03:40:30,560 --> 03:40:33,120
work authorization is at risk. Even

5474
03:40:33,120 --> 03:40:34,800
though it's not specified in this

5475
03:40:34,800 --> 03:40:37,439
policy, that would be my practice is to

5476
03:40:37,439 --> 03:40:39,359
be aware of those situations and be

5477
03:40:39,359 --> 03:40:40,880
having discussions with the department

5478
03:40:40,880 --> 03:40:43,120
head and say, "What's happening in this

5479
03:40:43,120 --> 03:40:44,880
situation? What are we doing to address

5480
03:40:44,880 --> 03:40:47,120
it?" I don't like to put those things in

5481
03:40:47,120 --> 03:40:50,000
policy because it it essentially tips

5482
03:40:50,000 --> 03:40:53,439
into the to the HR realm of how are we

5483
03:40:53,439 --> 03:40:55,840
handing disciplinary action.

5484
03:40:55,840 --> 03:40:58,880
>> So I guess maybe I'm mis reading the

5485
03:40:58,880 --> 03:41:01,200
word notice. I mean at some point you

5486
03:41:01,200 --> 03:41:04,000
have to give notice that you know the

5487
03:41:04,000 --> 03:41:05,359
policy has changed for an individual

5488
03:41:05,359 --> 03:41:08,399
employee, right? So I I think what

5489
03:41:08,399 --> 03:41:11,120
you're saying is that hey this is going

5490
03:41:11,120 --> 03:41:14,160
to change and this has changed like so

5491
03:41:14,160 --> 03:41:16,800
if you had this you know you're working

5492
03:41:16,800 --> 03:41:19,359
from home on from Friday for example and

5493
03:41:19,359 --> 03:41:21,120
it's Thursday

5494
03:41:21,120 --> 03:41:22,479
they have to know that they have to be

5495
03:41:22,479 --> 03:41:24,160
in the work on Friday so that they have

5496
03:41:24,160 --> 03:41:24,960
to have notice

5497
03:41:24,960 --> 03:41:26,239
>> they will be given notice. Yeah.

5498
03:41:26,239 --> 03:41:28,319
>> Okay. So I guess maybe I'm just kind of

5499
03:41:28,319 --> 03:41:28,640
uh

5500
03:41:28,640 --> 03:41:31,359
>> but it it it the my how I am

5501
03:41:31,359 --> 03:41:32,640
interpreting is that it doesn't

5502
03:41:32,640 --> 03:41:35,439
necessarily need to be way in advance

5503
03:41:35,439 --> 03:41:36,720
notice. We could we could have a

5504
03:41:36,720 --> 03:41:38,560
situation where we need that person into

5505
03:41:38,560 --> 03:41:40,239
work on a given day given a work

5506
03:41:40,239 --> 03:41:43,760
shortage or um you know that person was

5507
03:41:43,760 --> 03:41:46,399
found not to be using remote work

5508
03:41:46,399 --> 03:41:49,200
properly and we revoke that right. So we

5509
03:41:49,200 --> 03:41:50,399
need to have the authority and the

5510
03:41:50,399 --> 03:41:51,600
discretion to make those

5511
03:41:51,600 --> 03:41:53,920
>> I understand the without notice part

5512
03:41:53,920 --> 03:41:55,520
because I think we're thinking about

5513
03:41:55,520 --> 03:41:57,840
notice differently but for any reason at

5514
03:41:57,840 --> 03:42:00,479
all I mean

5515
03:42:00,479 --> 03:42:02,880
does an employed serve I mean if they

5516
03:42:02,880 --> 03:42:05,279
had this

5517
03:42:05,279 --> 03:42:09,920
if if they had you know uh remote work

5518
03:42:09,920 --> 03:42:13,840
um is part of their work plan

5519
03:42:13,840 --> 03:42:15,120
taking it away with no rational

5520
03:42:15,120 --> 03:42:16,319
whatsoever just seems a little bit

5521
03:42:16,319 --> 03:42:18,560
harsh. Hold on that for just a moment.

5522
03:42:18,560 --> 03:42:20,239
Commissioner Moss, uh, go right ahead. I

5523
03:42:20,239 --> 03:42:20,880
Sorry, Patrick.

5524
03:42:20,880 --> 03:42:22,640
>> Yeah. Yeah. I I'm not going to make a

5525
03:42:22,640 --> 03:42:24,800
motion, but I actually have one prepared

5526
03:42:24,800 --> 03:42:26,479
after this. I'd actually like it to say

5527
03:42:26,479 --> 03:42:31,920
for any reason or no reason for legal reasons.

5528
03:42:31,920 --> 03:42:32,560
>> Like it to

5529
03:42:32,560 --> 03:42:34,880
>> it should say in my mind it should say

5530
03:42:34,880 --> 03:42:38,000
for any reason or no reason. There

5531
03:42:38,000 --> 03:42:40,640
doesn't have to be a reason given for

5532
03:42:40,640 --> 03:42:43,279
telling someone they need to work

5533
03:42:43,279 --> 03:42:44,560
>> in the office. That's different than

5534
03:42:44,560 --> 03:42:44,800
what

5535
03:42:44,800 --> 03:42:45,840
>> and it's different than what

5536
03:42:45,840 --> 03:42:48,479
Commissioner Zalstra is saying.

5537
03:42:48,479 --> 03:42:48,880
>> All right.

5538
03:42:48,880 --> 03:42:51,359
>> It's kind of actually the opposite.

5539
03:42:51,359 --> 03:42:52,319
>> Yeah.

5540
03:42:52,319 --> 03:42:53,840
>> So, we've got a motion on the table.

5541
03:42:53,840 --> 03:42:55,439
Anyone else care to address it? And I

5542
03:42:55,439 --> 03:42:56,560
can come back to you, Doug, one more

5543
03:42:56,560 --> 03:42:58,800
time if you Nobody else is.

5544
03:42:58,800 --> 03:43:00,640
>> All right, Commissioner, you have one

5545
03:43:00,640 --> 03:43:02,000
more time.

5546
03:43:02,000 --> 03:43:03,120
>> Said my piece on this.

5547
03:43:03,120 --> 03:43:05,200
>> All right. Uh, let's take a vote if you

5548
03:43:05,200 --> 03:43:06,640
would uh call roll. Rachel,

5549
03:43:06,640 --> 03:43:08,160
>> where was the period that you were

5550
03:43:08,160 --> 03:43:08,640
wanting it to?

5551
03:43:08,640 --> 03:43:09,920
>> Right after department head.

5552
03:43:09,920 --> 03:43:12,080
>> After department head. Thank you. All

5553
03:43:12,080 --> 03:43:14,000
right. Um, Mrs. Mrs. Roodie,

5554
03:43:14,000 --> 03:43:14,640
>> no.

5555
03:43:14,640 --> 03:43:15,520
>> Mr. Tibbles,

5556
03:43:15,520 --> 03:43:16,319
>> no.

5557
03:43:16,319 --> 03:43:17,439
>> Mr. Zystra,

5558
03:43:17,439 --> 03:43:17,920
>> yes.

5559
03:43:17,920 --> 03:43:19,120
>> Mr. Bonama,

5560
03:43:19,120 --> 03:43:19,840
>> no.

5561
03:43:19,840 --> 03:43:20,720
>> Mrs. Wel,

5562
03:43:20,720 --> 03:43:21,439
>> no.

5563
03:43:21,439 --> 03:43:22,479
>> Mrs. Mida,

5564
03:43:22,479 --> 03:43:23,040
>> no.

5565
03:43:23,040 --> 03:43:24,000
>> Mr. Moss,

5566
03:43:24,000 --> 03:43:24,560
>> no.

5567
03:43:24,560 --> 03:43:25,680
>> Mr. Jordma,

5568
03:43:25,680 --> 03:43:26,160
>> no.

5569
03:43:26,160 --> 03:43:27,120
>> Mr. Kyers,

5570
03:43:27,120 --> 03:43:27,680
>> no.

5571
03:43:27,680 --> 03:43:28,560
>> Mr. Barry,

5572
03:43:28,560 --> 03:43:29,040
>> no.

5573
03:43:29,040 --> 03:43:30,000
>> Mr. Buger,

5574
03:43:30,000 --> 03:43:30,640
>> uh, no.

5575
03:43:30,640 --> 03:43:31,840
>> Motion fails.

5576
03:43:31,840 --> 03:43:33,600
>> All right, so we're back to the original

5577
03:43:33,600 --> 03:43:35,120
motion. Hold that, Joe. I'm just going

5578
03:43:35,120 --> 03:43:36,399
to get this back out on the floor. So,

5579
03:43:36,399 --> 03:43:38,080
the original motion as to approve the

5580
03:43:38,080 --> 03:43:39,680
new remote work policy for a first

5581
03:43:39,680 --> 03:43:41,520
reading. Would anyone care to discuss

5582
03:43:41,520 --> 03:43:43,600
this further or make another amendment?

5583
03:43:43,600 --> 03:43:44,640
Uh, Commissioner Moss,

5584
03:43:44,640 --> 03:43:46,080
>> I would love to. Thank you. I'd like to

5585
03:43:46,080 --> 03:43:50,080
add uh the words or no reason into that

5586
03:43:50,080 --> 03:43:53,279
sentence uh so that the county doesn't

5587
03:43:53,279 --> 03:43:56,720
get stuck having to always provide a

5588
03:43:56,720 --> 03:43:59,040
reason and sometimes

5589
03:43:59,040 --> 03:44:00,560
the county might not need to. So, I'd

5590
03:44:00,560 --> 03:44:02,080
like to strengthen this policy.

5591
03:44:02,080 --> 03:44:04,479
>> We've got a motion to add the word or no

5592
03:44:04,479 --> 03:44:07,600
reason to said sentence. Would anyone

5593
03:44:07,600 --> 03:44:08,399
care to second that?

5594
03:44:08,399 --> 03:44:11,120
>> I'll second it. seconded by Bonama. Um,

5595
03:44:11,120 --> 03:44:12,720
Mr. Moss, I believe you already let out

5596
03:44:12,720 --> 03:44:14,080
with your comments unless you want to

5597
03:44:14,080 --> 03:44:14,960
say anything further.

5598
03:44:14,960 --> 03:44:17,199
>> I'm just thinking like John, as I hope I

5599
03:44:17,199 --> 03:44:18,080
am,

5600
03:44:18,080 --> 03:44:20,960
>> I'm smiling like crazy, Joe.

5601
03:44:20,960 --> 03:44:22,160
>> I'm thinking you could have been sitting

5602
03:44:22,160 --> 03:44:26,560
there. I'm I got to shut up.

5603
03:44:26,560 --> 03:44:28,479
>> Would anyone else care to comment on

5604
03:44:28,479 --> 03:44:30,000
this one? Commissioner Zystra,

5605
03:44:30,000 --> 03:44:32,080
>> I'm not a lawyer. Would kind of tell me

5606
03:44:32,080 --> 03:44:34,560
what's happening with that?

5607
03:44:34,560 --> 03:44:35,840
Why would you make that change?

5608
03:44:35,840 --> 03:44:37,920
>> Should we ask Commission uh Mr. Boli who

5609
03:44:37,920 --> 03:44:39,040
is here and on the clock.

5610
03:44:39,040 --> 03:44:39,840
>> We got a lawyer and we got

5611
03:44:39,840 --> 03:44:41,439
>> we got a lawyer. Let's ask

5612
03:44:41,439 --> 03:44:42,080
>> pretty smart.

5613
03:44:42,080 --> 03:44:42,560
>> Yeah.

5614
03:44:42,560 --> 03:44:44,880
>> Oh, go ahead, Ron.

5615
03:44:44,880 --> 03:44:47,520
>> Um well, I guess the abil saying any

5616
03:44:47,520 --> 03:44:49,760
reason or no reason at all is a little

5617
03:44:49,760 --> 03:44:52,160
broader than for any reason at all. On

5618
03:44:52,160 --> 03:44:54,720
the other hand, I doubt we have any

5619
03:44:54,720 --> 03:44:56,800
administrators or department heads who

5620
03:44:56,800 --> 03:45:00,960
can't come up with a reason. Uh, so it's

5621
03:45:00,960 --> 03:45:03,359
not a huge significance in in my mind,

5622
03:45:03,359 --> 03:45:06,560
but I certainly don't object to adding

5623
03:45:06,560 --> 03:45:08,560
no reason.

5624
03:45:08,560 --> 03:45:10,000
>> All right. Thank you, sir.

5625
03:45:10,000 --> 03:45:11,520
>> Can I can I ask another question? When

5626
03:45:11,520 --> 03:45:14,560
it comes to union contracts, um, could

5627
03:45:14,560 --> 03:45:16,160
that cause a problem having that wording

5628
03:45:16,160 --> 03:45:17,439
in there?

5629
03:45:17,439 --> 03:45:21,120
>> Uh, only if uh the unions negotiate

5630
03:45:21,120 --> 03:45:22,960
something different regarding remote

5631
03:45:22,960 --> 03:45:23,680
policy,

5632
03:45:23,680 --> 03:45:24,000
>> which

5633
03:45:24,000 --> 03:45:25,600
>> and they can and we can agree to that.

5634
03:45:25,600 --> 03:45:26,080
What do you

5635
03:45:26,080 --> 03:45:27,680
>> which they don't. There's nothing in the

5636
03:45:27,680 --> 03:45:28,880
contracts related to word.

5637
03:45:28,880 --> 03:45:30,160
>> Okay, that was my question.

5638
03:45:30,160 --> 03:45:32,880
>> Yeah, there there may be next up. Who

5639
03:45:32,880 --> 03:45:35,279
knows? All right, let's take a vote on

5640
03:45:35,279 --> 03:45:37,199
the amendment. Miss Sanchez, would you

5641
03:45:37,199 --> 03:45:38,720
call the role?

5642
03:45:38,720 --> 03:45:40,399
>> Mr. Bonama?

5643
03:45:40,399 --> 03:45:40,960
>> Yes.

5644
03:45:40,960 --> 03:45:42,000
>> Mr. Jordma?

5645
03:45:42,000 --> 03:45:42,479
>> Yes.

5646
03:45:42,479 --> 03:45:43,439
>> Mr. Teles?

5647
03:45:43,439 --> 03:45:43,840
>> Yes.

5648
03:45:43,840 --> 03:45:44,880
>> Mrs. Mida?

5649
03:45:44,880 --> 03:45:45,359
>> Yes.

5650
03:45:45,359 --> 03:45:46,319
>> Mrs. Wel?

5651
03:45:46,319 --> 03:45:46,800
>> Yes.

5652
03:45:46,800 --> 03:45:48,160
>> M. Mr. Barry?

5653
03:45:48,160 --> 03:45:48,720
>> Yes.

5654
03:45:48,720 --> 03:45:49,760
>> Mrs. Roodie?

5655
03:45:49,760 --> 03:45:50,239
>> Yes.

5656
03:45:50,239 --> 03:45:51,199
>> Mr. Moss?

5657
03:45:51,199 --> 03:45:51,760
>> Yes.

5658
03:45:51,760 --> 03:45:52,880
>> Mr. Zystra?

5659
03:45:52,880 --> 03:45:53,920
>> No.

5660
03:45:53,920 --> 03:45:54,880
>> Mr. Kyers?

5661
03:45:54,880 --> 03:45:55,279
>> Yes.

5662
03:45:55,279 --> 03:45:56,640
>> Mr. Buger? Yes.

5663
03:45:56,640 --> 03:45:57,920
>> Motion passes.

5664
03:45:57,920 --> 03:45:59,520
>> All right. So, the motion on the table

5665
03:45:59,520 --> 03:46:02,640
is to approve the new remote work policy

5666
03:46:02,640 --> 03:46:06,160
for first reading as amended.

5667
03:46:06,160 --> 03:46:09,040
>> I think we can vote on this one. Would

5668
03:46:09,040 --> 03:46:10,880
you do the roll call, Rachel?

5669
03:46:10,880 --> 03:46:11,840
>> Mr. Kyers?

5670
03:46:11,840 --> 03:46:12,239
>> Yes.

5671
03:46:12,239 --> 03:46:13,120
>> Mr. Moss?

5672
03:46:13,120 --> 03:46:13,600
>> Yes.

5673
03:46:13,600 --> 03:46:14,640
>> Mrs. Medma?

5674
03:46:14,640 --> 03:46:15,680
>> No.

5675
03:46:15,680 --> 03:46:17,040
>> Miss Wzel?

5676
03:46:17,040 --> 03:46:17,760
>> Yes.

5677
03:46:17,760 --> 03:46:18,880
>> Mr. Barry?

5678
03:46:18,880 --> 03:46:19,279
>> Yes.

5679
03:46:19,279 --> 03:46:20,479
>> Mr. Zystra?

5680
03:46:20,479 --> 03:46:20,880
>> Yes.

5681
03:46:20,880 --> 03:46:21,760
>> Mr. Teles?

5682
03:46:21,760 --> 03:46:22,160
>> Yes.

5683
03:46:22,160 --> 03:46:23,199
>> Mr. Bonama?

5684
03:46:23,199 --> 03:46:23,680
>> Yes.

5685
03:46:23,680 --> 03:46:24,720
>> Mrs. Roodie?

5686
03:46:24,720 --> 03:46:25,279
>> Yes.

5687
03:46:25,279 --> 03:46:26,319
>> Mr. Mr. Dortzma.

5688
03:46:26,319 --> 03:46:26,720
>> Yes.

5689
03:46:26,720 --> 03:46:27,760
>> Mr. Buger.

5690
03:46:27,760 --> 03:46:28,239
>> Yes.

5691
03:46:28,239 --> 03:46:29,680
>> Motion passes.

5692
03:46:29,680 --> 03:46:33,439
>> All right. Thank you. And then BCDE FFG.

5693
03:46:33,439 --> 03:46:34,560
We're going through the whole alphabet

5694
03:46:34,560 --> 03:46:38,479
today. Item G, which was item H on the

5695
03:46:38,479 --> 03:46:41,199
consent agenda. The suggested motion is

5696
03:46:41,199 --> 03:46:43,040
to approve the recommendation for Ottawa

5697
03:46:43,040 --> 03:46:45,520
County to adjust positions, pay grades,

5698
03:46:45,520 --> 03:46:48,000
and wage scale as recommended to

5699
03:46:48,000 --> 03:46:49,680
maintain a competitive position in the

5700
03:46:49,680 --> 03:46:51,359
marketplace, and to authorize the county

5701
03:46:51,359 --> 03:46:53,040
administrator to make individual wage

5702
03:46:53,040 --> 03:46:55,520
adjustments as warranted.

5703
03:46:55,520 --> 03:46:56,479
support.

5704
03:46:56,479 --> 03:46:58,800
>> Got a motion by Joritzma and supported

5705
03:46:58,800 --> 03:47:02,080
by Moss as has become the custom.

5706
03:47:02,080 --> 03:47:03,840
Commissioner Jorrettzma, would you care

5707
03:47:03,840 --> 03:47:05,040
to lead out on this one?

5708
03:47:05,040 --> 03:47:07,600
>> Sure. Um, I think there's been some

5709
03:47:07,600 --> 03:47:11,359
great work done on this. Um, I really

5710
03:47:11,359 --> 03:47:13,359
appreciated Baker Tilly coming and and

5711
03:47:13,359 --> 03:47:16,080
giving a rundown of of their processes.

5712
03:47:16,080 --> 03:47:18,000
Uh, and then I also want to thank

5713
03:47:18,000 --> 03:47:19,359
Patrick and the other department heads

5714
03:47:19,359 --> 03:47:21,199
for their diligent work on this as well.

5715
03:47:21,199 --> 03:47:23,920
I know Patrick had a couple of changes

5716
03:47:23,920 --> 03:47:26,319
um that he wanted to make. So I

5717
03:47:26,319 --> 03:47:28,640
appreciate this motion, including um

5718
03:47:28,640 --> 03:47:30,399
that flexibility to allow him to do

5719
03:47:30,399 --> 03:47:32,000
those without having to come back to the

5720
03:47:32,000 --> 03:47:34,479
board. Um

5721
03:47:34,479 --> 03:47:37,600
so yeah, I look forward to uh to doing

5722
03:47:37,600 --> 03:47:39,600
this for our employees who work very

5723
03:47:39,600 --> 03:47:40,640
hard.

5724
03:47:40,640 --> 03:47:42,239
>> All right. Thank you, Commissioner uh

5725
03:47:42,239 --> 03:47:44,239
Commissioner Rodie and then Commissioner

5726
03:47:44,239 --> 03:47:44,720
Second.

5727
03:47:44,720 --> 03:47:46,880
>> Oh, I'm sorry. You that is our custom.

5728
03:47:46,880 --> 03:47:47,439
Yes, it is.

5729
03:47:47,439 --> 03:47:50,640
>> I'll keep this part brief. Um, two quick

5730
03:47:50,640 --> 03:47:53,040
questions or just clarity. The changes,

5731
03:47:53,040 --> 03:47:54,239
I believe we already have the some of

5732
03:47:54,239 --> 03:47:55,600
those changes back and they looked like

5733
03:47:55,600 --> 03:47:57,439
they were less than $10,000.

5734
03:47:57,439 --> 03:47:58,319
>> Less than $7,000.

5735
03:47:58,319 --> 03:48:00,720
Okay. Thank you. Just

5736
03:48:00,720 --> 03:48:02,239
wanted to confirm. And then the other

5737
03:48:02,239 --> 03:48:03,760
confirmation.

5738
03:48:03,760 --> 03:48:06,800
Um could could you comment just briefly

5739
03:48:06,800 --> 03:48:09,199
on fiscal what what their input has been

5740
03:48:09,199 --> 03:48:13,120
on the overall increase

5741
03:48:13,120 --> 03:48:15,359
>> in terms of

5742
03:48:15,359 --> 03:48:18,160
>> um the way study will institute some

5743
03:48:18,160 --> 03:48:20,800
increases across the board. It's not a

5744
03:48:20,800 --> 03:48:24,880
huge increase. Um it it you know it's a

5745
03:48:24,880 --> 03:48:27,279
large dollar amount compared to you know

5746
03:48:27,279 --> 03:48:29,920
$7,000 but that's because it is a wage

5747
03:48:29,920 --> 03:48:32,000
study that impacts the entire county and

5748
03:48:32,000 --> 03:48:34,960
1300 employees. Um so when we're looking

5749
03:48:34,960 --> 03:48:37,120
at an increase is that something that

5750
03:48:37,120 --> 03:48:38,720
fiscal has looked at and looked at the

5751
03:48:38,720 --> 03:48:40,239
budget and looked into next year and

5752
03:48:40,239 --> 03:48:43,040
said yes this looks like something that

5753
03:48:43,040 --> 03:48:44,880
is going to fit in just fine with our

5754
03:48:44,880 --> 03:48:46,080
planning.

5755
03:48:46,080 --> 03:48:51,359
>> Is there any cause for concern? Yes, it is uh it's been evaluated. The the

5756
03:48:51,359 --> 03:48:53,279
cost estimates um as you know are

5757
03:48:53,279 --> 03:48:55,760
prrated for this year assuming five

5758
03:48:55,760 --> 03:48:58,560
months of proration and also assuming

5759
03:48:58,560 --> 03:49:02,800
the board um approves the recommended

5760
03:49:02,800 --> 03:49:04,640
meth there's three options as you know.

5761
03:49:04,640 --> 03:49:06,960
So the financial impact for for the

5762
03:49:06,960 --> 03:49:08,560
current fiscal year of the remainder

5763
03:49:08,560 --> 03:49:12,560
would be 561 a little over 561,000

5764
03:49:12,560 --> 03:49:15,920
and then um you know going forward for

5765
03:49:15,920 --> 03:49:17,279
the full year that that's also

5766
03:49:17,279 --> 03:49:19,279
demonstrated in the amount and fiscal

5767
03:49:19,279 --> 03:49:22,160
has I think answered this in terms of

5768
03:49:22,160 --> 03:49:24,319
our ability to to cover that shortfall

5769
03:49:24,319 --> 03:49:26,399
of vacancy savings and contingency.

5770
03:49:26,399 --> 03:49:28,000
>> Great. Thank you.

5771
03:49:28,000 --> 03:49:30,239
>> All right. Thank you. And just a side

5772
03:49:30,239 --> 03:49:31,680
note for commissioners, I know I've got

5773
03:49:31,680 --> 03:49:34,080
to go back around here, but um Sarah

5774
03:49:34,080 --> 03:49:37,439
Town is online and available. I have not

5775
03:49:37,439 --> 03:49:38,960
seen this little picture before on our

5776
03:49:38,960 --> 03:49:41,279
meeting, so that's quite nice. There

5777
03:49:41,279 --> 03:49:43,040
Sarah waved. All right. Thank you. I

5778
03:49:43,040 --> 03:49:45,279
apologize. Who was up next? I've lost

5779
03:49:45,279 --> 03:49:45,840
track.

5780
03:49:45,840 --> 03:49:47,520
>> Uh I think it was Silia.

5781
03:49:47,520 --> 03:49:49,199
>> Silia and then Doug. Yeah.

5782
03:49:49,199 --> 03:49:53,760
>> Um sure. So, um I think that I think

5783
03:49:53,760 --> 03:49:56,080
that we have received a number of

5784
03:49:56,080 --> 03:49:58,800
concerns. Um we have letters um that

5785
03:49:58,800 --> 03:50:00,960
we've received from three judges. Judge

5786
03:50:00,960 --> 03:50:03,199
Bunts from the district court, Judge Van

5787
03:50:03,199 --> 03:50:05,040
Alsberg from the circuit court, Judge

5788
03:50:05,040 --> 03:50:07,760
Dolman from the probate court. Um each

5789
03:50:07,760 --> 03:50:11,199
of whom have you know um indicated uh

5790
03:50:11,199 --> 03:50:13,680
they have several concerns with the the

5791
03:50:13,680 --> 03:50:16,000
results of the wage study and even you

5792
03:50:16,000 --> 03:50:18,239
know that it's not been transparent and

5793
03:50:18,239 --> 03:50:20,399
they haven't re received the full you

5794
03:50:20,399 --> 03:50:23,760
know release of the wage study. Um,

5795
03:50:23,760 --> 03:50:25,760
we've heard from a number of people here

5796
03:50:25,760 --> 03:50:29,520
today with concerns. Um, so I would make

5797
03:50:29,520 --> 03:50:32,000
a motion to schedule a work session for

5798
03:50:32,000 --> 03:50:34,319
further review prior to this board

5799
03:50:34,319 --> 03:50:36,640
making a decision to implement the wage

5800
03:50:36,640 --> 03:50:38,960
study so that we can um give further

5801
03:50:38,960 --> 03:50:41,199
consideration to these concerns.

5802
03:50:41,199 --> 03:50:42,720
>> So there's a motion to

5803
03:50:42,720 --> 03:50:44,880
>> support discussion

5804
03:50:44,880 --> 03:50:46,960
>> motion and support to schedule a work

5805
03:50:46,960 --> 03:50:48,800
session to further discuss the wage

5806
03:50:48,800 --> 03:50:50,880
study. Uh, Commissioner Roodie, do you

5807
03:50:50,880 --> 03:50:51,840
have any further comments on that or

5808
03:50:51,840 --> 03:50:53,279
should we go to Commissioner Mida?

5809
03:50:53,279 --> 03:50:54,640
>> Uh, no, you can move on.

5810
03:50:54,640 --> 03:50:56,080
>> Okay. All right. Commissioner Mida,

5811
03:50:56,080 --> 03:50:58,640
>> I'm sorry. Just as a point of order. Is

5812
03:50:58,640 --> 03:51:01,760
that a gerantine motion?

5813
03:51:01,760 --> 03:51:04,239
>> Apologies to table this. We have

5814
03:51:04,239 --> 03:51:06,160
>> I can I think it would be to motion to

5815
03:51:06,160 --> 03:51:08,080
table it until a work session can be

5816
03:51:08,080 --> 03:51:08,880
had.

5817
03:51:08,880 --> 03:51:09,600
>> Thank you. Yes,

5818
03:51:09,600 --> 03:51:11,040
>> Jordan. Actually, thank you, Ron.

5819
03:51:11,040 --> 03:51:13,120
Nodding. Ron's nodding. Thank you. All

5820
03:51:13,120 --> 03:51:15,279
right. So, the motion is to table um

5821
03:51:15,279 --> 03:51:18,640
item H. Well, sorry. Are you voting to

5822
03:51:18,640 --> 03:51:20,080
table it or are you voting to move it to

5823
03:51:20,080 --> 03:51:20,800
a work set?

5824
03:51:20,800 --> 03:51:22,640
>> We're voting it to table it until a work

5825
03:51:22,640 --> 03:51:23,120
session.

5826
03:51:23,120 --> 03:51:24,560
>> Going right to a roll call vote right

5827
03:51:24,560 --> 03:51:25,520
now.

5828
03:51:25,520 --> 03:51:27,680
>> Otherwise, if you don't table it, then

5829
03:51:27,680 --> 03:51:30,880
we can actually discuss it. But we have

5830
03:51:30,880 --> 03:51:32,960
a you're not amending the motion in any

5831
03:51:32,960 --> 03:51:34,000
way

5832
03:51:34,000 --> 03:51:37,040
>> to to move it to a work session

5833
03:51:37,040 --> 03:51:38,800
>> procedurally require

5834
03:51:38,800 --> 03:51:41,120
>> I think the basically we can either have

5835
03:51:41,120 --> 03:51:43,359
a discussion and out of that discussion

5836
03:51:43,359 --> 03:51:46,800
there could raise a uh there could arise

5837
03:51:46,800 --> 03:51:49,760
a desire to table it and then table it

5838
03:51:49,760 --> 03:51:51,760
or we can have a motion to table it now.

5839
03:51:51,760 --> 03:51:53,680
>> I'll withdraw my motion for right now so

5840
03:51:53,680 --> 03:51:55,520
we can have a discussion.

5841
03:51:55,520 --> 03:51:57,520
>> Okay, that works. You're going to

5842
03:51:57,520 --> 03:51:59,199
withdraw your Well, agenda. I don't have

5843
03:51:59,199 --> 03:52:01,680
to withdraw, but I'm sure you don't. Y

5844
03:52:01,680 --> 03:52:02,479
>> I do have a comment.

5845
03:52:02,479 --> 03:52:03,760
>> And you have a comment about that motion

5846
03:52:03,760 --> 03:52:07,680
or that idea. Thank you. If we were to

5847
03:52:07,680 --> 03:52:10,560
move to table, one thing that I think

5848
03:52:10,560 --> 03:52:12,960
would be something I would appreciate in

5849
03:52:12,960 --> 03:52:15,359
a work session is going through some of

5850
03:52:15,359 --> 03:52:17,359
the concerns that were brought forward

5851
03:52:17,359 --> 03:52:20,479
by the judges as well as a request that

5852
03:52:20,479 --> 03:52:22,640
was made in one of the emails from the

5853
03:52:22,640 --> 03:52:25,359
judges was a legal opinion and that has

5854
03:52:25,359 --> 03:52:26,880
not been provided to the board at this

5855
03:52:26,880 --> 03:52:28,239
point. And I think that is something

5856
03:52:28,239 --> 03:52:31,520
that we I I personally would like to see

5857
03:52:31,520 --> 03:52:34,800
a legal opinion um fleshed out a little

5858
03:52:34,800 --> 03:52:38,560
bit. And uh another comment that was

5859
03:52:38,560 --> 03:52:40,399
made was that this was taken away from

5860
03:52:40,399 --> 03:52:42,080
the portal. And so there was some

5861
03:52:42,080 --> 03:52:44,080
information that

5862
03:52:44,080 --> 03:52:47,199
um employees and the public did not feel

5863
03:52:47,199 --> 03:52:50,160
like they had a better um the best

5864
03:52:50,160 --> 03:52:52,560
understanding. And so I think out of

5865
03:52:52,560 --> 03:52:54,560
transparency that would give a little

5866
03:52:54,560 --> 03:52:58,640
bit of um time to get that ready um for

5867
03:52:58,640 --> 03:53:01,199
their full understanding. And I think

5868
03:53:01,199 --> 03:53:04,160
for that matter for mine I there were a

5869
03:53:04,160 --> 03:53:06,640
lot of emails we received from staff um

5870
03:53:06,640 --> 03:53:10,560
apart from the judges as well that um I

5871
03:53:10,560 --> 03:53:12,160
think there was one that was a back and

5872
03:53:12,160 --> 03:53:15,120
forth one and I don't think all of those

5873
03:53:15,120 --> 03:53:17,520
questions have been answered yet to my

5874
03:53:17,520 --> 03:53:19,359
satisfaction yet from the email we

5875
03:53:19,359 --> 03:53:21,120
received

5876
03:53:21,120 --> 03:53:24,160
later in the day yesterday. um and for

5877
03:53:24,160 --> 03:53:26,319
that matter the email that you sent out,

5878
03:53:26,319 --> 03:53:28,880
Patrick, I haven't had an opportunity to

5879
03:53:28,880 --> 03:53:31,840
really flesh that out and compare um to

5880
03:53:31,840 --> 03:53:34,160
what's been presented to us yet.

5881
03:53:34,160 --> 03:53:35,199
>> Okay. Thank you, Commissioner.

5882
03:53:35,199 --> 03:53:36,800
Moss.

5883
03:53:36,800 --> 03:53:39,199
>> So, this was up for this agenda. Um so,

5884
03:53:39,199 --> 03:53:40,880
I completely understand having it on

5885
03:53:40,880 --> 03:53:42,960
here and looking to either move it

5886
03:53:42,960 --> 03:53:46,880
forward or have discussion. Um, I would

5887
03:53:46,880 --> 03:53:50,000
be very comfortable with pushing this

5888
03:53:50,000 --> 03:53:51,760
either to the next meeting or to a work

5889
03:53:51,760 --> 03:53:53,199
session or whatever it might be just to

5890
03:53:53,199 --> 03:53:55,600
give administration a little extra time.

5891
03:53:55,600 --> 03:53:57,600
The questions that came in or some of

5892
03:53:57,600 --> 03:54:00,880
the concerns I I believe have come in

5893
03:54:00,880 --> 03:54:04,000
since it was on committee. So, I would

5894
03:54:04,000 --> 03:54:05,600
support

5895
03:54:05,600 --> 03:54:07,840
giving it a little bit more time just to

5896
03:54:07,840 --> 03:54:09,760
work through those if there's no reason

5897
03:54:09,760 --> 03:54:11,840
to rush it.

5898
03:54:11,840 --> 03:54:13,359
>> Thank you, Commissioner. And I, by the

5899
03:54:13,359 --> 03:54:14,720
way, apologies to the board. I just

5900
03:54:14,720 --> 03:54:16,479
realized that we have one original

5901
03:54:16,479 --> 03:54:18,000
motion still on the table and we're

5902
03:54:18,000 --> 03:54:19,279
supposed to go around one time to

5903
03:54:19,279 --> 03:54:22,239
everybody and a maximum of two. Uh, so

5904
03:54:22,239 --> 03:54:23,840
Commissioner Moss has now spoken twice,

5905
03:54:23,840 --> 03:54:26,000
but I did not give Commissioner Zlesto

5906
03:54:26,000 --> 03:54:27,359
the floor.

5907
03:54:27,359 --> 03:54:29,359
>> Um,

5908
03:54:29,359 --> 03:54:31,680
sir, would you care to comment?

5909
03:54:31,680 --> 03:54:33,199
>> Where were we on your motion?

5910
03:54:33,199 --> 03:54:36,080
>> It's I withdrew it. So,

5911
03:54:36,080 --> 03:54:38,000
>> we're on the original motion to approve

5912
03:54:38,000 --> 03:54:41,840
>> for discussion. So I I I I wanted to ask

5913
03:54:41,840 --> 03:54:43,600
because I did sympathize with the idea

5914
03:54:43,600 --> 03:54:48,800
of taking a little step back. I mean

5915
03:54:48,800 --> 03:54:51,120
I think the non-union union issues

5916
03:54:51,120 --> 03:54:52,960
important. Uh I think a lot of people

5917
03:54:52,960 --> 03:54:56,000
spoke to us public comment uh the judges

5918
03:54:56,000 --> 03:54:58,720
letters as well as emails. Uh and I'm

5919
03:54:58,720 --> 03:55:00,800
very sympathetic. I think that can

5920
03:55:00,800 --> 03:55:03,040
easily be solved by choosing a different

5921
03:55:03,040 --> 03:55:05,760
option. I think A is the recommended

5922
03:55:05,760 --> 03:55:08,319
option and and B would solve that issue.

5923
03:55:08,319 --> 03:55:11,120
I think for the most part um the step

5924
03:55:11,120 --> 03:55:14,239
eight option was um

5925
03:55:14,239 --> 03:55:16,080
uh the step eight option being taken

5926
03:55:16,080 --> 03:55:18,000
away was

5927
03:55:18,000 --> 03:55:19,920
uh pretty

5928
03:55:19,920 --> 03:55:23,600
um did come to us quite often especially

5929
03:55:23,600 --> 03:55:26,560
in the judges letters as well as emails.

5930
03:55:26,560 --> 03:55:28,560
Um,

5931
03:55:28,560 --> 03:55:31,359
and I guess maybe I'd like to make a

5932
03:55:31,359 --> 03:55:34,800
motion to add back the step eight um on

5933
03:55:34,800 --> 03:55:37,279
a grandfathered basis and that would

5934
03:55:37,279 --> 03:55:39,680
address that issue.

5935
03:55:39,680 --> 03:55:41,920
>> Okay. So, we've got a motion to add back

5936
03:55:41,920 --> 03:55:43,520
step eight. Is there a second?

5937
03:55:43,520 --> 03:55:46,800
>> I will second it for discussion.

5938
03:55:46,800 --> 03:55:48,479
>> Right. Doug, anything further?

5939
03:55:48,479 --> 03:55:51,920
>> Yeah. No, I I I think that we're down to

5940
03:55:51,920 --> 03:55:54,160
20 21 folks who are at step eight.

5941
03:55:54,160 --> 03:55:56,560
Scott, is that right?

5942
03:55:56,560 --> 03:55:58,399
Yeah. So, there's not a ton of folks,

5943
03:55:58,399 --> 03:56:01,199
but I think that, you know, the idea of

5944
03:56:01,199 --> 03:56:02,720
making them wait two or three years for

5945
03:56:02,720 --> 03:56:05,120
a coal adjustment doesn't make sense. I

5946
03:56:05,120 --> 03:56:08,080
mean, the original purpose of step 8 was

5947
03:56:08,080 --> 03:56:11,279
to incentivize long-standing employees

5948
03:56:11,279 --> 03:56:14,000
just kind of does the opposite. Um, so

5949
03:56:14,000 --> 03:56:16,000
grandfathering those folks who have it.

5950
03:56:16,000 --> 03:56:19,120
I understand the logic of Baker Tilly

5951
03:56:19,120 --> 03:56:22,560
and removing it, but at the same time,

5952
03:56:22,560 --> 03:56:24,560
you know, what that does to folks who

5953
03:56:24,560 --> 03:56:26,560
have it. I think that, you know, there's

5954
03:56:26,560 --> 03:56:28,160
a balance there and I think

5955
03:56:28,160 --> 03:56:30,479
grandfathering those folks in makes

5956
03:56:30,479 --> 03:56:32,479
sense to me. Go ahead, Scott.

5957
03:56:32,479 --> 03:56:36,160
>> Yeah, if I may, uh, Mr. Chair, Mr. Vice

5958
03:56:36,160 --> 03:56:39,199
Chair, and esteemed board. Um, yeah,

5959
03:56:39,199 --> 03:56:43,520
there was 29 um, let's see, 21 30 looks

5960
03:56:43,520 --> 03:56:47,439
like 30 at step eight. And if if we did

5961
03:56:47,439 --> 03:56:51,520
nothing um and left at eight um none of

5962
03:56:51,520 --> 03:56:53,920
those 30 would get any type of increase

5963
03:56:53,920 --> 03:56:56,560
any any any increase except for the uh

5964
03:56:56,560 --> 03:56:58,880
the colus moving forward because of the

5965
03:56:58,880 --> 03:57:01,680
adjustment in the proposed wage scale.

5966
03:57:01,680 --> 03:57:05,439
Uh nine of those employees at step 8 uh

5967
03:57:05,439 --> 03:57:08,000
will get an increase uh with this

5968
03:57:08,000 --> 03:57:11,439
proposed uh new wage scale. Uh and then

5969
03:57:11,439 --> 03:57:14,560
21 who were already uh red circled will

5970
03:57:14,560 --> 03:57:16,160
remain red circled. So I just wanted to

5971
03:57:16,160 --> 03:57:17,439
add that note.

5972
03:57:17,439 --> 03:57:19,279
>> Thank you, sir. That you still have the

5973
03:57:19,279 --> 03:57:19,760
floor.

5974
03:57:19,760 --> 03:57:22,000
>> No, I I I appreciate that, Scott. And

5975
03:57:22,000 --> 03:57:26,550
yeah, that kind of

5976
03:57:26,560 --> 03:57:30,399
Yeah, I mean it's I I would hate to have

5977
03:57:30,399 --> 03:57:32,319
three or four years after we we

5978
03:57:32,319 --> 03:57:35,120
implement something to incentivize

5979
03:57:35,120 --> 03:57:37,520
longer term employees uh to take that

5980
03:57:37,520 --> 03:57:39,840
incentive away. And so yeah,

5981
03:57:39,840 --> 03:57:42,080
>> all right. Thank you, Joe.

5982
03:57:42,080 --> 03:57:43,920
>> Um, I hear Commissioner Zstro's

5983
03:57:43,920 --> 03:57:46,640
concerns. I absolutely believe that

5984
03:57:46,640 --> 03:57:48,640
that's not the intent of what's going on

5985
03:57:48,640 --> 03:57:49,840
here. And

5986
03:57:49,840 --> 03:57:51,600
>> I didn't say it was Oh, I know. I know.

5987
03:57:51,600 --> 03:57:53,439
>> I understand that there was a logic to

5988
03:57:53,439 --> 03:57:56,399
this, the removal, but the consequence

5989
03:57:56,399 --> 03:57:57,600
of it.

5990
03:57:57,600 --> 03:57:59,359
>> So, I I believe Commissioners and I

5991
03:57:59,359 --> 03:58:01,520
agree on that. And I think it would be

5992
03:58:01,520 --> 03:58:03,199
really helpful just to give this a

5993
03:58:03,199 --> 03:58:05,279
little bit more time to breathe so that

5994
03:58:05,279 --> 03:58:06,720
there's too much detail here to go

5995
03:58:06,720 --> 03:58:09,040
through every single thing right now.

5996
03:58:09,040 --> 03:58:11,439
There's there have been a lot of emails.

5997
03:58:11,439 --> 03:58:12,960
There have there are concerns from

5998
03:58:12,960 --> 03:58:17,760
individuals. It's not two or three. It's more. So, I think we should just

5999
03:58:17,760 --> 03:58:19,439
give it some time. Just give it you know

6000
03:58:19,439 --> 03:58:20,880
what put it up next month. Let

6001
03:58:20,880 --> 03:58:22,319
administration work through it with HR

6002
03:58:22,319 --> 03:58:24,880
and just, you know, it probably settled

6003
03:58:24,880 --> 03:58:26,560
almost I think they could probably

6004
03:58:26,560 --> 03:58:28,800
settle most of those by then.

6005
03:58:28,800 --> 03:58:30,640
>> So, we've got a motion on the table to

6006
03:58:30,640 --> 03:58:32,800
add section eight. Would anyone care to

6007
03:58:32,800 --> 03:58:34,880
discuss that specifically or shall we

6008
03:58:34,880 --> 03:58:36,080
have a vote on it?

6009
03:58:36,080 --> 03:58:38,000
>> You wanna Sylvia regarding section

6010
03:58:38,000 --> 03:58:38,880
eight. Sorry,

6011
03:58:38,880 --> 03:58:42,960
>> regarding regarding um section 8, I just

6012
03:58:42,960 --> 03:58:44,560
want to um read off some of the

6013
03:58:44,560 --> 03:58:46,560
positions that I believe are included in

6014
03:58:46,560 --> 03:58:52,479
this in this section because these are our these are our higher level

6015
03:58:52,479 --> 03:58:54,399
positions within the county. So some of

6016
03:58:54,399 --> 03:58:56,800
them are uh director of probation and

6017
03:58:56,800 --> 03:58:58,399
community corrections, district court

6018
03:58:58,399 --> 03:59:00,800
administrator, public defender, circuit

6019
03:59:00,800 --> 03:59:02,640
court administrator, under sheriff,

6020
03:59:02,640 --> 03:59:04,560
chief assistant public defender,

6021
03:59:04,560 --> 03:59:06,399
juvenile court director, public health

6022
03:59:06,399 --> 03:59:08,640
officer, friend of the court, mental

6023
03:59:08,640 --> 03:59:10,800
health court practitioner, chief deputy

6024
03:59:10,800 --> 03:59:12,640
sheriff's office, licensed clinical

6025
03:59:12,640 --> 03:59:15,040
manager, deputy health officer, senior

6026
03:59:15,040 --> 03:59:17,520
attorney, parks and recreation director,

6027
03:59:17,520 --> 03:59:19,359
facilities director, equalization

6028
03:59:19,359 --> 03:59:21,760
director, nurse practitioner, assistant

6029
03:59:21,760 --> 03:59:24,239
public defender three, Superintendent of

6030
03:59:24,239 --> 03:59:26,160
Detention, Assistant Prosecuting

6031
03:59:26,160 --> 03:59:29,279
Attorney 2, Local Unit Unity Financial

6032
03:59:29,279 --> 03:59:32,000
Leaison, and Veteran Services Director.

6033
03:59:32,000 --> 03:59:36,319
So, uh, this particular block of people

6034
03:59:36,319 --> 03:59:38,960
are key leadership for our county. And

6035
03:59:38,960 --> 03:59:41,680
so, they're they're not positions, and

6036
03:59:41,680 --> 03:59:43,040
correct me if I have those positions

6037
03:59:43,040 --> 03:59:43,760
wrong, but

6038
03:59:43,760 --> 03:59:45,279
>> you do. Okay.

6039
03:59:45,279 --> 03:59:45,600
>> Okay.

6040
03:59:45,600 --> 03:59:47,199
>> Yeah. There's some I know for a fact are

6041
03:59:47,199 --> 03:59:48,319
not correct. They're not anymore.

6042
03:59:48,319 --> 03:59:51,199
>> Okay. Great. Is it true though? Um, is

6043
03:59:51,199 --> 03:59:53,760
it could you could you answer me? Is it

6044
03:59:53,760 --> 03:59:56,560
true though that um some of those

6045
03:59:56,560 --> 04:00:00,000
positions who have the step eight option

6046
04:00:00,000 --> 04:00:01,760
are some of the senior leadership within

6047
04:00:01,760 --> 04:00:04,720
the county across the departments?

6048
04:00:04,720 --> 04:00:07,359
>> I would say that's that that's partially

6049
04:00:07,359 --> 04:00:10,239
accurate. I would say that um when we

6050
04:00:10,239 --> 04:00:12,640
think of someone at a top step, we often

6051
04:00:12,640 --> 04:00:14,720
think and they've vetted out many many

6052
04:00:14,720 --> 04:00:16,560
years of service and we like to think

6053
04:00:16,560 --> 04:00:19,040
pure that they all started at step one

6054
04:00:19,040 --> 04:00:20,399
and they moved their way up through the

6055
04:00:20,399 --> 04:00:23,120
chain. Um not not necessarily the case.

6056
04:00:23,120 --> 04:00:25,520
We have we have some that were hired in

6057
04:00:25,520 --> 04:00:28,560
frankly u just just the circumstances

6058
04:00:28,560 --> 04:00:30,479
hired in at a very doesn't mean they're

6059
04:00:30,479 --> 04:00:31,840
not valued performers. I'm not

6060
04:00:31,840 --> 04:00:36,080
suggesting that by any means, but um the the adage of you know they they've

6061
04:00:36,080 --> 04:00:37,840
been with us so long and so forth and

6062
04:00:37,840 --> 04:00:40,319
can't um you know not recognize that. So

6063
04:00:40,319 --> 04:00:43,279
it isn't it isn't all uh folks that have

6064
04:00:43,279 --> 04:00:45,359
just uh you know have you know strong

6065
04:00:45,359 --> 04:00:47,199
you know long longtime loyalty with the

6066
04:00:47,199 --> 04:00:48,239
comp with

6067
04:00:48,239 --> 04:00:50,160
>> so they might not have longtime loyalty

6068
04:00:50,160 --> 04:00:52,479
but are they largely in the lead

6069
04:00:52,479 --> 04:00:55,279
>> valued of course in high highly valued

6070
04:00:55,279 --> 04:00:57,040
leaders highly valued employees in

6071
04:00:57,040 --> 04:00:58,800
general of course I just wanted to point

6072
04:00:58,800 --> 04:01:00,479
that out because I think I heard some

6073
04:01:00,479 --> 04:01:02,640
saying they've been with us and uh this

6074
04:01:02,640 --> 04:01:04,560
and that so long so it's not always the

6075
04:01:04,560 --> 04:01:06,880
case but for what it was worth.

6076
04:01:06,880 --> 04:01:08,160
>> Commissioner Ro anything else?

6077
04:01:08,160 --> 04:01:11,040
>> Nope. All right, Commissioner Toples and

6078
04:01:11,040 --> 04:01:13,920
then Commissioner Barry.

6079
04:01:13,920 --> 04:01:15,199
>> So, I've been gone the last couple of

6080
04:01:15,199 --> 04:01:17,359
weeks and uh obviously I'm guessing

6081
04:01:17,359 --> 04:01:20,800
there my email must be box must be full

6082
04:01:20,800 --> 04:01:23,359
um from what I'm hearing. U including

6083
04:01:23,359 --> 04:01:25,760
these three judges opinion, right? Can

6084
04:01:25,760 --> 04:01:27,760
someone fill me in on maybe what the

6085
04:01:27,760 --> 04:01:29,680
judges are suggesting that the legal

6086
04:01:29,680 --> 04:01:31,760
opinion address? What's the issue?

6087
04:01:31,760 --> 04:01:34,160
They're they're very long emails, very

6088
04:01:34,160 --> 04:01:35,120
long letters,

6089
04:01:35,120 --> 04:01:35,920
>> very thorough,

6090
04:01:35,920 --> 04:01:40,000
>> and it would take a while to go back for

6091
04:01:40,000 --> 04:01:40,800
that yet or no,

6092
04:01:40,800 --> 04:01:41,920
>> I've not seen it.

6093
04:01:41,920 --> 04:01:44,560
>> Haven't either. for comment on that if I

6094
04:01:44,560 --> 04:01:46,800
may. Um, I've been privy to the letters

6095
04:01:46,800 --> 04:01:51,680
myself and I know that one of the uh one

6096
04:01:51,680 --> 04:01:54,479
of the suggestions was uh or or I think

6097
04:01:54,479 --> 04:01:57,439
the uh uh the analysis of what's going

6098
04:01:57,439 --> 04:01:59,279
on is that we're violating the National

6099
04:01:59,279 --> 04:02:02,239
Labor Relations Act, the NLR. Um we're a

6100
04:02:02,239 --> 04:02:04,720
public sector uh organization and we're

6101
04:02:04,720 --> 04:02:07,600
not covered under the NLR. Um there's

6102
04:02:07,600 --> 04:02:10,479
clearly uh in my estimation I am a labor

6103
04:02:10,479 --> 04:02:12,080
relations professional. I'm not a I'm

6104
04:02:12,080 --> 04:02:15,040
not a lawyer one with my uh uh my

6105
04:02:15,040 --> 04:02:16,880
experience but uh been in labor

6106
04:02:16,880 --> 04:02:19,120
relations many many many years and I can

6107
04:02:19,120 --> 04:02:20,720
tell you that there is no legal issue

6108
04:02:20,720 --> 04:02:23,199
here. Um the collective bargaining

6109
04:02:23,199 --> 04:02:25,600
agreements speak to the requirements uh

6110
04:02:25,600 --> 04:02:27,199
the working conditions of union

6111
04:02:27,199 --> 04:02:29,680
employees. Uh the county will follow

6112
04:02:29,680 --> 04:02:31,040
those uh collective bargaining

6113
04:02:31,040 --> 04:02:32,880
agreements to a tea and has been doing

6114
04:02:32,880 --> 04:02:35,040
so. So, I just want to make it clear. My

6115
04:02:35,040 --> 04:02:37,439
opinion would be that there is no uh

6116
04:02:37,439 --> 04:02:40,479
reason to use taxpayer dollars uh for

6117
04:02:40,479 --> 04:02:42,960
legal expenses. Pause.

6118
04:02:42,960 --> 04:02:44,479
>> Mr. Chair,

6119
04:02:44,479 --> 04:02:46,000
>> sorry, just Mr. Toples has the floor.

6120
04:02:46,000 --> 04:02:46,560
Apologies.

6121
04:02:46,560 --> 04:02:49,199
>> No, I I uh I think that's enough for me

6122
04:02:49,199 --> 04:02:50,160
right now. So, okay.

6123
04:02:50,160 --> 04:02:52,720
>> I just read one of the

6124
04:02:52,720 --> 04:02:56,399
>> All right. Before Joe goes number two on

6125
04:02:56,399 --> 04:02:58,160
the amendment, I'm trying my best, guys.

6126
04:02:58,160 --> 04:02:59,680
Is there anybody else who would like to

6127
04:02:59,680 --> 04:03:02,000
comment? Number eight. Sorry. That's

6128
04:03:02,000 --> 04:03:04,720
right. Jim, thank you. Ben, it's 1:00,

6129
04:03:04,720 --> 04:03:06,720
guys. Sorry.

6130
04:03:06,720 --> 04:03:08,720
>> I'm beginning to feel like this probably

6131
04:03:08,720 --> 04:03:12,080
needs to percolate a little bit longer.

6132
04:03:12,080 --> 04:03:18,720
Um, I have some questions on um employees covered under union

6133
04:03:18,720 --> 04:03:21,120
contracts. I' I' I'd be very interested

6134
04:03:21,120 --> 04:03:24,479
to know more about what's precedence in

6135
04:03:24,479 --> 04:03:26,880
this kind of a situation where they're

6136
04:03:26,880 --> 04:03:31,120
kind of mid in a existing contract that

6137
04:03:31,120 --> 04:03:33,840
all sides have agreed to and then we get

6138
04:03:33,840 --> 04:03:36,720
a wage study which is going to create an

6139
04:03:36,720 --> 04:03:39,680
increase for some employees but

6140
04:03:39,680 --> 04:03:42,399
not all. So I I I guess I would like to

6141
04:03:42,399 --> 04:03:45,920
know what precedent is on that. Um

6142
04:03:45,920 --> 04:03:49,279
>> is that a is that a question to me that

6143
04:03:49,279 --> 04:03:51,520
if this does come around for another

6144
04:03:51,520 --> 04:03:53,600
work session, that's something I'd like

6145
04:03:53,600 --> 04:03:55,120
to get a little more information on if

6146
04:03:55,120 --> 04:03:57,520
we can.

6147
04:03:57,520 --> 04:03:59,760
And then uh

6148
04:03:59,760 --> 04:04:03,359
the ranking of the employees um if I

6149
04:04:03,359 --> 04:04:05,439
remember right um in the original

6150
04:04:05,439 --> 04:04:08,239
presentation on this um it showed that

6151
04:04:08,239 --> 04:04:11,920
Ottawa County um does very well a little

6152
04:04:11,920 --> 04:04:13,359
better than average as far as

6153
04:04:13,359 --> 04:04:16,800
compensation for uh the lower the lower

6154
04:04:16,800 --> 04:04:19,120
level or the entry positions, but we're

6155
04:04:19,120 --> 04:04:21,680
a little bit behind the curve on on the

6156
04:04:21,680 --> 04:04:23,840
higher end of the scale. So, I don't

6157
04:04:23,840 --> 04:04:26,080
know if these rankings of people that

6158
04:04:26,080 --> 04:04:28,800
are in the eight range, I'm not sure how

6159
04:04:28,800 --> 04:04:30,880
all this plays out, but I I think we

6160
04:04:30,880 --> 04:04:32,640
should be sensitive that we want to make

6161
04:04:32,640 --> 04:04:35,439
sure we're competitive on longer tenure

6162
04:04:35,439 --> 04:04:38,880
or higher level positions.

6163
04:04:38,880 --> 04:04:41,120
>> Sorry, Scott, before you go, and Jim,

6164
04:04:41,120 --> 04:04:43,199
very much value your comments and

6165
04:04:43,199 --> 04:04:45,199
everybody else's, but we have a motion

6166
04:04:45,199 --> 04:04:47,120
on the table to amend section 8. We're

6167
04:04:47,120 --> 04:04:48,640
talking about a lot of different things

6168
04:04:48,640 --> 04:04:50,800
which is great and they're all valid.

6169
04:04:50,800 --> 04:04:52,800
>> But I'd like to do a roll call on the

6170
04:04:52,800 --> 04:04:55,359
amendment as proposed and if you could

6171
04:04:55,359 --> 04:04:56,880
read that again Rachel.

6172
04:04:56,880 --> 04:04:59,040
>> Yeah, I have a question. I I would be

6173
04:04:59,040 --> 04:05:00,880
>> starting section eight. I just had to

6174
04:05:00,880 --> 04:05:02,479
Okay, thank you. All right, go for it.

6175
04:05:02,479 --> 04:05:04,160
>> It's about the t It's about the timing

6176
04:05:04,160 --> 04:05:06,960
of the motion. So I I'm not opposed

6177
04:05:06,960 --> 04:05:10,479
necessarily to entertain that motion,

6178
04:05:10,479 --> 04:05:12,239
but I would rather go through a work

6179
04:05:12,239 --> 04:05:14,000
session first. So I guess I would rather

6180
04:05:14,000 --> 04:05:15,760
see where the board is as it relates to

6181
04:05:15,760 --> 04:05:20,319
a work session and then once I know that

6182
04:05:20,319 --> 04:05:22,080
then I would rather come back to this

6183
04:05:22,080 --> 04:05:22,399
motion,

6184
04:05:22,399 --> 04:05:23,840
>> right? And so that's why it asked the

6185
04:05:23,840 --> 04:05:25,840
commissioner roadie if that motion to

6186
04:05:25,840 --> 04:05:28,479
table is still on the table so to speak

6187
04:05:28,479 --> 04:05:30,239
uh because I'm willing to with I mean

6188
04:05:30,239 --> 04:05:33,040
the idea was if we're not going to go to

6189
04:05:33,040 --> 04:05:34,479
a work session and we have these

6190
04:05:34,479 --> 04:05:37,279
concerns well let's dive in and fix the

6191
04:05:37,279 --> 04:05:39,359
concerns but if we are going to go to a

6192
04:05:39,359 --> 04:05:40,640
work session then I then I'll withdraw

6193
04:05:40,640 --> 04:05:40,800
them.

6194
04:05:40,800 --> 04:05:42,960
>> Would you be willing to withdraw and the

6195
04:05:42,960 --> 04:05:44,800
motion at this point in time be added

6196
04:05:44,800 --> 04:05:47,120
for a work session and then seeing where

6197
04:05:47,120 --> 04:05:49,600
that goes then may go back to yours.

6198
04:05:49,600 --> 04:05:51,199
>> Yeah, I'll withdraw without any

6199
04:05:51,199 --> 04:05:52,080
conditions. How about that?

6200
04:05:52,080 --> 04:05:52,880
>> Okay, thank you.

6201
04:05:52,880 --> 04:05:53,439
>> Wonderful.

6202
04:05:53,439 --> 04:05:54,880
>> Okay, so we're back to the original

6203
04:05:54,880 --> 04:05:58,560
motion which I believe Joe has spoken

6204
04:05:58,560 --> 04:06:00,239
twice on. I'm sorry you're cut off at

6205
04:06:00,239 --> 04:06:01,520
the moment unless somebody makes an

6206
04:06:01,520 --> 04:06:03,040
amendment.

6207
04:06:03,040 --> 04:06:06,950
>> I'd like to make an amendment.

6208
04:06:06,960 --> 04:06:08,479
» I'm not really sure how Robert's rules

6209
04:06:08,479 --> 04:06:11,120
works on that one, but Joe, go for it.

6210
04:06:11,120 --> 04:06:13,760
Uh if if it's all right with the chair,

6211
04:06:13,760 --> 04:06:15,279
I'd just like to remind everybody what I

6212
04:06:15,279 --> 04:06:17,439
said in the beginning. Our administrator

6213
04:06:17,439 --> 04:06:18,720
did a great job looking at the

6214
04:06:18,720 --> 04:06:21,439
adjustments and it was under $7,000.

6215
04:06:21,439 --> 04:06:23,600
Um I don't know if we need a work

6216
04:06:23,600 --> 04:06:26,319
session. Uh but I do think we I think

6217
04:06:26,319 --> 04:06:27,920
the administration could just use a

6218
04:06:27,920 --> 04:06:30,399
little bit more time um to handle some

6219
04:06:30,399 --> 04:06:31,760
of the questions. I don't think there's

6220
04:06:31,760 --> 04:06:34,479
anything abnormal going on here. There's

6221
04:06:34,479 --> 04:06:36,640
nothing that's I'm assuming there's

6222
04:06:36,640 --> 04:06:38,080
probably nothing different from prior

6223
04:06:38,080 --> 04:06:40,960
years. There's just a few questions that

6224
04:06:40,960 --> 04:06:43,680
probably need a little more time and

6225
04:06:43,680 --> 04:06:46,239
then I think probably we'll get strong

6226
04:06:46,239 --> 04:06:50,080
support for this item.

6227
04:06:50,080 --> 04:06:51,199
>> All right, Joe, do you have

6228
04:06:51,199 --> 04:06:52,479
>> I don't have an amendment. No, sorry.

6229
04:06:52,479 --> 04:06:54,319
>> Yeah, let's not do that again, y'all. I

6230
04:06:54,319 --> 04:06:55,040
appreciate it, but

6231
04:06:55,040 --> 04:06:57,120
>> make a motion to table if you'd like.

6232
04:06:57,120 --> 04:06:57,840
>> Yes, please.

6233
04:06:57,840 --> 04:06:59,040
>> Motion to table this then.

6234
04:06:59,040 --> 04:07:00,640
>> Is there a second?

6235
04:07:00,640 --> 04:07:01,439
>> Second.

6236
04:07:01,439 --> 04:07:03,760
>> All right. Motion to table. Uh there is

6237
04:07:03,760 --> 04:07:05,600
no discussion on a motion to table. So

6238
04:07:05,600 --> 04:07:08,720
Rachel, would you call the role?

6239
04:07:08,720 --> 04:07:12,630
Mr. Tuples,

6240
04:07:12,640 --> 04:07:15,680
» can I ask a clarification question to

6241
04:07:15,680 --> 04:07:18,399
the just motion to table?

6242
04:07:18,399 --> 04:07:20,000
>> I'm just motioning the table for now.

6243
04:07:20,000 --> 04:07:20,800
>> We're doing

6244
04:07:20,800 --> 04:07:22,720
>> that's it. No session, no nothing. Just

6245
04:07:22,720 --> 04:07:23,359
motion to table.

6246
04:07:23,359 --> 04:07:24,640
>> What happens to it after this? Is

6247
04:07:24,640 --> 04:07:27,600
>> can I can I clarify a question? Ron, I'm

6248
04:07:27,600 --> 04:07:28,160
gonna turn to you

6249
04:07:28,160 --> 04:07:32,720
>> about the motion or because it does that kind of depends on how I would the

6250
04:07:32,720 --> 04:07:34,880
answer that question affects my

6251
04:07:34,880 --> 04:07:36,640
>> the motion is to table in which case it

6252
04:07:36,640 --> 04:07:39,439
would be on your agenda for your next

6253
04:07:39,439 --> 04:07:41,359
meeting unless something else happens

6254
04:07:41,359 --> 04:07:44,319
but if uh if the mo I don't know that

6255
04:07:44,319 --> 04:07:45,600
you need to clarify that.

6256
04:07:45,600 --> 04:07:47,520
>> Is that how it goes Ron or is it not on

6257
04:07:47,520 --> 04:07:49,920
the table unless we put it back on the

6258
04:07:49,920 --> 04:07:50,319
table?

6259
04:07:50,319 --> 04:07:51,120
>> It is up to the table.

6260
04:07:51,120 --> 04:07:53,840
>> It's automatically I I'm not correct me.

6261
04:07:53,840 --> 04:07:55,760
Isn't it automatically off the table

6262
04:07:55,760 --> 04:07:58,399
unless it's put back on another table?

6263
04:07:58,399 --> 04:08:00,000
>> If it's put on the agenda.

6264
04:08:00,000 --> 04:08:01,760
>> Yeah, if it's put on agenda.

6265
04:08:01,760 --> 04:08:02,960
>> Yeah. Right. So, something has to

6266
04:08:02,960 --> 04:08:03,199
happen.

6267
04:08:03,199 --> 04:08:04,640
>> I was assuming. Yeah. Right. You're

6268
04:08:04,640 --> 04:08:06,800
correct. That is correct.

6269
04:08:06,800 --> 04:08:08,319
>> I'd put it on the agenda again.

6270
04:08:08,319 --> 04:08:09,279
>> I was assuming that.

6271
04:08:09,279 --> 04:08:11,760
>> Okay.

6272
04:08:11,760 --> 04:08:14,399
>> You call the role, please.

6273
04:08:14,399 --> 04:08:15,359
>> Mr. Tles.

6274
04:08:15,359 --> 04:08:15,920
>> Yes.

6275
04:08:15,920 --> 04:08:22,070
>> Mr. Zystra.

6276
04:08:22,080 --> 04:08:24,800
Uh, no. Sorry,

6277
04:08:24,800 --> 04:08:25,760
>> Mr. Kyers.

6278
04:08:25,760 --> 04:08:26,560
>> No,

6279
04:08:26,560 --> 04:08:28,000
>> Mr. Barry.

6280
04:08:28,000 --> 04:08:28,800
>> Yes,

6281
04:08:28,800 --> 04:08:30,080
>> Mr. Moss.

6282
04:08:30,080 --> 04:08:30,960
>> Yes,

6283
04:08:30,960 --> 04:08:31,920
>> Mr. Jordma.

6284
04:08:31,920 --> 04:08:32,720
>> No,

6285
04:08:32,720 --> 04:08:33,840
>> Mrs. Roadie.

6286
04:08:33,840 --> 04:08:34,560
>> Yes,

6287
04:08:34,560 --> 04:08:35,600
>> Mrs. Nema.

6288
04:08:35,600 --> 04:08:36,160
>> Yes,

6289
04:08:36,160 --> 04:08:38,160
>> Mr. Bonama.

6290
04:08:38,160 --> 04:08:40,560
>> Sorry, Mr. Bonama. It cut out.

6291
04:08:40,560 --> 04:08:42,479
>> You're good. Yes,

6292
04:08:42,479 --> 04:08:43,359
>> Mrs. Wzel.

6293
04:08:43,359 --> 04:08:44,080
>> Yes,

6294
04:08:44,080 --> 04:08:45,279
>> Mr. Buger.

6295
04:08:45,279 --> 04:08:46,960
>> No.

6296
04:08:46,960 --> 04:08:49,439
>> Motion passes. That was the strangest

6297
04:08:49,439 --> 04:08:51,279
scenario there that I've ever

6298
04:08:51,279 --> 04:08:53,439
experienced. That's great, guys. Um, so

6299
04:08:53,439 --> 04:08:54,880
at the moment, and Patrick, I'll

6300
04:08:54,880 --> 04:08:56,479
identify in just a moment. Uh, we have

6301
04:08:56,479 --> 04:08:59,199
tabled this. Uh, I will I do anticipate,

6302
04:08:59,199 --> 04:09:00,880
as Ron indicated, putting this on the

6303
04:09:00,880 --> 04:09:04,880
agenda. Um, I think our esteemed uh,

6304
04:09:04,880 --> 04:09:06,640
county administrator may have a qu a few

6305
04:09:06,640 --> 04:09:07,359
questions.

6306
04:09:07,359 --> 04:09:12,239
>> Just just a comment and and you know,

6307
04:09:12,239 --> 04:09:14,640
so I started working on this as soon as

6308
04:09:14,640 --> 04:09:17,199
I got here. It was presented to me. So,

6309
04:09:17,199 --> 04:09:19,279
you know, in October and and we have

6310
04:09:19,279 --> 04:09:23,279
been working very diligently to address

6311
04:09:23,279 --> 04:09:25,920
all of the concerns with this study.

6312
04:09:25,920 --> 04:09:27,920
Wage studies and I've been involved with

6313
04:09:27,920 --> 04:09:31,120
a few of them are never fun. Um you will

6314
04:09:31,120 --> 04:09:33,359
never have any everyone coming here and

6315
04:09:33,359 --> 04:09:37,120
saying we support this holistically. Um,

6316
04:09:37,120 --> 04:09:39,279
the one thing I will say with the nature

6317
04:09:39,279 --> 04:09:41,359
of all of the questions that have been

6318
04:09:41,359 --> 04:09:44,640
raised are very much in regards to

6319
04:09:44,640 --> 04:09:46,800
appealing what the findings were or

6320
04:09:46,800 --> 04:09:49,920
appealing the methodology. We had we

6321
04:09:49,920 --> 04:09:52,640
have Sarah here today. We have HR here

6322
04:09:52,640 --> 04:09:54,640
today. We were prepared to ask answer

6323
04:09:54,640 --> 04:09:57,680
those questions and we will do so again.

6324
04:09:57,680 --> 04:09:59,680
Um, but we didn't have any questions

6325
04:09:59,680 --> 04:10:01,840
that were raised that we were able to

6326
04:10:01,840 --> 04:10:03,680
ask or answer today and we were prepared

6327
04:10:03,680 --> 04:10:05,920
to do that. So, I am a little frustrated

6328
04:10:05,920 --> 04:10:08,160
because this will withhold this another

6329
04:10:08,160 --> 04:10:10,720
month. Um, employees are frustrated with

6330
04:10:10,720 --> 04:10:12,640
that it hasn't been implemented yet.

6331
04:10:12,640 --> 04:10:13,040
>> Yeah.

6332
04:10:13,040 --> 04:10:14,720
>> And and without knowing what the

6333
04:10:14,720 --> 04:10:16,720
questions are,

6334
04:10:16,720 --> 04:10:20,720
uh, we can't answer them for you. Um, so

6335
04:10:20,720 --> 04:10:23,199
please articulate what those concerns

6336
04:10:23,199 --> 04:10:26,560
are. As I said in my email, we have gone

6337
04:10:26,560 --> 04:10:29,359
over this hours and hours and hours and

6338
04:10:29,359 --> 04:10:31,600
with Sarah, with her team, we're

6339
04:10:31,600 --> 04:10:32,960
confident in the data. We're confident

6340
04:10:32,960 --> 04:10:34,880
in the findings. We wouldn't be

6341
04:10:34,880 --> 04:10:36,560
presenting it to you if we didn't feel

6342
04:10:36,560 --> 04:10:39,520
it was a a well done wage study.

6343
04:10:39,520 --> 04:10:41,199
>> Okay. Thank you, sir. Scott, I noticed

6344
04:10:41,199 --> 04:10:42,319
you stand up. We'll give you the the

6345
04:10:42,319 --> 04:10:43,439
floor for just a moment and then we got

6346
04:10:43,439 --> 04:10:43,920
to move on.

6347
04:10:43,920 --> 04:10:45,520
>> Quick moment. I I would support uh the

6348
04:10:45,520 --> 04:10:48,080
county administrator Waterman's comments

6349
04:10:48,080 --> 04:10:52,399
uh fully. Um I would add um that um

6350
04:10:52,399 --> 04:10:54,880
because of yet another delay um what

6351
04:10:54,880 --> 04:10:57,840
we're going to to note to know uh uh

6352
04:10:57,840 --> 04:11:00,000
negative uh connotation to this board

6353
04:11:00,000 --> 04:11:02,080
but there have been some delays uh

6354
04:11:02,080 --> 04:11:05,040
internally um that is going to delay um

6355
04:11:05,040 --> 04:11:07,760
you know our employees once again from

6356
04:11:07,760 --> 04:11:09,439
uh you know market increases that are

6357
04:11:09,439 --> 04:11:12,319
due to them um that those employees

6358
04:11:12,319 --> 04:11:14,880
don't have the right to bargain um our

6359
04:11:14,880 --> 04:11:16,560
other employees that are unionized will

6360
04:11:16,560 --> 04:11:18,319
have their rights to bargain. Sorry.

6361
04:11:18,319 --> 04:11:19,840
>> Thank you, sir. Uh let's move on in our

6362
04:11:19,840 --> 04:11:21,920
agenda. Next item is number nine,

6363
04:11:21,920 --> 04:11:23,920
committee reports. Are there any

6364
04:11:23,920 --> 04:11:26,239
committee reports? Don't believe there

6365
04:11:26,239 --> 04:11:28,479
are. In which case, we'd move on to item

6366
04:11:28,479 --> 04:11:31,359
number 10, which is public comment. Uh

6367
04:11:31,359 --> 04:11:32,880
second call to the audience if you'd

6368
04:11:32,880 --> 04:11:35,840
like to address the board. Uh now,

6369
04:11:35,840 --> 04:11:38,399
please approach the podium. Um provide

6370
04:11:38,399 --> 04:11:40,960
your name and uh I guess relevance to

6371
04:11:40,960 --> 04:11:43,520
your conversation topic. Or Jason, you

6372
04:11:43,520 --> 04:11:46,319
can tell us if you want. Hi,

6373
04:11:46,319 --> 04:11:49,120
>> Jason Chamblin. I'm a resident of

6374
04:11:49,120 --> 04:11:51,279
Parisburg, also the parks director. So,

6375
04:11:51,279 --> 04:11:53,120
just a quick update wanted to share.

6376
04:11:53,120 --> 04:11:55,199
I'll pass out. Brian, can I hand you

6377
04:11:55,199 --> 04:11:58,960
these? So, spring summer newsletter um

6378
04:11:58,960 --> 04:12:02,080
is out and we're doing a new program

6379
04:12:02,080 --> 04:12:04,479
this upcoming season. So, we're calling

6380
04:12:04,479 --> 04:12:07,439
it our leadership perspective hike. So,

6381
04:12:07,439 --> 04:12:11,120
um we're trying to host um guided hikes

6382
04:12:11,120 --> 04:12:12,640
in all of our parks or a lot of our

6383
04:12:12,640 --> 04:12:14,319
parks throughout the county. So, our

6384
04:12:14,319 --> 04:12:17,199
first one is next Tuesday um at Gross

6385
04:12:17,199 --> 04:12:19,199
Park. So, I've already reached out to

6386
04:12:19,199 --> 04:12:21,439
Allison and invited her. They are they

6387
04:12:21,439 --> 04:12:23,359
will be bright and early at 7:00 a.m. in

6388
04:12:23,359 --> 04:12:25,040
the morning um for about an hour and a

6389
04:12:25,040 --> 04:12:26,319
half and just learn a little bit about

6390
04:12:26,319 --> 04:12:29,120
the parks, but then connect with staff

6391
04:12:29,120 --> 04:12:31,680
and uh talk about where we're headed

6392
04:12:31,680 --> 04:12:33,760
organizationally. So, just an

6393
04:12:33,760 --> 04:12:36,319
opportunity um I'll reach out to each of

6394
04:12:36,319 --> 04:12:38,800
you as those are approaching. So, I

6395
04:12:38,800 --> 04:12:40,640
think that's a couple pages deep in

6396
04:12:40,640 --> 04:12:43,920
there. Um but then also we recently just

6397
04:12:43,920 --> 04:12:48,080
sent out a press release. So the um this

6398
04:12:48,080 --> 04:12:50,800
our natural resources crew will be doing

6399
04:12:50,800 --> 04:12:53,520
um several control burns. So we use

6400
04:12:53,520 --> 04:12:55,120
prescribed fire to help manage some of

6401
04:12:55,120 --> 04:12:57,760
our natural resources. Um and we're

6402
04:12:57,760 --> 04:12:59,359
coordinating these this upcoming

6403
04:12:59,359 --> 04:13:03,760
weekend. So Friday Grand River Park um

6404
04:13:03,760 --> 04:13:07,120
Saturday Sterns Creek and then Sunday

6405
04:13:07,120 --> 04:13:09,680
Eastmanville Bayou. So that's all, you

6406
04:13:09,680 --> 04:13:12,000
know, we coordinate locally with the um

6407
04:13:12,000 --> 04:13:15,760
local fire department and um we have a a

6408
04:13:15,760 --> 04:13:19,120
certified burn boss on each of those and

6409
04:13:19,120 --> 04:13:21,520
um we make the call then the day of

6410
04:13:21,520 --> 04:13:24,560
depending on weather conditions. But um

6411
04:13:24,560 --> 04:13:27,359
just a another opportunity to pass that

6412
04:13:27,359 --> 04:13:29,760
information along. So thanks everybody.

6413
04:13:29,760 --> 04:13:34,159
>> Thank you Jason. Is there anyone else?

6414
04:13:34,159 --> 04:13:36,080
Okay, I think we had an individual or

6415
04:13:36,080 --> 04:13:39,199
two online. Are they able to get in now?

6416
04:13:39,199 --> 04:13:43,750
>> Roger. Jonas,

6417
04:13:43,760 --> 04:13:45,520
» Roger, if you can hear us, go right

6418
04:13:45,520 --> 04:13:50,550
ahead.

6419
04:13:50,560 --> 04:13:52,640
» I can stall for Roger. Roger's nickname

6420
04:13:52,640 --> 04:13:55,120
is Roger Boom Boom Jonas because he has

6421
04:13:55,120 --> 04:13:56,880
been in charge of the Grand Haven Coast

6422
04:13:56,880 --> 04:14:01,120
Guard fireworks for a very long time.

6423
04:14:01,120 --> 04:14:06,550
That still long enough for Roger?

6424
04:14:06,560 --> 04:14:08,479
All right. I do apologize. Is there

6425
04:14:08,479 --> 04:14:12,159
anyone else? Was that it online?

6426
04:14:12,159 --> 04:14:14,880
>> That Rogers logged in twice, so it's

6427
04:14:14,880 --> 04:14:17,439
showing he had his hand up twice. Okay.

6428
04:14:17,439 --> 04:14:19,439
Unfortunately, um

6429
04:14:19,439 --> 04:14:20,720
>> we're unable to connect.

6430
04:14:20,720 --> 04:14:22,399
>> Mr. Jonas, if you would like to email

6431
04:14:22,399 --> 04:14:24,960
us, you are welcome to do so. All right,

6432
04:14:24,960 --> 04:14:27,120
that will uh close the public comment

6433
04:14:27,120 --> 04:14:29,439
portion of our agenda. Uh on to item

6434
04:14:29,439 --> 04:14:31,199
number 11, which is additional business.

6435
04:14:31,199 --> 04:14:33,279
Uh item A on additional business is

6436
04:14:33,279 --> 04:14:35,359
discussion on consumers energy deep well

6437
04:14:35,359 --> 04:14:38,720
injection public hearing.

6438
04:14:38,720 --> 04:14:40,800
I guess I got to lead this off patron.

6439
04:14:40,800 --> 04:14:42,640
Okay. So, this is on the agenda as a

6440
04:14:42,640 --> 04:14:44,479
discussion item because a number of

6441
04:14:44,479 --> 04:14:47,840
commissioners um have

6442
04:14:47,840 --> 04:14:50,399
approached me requesting that we discuss

6443
04:14:50,399 --> 04:14:52,880
further whether or not uh we as a board

6444
04:14:52,880 --> 04:14:56,479
ought to take action regarding the EPA's

6445
04:14:56,479 --> 04:14:58,720
um proposal to approve two deep water

6446
04:14:58,720 --> 04:15:02,159
wells for consumers. Um, just as

6447
04:15:02,159 --> 04:15:03,840
backstory, uh, we've had a number of

6448
04:15:03,840 --> 04:15:05,359
individuals who've reached, well, I will

6449
04:15:05,359 --> 04:15:06,720
say for myself personally, a number of

6450
04:15:06,720 --> 04:15:09,279
individuals who have reached out, uh, as

6451
04:15:09,279 --> 04:15:11,359
CC the board on it asking that we would

6452
04:15:11,359 --> 04:15:13,040
encourage the EPA to hold a public

6453
04:15:13,040 --> 04:15:15,840
hearing. Uh, Consumers Energy has also

6454
04:15:15,840 --> 04:15:17,920
requested that the EPA hold a public

6455
04:15:17,920 --> 04:15:20,960
hearing as well as Port Sheldon, I

6456
04:15:20,960 --> 04:15:22,479
believe Jim, Commissioner Barry's

6457
04:15:22,479 --> 04:15:24,720
district has requested it. So, the

6458
04:15:24,720 --> 04:15:26,880
question for us today is, do we as a

6459
04:15:26,880 --> 04:15:28,960
board want to take action on that? uh

6460
04:15:28,960 --> 04:15:31,840
what that action might look like and uh

6461
04:15:31,840 --> 04:15:34,560
or not at all. So, I will open the floor

6462
04:15:34,560 --> 04:15:36,000
if anybody would like to speak to this.

6463
04:15:36,000 --> 04:15:37,840
Actually, I think I may put this over to

6464
04:15:37,840 --> 04:15:39,040
Commissioner Barry because this is

6465
04:15:39,040 --> 04:15:40,239
coming out of his district in

6466
04:15:40,239 --> 04:15:41,600
particular. So, Jim, if you'd lead us

6467
04:15:41,600 --> 04:15:48,560
off. Okay. the um this is this is an item that

6468
04:15:48,560 --> 04:15:51,439
generated a lot of lot of interest and

6469
04:15:51,439 --> 04:15:56,560
um comment from um folks in the area um

6470
04:15:56,560 --> 04:16:03,189
about plans for this injection well. Um

6471
04:16:03,199 --> 04:16:04,800
I've probably spent a lot more time on

6472
04:16:04,800 --> 04:16:07,040
this than I ever thought I would on an

6473
04:16:07,040 --> 04:16:09,840
injection well

6474
04:16:09,840 --> 04:16:12,479
thing. Uh but this has to do with with

6475
04:16:12,479 --> 04:16:14,399
the byproduct of burning coal at the

6476
04:16:14,399 --> 04:16:18,159
Campbell plant and some of this uh

6477
04:16:18,159 --> 04:16:20,159
product that's left over. Uh what do

6478
04:16:20,159 --> 04:16:24,159
they do with it? And um

6479
04:16:24,159 --> 04:16:30,070
uh they're currently um

6480
04:16:30,080 --> 04:16:32,159
as they're producing coal, they're using

6481
04:16:32,159 --> 04:16:34,319
water to cool turbines. And then then

6482
04:16:34,319 --> 04:16:36,479
the water gets discharged back into the

6483
04:16:36,479 --> 04:16:39,279
channel. and what's in those settling

6484
04:16:39,279 --> 04:16:43,840
ponds from pod ash residue. Um, under

6485
04:16:43,840 --> 04:16:46,640
eagle supervision and permitting,

6486
04:16:46,640 --> 04:16:48,319
they're

6487
04:16:48,319 --> 04:16:51,040
taking diluted amounts of that material

6488
04:16:51,040 --> 04:16:53,359
and pumping it back into the into the

6489
04:16:53,359 --> 04:16:57,040
lake. Um, I'm not sure people fully

6490
04:16:57,040 --> 04:16:59,920
understand that. um when the Campbell

6491
04:16:59,920 --> 04:17:02,159
plant eventually closes, whenever that

6492
04:17:02,159 --> 04:17:04,159
might be, they won't have the water

6493
04:17:04,159 --> 04:17:07,439
that's passing through um to be to

6494
04:17:07,439 --> 04:17:09,600
continue that process. And that's why

6495
04:17:09,600 --> 04:17:11,359
they're looking at doing these deep

6496
04:17:11,359 --> 04:17:15,520
injection wells. Um it's not my job to

6497
04:17:15,520 --> 04:17:17,600
uh justify this or explain what

6498
04:17:17,600 --> 04:17:20,720
Consumers is trying to do. Uh, but I

6499
04:17:20,720 --> 04:17:22,720
think people have legitimate concerns

6500
04:17:22,720 --> 04:17:25,040
about this and have questions uh

6501
04:17:25,040 --> 04:17:27,680
legitimate questions to be answered for

6502
04:17:27,680 --> 04:17:30,080
it. And I think a public hearing that

6503
04:17:30,080 --> 04:17:33,359
the EPA would host would be u the form

6504
04:17:33,359 --> 04:17:38,399
for that. I think for uh for us to uh

6505
04:17:38,399 --> 04:17:40,880
show some support for a public hearing

6506
04:17:40,880 --> 04:17:43,439
isn't telling consumers what to do. As a

6507
04:17:43,439 --> 04:17:46,399
matter of fact, they as was as

6508
04:17:46,399 --> 04:17:48,000
Commissioner Burgerer mentioned,

6509
04:17:48,000 --> 04:17:51,760
Consumers has already requested um a a

6510
04:17:51,760 --> 04:17:55,520
hearing from the EPA. Um what I would

6511
04:17:55,520 --> 04:17:58,399
hope we we could do is show support for

6512
04:17:58,399 --> 04:18:00,560
the resolution that Park Township Board

6513
04:18:00,560 --> 04:18:04,399
of Trustees issued requesting a hearing

6514
04:18:04,399 --> 04:18:06,720
from from the EPA

6515
04:18:06,720 --> 04:18:13,920
um on this on this matter. And then um any action we take would show uh

6516
04:18:13,920 --> 04:18:15,840
support for what Port Sheldon Township's

6517
04:18:15,840 --> 04:18:18,319
trying to do and also uh would

6518
04:18:18,319 --> 04:18:20,479
communicate to our constituents in our

6519
04:18:20,479 --> 04:18:22,800
area that um we're aware of the

6520
04:18:22,800 --> 04:18:25,920
situation or taking note of it. Um we're

6521
04:18:25,920 --> 04:18:27,840
not telling anybody what to do. We're

6522
04:18:27,840 --> 04:18:29,920
just uh supporting the township in their

6523
04:18:29,920 --> 04:18:32,239
effort to get a hearing on this. I think

6524
04:18:32,239 --> 04:18:34,800
that's probably going to happen. Uh I

6525
04:18:34,800 --> 04:18:37,439
had heard that over 60

6526
04:18:37,439 --> 04:18:40,880
uh people had written uh requests to the

6527
04:18:40,880 --> 04:18:44,560
EPA wanting a a public hearing on this.

6528
04:18:44,560 --> 04:18:46,560
Um but I think it would still be good

6529
04:18:46,560 --> 04:18:48,960
and I think it would be proper for the

6530
04:18:48,960 --> 04:18:51,199
board to take a position on this to show

6531
04:18:51,199 --> 04:18:53,680
support for local unit of government and

6532
04:18:53,680 --> 04:18:55,760
some of the concern that uh folks have

6533
04:18:55,760 --> 04:18:57,359
on this issue.

6534
04:18:57,359 --> 04:18:58,880
>> Thank you uh Commissioner Barry. So

6535
04:18:58,880 --> 04:19:00,720
generally speaking we have Commissioner

6536
04:19:00,720 --> 04:19:02,479
Barry would like the board to take

6537
04:19:02,479 --> 04:19:04,000
action. Does anybody else have any

6538
04:19:04,000 --> 04:19:06,800
further thoughts on that?

6539
04:19:06,800 --> 04:19:08,319
>> Commissioner Mida,

6540
04:19:08,319 --> 04:19:10,560
>> um, did you have a specific request that

6541
04:19:10,560 --> 04:19:12,080
you're hoping that our board would

6542
04:19:12,080 --> 04:19:14,640
entertain, Commissioner Barry?

6543
04:19:14,640 --> 04:19:17,680
>> Um, normally the board would issue a

6544
04:19:17,680 --> 04:19:20,720
resolution that would be a a resolution.

6545
04:19:20,720 --> 04:19:23,199
Um, you could tinker with the language a

6546
04:19:23,199 --> 04:19:24,880
little bit on that and just make it a

6547
04:19:24,880 --> 04:19:27,600
letter of support.

6548
04:19:27,600 --> 04:19:29,680
um which makes it a little slightly less

6549
04:19:29,680 --> 04:19:32,159
official I think but it still would put

6550
04:19:32,159 --> 04:19:37,600
the board on on record on this. Um,

6551
04:19:37,600 --> 04:19:39,359
just

6552
04:19:39,359 --> 04:19:42,000
language on this could be uh worked with

6553
04:19:42,000 --> 04:19:43,840
a little bit, but I I was thinking the

6554
04:19:43,840 --> 04:19:45,600
Ottawa County Board of Commissioners

6555
04:19:45,600 --> 04:19:47,279
support the Port Sheldon Township Board

6556
04:19:47,279 --> 04:19:49,680
of Trustees resolution requesting the

6557
04:19:49,680 --> 04:19:51,680
Environmental Protection Agency hold

6558
04:19:51,680 --> 04:19:53,520
public hearing regarding consumer

6559
04:19:53,520 --> 04:19:56,080
energy's request to the EPA for the

6560
04:19:56,080 --> 04:19:58,239
issuance of a class one non-hazardous

6561
04:19:58,239 --> 04:20:00,880
underground injections permits for two

6562
04:20:00,880 --> 04:20:03,439
wells to be located at the JH Campbell

6563
04:20:03,439 --> 04:20:04,960
generating facility.

6564
04:20:04,960 --> 04:20:06,560
members of the community have raised

6565
04:20:06,560 --> 04:20:08,319
questions and concerns regarding the

6566
04:20:08,319 --> 04:20:10,319
plan. It would be to the public good to

6567
04:20:10,319 --> 04:20:12,239
have a form where those questions may be

6568
04:20:12,239 --> 04:20:14,560
asked.

6569
04:20:14,560 --> 04:20:15,359
>> Okay. Thank you.

6570
04:20:15,359 --> 04:20:17,040
>> That's a motion. I would support I would

6571
04:20:17,040 --> 04:20:19,439
support that. I think um it's just

6572
04:20:19,439 --> 04:20:20,960
showing

6573
04:20:20,960 --> 04:20:24,080
our our team approach with Port Sheldon

6574
04:20:24,080 --> 04:20:25,760
and as well as the residents who are

6575
04:20:25,760 --> 04:20:28,800
just simply asking for our support of a

6576
04:20:28,800 --> 04:20:30,640
public hearing to take place. Consumers

6577
04:20:30,640 --> 04:20:32,319
Energy has already voiced their thoughts

6578
04:20:32,319 --> 04:20:35,359
on that and I think it's showing a um a

6579
04:20:35,359 --> 04:20:38,800
united front that we just want to um

6580
04:20:38,800 --> 04:20:40,560
open it up for discussion for our

6581
04:20:40,560 --> 04:20:42,319
community. So

6582
04:20:42,319 --> 04:20:43,920
>> So I think just from a point of order

6583
04:20:43,920 --> 04:20:45,840
standpoint, I don't have a motion yet,

6584
04:20:45,840 --> 04:20:47,600
but Mr. Barry, would you like to make a

6585
04:20:47,600 --> 04:20:50,880
motion perhaps that the uh commission

6586
04:20:50,880 --> 04:20:52,720
the board of commissioners authorize the

6587
04:20:52,720 --> 04:20:55,040
chair to sign a letter

6588
04:20:55,040 --> 04:20:58,560
to that effect as as outlined in your

6589
04:20:58,560 --> 04:21:01,199
>> I would like to make a motion that the

6590
04:21:01,199 --> 04:21:03,359
uh uh chairman of the Ottawa County

6591
04:21:03,359 --> 04:21:06,000
Board of Commissioners would uh sign

6592
04:21:06,000 --> 04:21:08,640
this letter to be forwarded to the EPA.

6593
04:21:08,640 --> 04:21:11,520
Uh we are in the window for submitting

6594
04:21:11,520 --> 04:21:15,359
that request up till May 4 to the EPA.

6595
04:21:15,359 --> 04:21:17,439
>> By May 4. Okay. And a second by

6596
04:21:17,439 --> 04:21:18,159
Commissioner Me.

6597
04:21:18,159 --> 04:21:19,120
>> Well, would you take a friendly

6598
04:21:19,120 --> 04:21:25,359
amendment to include um maybe the whole board's support because

6599
04:21:25,359 --> 04:21:27,520
anybody Commissioner Buger could write

6600
04:21:27,520 --> 04:21:29,760
his own letter with his own commissioner

6601
04:21:29,760 --> 04:21:32,560
letter head and I think it would show a

6602
04:21:32,560 --> 04:21:34,560
different you you think that this is

6603
04:21:34,560 --> 04:21:35,040
different?

6604
04:21:35,040 --> 04:21:36,720
>> Yeah. I I would not be using my letter.

6605
04:21:36,720 --> 04:21:38,640
would be on behalf of the entire board.

6606
04:21:38,640 --> 04:21:40,239
And sorry, Ron, you go ahead.

6607
04:21:40,239 --> 04:21:42,159
>> Well, I think the motion is that the

6608
04:21:42,159 --> 04:21:46,399
board uh instruct the chair to write a

6609
04:21:46,399 --> 04:21:48,399
letter of support to Port Sheldon

6610
04:21:48,399 --> 04:21:50,640
consistent with the background

6611
04:21:50,640 --> 04:21:52,960
information that Mr. Barry had in his

6612
04:21:52,960 --> 04:21:56,000
motion and as reflected in the vote that

6613
04:21:56,000 --> 04:21:58,080
you will presumably take

6614
04:21:58,080 --> 04:21:59,520
>> and I think it should be sent then to

6615
04:21:59,520 --> 04:22:00,560
the EPA as well.

6616
04:22:00,560 --> 04:22:01,920
>> Yes.

6617
04:22:01,920 --> 04:22:03,359
>> Then then I would support that.

6618
04:22:03,359 --> 04:22:05,359
>> All right. Okay. Got a motion and a

6619
04:22:05,359 --> 04:22:05,680
second.

6620
04:22:05,680 --> 04:22:07,279
>> And we're in we're in that window where

6621
04:22:07,279 --> 04:22:09,680
EPA is taking requests for this public

6622
04:22:09,680 --> 04:22:12,640
hearing. So that's very timely and uh

6623
04:22:12,640 --> 04:22:13,680
proper, I think.

6624
04:22:13,680 --> 04:22:14,960
>> All right. So, Commissioner Barry, thank

6625
04:22:14,960 --> 04:22:16,479
you. Uh would anyone uh Commissioner

6626
04:22:16,479 --> 04:22:17,680
Toples,

6627
04:22:17,680 --> 04:22:19,600
>> has uh has anyone seen the letter from

6628
04:22:19,600 --> 04:22:22,000
Consumers Energy on this asking for a

6629
04:22:22,000 --> 04:22:22,640
public hearing?

6630
04:22:22,640 --> 04:22:24,880
>> We've seen the email officially

6631
04:22:24,880 --> 04:22:27,199
requesting the public hearing consumers.

6632
04:22:27,199 --> 04:22:28,720
>> Then I would suggest if we're going to

6633
04:22:28,720 --> 04:22:31,600
do a letter of support um then more

6634
04:22:31,600 --> 04:22:33,120
comments about it. I would say it's not

6635
04:22:33,120 --> 04:22:36,239
just that we support

6636
04:22:36,239 --> 04:22:38,720
uh Park Township's Port Sheldon

6637
04:22:38,720 --> 04:22:40,000
>> Port. Yeah.

6638
04:22:40,000 --> 04:22:43,199
>> Yeah. Port Sheldon, but also we support

6639
04:22:43,199 --> 04:22:45,920
consumers energy request. I think it's

6640
04:22:45,920 --> 04:22:47,920
so we can combine it.

6641
04:22:47,920 --> 04:22:50,000
>> All right. So, let me get some give some

6642
04:22:50,000 --> 04:22:52,479
other thoughts on this.

6643
04:22:52,479 --> 04:22:53,920
Um, some people in the public may not

6644
04:22:53,920 --> 04:22:56,239
like my comments here or mis or

6645
04:22:56,239 --> 04:22:58,960
understand it, but I think it u this

6646
04:22:58,960 --> 04:23:01,279
isn't an easy isn't an easy slam dunk

6647
04:23:01,279 --> 04:23:08,389
for me. Um,

6648
04:23:08,399 --> 04:23:09,840
as many of you know, I used to be the

6649
04:23:09,840 --> 04:23:11,040
chairman of the environmental law

6650
04:23:11,040 --> 04:23:13,920
section of Grand Rapids. Uh, represented

6651
04:23:13,920 --> 04:23:15,760
lots of companies, clean been involved

6652
04:23:15,760 --> 04:23:17,600
in numerous cleanups throughout the

6653
04:23:17,600 --> 04:23:19,120
state.

6654
04:23:19,120 --> 04:23:21,279
I've been my clients were heavily

6655
04:23:21,279 --> 04:23:24,720
regulated through the EPA. Um,

6656
04:23:24,720 --> 04:23:28,560
and yes, I agree that we're not talking

6657
04:23:28,560 --> 04:23:30,479
about a hazardous waste not the same

6658
04:23:30,479 --> 04:23:32,239
thing as as what we're talking about

6659
04:23:32,239 --> 04:23:33,920
here, right? There's but it's still a

6660
04:23:33,920 --> 04:23:36,000
concern a waste that we should all in

6661
04:23:36,000 --> 04:23:37,439
the state should always be concerned

6662
04:23:37,439 --> 04:23:39,920
about, right? drinking water, other

6663
04:23:39,920 --> 04:23:42,159
things, touching, direct contact, all

6664
04:23:42,159 --> 04:23:43,920
those kind of things which are standards

6665
04:23:43,920 --> 04:23:47,600
under the EPA's or under the DEQ

6666
04:23:47,600 --> 04:23:49,840
regulations. But the permitting the

6667
04:23:49,840 --> 04:23:52,800
permitting process also is a very

6668
04:23:52,800 --> 04:23:56,319
regulated process to get to the and it's

6669
04:23:56,319 --> 04:23:59,359
both federal and state. So to put the

6670
04:23:59,359 --> 04:24:02,239
pro the permitting process in place

6671
04:24:02,239 --> 04:24:06,000
required public participation, right? So

6672
04:24:06,000 --> 04:24:08,319
the public has already been involved in

6673
04:24:08,319 --> 04:24:11,199
step one in just the permitting through

6674
04:24:11,199 --> 04:24:14,640
the regulatory system to some extent.

6675
04:24:14,640 --> 04:24:17,840
Then we got now we've got um this permit

6676
04:24:17,840 --> 04:24:21,279
that consumers is going through um it

6677
04:24:21,279 --> 04:24:24,560
required public notice. Now it it it

6678
04:24:24,560 --> 04:24:26,880
didn't automatically require a public

6679
04:24:26,880 --> 04:24:29,199
hearing but that's how the public found

6680
04:24:29,199 --> 04:24:30,640
out about it was because it's going

6681
04:24:30,640 --> 04:24:33,359
through the permitting process. Right.

6682
04:24:33,359 --> 04:24:38,950
My concern is

6683
04:24:38,960 --> 04:24:40,479
overregulation

6684
04:24:40,479 --> 04:24:46,000
of of business by government. Um

6685
04:24:46,000 --> 04:24:50,640
business in many ways is overregulated

6686
04:24:50,640 --> 04:24:52,640
and the public doesn't understand the

6687
04:24:52,640 --> 04:24:56,080
cost of regulation on business

6688
04:24:56,080 --> 04:25:01,199
uh to in many many areas. We've got the

6689
04:25:01,199 --> 04:25:04,640
federal EPA watching this matter and we

6690
04:25:04,640 --> 04:25:06,960
have the state DEEQ watching this

6691
04:25:06,960 --> 04:25:11,760
matter. Two highly regulated non-elected

6692
04:25:11,760 --> 04:25:14,479
bodies whose job it is to protect our

6693
04:25:14,479 --> 04:25:16,399
environments and natural resources,

6694
04:25:16,399 --> 04:25:19,359
right? That's their job.

6695
04:25:19,359 --> 04:25:20,800
I may not always like the

6696
04:25:20,800 --> 04:25:22,399
overregulation,

6697
04:25:22,399 --> 04:25:24,159
but I've certainly worked within it

6698
04:25:24,159 --> 04:25:27,279
certainly at the state level. Um, so my

6699
04:25:27,279 --> 04:25:29,840
concern is okay, how do how far do we go

6700
04:25:29,840 --> 04:25:33,680
as an elected body, government, agency,

6701
04:25:33,680 --> 04:25:36,159
further adding further obligations onto

6702
04:25:36,159 --> 04:25:37,760
the regulatory system that already

6703
04:25:37,760 --> 04:25:41,520
exists. Um, and so that's where my fine

6704
04:25:41,520 --> 04:25:44,640
line is, right? I will support this

6705
04:25:44,640 --> 04:25:49,279
letter uh that you recommend. Um, but I

6706
04:25:49,279 --> 04:25:51,520
think that we again I'm cautioning this

6707
04:25:51,520 --> 04:25:56,000
board to stay in its lane. Um because

6708
04:25:56,000 --> 04:25:57,840
there are always individuals throughout

6709
04:25:57,840 --> 04:26:00,239
in our community that want to

6710
04:26:00,239 --> 04:26:03,600
overregulate or put extra burdens. You

6711
04:26:03,600 --> 04:26:05,520
know, the fact that the consumer's

6712
04:26:05,520 --> 04:26:08,239
energy has been discharging into the

6713
04:26:08,239 --> 04:26:10,880
Lake Michigan for a long time, right? A

6714
04:26:10,880 --> 04:26:12,880
long time. That means the government's

6715
04:26:12,880 --> 04:26:14,800
been involved a long time because you

6716
04:26:14,800 --> 04:26:17,840
just don't do that stuff, right? Um, and

6717
04:26:17,840 --> 04:26:20,239
so even though there's members of the

6718
04:26:20,239 --> 04:26:22,159
public who would like more than that,

6719
04:26:22,159 --> 04:26:24,479
the fact is it's the business has a

6720
04:26:24,479 --> 04:26:28,159
right to rely on regulations that have

6721
04:26:28,159 --> 04:26:32,800
been in place a long, long time. And my

6722
04:26:32,800 --> 04:26:35,840
concern is I don't want to be that

6723
04:26:35,840 --> 04:26:38,640
government agency adding an extra set of

6724
04:26:38,640 --> 04:26:42,000
requirements onto business that already

6725
04:26:42,000 --> 04:26:44,239
has the regulations to be protective of

6726
04:26:44,239 --> 04:26:47,279
ours already. That's my concern. Again,

6727
04:26:47,279 --> 04:26:49,520
I will support this letter in this case

6728
04:26:49,520 --> 04:26:51,840
because the the business community,

6729
04:26:51,840 --> 04:26:54,159
Consumers Energy in this case and the

6730
04:26:54,159 --> 04:26:56,239
local township, right, and the people

6731
04:26:56,239 --> 04:26:58,720
that representatives saying, "Let's hold

6732
04:26:58,720 --> 04:27:00,560
a public hearing. How can you hurt to

6733
04:27:00,560 --> 04:27:02,399
have a public hearing?" Couldn't agree.

6734
04:27:02,399 --> 04:27:04,960
I agree. Right. Um, we all want to

6735
04:27:04,960 --> 04:27:07,040
protect that resource and the fact that

6736
04:27:07,040 --> 04:27:09,199
the public, we want to hear the from the

6737
04:27:09,199 --> 04:27:11,680
public. Great. I I support that, but I

6738
04:27:11,680 --> 04:27:14,800
also don't want to add burden,

6739
04:27:14,800 --> 04:27:17,279
regulatory burden onto an already

6740
04:27:17,279 --> 04:27:20,399
regulated system. That's where my my

6741
04:27:20,399 --> 04:27:22,720
line is, guys. Um and I just want to

6742
04:27:22,720 --> 04:27:25,840
caution us to remember that. Uh at least

6743
04:27:25,840 --> 04:27:26,640
some of us,

6744
04:27:26,640 --> 04:27:28,880
>> if I could just respond briefly.

6745
04:27:28,880 --> 04:27:31,279
>> Um John, I I share a lot of your

6746
04:27:31,279 --> 04:27:34,319
concerns about um we need to stay in our

6747
04:27:34,319 --> 04:27:36,640
lane and it's not our job to tell a

6748
04:27:36,640 --> 04:27:39,840
business how to run their business. Um

6749
04:27:39,840 --> 04:27:41,680
just the fact the proximity to Lake

6750
04:27:41,680 --> 04:27:44,800
Michigan becomes more that's really I

6751
04:27:44,800 --> 04:27:46,080
think the big reason why this has

6752
04:27:46,080 --> 04:27:47,920
generated as much public interest as it

6753
04:27:47,920 --> 04:27:53,439
has. Um um I actually think could they

6754
04:27:53,439 --> 04:27:55,439
probably have the best possible

6755
04:27:55,439 --> 04:27:57,920
solution. I'm certainly no expert in

6756
04:27:57,920 --> 04:27:59,760
this but they've got a situation where

6757
04:27:59,760 --> 04:28:01,840
they have to do something with with this

6758
04:28:01,840 --> 04:28:05,359
byproduct material. Um this is a a

6759
04:28:05,359 --> 04:28:07,760
solution to it. It's not entirely

6760
04:28:07,760 --> 04:28:11,920
unheard of. Um, but consumer it needs to

6761
04:28:11,920 --> 04:28:13,760
be sold to the public. I don't think

6762
04:28:13,760 --> 04:28:15,520
people understand what the current

6763
04:28:15,520 --> 04:28:18,159
situation is and and exactly what's

6764
04:28:18,159 --> 04:28:21,199
being proposed here. Uh, so public

6765
04:28:21,199 --> 04:28:24,080
hearing would serve a function of an

6766
04:28:24,080 --> 04:28:27,439
opportunity to inform public and again

6767
04:28:27,439 --> 04:28:30,800
as as you mentioned too uh consumers has

6768
04:28:30,800 --> 04:28:32,319
already agreed that they want to have

6769
04:28:32,319 --> 04:28:33,920
the public hearing as well. I think they

6770
04:28:33,920 --> 04:28:36,319
realize uh they need to do a little more

6771
04:28:36,319 --> 04:28:38,560
communication to the public on on what

6772
04:28:38,560 --> 04:28:40,560
they intend to do.

6773
04:28:40,560 --> 04:28:41,520
>> All right. Thank you, Commissioner

6774
04:28:41,520 --> 04:28:44,479
Barry. Anybody else? Commissioner Moss.

6775
04:28:44,479 --> 04:28:46,319
>> Thank you. Yeah, I actually don't

6776
04:28:46,319 --> 04:28:48,399
support the motion. It's for some of the

6777
04:28:48,399 --> 04:28:49,840
reasons that Commissioner Tull's already

6778
04:28:49,840 --> 04:28:52,640
outlined. Um I don't think this is

6779
04:28:52,640 --> 04:28:54,399
necessary

6780
04:28:54,399 --> 04:28:57,120
for this board to do at this time. It's

6781
04:28:57,120 --> 04:29:01,760
my personal view. Um so I'm If there's a

6782
04:29:01,760 --> 04:29:03,199
public hearing, great. I think they're

6783
04:29:03,199 --> 04:29:04,720
probably already going to they've

6784
04:29:04,720 --> 04:29:07,199
already had the feedback. The locals

6785
04:29:07,199 --> 04:29:10,000
where this directly impacts has already

6786
04:29:10,000 --> 04:29:12,319
expressed that. I think that they're the

6787
04:29:12,319 --> 04:29:14,479
people closest to the issue are speaking

6788
04:29:14,479 --> 04:29:16,960
to it and so I don't think this is

6789
04:29:16,960 --> 04:29:18,319
necessary.

6790
04:29:18,319 --> 04:29:22,159
>> Thank you, Commissioner. Anyone else?

6791
04:29:22,159 --> 04:29:24,080
Oh, Commissioner Roie.

6792
04:29:24,080 --> 04:29:27,279
>> Um, I I do support it. I I think it

6793
04:29:27,279 --> 04:29:29,120
doesn't hurt for there to be the

6794
04:29:29,120 --> 04:29:30,880
communication and the conversation

6795
04:29:30,880 --> 04:29:32,640
around what's actually going on and I

6796
04:29:32,640 --> 04:29:36,720
think it actually might um it might help

6797
04:29:36,720 --> 04:29:38,239
resolve some of the fears in the

6798
04:29:38,239 --> 04:29:40,560
community be my hope.

6799
04:29:40,560 --> 04:29:42,800
>> Yeah. Yeah. So I I think it could

6800
04:29:42,800 --> 04:29:44,800
ultimately be helpful, but I do agree

6801
04:29:44,800 --> 04:29:47,520
with with us not going so far as to

6802
04:29:47,520 --> 04:29:50,239
telling a business what to do. So, um,

6803
04:29:50,239 --> 04:29:52,479
but I am supportive of the the letter,

6804
04:29:52,479 --> 04:29:53,920
um, because I think it actually might

6805
04:29:53,920 --> 04:29:55,840
help in the situation.

6806
04:29:55,840 --> 04:29:57,279
>> All right. Thank you, Commissioner. I'll

6807
04:29:57,279 --> 04:29:58,720
just I didn't see anybody else, so I'll

6808
04:29:58,720 --> 04:30:01,760
just add that, um, uh, I will support

6809
04:30:01,760 --> 04:30:04,479
the letter initiative as well. Uh, in

6810
04:30:04,479 --> 04:30:05,600
particular, for me, it was very

6811
04:30:05,600 --> 04:30:07,680
important to get consumers to let us

6812
04:30:07,680 --> 04:30:10,000
know. And, John, to your question there,

6813
04:30:10,000 --> 04:30:11,920
um, I did press consumers to send us

6814
04:30:11,920 --> 04:30:14,080
confirmation, written confirmation, and

6815
04:30:14,080 --> 04:30:15,520
they actually sent us a copy of the

6816
04:30:15,520 --> 04:30:17,040
email where they had requested this

6817
04:30:17,040 --> 04:30:19,600
themselves from the EPA. Uh were it not

6818
04:30:19,600 --> 04:30:21,279
for that then I definitely would be more

6819
04:30:21,279 --> 04:30:24,000
hesitant on this one. So uh with that uh

6820
04:30:24,000 --> 04:30:26,159
Rachel would you call the role?

6821
04:30:26,159 --> 04:30:29,840
>> So hearing uh Mr. Bolshi and uh Mr.

6822
04:30:29,840 --> 04:30:33,040
Barry I have moved to have the board

6823
04:30:33,040 --> 04:30:34,640
instruct the chairperson to draft a

6824
04:30:34,640 --> 04:30:36,720
letter to the EPA to support Port

6825
04:30:36,720 --> 04:30:38,080
Sheldon Township to hold a public

6826
04:30:38,080 --> 04:30:40,000
hearing regarding consumers energy's

6827
04:30:40,000 --> 04:30:41,920
deep well injection proposal.

6828
04:30:41,920 --> 04:30:43,760
>> I need to say Port count portsheldon

6829
04:30:43,760 --> 04:30:45,840
township and consumers energy. Okay.

6830
04:30:45,840 --> 04:30:47,199
>> I was wondering if you were going to add

6831
04:30:47,199 --> 04:30:49,600
that or not. Okay. Uh,

6832
04:30:49,600 --> 04:30:50,640
>> good. Got it. Okay.

6833
04:30:50,640 --> 04:30:52,560
>> Yep. Mr. Zystra,

6834
04:30:52,560 --> 04:30:53,439
>> yes.

6835
04:30:53,439 --> 04:30:54,479
>> Mr. Teles,

6836
04:30:54,479 --> 04:30:55,279
>> yes.

6837
04:30:55,279 --> 04:30:56,399
>> Mr. Jordma,

6838
04:30:56,399 --> 04:30:56,960
>> yes.

6839
04:30:56,960 --> 04:30:58,000
>> Mr. Kyers,

6840
04:30:58,000 --> 04:30:58,560
>> yes.

6841
04:30:58,560 --> 04:30:59,600
>> Mr. Barry,

6842
04:30:59,600 --> 04:31:00,159
>> yes.

6843
04:31:00,159 --> 04:31:01,199
>> Mrs. Midama,

6844
04:31:01,199 --> 04:31:01,760
>> yes.

6845
04:31:01,760 --> 04:31:02,880
>> Mr. Bonama,

6846
04:31:02,880 --> 04:31:03,439
>> yes.

6847
04:31:03,439 --> 04:31:04,479
>> Mrs. Broie,

6848
04:31:04,479 --> 04:31:04,960
>> yes.

6849
04:31:04,960 --> 04:31:05,920
>> Mr. Moss,

6850
04:31:05,920 --> 04:31:06,800
>> no.

6851
04:31:06,800 --> 04:31:07,760
>> Mrs. Wel,

6852
04:31:07,760 --> 04:31:08,319
>> yes.

6853
04:31:08,319 --> 04:31:09,359
>> Mr. Buger,

6854
04:31:09,359 --> 04:31:09,840
>> yes.

6855
04:31:09,840 --> 04:31:11,600
>> Motion passes.

6856
04:31:11,600 --> 04:31:14,000
>> I will get out my signing pen, everyone.

6857
04:31:14,000 --> 04:31:16,479
Thank you. All right. Uh, item B on

6858
04:31:16,479 --> 04:31:18,640
additional business. Uh this was an

6859
04:31:18,640 --> 04:31:20,560
addition and this is the discussion

6860
04:31:20,560 --> 04:31:22,479
regarding compensation of elected

6861
04:31:22,479 --> 04:31:27,439
officials. Um I was not my Oh, sorry.

6862
04:31:27,439 --> 04:31:29,520
>> Chair, could I um request to be excused,

6863
04:31:29,520 --> 04:31:31,840
please? Is that how that works?

6864
04:31:31,840 --> 04:31:33,439
>> I have a six-month standing appointment

6865
04:31:33,439 --> 04:31:35,120
with my wife of cancer. So,

6866
04:31:35,120 --> 04:31:35,520
>> all right.

6867
04:31:35,520 --> 04:31:36,800
>> This is important. So,

6868
04:31:36,800 --> 04:31:39,040
>> yes. Thank you, Mr. Kyers. Uh thank you

6869
04:31:39,040 --> 04:31:41,439
for your attendance. Um all right, so we

6870
04:31:41,439 --> 04:31:44,239
have on the agenda um uh item regarding

6871
04:31:44,239 --> 04:31:46,239
officer's compensation. Um, I will say,

6872
04:31:46,239 --> 04:31:47,600
and I'm going to turn this over to those

6873
04:31:47,600 --> 04:31:49,199
who made the motion, just because I did

6874
04:31:49,199 --> 04:31:52,800
not vote in favor of adding it um, uh,

6875
04:31:52,800 --> 04:31:54,640
to the agenda, not because it's not

6876
04:31:54,640 --> 04:31:56,560
worth discussing, but um, I didn't feel

6877
04:31:56,560 --> 04:31:57,680
like this was the appropriate time or

6878
04:31:57,680 --> 04:31:59,600
place for it. So, and at that rate, I'm

6879
04:31:59,600 --> 04:32:00,880
trying to think who made the motion to

6880
04:32:00,880 --> 04:32:02,479
add it. Oh, sorry. Yeah, Commissioner

6881
04:32:02,479 --> 04:32:04,800
Mima, please, by all means.

6882
04:32:04,800 --> 04:32:07,680
>> So, I I appreciate the opportunity to

6883
04:32:07,680 --> 04:32:12,640
discuss this. Um, I was disappointed and

6884
04:32:12,640 --> 04:32:15,600
to be frank, um,

6885
04:32:15,600 --> 04:32:18,720
frustrated and somewhat angry to be

6886
04:32:18,720 --> 04:32:23,279
learning about the additional, um, wages

6887
04:32:23,279 --> 04:32:25,279
to be given to our treasur and water

6888
04:32:25,279 --> 04:32:26,880
resource commissioner. I found we found

6889
04:32:26,880 --> 04:32:29,600
that out through a constituent emailing

6890
04:32:29,600 --> 04:32:32,319
us. that circulated through all of our

6891
04:32:32,319 --> 04:32:35,040
social media pages um accusing this

6892
04:32:35,040 --> 04:32:38,479
board of non being non-transparent.

6893
04:32:38,479 --> 04:32:40,080
Um

6894
04:32:40,080 --> 04:32:41,680
I

6895
04:32:41,680 --> 04:32:45,920
I'm very disappointed um in how we found

6896
04:32:45,920 --> 04:32:47,600
out about it. I think that was one of

6897
04:32:47,600 --> 04:32:51,199
the things that we really advocated for

6898
04:32:51,199 --> 04:32:54,239
um Patrick when you came on and that you

6899
04:32:54,239 --> 04:32:56,800
would make sure that to avoid at all

6900
04:32:56,800 --> 04:32:59,199
costs um that we wouldn't find about

6901
04:32:59,199 --> 04:33:01,439
things later on and this this is a

6902
04:33:01,439 --> 04:33:04,561
pretty big one. Um when we talked about

6903
04:33:04,561 --> 04:33:07,760
this as a board months ago, it was very

6904
04:33:07,760 --> 04:33:11,760
much given that while it while we were

6905
04:33:11,760 --> 04:33:14,400
disapp while no one was arguing that our

6906
04:33:14,400 --> 04:33:16,639
treasure and water resource commissioner

6907
04:33:16,639 --> 04:33:20,879
didn't deserve to make a fair salary

6908
04:33:20,879 --> 04:33:23,119
that we believed that the officers

6909
04:33:23,119 --> 04:33:24,799
compensation commission that was their

6910
04:33:24,799 --> 04:33:29,199
role and we did not see anything in the

6911
04:33:29,199 --> 04:33:32,480
statute that would allow um that to be

6912
04:33:32,480 --> 04:33:34,160
handled in a different way, but if there

6913
04:33:34,160 --> 04:33:36,400
was, we would welcome that conversation

6914
04:33:36,400 --> 04:33:43,680
to take place as a full board. And when Doug Van Essen when I relisted when

6915
04:33:43,680 --> 04:33:45,600
I listened to the meeting that took

6916
04:33:45,600 --> 04:33:49,119
place um a week ago

6917
04:33:49,119 --> 04:33:51,600
um one of the commissioners that serves

6918
04:33:51,600 --> 04:33:53,359
on the compensation commission, Lynn

6919
04:33:53,359 --> 04:33:58,561
Jansen, was asking some questions and

6920
04:33:58,561 --> 04:34:00,879
Doug said that this was an internal

6921
04:34:00,879 --> 04:34:04,879
decision that the board approved in May.

6922
04:34:04,879 --> 04:34:06,400
I don't know which May you're talking

6923
04:34:06,400 --> 04:34:08,879
about. We're in April right now. We

6924
04:34:08,879 --> 04:34:10,240
certainly didn't have this conversation

6925
04:34:10,240 --> 04:34:13,039
a year ago in May

6926
04:34:13,039 --> 04:34:18,160
um to my knowledge. And

6927
04:34:18,160 --> 04:34:20,879
it was also stated on the meeting that

6928
04:34:20,879 --> 04:34:23,680
we found additional Doug said that they

6929
04:34:23,680 --> 04:34:27,439
found that we found he used the word we.

6930
04:34:27,439 --> 04:34:30,480
I don't know who who he's referring to.

6931
04:34:30,480 --> 04:34:32,879
We found additional tasks that we needed

6932
04:34:32,879 --> 04:34:35,279
done that we assigned on a temporary

6933
04:34:35,279 --> 04:34:38,959
basis for those people to do.

6934
04:34:38,959 --> 04:34:41,760
They thought and then also went on to

6935
04:34:41,760 --> 04:34:45,600
say when when asked why did you do this?

6936
04:34:45,600 --> 04:34:48,400
Well, they I'm assuming he's referring

6937
04:34:48,400 --> 04:34:50,400
to our treasur and our water resource

6938
04:34:50,400 --> 04:34:52,639
commissioner thought strongly that a

6939
04:34:52,639 --> 04:34:55,359
decision had been made

6940
04:34:55,359 --> 04:34:58,709
and

6941
04:34:58,719 --> 04:35:00,480
I have great concern about what's

6942
04:35:00,480 --> 04:35:03,279
happening because it I I would like to

6943
04:35:03,279 --> 04:35:05,279
see

6944
04:35:05,279 --> 04:35:08,400
for the work that has been done. Is it

6945
04:35:08,400 --> 04:35:12,879
been has it been approved of? Who's approved it? Who did it get

6946
04:35:12,879 --> 04:35:14,561
approved by?

6947
04:35:14,561 --> 04:35:18,480
Um, why didn't it come before our board?

6948
04:35:18,480 --> 04:35:22,480
Um, I think

6949
04:35:22,480 --> 04:35:24,799
I'm again I'm very disappointed. I I

6950
04:35:24,799 --> 04:35:27,359
have to wonder what other elected

6951
04:35:27,359 --> 04:35:30,879
officials are being paid more money that

6952
04:35:30,879 --> 04:35:33,520
we aren't aware of.

6953
04:35:33,520 --> 04:35:36,879
Um, has that taken place before?

6954
04:35:36,879 --> 04:35:38,400
Are there commissioners that sit on this

6955
04:35:38,400 --> 04:35:40,000
board that are getting paid now more

6956
04:35:40,000 --> 04:35:42,719
money because they felt like they

6957
04:35:42,719 --> 04:35:46,799
deserve to be paid more money?

6958
04:35:46,799 --> 04:35:49,039
>> I I think we deserve some answers as

6959
04:35:49,039 --> 04:35:49,760
this board.

6960
04:35:49,760 --> 04:35:50,000
>> Okay.

6961
04:35:50,000 --> 04:35:52,000
>> Uh Patrick, before you respond, if you

6962
04:35:52,000 --> 04:35:54,480
wouldn't mind, this a discussion item is

6963
04:35:54,480 --> 04:35:56,240
a unique format. I don't think Robert's

6964
04:35:56,240 --> 04:35:57,680
rules gives a whole lot of guidance on

6965
04:35:57,680 --> 04:36:01,279
it. Or do they? Thank you. All right. Um

6966
04:36:01,279 --> 04:36:03,039
before Patrick responds, I just want to

6967
04:36:03,039 --> 04:36:04,240
go around the horn as far as

6968
04:36:04,240 --> 04:36:05,520
commissioners. If you have questions of

6969
04:36:05,520 --> 04:36:07,279
Patrick or comments, at least do that

6970
04:36:07,279 --> 04:36:08,959
once so that we give him the opportunity

6971
04:36:08,959 --> 04:36:11,520
to respond in full. Uh does anybody else

6972
04:36:11,520 --> 04:36:14,719
uh care to comment on this?

6973
04:36:14,719 --> 04:36:17,039
>> I will. Yeah, very quickly. Um I just

6974
04:36:17,039 --> 04:36:19,199
think that there's two sides to every

6975
04:36:19,199 --> 04:36:21,359
story and uh I think this is a great

6976
04:36:21,359 --> 04:36:22,959
opportunity for the public to hear the

6977
04:36:22,959 --> 04:36:25,600
other side. So that's why I supported it

6978
04:36:25,600 --> 04:36:27,840
and I think uh the whole narrative

6979
04:36:27,840 --> 04:36:29,680
should be out there, not just a partial

6980
04:36:29,680 --> 04:36:32,080
narrative.

6981
04:36:32,080 --> 04:36:34,400
Thank you, Commissioner.

6982
04:36:34,400 --> 04:36:35,920
Roie, you took a breath.

6983
04:36:35,920 --> 04:36:37,680
It's like a Jim Barry. Jim kind of leans

6984
04:36:37,680 --> 04:36:39,439
in and goes and then I call him.

6985
04:36:39,439 --> 04:36:41,520
>> I have I have partial thoughts on this,

6986
04:36:41,520 --> 04:36:44,160
I guess. Uh just two things that stand

6987
04:36:44,160 --> 04:36:47,600
out to me. One is um you know, the

6988
04:36:47,600 --> 04:36:50,320
officers compensation commission made

6989
04:36:50,320 --> 04:36:52,480
decisions on a number of things the last

6990
04:36:52,480 --> 04:36:54,959
time. One was on commissioner salary.

6991
04:36:54,959 --> 04:36:58,160
They also they also approved that at a

6992
04:36:58,160 --> 04:37:01,279
higher rate outside of the the window

6993
04:37:01,279 --> 04:37:04,240
and and so

6994
04:37:04,240 --> 04:37:05,359
you know there's some picking and

6995
04:37:05,359 --> 04:37:09,600
choosing here of of of who who based on

6996
04:37:09,600 --> 04:37:12,561
those prior decisions now you know we

6997
04:37:12,561 --> 04:37:14,799
find a way to pay and who we don't find

6998
04:37:14,799 --> 04:37:19,119
a way to pay. So, you know, we're like

6999
04:37:19,119 --> 04:37:22,240
we're establishing new new authority

7000
04:37:22,240 --> 04:37:26,799
over how those decisions are made, how it's applied. We're picking and

7001
04:37:26,799 --> 04:37:28,400
choosing which of their decisions we

7002
04:37:28,400 --> 04:37:31,199
liked and will enforce and which ones we

7003
04:37:31,199 --> 04:37:34,480
won't. Um, and so I I mean, Commissioner

7004
04:37:34,480 --> 04:37:38,561
Medma's question is then valid of, you

7005
04:37:38,561 --> 04:37:40,320
know, are there any other decisions made

7006
04:37:40,320 --> 04:37:43,600
by the officers compensation commission

7007
04:37:43,600 --> 04:37:46,160
the last time that are now being applied

7008
04:37:46,160 --> 04:37:50,561
to commissioners? And um so I this is

7009
04:37:50,561 --> 04:37:52,561
why you follow the law and why you

7010
04:37:52,561 --> 04:37:55,119
follow proper process because because

7011
04:37:55,119 --> 04:37:57,680
when you don't it raises it raises

7012
04:37:57,680 --> 04:38:01,119
questions and I certainly you know I

7013
04:38:01,119 --> 04:38:04,561
took a strong stand before u about

7014
04:38:04,561 --> 04:38:06,480
fairness of pay and I think you would

7015
04:38:06,480 --> 04:38:08,799
find my record to be very consistent

7016
04:38:08,799 --> 04:38:10,639
across my time in service here of

7017
04:38:10,639 --> 04:38:13,760
advocating for for good um competitive

7018
04:38:13,760 --> 04:38:17,039
pay for every employee that's here. And

7019
04:38:17,039 --> 04:38:18,639
the same is true, you know, when it

7020
04:38:18,639 --> 04:38:20,240
comes to elected officials. I think

7021
04:38:20,240 --> 04:38:22,719
people need to be compensated fairly.

7022
04:38:22,719 --> 04:38:28,240
So, I'm not taking issue at all with how people should be should be paid

7023
04:38:28,240 --> 04:38:31,039
or the decisions made by the officers

7024
04:38:31,039 --> 04:38:34,480
compensation commission. Um, but we have

7025
04:38:34,480 --> 04:38:36,480
to follow the law. We have to follow

7026
04:38:36,480 --> 04:38:40,160
proper process. And, um, you know, I

7027
04:38:40,160 --> 04:38:41,680
know they're meeting again, which is

7028
04:38:41,680 --> 04:38:44,480
great. And so I also don't want this

7029
04:38:44,480 --> 04:38:46,240
discussion at all to dampen their

7030
04:38:46,240 --> 04:38:50,000
efforts to um you know to pay

7031
04:38:50,000 --> 04:38:52,240
competitive competitively. OB obviously

7032
04:38:52,240 --> 04:38:53,680
we're not going to all go chase down

7033
04:38:53,680 --> 04:38:55,600
other roles in other counties and stuff

7034
04:38:55,600 --> 04:38:57,920
but you know I I think people should be

7035
04:38:57,920 --> 04:38:59,920
compensated fairly. So I don't want this

7036
04:38:59,920 --> 04:39:02,639
conversation to diminish their work

7037
04:39:02,639 --> 04:39:06,639
there. But um Patrick, one thing I'm

7038
04:39:06,639 --> 04:39:09,439
concerned with um

7039
04:39:09,439 --> 04:39:12,000
is is one of the comments that you wrote

7040
04:39:12,000 --> 04:39:13,920
in the email and thank you for the email

7041
04:39:13,920 --> 04:39:15,760
explaining some of what had happened,

7042
04:39:15,760 --> 04:39:17,920
but particularly the one that says

7043
04:39:17,920 --> 04:39:19,680
directed to me, you're going to work on

7044
04:39:19,680 --> 04:39:21,760
seeing if we can get something. No

7045
04:39:21,760 --> 04:39:23,680
pressure. And so I don't know who made

7046
04:39:23,680 --> 04:39:26,480
that comment to you, but I I am

7047
04:39:26,480 --> 04:39:28,879
concerned if people are pressuring you

7048
04:39:28,879 --> 04:39:32,240
to do things. And so, um, I just want to

7049
04:39:32,240 --> 04:39:34,480
defend you in that and in that I don't

7050
04:39:34,480 --> 04:39:38,320
think that's right. So, um,

7051
04:39:38,320 --> 04:39:40,958
hopefully this the situation one, we we

7052
04:39:40,958 --> 04:39:43,440
need, um, we need clarity, we need

7053
04:39:43,440 --> 04:39:46,080
transparency, and we need to follow the

7054
04:39:46,080 --> 04:39:48,160
law.

7055
04:39:48,160 --> 04:39:50,080
>> Thank you, Commissioner. Uh, anyone else

7056
04:39:50,080 --> 04:39:51,200
before we turn the floor over to

7057
04:39:51,200 --> 04:39:53,520
Patrick?

7058
04:39:53,520 --> 04:39:54,638
>> All right.

7059
04:39:54,638 --> 04:39:58,320
>> Okay, Patrick, floor is yours. So, um,

7060
04:39:58,320 --> 04:39:59,600
appreciate your comment about being

7061
04:39:59,600 --> 04:40:02,400
caught off guard and I do strive to to,

7062
04:40:02,400 --> 04:40:04,480
um, always avoid those situations. The

7063
04:40:04,480 --> 04:40:06,798
first I became aware of this is

7064
04:40:06,798 --> 04:40:08,480
Commissioner Buger reached out and said,

7065
04:40:08,480 --> 04:40:10,878
"I have been getting calls from the

7066
04:40:10,878 --> 04:40:13,280
media and maybe some residents about

7067
04:40:13,280 --> 04:40:16,320
this concern." So, I immediately started

7068
04:40:16,320 --> 04:40:18,480
working on I dro it was a busy day and I

7069
04:40:18,480 --> 04:40:19,680
remember talking to you. I dropped what

7070
04:40:19,680 --> 04:40:22,320
I was doing and said, "I need to address

7071
04:40:22,320 --> 04:40:23,680
this with the board so they're well

7072
04:40:23,680 --> 04:40:25,840
informed." So, I I don't want to

7073
04:40:25,840 --> 04:40:30,160
regurgitate my April 24th email, which

7074
04:40:30,160 --> 04:40:32,480
that was really intended to inform you

7075
04:40:32,480 --> 04:40:35,600
on all of this. I understand that this

7076
04:40:35,600 --> 04:40:38,240
email has since been um shared with the

7077
04:40:38,240 --> 04:40:39,920
public and the media. So, and that's

7078
04:40:39,920 --> 04:40:42,320
fine. It it is out there now, but it was

7079
04:40:42,320 --> 04:40:46,000
intended to inform you as a board. So in

7080
04:40:46,000 --> 04:40:49,600
that email um I indicated that this

7081
04:40:49,600 --> 04:40:53,200
issue of the disconnect between the pay

7082
04:40:53,200 --> 04:40:55,040
um that the officer's compensation

7083
04:40:55,040 --> 04:40:57,760
commission intended um but wasn't

7084
04:40:57,760 --> 04:41:00,560
enacted due to the 45day window is

7085
04:41:00,560 --> 04:41:01,920
something that was being discussed

7086
04:41:01,920 --> 04:41:05,120
before I came on as administrator.

7087
04:41:05,120 --> 04:41:07,120
um prior administrator Rosema was

7088
04:41:07,120 --> 04:41:09,920
working on this with uh with corporation

7089
04:41:09,920 --> 04:41:12,400
council and trying to find a solution

7090
04:41:12,400 --> 04:41:13,760
and it was just kind of one of those

7091
04:41:13,760 --> 04:41:15,920
transitionary projects that was on the

7092
04:41:15,920 --> 04:41:19,840
threshold when I got here. So um after

7093
04:41:19,840 --> 04:41:21,440
talking through this with corporation

7094
04:41:21,440 --> 04:41:24,798
council and talking with the uh elected

7095
04:41:24,798 --> 04:41:27,920
officials, we determined that um the

7096
04:41:27,920 --> 04:41:29,360
best solution would be to bring this

7097
04:41:29,360 --> 04:41:31,040
back to the board with the

7098
04:41:31,040 --> 04:41:33,840
interpretation uh per the per the

7099
04:41:33,840 --> 04:41:37,280
statute that we cited that they did in

7100
04:41:37,280 --> 04:41:39,600
fact take action that day. There was a

7101
04:41:39,600 --> 04:41:42,240
consensus that that pay uh should be

7102
04:41:42,240 --> 04:41:45,120
adjusted upwards. We brought that to you

7103
04:41:45,120 --> 04:41:47,840
as a recommendation to say this is

7104
04:41:47,840 --> 04:41:50,480
right. This this was enacted. We don't

7105
04:41:50,480 --> 04:41:52,878
have minutes to to show you because no

7106
04:41:52,878 --> 04:41:56,080
minutes were taken. And um we believe

7107
04:41:56,080 --> 04:41:57,840
that legally you were within your right

7108
04:41:57,840 --> 04:42:01,120
to correct this issue. This board opted

7109
04:42:01,120 --> 04:42:03,680
not to do that without the uh

7110
04:42:03,680 --> 04:42:05,520
verification that that had truly been

7111
04:42:05,520 --> 04:42:08,160
said despite the fact that we collected

7112
04:42:08,160 --> 04:42:10,560
um affidavits and and information from

7113
04:42:10,560 --> 04:42:13,440
the people that were on that board. So,

7114
04:42:13,440 --> 04:42:16,080
as I put in my email, I was given what I

7115
04:42:16,080 --> 04:42:17,920
interpreted to be very clear cues to

7116
04:42:17,920 --> 04:42:20,400
solve this. We had a problem. Find a

7117
04:42:20,400 --> 04:42:24,400
solution, Patrick. Um, subsequently to

7118
04:42:24,400 --> 04:42:26,320
this, the Ottawan County Insurance

7119
04:42:26,320 --> 04:42:28,240
Authority had been meeting and talking

7120
04:42:28,240 --> 04:42:31,440
about two significant issues. One, they

7121
04:42:31,440 --> 04:42:33,840
purchased a piece of property, a 45acre

7122
04:42:33,840 --> 04:42:35,680
piece of property at Zealand Township

7123
04:42:35,680 --> 04:42:39,200
several years ago as an investment for u

7124
04:42:39,200 --> 04:42:42,798
the future 231 future phases. as uh the

7125
04:42:42,798 --> 04:42:45,200
interchange may be located there. They

7126
04:42:45,200 --> 04:42:46,798
wanted to know what are we going to do

7127
04:42:46,798 --> 04:42:48,400
with this property? Are we going to

7128
04:42:48,400 --> 04:42:50,080
continue to hold it or are we going to

7129
04:42:50,080 --> 04:42:52,560
sell it at uh because we're not in the

7130
04:42:52,560 --> 04:42:54,878
business of owning property. We need

7131
04:42:54,878 --> 04:42:56,240
some verification. We need some

7132
04:42:56,240 --> 04:42:58,080
analysis. We need some discussions with

7133
04:42:58,080 --> 04:43:00,320
MDOT on what their plans are. Who's

7134
04:43:00,320 --> 04:43:02,798
going to do that? The other issue is

7135
04:43:02,798 --> 04:43:05,440
there's an ongoing two ongoing legal

7136
04:43:05,440 --> 04:43:08,240
cases with regard to property tax

7137
04:43:08,240 --> 04:43:10,400
foreclosure that are of high interest to

7138
04:43:10,400 --> 04:43:12,878
the Ottawan County Insurance Authority.

7139
04:43:12,878 --> 04:43:15,280
So those discussions had happened prior

7140
04:43:15,280 --> 04:43:17,920
to me bringing this to you as a solution

7141
04:43:17,920 --> 04:43:20,560
as an opportunity to solve this problem.

7142
04:43:20,560 --> 04:43:22,958
Meanwhile, uh, at, you know, after the

7143
04:43:22,958 --> 04:43:25,040
board's decision to not go forward with

7144
04:43:25,040 --> 04:43:27,120
that, it was our understanding that we

7145
04:43:27,120 --> 04:43:29,360
had two elected officials that were not

7146
04:43:29,360 --> 04:43:32,320
being paid properly and we we saw that

7147
04:43:32,320 --> 04:43:34,080
as a risk to the county that it could

7148
04:43:34,080 --> 04:43:36,400
inherently create future legal challenge

7149
04:43:36,400 --> 04:43:38,000
for us that we didn't want to do. That's

7150
04:43:38,000 --> 04:43:40,000
part of our job is to keep us out of

7151
04:43:40,000 --> 04:43:42,798
court. So, we approached the insurance

7152
04:43:42,798 --> 04:43:45,920
authority of the idea of, hey, you have

7153
04:43:45,920 --> 04:43:48,240
um some some work that needs to be done.

7154
04:43:48,240 --> 04:43:53,200
I have two elected officials that are very qualified to do that work. In

7155
04:43:53,200 --> 04:43:55,920
fact, Joe specializes in in land

7156
04:43:55,920 --> 04:43:59,440
development and land um related issues.

7157
04:43:59,440 --> 04:44:01,680
He has a lot of connections and we

7158
04:44:01,680 --> 04:44:03,360
thought that might be an opportunity for

7159
04:44:03,360 --> 04:44:07,360
Joe to step in um on the contract of the

7160
04:44:07,360 --> 04:44:08,878
Ottawa County Insurance Authority, which

7161
04:44:08,878 --> 04:44:12,718
is an outside entity of this board. Um

7162
04:44:12,718 --> 04:44:14,798
same with Cheryl. Cheryl had an interest

7163
04:44:14,798 --> 04:44:19,600
in knowing what the tax appeals or the foreclosure process outcome was

7164
04:44:19,600 --> 04:44:22,080
going to be. It's above and beyond her

7165
04:44:22,080 --> 04:44:24,560
job duties as a clerk and also her role

7166
04:44:24,560 --> 04:44:26,638
on the insurance authority. So, we

7167
04:44:26,638 --> 04:44:29,040
proposed the idea to both of them. Is

7168
04:44:29,040 --> 04:44:30,798
this something you'd be interested in

7169
04:44:30,798 --> 04:44:33,760
doing for a stipen to help offset that

7170
04:44:33,760 --> 04:44:37,360
wrong that was made to you? Um, they

7171
04:44:37,360 --> 04:44:39,920
said yes, that would be great. Great. We

7172
04:44:39,920 --> 04:44:41,600
thought we would alleviate any legal

7173
04:44:41,600 --> 04:44:43,600
risk if they agreed to that. We then

7174
04:44:43,600 --> 04:44:45,200
presented that to the insurance

7175
04:44:45,200 --> 04:44:47,280
authority workg group. The work group

7176
04:44:47,280 --> 04:44:48,798
liked the idea of it because they were

7177
04:44:48,798 --> 04:44:50,480
going to receive the services that they

7178
04:44:50,480 --> 04:44:53,040
were asking for at what we think is a

7179
04:44:53,040 --> 04:44:54,798
discounted rate compared to hiring a

7180
04:44:54,798 --> 04:44:57,040
consultant to do that work. Problem

7181
04:44:57,040 --> 04:45:00,160
solved. As I said in my email, I didn't

7182
04:45:00,160 --> 04:45:02,320
report back to this board and I and I

7183
04:45:02,320 --> 04:45:04,160
should have done that, but my intent was

7184
04:45:04,160 --> 04:45:05,840
to report back to the board when the

7185
04:45:05,840 --> 04:45:08,320
work was complete. The matter was tabled

7186
04:45:08,320 --> 04:45:10,160
and as you all know something stays

7187
04:45:10,160 --> 04:45:12,080
tabled until it's brought back or

7188
04:45:12,080 --> 04:45:14,160
removed from the table. That was never

7189
04:45:14,160 --> 04:45:16,000
requested by any of the board to do

7190
04:45:16,000 --> 04:45:18,718
that.

7191
04:45:18,718 --> 04:45:21,280
It's it's what was done was legal,

7192
04:45:21,280 --> 04:45:23,360
ethical, it was open. There was a that

7193
04:45:23,360 --> 04:45:26,638
was a public meeting. Um it was within

7194
04:45:26,638 --> 04:45:28,878
the board workg groupoup's authority to

7195
04:45:28,878 --> 04:45:30,798
sign an outside contract. They do that

7196
04:45:30,798 --> 04:45:33,680
often and uh it alleviated the legal

7197
04:45:33,680 --> 04:45:34,400
risk.

7198
04:45:34,400 --> 04:45:36,480
>> Okay. Thank you, administrator. And I've

7199
04:45:36,480 --> 04:45:37,840
noticed Doug has moved there since we're

7200
04:45:37,840 --> 04:45:39,920
on staff time at the moment. Why don't

7201
04:45:39,920 --> 04:45:41,840
you go right ahead? And I do think Doug,

7202
04:45:41,840 --> 04:45:43,440
one uh thing you might want to address

7203
04:45:43,440 --> 04:45:45,600
is that you did misspeak at the uh

7204
04:45:45,600 --> 04:45:47,280
meeting about the board having voted on

7205
04:45:47,280 --> 04:45:48,240
this. And I think one of the

7206
04:45:48,240 --> 04:45:51,040
commissioners had brought that up.

7207
04:45:51,040 --> 04:45:53,520
>> So first of all, let me explain what I

7208
04:45:53,520 --> 04:45:56,878
was trying to do in front of the current

7209
04:45:56,878 --> 04:46:00,080
compensation commission, which was about

7210
04:46:00,080 --> 04:46:03,120
to get completely off the rails.

7211
04:46:03,120 --> 04:46:06,080
My job at that meeting was to make sure

7212
04:46:06,080 --> 04:46:09,120
they were following their purview. Their

7213
04:46:09,120 --> 04:46:11,600
purview was not to try to figure out

7214
04:46:11,600 --> 04:46:15,040
what the 2024 compensation commission

7215
04:46:15,040 --> 04:46:16,878
did.

7216
04:46:16,878 --> 04:46:20,560
They were ready in their approval of the

7217
04:46:20,560 --> 04:46:23,280
minutes to try to figure out and answer

7218
04:46:23,280 --> 04:46:27,120
that question. Then

7219
04:46:27,120 --> 04:46:30,560
Mr. France wanted to delve into the

7220
04:46:30,560 --> 04:46:33,520
issue, assuming they concluded that the

7221
04:46:33,520 --> 04:46:37,280
2024 commission had made its decision to

7222
04:46:37,280 --> 04:46:40,080
equalize the pay of these three elected

7223
04:46:40,080 --> 04:46:43,040
officials, how they could compensate

7224
04:46:43,040 --> 04:46:45,600
those elected officials for the wrong

7225
04:46:45,600 --> 04:46:48,000
that had been done to them over the past

7226
04:46:48,000 --> 04:46:52,080
two years. My efforts were trying to

7227
04:46:52,080 --> 04:46:54,798
redirect them to stay away from both of

7228
04:46:54,798 --> 04:46:58,320
those issues and concentrate only on

7229
04:46:58,320 --> 04:47:01,600
their the future pay of those two

7230
04:47:01,600 --> 04:47:04,320
elected officials

7231
04:47:04,320 --> 04:47:07,520
and not worry about what happened in the

7232
04:47:07,520 --> 04:47:09,840
past whether there were any in

7233
04:47:09,840 --> 04:47:13,040
inequities. And in the course of trying

7234
04:47:13,040 --> 04:47:15,520
to redirect them, I explained that

7235
04:47:15,520 --> 04:47:18,160
administration had taken care of that

7236
04:47:18,160 --> 04:47:20,798
issue. It was not something they needed

7237
04:47:20,798 --> 04:47:24,480
to worry about. All right. Now, let's go

7238
04:47:24,480 --> 04:47:28,878
back to January of 2025.

7239
04:47:28,878 --> 04:47:32,718
Gary and Doug are commissioned to try to

7240
04:47:32,718 --> 04:47:35,600
clean up a variety of different messes

7241
04:47:35,600 --> 04:47:38,080
that were lingering from the previous

7242
04:47:38,080 --> 04:47:41,840
board and the previous administration.

7243
04:47:41,840 --> 04:47:43,440
I don't remember. I have a vague

7244
04:47:43,440 --> 04:47:45,920
recollection, Doug, of Commissioner

7245
04:47:45,920 --> 04:47:49,280
Zystster, of you can Doug, I'm sorry.

7246
04:47:49,280 --> 04:47:50,718
There's a lot of Doug around here.

7247
04:47:50,718 --> 04:47:51,360
>> Yeah. Yeah.

7248
04:47:51,360 --> 04:47:53,200
>> And and Gary, you're talking Gary Rosa.

7249
04:47:53,200 --> 04:47:53,920
>> You know, one

7250
04:47:53,920 --> 04:47:56,560
>> Rosma. But I also have a vague

7251
04:47:56,560 --> 04:48:00,480
recollection of the water resources

7252
04:48:00,480 --> 04:48:02,718
commissioner and you, Commissioner

7253
04:48:02,718 --> 04:48:04,240
Zystra,

7254
04:48:04,240 --> 04:48:07,280
coming to my office to talk about the

7255
04:48:07,280 --> 04:48:10,480
2024 compensation commission and whether

7256
04:48:10,480 --> 04:48:13,600
or not the water resources commissioner

7257
04:48:13,600 --> 04:48:16,638
was being underpaid. I may be wrong in

7258
04:48:16,638 --> 04:48:18,638
that. You may not have been there.

7259
04:48:18,638 --> 04:48:20,798
>> You just continue because I Yeah,

7260
04:48:20,798 --> 04:48:26,560
>> but whatever. My response to Joe was, I

7261
04:48:26,560 --> 04:48:28,480
take direction from Gary. If Gary

7262
04:48:28,480 --> 04:48:31,440
assigns this task to me, I will look

7263
04:48:31,440 --> 04:48:35,200
into it. Gary came back the next day and

7264
04:48:35,200 --> 04:48:38,160
said, "Doug, I want you to review

7265
04:48:38,160 --> 04:48:41,920
Joe's position that he is not being

7266
04:48:41,920 --> 04:48:45,600
adequately compensated because in fact

7267
04:48:45,600 --> 04:48:48,400
the board had made it the commission had

7268
04:48:48,400 --> 04:48:52,160
made its decision in 2024 that his pay

7269
04:48:52,160 --> 04:48:54,080
should be equalized

7270
04:48:54,080 --> 04:48:56,638
and the board of commissioners had not

7271
04:48:56,638 --> 04:48:59,280
rejected that.

7272
04:48:59,280 --> 04:49:02,878
I performed as I was tasked to do an

7273
04:49:02,878 --> 04:49:05,840
inquiry into that question. It's a messy

7274
04:49:05,840 --> 04:49:09,840
legal issue because while Coleman was

7275
04:49:09,840 --> 04:49:13,360
absolutely correct that a decision had

7276
04:49:13,360 --> 04:49:16,080
to be made by the compensation

7277
04:49:16,080 --> 04:49:21,040
commission within 45 days. It doesn't

7278
04:49:21,040 --> 04:49:25,200
describe how that decision has to be

7279
04:49:25,200 --> 04:49:26,718
memorialized.

7280
04:49:26,718 --> 04:49:30,400
Right? So we had a vote

7281
04:49:30,400 --> 04:49:34,320
unanimous by the commission or to

7282
04:49:34,320 --> 04:49:35,840
equalize

7283
04:49:35,840 --> 04:49:39,680
those salaries. That vote was taken

7284
04:49:39,680 --> 04:49:44,798
outside the 45day window. Joe was saying

7285
04:49:44,798 --> 04:49:48,320
they assured me during the 45 uh day

7286
04:49:48,320 --> 04:49:52,000
window that they had made that decision.

7287
04:49:52,000 --> 04:49:56,560
I pulled the compensation commissioners.

7288
04:49:56,560 --> 04:50:00,878
A majority said indeed we had made that

7289
04:50:00,878 --> 04:50:04,160
decision within the 45 days and we

7290
04:50:04,160 --> 04:50:06,400
documented it with our vote because we

7291
04:50:06,400 --> 04:50:08,718
realized we hadn't actually taken a vote

7292
04:50:08,718 --> 04:50:13,750
on that outside that window.

7293
04:50:13,760 --> 04:50:19,040
A mess without question. A $200,000

7294
04:50:19,040 --> 04:50:21,520
litigation if you wanted to take that

7295
04:50:21,520 --> 04:50:23,600
one to court. We're getting good in

7296
04:50:23,600 --> 04:50:25,600
Ottawa County at taking unusual

7297
04:50:25,600 --> 04:50:28,240
questions to our court system, but the

7298
04:50:28,240 --> 04:50:31,360
mess only got more complicated

7299
04:50:31,360 --> 04:50:34,560
because the board of commissioners

7300
04:50:34,560 --> 04:50:36,958
did receive

7301
04:50:36,958 --> 04:50:39,680
the report of the compensation

7302
04:50:39,680 --> 04:50:43,040
commission, including the compensation

7303
04:50:43,040 --> 04:50:47,040
increase for uh the commissioners,

7304
04:50:47,040 --> 04:50:49,680
including the equalization of the

7305
04:50:49,680 --> 04:50:52,638
elected officials rates.

7306
04:50:52,638 --> 04:50:54,878
They then commissioned

7307
04:50:54,878 --> 04:50:56,878
corporation council at the time Coleman

7308
04:50:56,878 --> 04:51:00,080
to look into that. Two things came back

7309
04:51:00,080 --> 04:51:02,480
from legal counsel.

7310
04:51:02,480 --> 04:51:05,360
One, the vote on the compensation

7311
04:51:05,360 --> 04:51:10,560
commission did not reflect a majority of

7312
04:51:10,560 --> 04:51:13,200
the compensation commissioners

7313
04:51:13,200 --> 04:51:16,000
voting in favor of it and therefore it

7314
04:51:16,000 --> 04:51:20,638
was not an appropriate decision.

7315
04:51:20,638 --> 04:51:22,560
Secondly, they looked at the vote

7316
04:51:22,560 --> 04:51:26,400
unanimously and enough commissioners on

7317
04:51:26,400 --> 04:51:28,878
the compensation commission agreeing

7318
04:51:28,878 --> 04:51:31,520
with the equalization issue, but the

7319
04:51:31,520 --> 04:51:35,440
vote occurred outside the 45day window.

7320
04:51:35,440 --> 04:51:39,600
The board decided therefore not to

7321
04:51:39,600 --> 04:51:43,120
authorize the increase

7322
04:51:43,120 --> 04:51:47,920
in your pay or in the elected officials.

7323
04:51:47,920 --> 04:51:51,040
Was that a rejection

7324
04:51:51,040 --> 04:51:54,320
of what the commission had done?

7325
04:51:54,320 --> 04:51:57,280
Arguably, you could also look at it and

7326
04:51:57,280 --> 04:52:00,240
say they erroneously concluded that a

7327
04:52:00,240 --> 04:52:02,798
decision hadn't been made and that's the

7328
04:52:02,798 --> 04:52:05,200
only reason they didn't authorize the

7329
04:52:05,200 --> 04:52:08,560
initial compensation. And my research

7330
04:52:08,560 --> 04:52:12,000
indicated on question one. Indeed, the

7331
04:52:12,000 --> 04:52:15,840
commission had properly made a decision

7332
04:52:15,840 --> 04:52:19,360
and only documented it outside. So now

7333
04:52:19,360 --> 04:52:22,160
we have a $400,000 piece of litigation

7334
04:52:22,160 --> 04:52:24,400
trying to figure out whatever the board

7335
04:52:24,400 --> 04:52:27,920
did, was it a rejection or not.

7336
04:52:27,920 --> 04:52:31,040
Meanwhile, Joe is not getting paid what

7337
04:52:31,040 --> 04:52:33,600
he believes in good faith he's being

7338
04:52:33,600 --> 04:52:35,600
paid.

7339
04:52:35,600 --> 04:52:39,920
Now, the suggested resolution

7340
04:52:39,920 --> 04:52:44,320
that I got Joe and Cheryl to agree with

7341
04:52:44,320 --> 04:52:49,520
is let's take a resolution to the board.

7342
04:52:49,520 --> 04:52:52,080
You're going to wave your first year

7343
04:52:52,080 --> 04:52:54,320
increase because we're going to make it

7344
04:52:54,320 --> 04:52:58,320
effective January 1. that indeed the

7345
04:52:58,320 --> 04:53:01,840
board did make a proper decision within

7346
04:53:01,840 --> 04:53:05,840
the 45day window and you're going to get

7347
04:53:05,840 --> 04:53:10,160
paid starting January 1st of 2025. Is

7348
04:53:10,160 --> 04:53:14,400
that acceptable to you, Mr. Bush and Ms.

7349
04:53:14,400 --> 04:53:17,200
Clark? In good faith, they said we could

7350
04:53:17,200 --> 04:53:19,040
live with that.

7351
04:53:19,040 --> 04:53:22,160
So, we presented it. The board tabled

7352
04:53:22,160 --> 04:53:25,920
it. I've got a very angry Joe Bush and a

7353
04:53:25,920 --> 04:53:31,280
very angry Cheryl Clark right now.

7354
04:53:31,280 --> 04:53:33,920
This was the resolution.

7355
04:53:33,920 --> 04:53:37,920
They haven't adopted it now. And we are

7356
04:53:37,920 --> 04:53:40,878
facing in the insurance authority a

7357
04:53:40,878 --> 04:53:43,600
potential $400,000

7358
04:53:43,600 --> 04:53:46,080
piece of litigation trying to figure out

7359
04:53:46,080 --> 04:53:48,080
what indeed the compensation commission

7360
04:53:48,080 --> 04:53:51,760
did and what the board did or did not

7361
04:53:51,760 --> 04:53:53,360
do.

7362
04:53:53,360 --> 04:53:57,200
So, the insurance authority had these

7363
04:53:57,200 --> 04:54:00,480
tasks that it needed done.

7364
04:54:00,480 --> 04:54:03,200
The insurance authority wick group is

7365
04:54:03,200 --> 04:54:06,160
well within its $50,000

7366
04:54:06,160 --> 04:54:09,600
uh authority limit to offer them an

7367
04:54:09,600 --> 04:54:12,160
accordance satisfaction.

7368
04:54:12,160 --> 04:54:15,920
these additional tasks for the one-year

7369
04:54:15,920 --> 04:54:17,520
period

7370
04:54:17,520 --> 04:54:20,560
or not the county,

7371
04:54:20,560 --> 04:54:24,000
the insurance authority. It won't

7372
04:54:24,000 --> 04:54:26,878
increase your county salary at all or

7373
04:54:26,878 --> 04:54:29,440
the benefits that go along with it. It

7374
04:54:29,440 --> 04:54:31,840
won't assure that in the compensation

7375
04:54:31,840 --> 04:54:35,040
commission of 2026, you're starting

7376
04:54:35,040 --> 04:54:38,000
equal to the county clerk. Is that a

7377
04:54:38,000 --> 04:54:41,200
compromise you're willing to accept to

7378
04:54:41,200 --> 04:54:45,040
let this matter go away? They agreed.

7379
04:54:45,040 --> 04:54:48,958
And so the work group sign uh prepared

7380
04:54:48,958 --> 04:54:52,000
and had them executed and we approved

7381
04:54:52,000 --> 04:54:56,000
what is called a memorandum. It could be called a settlement agreement.

7382
04:54:56,000 --> 04:54:59,840
And according satisfaction, it resolved

7383
04:54:59,840 --> 04:55:04,080
the issue in a compromised fashion.

7384
04:55:04,080 --> 04:55:08,000
And Joe, am I wrong in any of what I'm

7385
04:55:08,000 --> 04:55:11,200
representing to the board?

7386
04:55:11,200 --> 04:55:14,480
>> So, it's not just your decision that was

7387
04:55:14,480 --> 04:55:17,040
compromised. Their rights were

7388
04:55:17,040 --> 04:55:22,868
compromised in this fashion

7389
04:55:22,878 --> 04:55:26,000
» and you rest your case. The the one

7390
04:55:26,000 --> 04:55:29,120
>> an explanation of what we did to fix a

7391
04:55:29,120 --> 04:55:32,400
problem and enable this issue to go

7392
04:55:32,400 --> 04:55:34,560
forward. Yeah. And just one

7393
04:55:34,560 --> 04:55:36,240
clarification that I wanted to get and I

7394
04:55:36,240 --> 04:55:38,560
said Doug is wiggling over there so he'd

7395
04:55:38,560 --> 04:55:40,320
like to say something. Yeah. Yeah. Okay.

7396
04:55:40,320 --> 04:55:42,400
All right. Uh I just want to make sure

7397
04:55:42,400 --> 04:55:43,760
>> one of the things you said during the

7398
04:55:43,760 --> 04:55:45,600
compensation commission is that the

7399
04:55:45,600 --> 04:55:47,360
board had voted on this in May or

7400
04:55:47,360 --> 04:55:48,878
whatever it was. I don't remember the

7401
04:55:48,878 --> 04:55:50,718
exact words. Just want to verify that

7402
04:55:50,718 --> 04:55:52,480
the board did not vote on this. Is that

7403
04:55:52,480 --> 04:55:54,320
correct? It this was an act of the

7404
04:55:54,320 --> 04:55:55,280
insurance authorities.

7405
04:55:55,280 --> 04:55:57,280
>> I must have misspoke. I don't know which

7406
04:55:57,280 --> 04:55:58,958
board I was talking about. it wouldn't

7407
04:55:58,958 --> 04:56:00,480
have been the county commissioners

7408
04:56:00,480 --> 04:56:02,638
because you never made a decision,

7409
04:56:02,638 --> 04:56:03,200
>> okay,

7410
04:56:03,200 --> 04:56:04,560
>> on this.

7411
04:56:04,560 --> 04:56:08,320
>> Um, and so if I misspoke, I apologize

7412
04:56:08,320 --> 04:56:11,040
for misspeaking. Again, we were trying

7413
04:56:11,040 --> 04:56:14,320
to focus their attention on the future

7414
04:56:14,320 --> 04:56:17,200
and leave the past alone. Got it. I also

7415
04:56:17,200 --> 04:56:18,798
didn't want to go into a complete

7416
04:56:18,798 --> 04:56:21,920
recitation that I just gave trying to

7417
04:56:21,920 --> 04:56:24,400
explain how we are trying to eliminate

7418
04:56:24,400 --> 04:56:28,000
the chaos that had ensued from the last

7419
04:56:28,000 --> 04:56:30,240
compensation commission's decision.

7420
04:56:30,240 --> 04:56:33,200
>> Okay, thank you Doug. Um Doug Zilstra

7421
04:56:33,200 --> 04:56:34,798
and then Sylvia's got a hand. I'm not

7422
04:56:34,798 --> 04:56:37,200
wiggling whatsoever, but uh you know,

7423
04:56:37,200 --> 04:56:38,240
Commissioner Rohood and Commissioner

7424
04:56:38,240 --> 04:56:42,000
Mima both had I think the central

7425
04:56:42,000 --> 04:56:45,760
question like we understand the the

7426
04:56:45,760 --> 04:56:48,638
email you sent us the recitation

7427
04:56:48,638 --> 04:56:50,798
we get that I think the central question

7428
04:56:50,798 --> 04:56:53,440
is under what authority was that action

7429
04:56:53,440 --> 04:56:55,360
taken? Am I mischaracterizing?

7430
04:56:55,360 --> 04:56:58,000
>> No, that's that's a really good

7431
04:56:58,000 --> 04:56:58,958
question.

7432
04:56:58,958 --> 04:57:00,320
>> I think that's our central question. The

7433
04:57:00,320 --> 04:57:03,520
authority was the the compensation

7434
04:57:03,520 --> 04:57:07,360
is coming from not Ottawa County but the

7435
04:57:07,360 --> 04:57:09,360
insurance authority which is a separate

7436
04:57:09,360 --> 04:57:12,080
legal entity and in the process they

7437
04:57:12,080 --> 04:57:14,878
have resolved their claim against Ottawa

7438
04:57:14,878 --> 04:57:18,638
County which is the essential task of

7439
04:57:18,638 --> 04:57:22,080
the workg group is to resolve potential

7440
04:57:22,080 --> 04:57:26,320
litigation. We also have this investment

7441
04:57:26,320 --> 04:57:30,240
uh in that 231 property that the

7442
04:57:30,240 --> 04:57:32,400
insurance authority needs to re make a

7443
04:57:32,400 --> 04:57:35,280
resolution on and whether we keep it in

7444
04:57:35,280 --> 04:57:36,958
light of MDOT's decision.

7445
04:57:36,958 --> 04:57:38,240
>> Doug, but you didn't answer

7446
04:57:38,240 --> 04:57:40,000
commissioners's question.

7447
04:57:40,000 --> 04:57:42,000
>> The authority is the insurance

7448
04:57:42,000 --> 04:57:44,798
>> who who gave you the authority to give

7449
04:57:44,798 --> 04:57:47,520
the insurance authority that decision.

7450
04:57:47,520 --> 04:57:49,040
>> The board of commissioners when they

7451
04:57:49,040 --> 04:57:51,200
created the insurance authority

7452
04:57:51,200 --> 04:57:53,120
absolutely did. No,

7453
04:57:53,120 --> 04:57:55,840
>> we did not give you permission to set

7454
04:57:55,840 --> 04:57:58,878
>> to come up with more dollars if if you

7455
04:57:58,878 --> 04:58:01,360
felt like, oh, somehow we think that the

7456
04:58:01,360 --> 04:58:04,000
officer's compensation got this wrong.

7457
04:58:04,000 --> 04:58:06,160
>> We didn't give you permission to take

7458
04:58:06,160 --> 04:58:09,760
the insurance authority um and to use it

7459
04:58:09,760 --> 04:58:12,000
in this manner. In the meeting at the

7460
04:58:12,000 --> 04:58:13,920
officer's compensation commission, you

7461
04:58:13,920 --> 04:58:19,040
in fact said to Lynn, you can do more harm in trying to

7462
04:58:19,040 --> 04:58:22,000
fix something if you go backwards. Isn't

7463
04:58:22,000 --> 04:58:23,440
that in essence what you're doing

7464
04:58:23,440 --> 04:58:24,798
yourself?

7465
04:58:24,798 --> 04:58:29,120
>> No, we were settling a controversy and

7466
04:58:29,120 --> 04:58:32,000
that is for 40 years. That's what the

7467
04:58:32,000 --> 04:58:34,878
insurance authority has done. 40 years.

7468
04:58:34,878 --> 04:58:38,638
That's its task is settling these

7469
04:58:38,638 --> 04:58:42,080
disputes in one manner or another. That

7470
04:58:42,080 --> 04:58:46,400
is absolutely within the purview of the

7471
04:58:46,400 --> 04:58:48,480
insurance authority and that work group.

7472
04:58:48,480 --> 04:58:50,400
Is there

7473
04:58:50,400 --> 04:58:52,480
coming to you right now and asking to be

7474
04:58:52,480 --> 04:58:54,320
because they felt like we didn't make

7475
04:58:54,320 --> 04:58:56,160
our 60%

7476
04:58:56,160 --> 04:58:57,840
increase at the officers compensation

7477
04:58:57,840 --> 04:58:58,878
commission. Do you have another

7478
04:58:58,878 --> 04:59:00,240
commissioner that has asked you for

7479
04:59:00,240 --> 04:59:01,760
that?

7480
04:59:01,760 --> 04:59:04,320
>> Absolutely not.

7481
04:59:04,320 --> 04:59:04,958
>> Um

7482
04:59:04,958 --> 04:59:07,360
>> but I don't have any commissioners

7483
04:59:07,360 --> 04:59:09,840
coming and saying the compensation

7484
04:59:09,840 --> 04:59:13,680
commission raised my salary and the

7485
04:59:13,680 --> 04:59:16,320
fiscal is not honoring that. Why is that

7486
04:59:16,320 --> 04:59:19,120
not happening? That was the situation we

7487
04:59:19,120 --> 04:59:21,520
had with Mr. Bush.

7488
04:59:21,520 --> 04:59:24,000
>> Um, while you were conversing there, and

7489
04:59:24,000 --> 04:59:25,520
I go over to Sylvia in just a moment

7490
04:59:25,520 --> 04:59:28,958
here, Ron Bolie was squinting and I'm

7491
04:59:28,958 --> 04:59:30,560
maybe that's a wiggle from Doug and I'm

7492
04:59:30,560 --> 04:59:31,840
not supposed to interpret it as such,

7493
04:59:31,840 --> 04:59:34,798
but did you want to interject or you

7494
04:59:34,798 --> 04:59:36,000
want to hold your thoughts?

7495
04:59:36,000 --> 04:59:37,600
>> Well, I mean, basically, I've learned

7496
04:59:37,600 --> 04:59:43,600
all of this today, but uh but I what I'm understanding is that you had a

7497
04:59:43,600 --> 04:59:46,320
discrepancy on pay. The insurance

7498
04:59:46,320 --> 04:59:48,638
authority had a couple of potential

7499
04:59:48,638 --> 04:59:51,840
litigation issues for which you would or

7500
04:59:51,840 --> 04:59:53,920
the insurance authority ordinarily would

7501
04:59:53,920 --> 04:59:57,360
hire consultants to work on and prepare

7502
04:59:57,360 --> 05:00:01,280
a defense or or a resolution.

7503
05:00:01,280 --> 05:00:02,560
>> It's absolutely correct.

7504
05:00:02,560 --> 05:00:05,520
>> So instead of going out and hiring

7505
05:00:05,520 --> 05:00:08,320
outside consultants, you hire inside

7506
05:00:08,320 --> 05:00:11,520
consultants which satisfied them and pre

7507
05:00:11,520 --> 05:00:14,638
and took care of a pay discrepancy.

7508
05:00:14,638 --> 05:00:18,400
Absolutely. And my role here was as the

7509
05:00:18,400 --> 05:00:20,320
insurance authorities council.

7510
05:00:20,320 --> 05:00:20,878
>> Yeah.

7511
05:00:20,878 --> 05:00:25,120
>> Trying to resolve a festering potential

7512
05:00:25,120 --> 05:00:26,638
litigation

7513
05:00:26,638 --> 05:00:28,320
that the insurance authority would have

7514
05:00:28,320 --> 05:00:30,798
to spend $400,000 to resolve.

7515
05:00:30,798 --> 05:00:32,080
>> And there's no question the insurance

7516
05:00:32,080 --> 05:00:34,560
authority would have the authority to go

7517
05:00:34,560 --> 05:00:37,200
out and hire a consultant to handle a

7518
05:00:37,200 --> 05:00:38,718
problem issue.

7519
05:00:38,718 --> 05:00:39,440
>> Absolutely.

7520
05:00:39,440 --> 05:00:41,200
>> You've been doing that.

7521
05:00:41,200 --> 05:00:43,200
We have been doing that and we would

7522
05:00:43,200 --> 05:00:46,718
have to do that on the 231 property if

7523
05:00:46,718 --> 05:00:52,480
we didn't engage Mr. Bush to um work on

7524
05:00:52,480 --> 05:00:54,000
that particular project.

7525
05:00:54,000 --> 05:00:55,600
>> So the authority is just in the

7526
05:00:55,600 --> 05:00:58,560
authority of the continued uh operation

7527
05:00:58,560 --> 05:01:00,240
of the insurance authority. Too many

7528
05:01:00,240 --> 05:01:03,280
authorities and Doug's here. Um but you

7529
05:01:03,280 --> 05:01:05,680
operate you the insurance authority did

7530
05:01:05,680 --> 05:01:09,200
what it has historically done and spent

7531
05:01:09,200 --> 05:01:12,958
money that it had authority to spend to

7532
05:01:12,958 --> 05:01:14,320
work on an issue.

7533
05:01:14,320 --> 05:01:18,400
>> They're a uh 1099

7534
05:01:18,400 --> 05:01:19,920
consultant

7535
05:01:19,920 --> 05:01:23,120
in both instances not to the county

7536
05:01:23,120 --> 05:01:24,480
>> because they're not employees of the

7537
05:01:24,480 --> 05:01:26,320
insurance authority either.

7538
05:01:26,320 --> 05:01:30,560
>> Correct. This is a 1099 for both of them

7539
05:01:30,560 --> 05:01:34,160
from the insurance authority and it is a

7540
05:01:34,160 --> 05:01:36,798
report that they will owe to the

7541
05:01:36,798 --> 05:01:39,680
insurance authority not to the county.

7542
05:01:39,680 --> 05:01:41,600
>> All right. Thank you. Thank you Ron and

7543
05:01:41,600 --> 05:01:43,120
uh Sylvia and then Doug.

7544
05:01:43,120 --> 05:01:46,560
>> Yeah. So I think perhaps I should sue

7545
05:01:46,560 --> 05:01:49,360
and perhaps the officers compensation

7546
05:01:49,360 --> 05:01:51,280
commission can remember one more vote to

7547
05:01:51,280 --> 05:01:53,200
pay me.

7548
05:01:53,200 --> 05:01:55,680
I'm just thinking, you know, maybe some

7549
05:01:55,680 --> 05:01:58,638
of us should be doing that. Um,

7550
05:01:58,638 --> 05:02:00,878
>> along those lines, I would like a copy

7551
05:02:00,878 --> 05:02:04,480
of the affidavits that asserted

7552
05:02:04,480 --> 05:02:08,400
uh and and supposedly confirmed um what

7553
05:02:08,400 --> 05:02:10,080
people

7554
05:02:10,080 --> 05:02:12,480
supposedly remembered. We I would like a

7555
05:02:12,480 --> 05:02:14,560
copy of those affidavits that were

7556
05:02:14,560 --> 05:02:16,878
obtained. I think the board um needs to

7557
05:02:16,878 --> 05:02:20,798
receive a copy of those. um if a matter

7558
05:02:20,798 --> 05:02:23,520
like this, you know, is $400,000 in

7559
05:02:23,520 --> 05:02:25,120
litigation, I think maybe we need to

7560
05:02:25,120 --> 05:02:28,080
take another look at our legal counsel.

7561
05:02:28,080 --> 05:02:32,400
And then also, if um if angry officials

7562
05:02:32,400 --> 05:02:34,638
mean we don't need to follow the law

7563
05:02:34,638 --> 05:02:37,040
anymore, again, you know, we're in a

7564
05:02:37,040 --> 05:02:41,040
world of hurt. So, um I think we need to

7565
05:02:41,040 --> 05:02:43,360
take a look at how we're operating and

7566
05:02:43,360 --> 05:02:45,760
make sure we're following statute.

7567
05:02:45,760 --> 05:02:46,958
>> Okay. Thank you, Commissioner.

7568
05:02:46,958 --> 05:02:48,240
Sales,

7569
05:02:48,240 --> 05:02:51,280
>> I guess, Mr. Vanessa, I

7570
05:02:51,280 --> 05:02:55,200
the question is simply

7571
05:02:55,200 --> 05:02:58,240
I I think it's pretty clear that the com

7572
05:02:58,240 --> 05:02:59,840
compensation commission sets

7573
05:02:59,840 --> 05:03:02,798
compensation for county officials. Is

7574
05:03:02,798 --> 05:03:04,638
that true

7575
05:03:04,638 --> 05:03:06,240
>> for Ottawa County?

7576
05:03:06,240 --> 05:03:06,798
>> Right.

7577
05:03:06,798 --> 05:03:08,160
>> Or just for Ottawa County,

7578
05:03:08,160 --> 05:03:12,470
>> right? and

7579
05:03:12,480 --> 05:03:15,920
you came back to us in December of

7580
05:03:15,920 --> 05:03:19,440
2025 and asked us to sign off on a

7581
05:03:19,440 --> 05:03:22,718
resolution. This board unanimously as

7582
05:03:22,718 --> 05:03:25,040
finance commission this committee

7583
05:03:25,040 --> 05:03:27,280
refused to do so.

7584
05:03:27,280 --> 05:03:30,560
At some point between the end of the

7585
05:03:30,560 --> 05:03:34,798
finance committee and the beginning of

7586
05:03:34,798 --> 05:03:36,878
the insurance authority, a decision was

7587
05:03:36,878 --> 05:03:40,560
made to compensate those individuals. Is

7588
05:03:40,560 --> 05:03:42,560
that correct or not correct?

7589
05:03:42,560 --> 05:03:45,920
>> No. A decision was to engage

7590
05:03:45,920 --> 05:03:49,280
those individuals in two tasks that the

7591
05:03:49,280 --> 05:03:50,160
insurance authority

7592
05:03:50,160 --> 05:03:52,958
>> as a as a means of compensating them.

7593
05:03:52,958 --> 05:03:58,080
Those were your words. as a means of uh

7594
05:03:58,080 --> 05:03:59,600
compromising

7595
05:03:59,600 --> 05:04:01,200
their claim.

7596
05:04:01,200 --> 05:04:02,878
>> They have a claim yet.

7597
05:04:02,878 --> 05:04:04,718
>> They had a claim. Absolutely.

7598
05:04:04,718 --> 05:04:07,040
>> Did they sue us? Did Did Did Mr. Bush

7599
05:04:07,040 --> 05:04:07,440
sue us?

7600
05:04:07,440 --> 05:04:10,160
>> Oh, he hadn't sued it yet, but we get

7601
05:04:10,160 --> 05:04:12,320
claims all the time. Commissioner

7602
05:04:12,320 --> 05:04:15,600
Zystra, we get demands all the time.

7603
05:04:15,600 --> 05:04:17,120
>> Okay.

7604
05:04:17,120 --> 05:04:20,320
I I guess the just walk us through I

7605
05:04:20,320 --> 05:04:23,120
guess Commissioner M and Commissioner

7606
05:04:23,120 --> 05:04:25,440
kind of said the same thing.

7607
05:04:25,440 --> 05:04:29,920
At what point was a decision made to

7608
05:04:29,920 --> 05:04:33,200
in my mind abregate what the commission

7609
05:04:33,200 --> 05:04:36,320
said like

7610
05:04:36,320 --> 05:04:38,878
this is the salary but the insurance

7611
05:04:38,878 --> 05:04:40,878
authority made the decision to augment

7612
05:04:40,878 --> 05:04:43,360
their salary which is what I heard in

7613
05:04:43,360 --> 05:04:46,160
the compensation commission heard you

7614
05:04:46,160 --> 05:04:48,400
say

7615
05:04:48,400 --> 05:04:50,638
um

7616
05:04:50,638 --> 05:04:54,160
>> no their salary is set by the county

7617
05:04:54,160 --> 05:04:56,958
Right. Not include the 13,000. It did

7618
05:04:56,958 --> 05:04:59,360
not include the 2500.

7619
05:04:59,360 --> 05:05:02,240
>> And it still doesn't.

7620
05:05:02,240 --> 05:05:03,760
>> Your words in the compensation

7621
05:05:03,760 --> 05:05:06,798
commission were theseUS are a means of

7622
05:05:06,798 --> 05:05:09,600
compensating these individuals. When the

7623
05:05:09,600 --> 05:05:11,200
compensation commission

7624
05:05:11,200 --> 05:05:12,798
>> did not make that judgment,

7625
05:05:12,798 --> 05:05:16,000
>> my words to the compensation commission

7626
05:05:16,000 --> 05:05:19,280
were you don't have to go back and try

7627
05:05:19,280 --> 05:05:20,638
to fix that issue

7628
05:05:20,638 --> 05:05:22,560
>> because you've already done it. because

7629
05:05:22,560 --> 05:05:25,120
they are satisfied

7630
05:05:25,120 --> 05:05:28,878
with the resolution of that issue. I

7631
05:05:28,878 --> 05:05:30,320
>> I think we all understand the recitation

7632
05:05:30,320 --> 05:05:32,240
of facts. I think what we're still at

7633
05:05:32,240 --> 05:05:34,000
least at least I am and I think some

7634
05:05:34,000 --> 05:05:35,840
other commissioners are at what point

7635
05:05:35,840 --> 05:05:38,560
was the decision made to compensate

7636
05:05:38,560 --> 05:05:41,360
these individuals in this manner in a

7637
05:05:41,360 --> 05:05:43,360
way that the board via the finance

7638
05:05:43,360 --> 05:05:46,080
committee rejected.

7639
05:05:46,080 --> 05:05:48,878
I I guess specifically did the insurance

7640
05:05:48,878 --> 05:05:51,200
authority take a vote on that at any

7641
05:05:51,200 --> 05:05:51,920
time?

7642
05:05:51,920 --> 05:05:53,200
>> The work group did. Yes.

7643
05:05:53,200 --> 05:05:54,240
>> Oh, the work group did.

7644
05:05:54,240 --> 05:05:56,320
>> Yes. On January 12th.

7645
05:05:56,320 --> 05:05:57,840
>> Absolutely.

7646
05:05:57,840 --> 05:06:02,480
>> I understand. I I I know. I get it.

7647
05:06:02,480 --> 05:06:04,560
>> I it they weren't

7648
05:06:04,560 --> 05:06:07,040
>> and and it I just it's I think it's

7649
05:06:07,040 --> 05:06:09,520
confusing compensation with a stipen,

7650
05:06:09,520 --> 05:06:11,840
>> right? It's it was a one-time stipen to

7651
05:06:11,840 --> 05:06:13,680
pacify an issue. That's right.

7652
05:06:13,680 --> 05:06:16,400
>> And it was it was a benefit to the

7653
05:06:16,400 --> 05:06:18,320
insurance authority to have this work

7654
05:06:18,320 --> 05:06:22,480
done. It it it potentially augment or

7655
05:06:22,480 --> 05:06:25,280
pacified the the litigation that was

7656
05:06:25,280 --> 05:06:28,638
likely and it addressed the board's

7657
05:06:28,638 --> 05:06:30,000
what I thought to be the board's

7658
05:06:30,000 --> 05:06:31,840
directive to find another solution to

7659
05:06:31,840 --> 05:06:34,878
fix this. I I I think and I don't want

7660
05:06:34,878 --> 05:06:37,280
to go out of turn here, but I think the

7661
05:06:37,280 --> 05:06:40,718
idea was in finance committee in 2025 in

7662
05:06:40,718 --> 05:06:43,280
December that we asked you to try to

7663
05:06:43,280 --> 05:06:45,200
find a solution that we could sign off

7664
05:06:45,200 --> 05:06:47,760
on. We were not given that ability to

7665
05:06:47,760 --> 05:06:50,160
sign off on the workg group took that

7666
05:06:50,160 --> 05:06:53,040
decision away from us. Right? We didn't

7667
05:06:53,040 --> 05:06:56,160
say administrator waterman find a

7668
05:06:56,160 --> 05:06:58,000
solution that the work group can solve.

7669
05:06:58,000 --> 05:07:01,440
We said find a solution that we all as a

7670
05:07:01,440 --> 05:07:03,680
board can approve. Those are very very

7671
05:07:03,680 --> 05:07:04,400
different things.

7672
05:07:04,400 --> 05:07:06,560
>> One of the quotes I cited commissioner

7673
05:07:06,560 --> 05:07:08,240
with all due respect is is there another

7674
05:07:08,240 --> 05:07:10,560
mech mechanism where we can affect these

7675
05:07:10,560 --> 05:07:12,878
changes that's outside of this. That was

7676
05:07:12,878 --> 05:07:13,200
your

7677
05:07:13,200 --> 05:07:14,638
>> that's outside of this resolution right

7678
05:07:14,638 --> 05:07:15,920
because we all didn't like the

7679
05:07:15,920 --> 05:07:19,600
resolution. My my if you'll keep reading

7680
05:07:19,600 --> 05:07:21,120
my solution was to dissolve the

7681
05:07:21,120 --> 05:07:23,680
compensation commission and then let us

7682
05:07:23,680 --> 05:07:26,000
make that decision. We didn't have that

7683
05:07:26,000 --> 05:07:27,760
work group that was promised to us,

7684
05:07:27,760 --> 05:07:31,920
right? And that's fine, but and they and

7685
05:07:31,920 --> 05:07:33,600
you know,

7686
05:07:33,600 --> 05:07:35,200
we had this discussion for a year and a

7687
05:07:35,200 --> 05:07:37,120
half.

7688
05:07:37,120 --> 05:07:39,520
If we had dissolved the compensation

7689
05:07:39,520 --> 05:07:41,040
commission, we could have solved the

7690
05:07:41,040 --> 05:07:42,560
issue. I don't want to go back in time,

7691
05:07:42,560 --> 05:07:46,320
but that's how I viewed the issue.

7692
05:07:46,320 --> 05:07:48,718
I and the quotes that you put in the

7693
05:07:48,718 --> 05:07:52,320
email all come back to present us

7694
05:07:52,320 --> 05:07:55,760
something that we can all agree on going

7695
05:07:55,760 --> 05:07:56,798
forward.

7696
05:07:56,798 --> 05:07:58,560
>> The only problem with that, Doug, sorry.

7697
05:07:58,560 --> 05:08:00,000
The only problem with that is we never

7698
05:08:00,000 --> 05:08:01,600
made a motion to that effect. We never

7699
05:08:01,600 --> 05:08:03,760
gave a directive. No, I'm just saying

7700
05:08:03,760 --> 05:08:05,120
there are quotes in the email that say

7701
05:08:05,120 --> 05:08:07,520
that and and administrator Wman saying I

7702
05:08:07,520 --> 05:08:08,878
have these quotes and I totally get that

7703
05:08:08,878 --> 05:08:11,040
there are quotes but all the quotes come

7704
05:08:11,040 --> 05:08:15,280
back to we would like a solution that we

7705
05:08:15,280 --> 05:08:17,520
as a board can sign off on.

7706
05:08:17,520 --> 05:08:18,798
>> I appreciate that that's your

7707
05:08:18,798 --> 05:08:20,638
interpretation. However, the motion was

7708
05:08:20,638 --> 05:08:23,840
to table the recommended solution and to

7709
05:08:23,840 --> 05:08:26,080
direct the uh Patrick to come up with

7710
05:08:26,080 --> 05:08:27,680
something else. It didn't say come up

7711
05:08:27,680 --> 05:08:28,958
with something else and bring it back to

7712
05:08:28,958 --> 05:08:29,920
the board. I appreciate that. That was

7713
05:08:29,920 --> 05:08:31,920
the intent of a number of board members,

7714
05:08:31,920 --> 05:08:33,600
but that was not specifically, this is

7715
05:08:33,600 --> 05:08:34,798
just a point of order, that was not

7716
05:08:34,798 --> 05:08:36,798
specifically stated in the

7717
05:08:36,798 --> 05:08:38,718
>> exact motion to come up with something

7718
05:08:38,718 --> 05:08:39,680
else. Is that what the motion?

7719
05:08:39,680 --> 05:08:40,798
>> I actually I think it was motion was

7720
05:08:40,798 --> 05:08:41,920
just a table,

7721
05:08:41,920 --> 05:08:42,638
>> right? So

7722
05:08:42,638 --> 05:08:44,400
>> even even less even more vague.

7723
05:08:44,400 --> 05:08:47,040
>> Yeah. So he actually wasn't directed by

7724
05:08:47,040 --> 05:08:50,320
motion to come up with something else.

7725
05:08:50,320 --> 05:08:51,680
That was conversation.

7726
05:08:51,680 --> 05:08:53,600
>> It was I it should have

7727
05:08:53,600 --> 05:08:55,440
>> I appreciate that, but the motion was

7728
05:08:55,440 --> 05:08:57,360
not specifically to bring it back to the

7729
05:08:57,360 --> 05:08:58,718
board. That's all I'm saying.

7730
05:08:58,718 --> 05:09:01,440
>> Josh, if I could jump in here.

7731
05:09:01,440 --> 05:09:03,280
>> Um,

7732
05:09:03,280 --> 05:09:06,160
>> irrespective of of

7733
05:09:06,160 --> 05:09:08,480
whatever Patrick might have been

7734
05:09:08,480 --> 05:09:09,760
directed with, if the insurance

7735
05:09:09,760 --> 05:09:11,280
authority is sitting there looking at

7736
05:09:11,280 --> 05:09:14,958
we've got uh liability exposure here on

7737
05:09:14,958 --> 05:09:18,560
a a compensation claim, they're not

7738
05:09:18,560 --> 05:09:20,320
determining what that compensation

7739
05:09:20,320 --> 05:09:22,718
should be. They're just as an insurance

7740
05:09:22,718 --> 05:09:25,120
authority trying to determine at what

7741
05:09:25,120 --> 05:09:29,200
price can we end the threat of

7742
05:09:29,200 --> 05:09:32,480
litigation on the matter.

7743
05:09:32,480 --> 05:09:34,638
Yeah. So they weren't hired as county

7744
05:09:34,638 --> 05:09:37,040
employees.

7745
05:09:37,040 --> 05:09:39,440
You just found the the price point that

7746
05:09:39,440 --> 05:09:41,680
there there was no longer a threat of

7747
05:09:41,680 --> 05:09:44,240
litigation over this.

7748
05:09:44,240 --> 05:09:46,958
>> Absolutely correct.

7749
05:09:46,958 --> 05:09:49,040
We could probably discuss this all

7750
05:09:49,040 --> 05:09:50,638
afternoon long.

7751
05:09:50,638 --> 05:09:53,120
>> Um, and I understand that there are at

7752
05:09:53,120 --> 05:09:54,480
least three commissioners, maybe more,

7753
05:09:54,480 --> 05:09:55,920
who are not happy with the way this

7754
05:09:55,920 --> 05:09:58,560
went. A few that haven't spoken. Maybe

7755
05:09:58,560 --> 05:10:00,560
they are, they aren't. I don't know. As

7756
05:10:00,560 --> 05:10:02,320
a discussion item, I don't know what

7757
05:10:02,320 --> 05:10:05,440
further we need to do as a board. Um,

7758
05:10:05,440 --> 05:10:10,240
I'd be happy to offer some comments. I I just would rephrase what I sent in the

7759
05:10:10,240 --> 05:10:13,120
email uh to to the count to the

7760
05:10:13,120 --> 05:10:15,120
commissioners when this topic came up.

7761
05:10:15,120 --> 05:10:16,718
Um, but that's already in the email and

7762
05:10:16,718 --> 05:10:19,040
that's already public. So, I I don't

7763
05:10:19,040 --> 05:10:20,480
know that I can add anything more to

7764
05:10:20,480 --> 05:10:23,200
this. Um,

7765
05:10:23,200 --> 05:10:25,200
>> yeah, go ahead, Jacob. Thank you. I've

7766
05:10:25,200 --> 05:10:26,480
not spoken yet.

7767
05:10:26,480 --> 05:10:29,280
>> I am on the insurance authority. I'm not

7768
05:10:29,280 --> 05:10:32,798
in the work group. Uh, as part of the

7769
05:10:32,798 --> 05:10:34,480
insurance authorities's uh

7770
05:10:34,480 --> 05:10:36,320
responsibility, we do look at

7771
05:10:36,320 --> 05:10:39,200
liabilities regularly.

7772
05:10:39,200 --> 05:10:41,680
This mess

7773
05:10:41,680 --> 05:10:44,638
was a true mess from the prior board,

7774
05:10:44,638 --> 05:10:46,480
from the prior compensation committee

7775
05:10:46,480 --> 05:10:49,520
that had to be addressed. We put this

7776
05:10:49,520 --> 05:10:51,600
back to our attorneys and said, "Are

7777
05:10:51,600 --> 05:10:54,080
these claims valid? Do we have real

7778
05:10:54,080 --> 05:10:56,240
liability and exposure here?" They

7779
05:10:56,240 --> 05:10:58,240
answered, "Yes, this is this is a this

7780
05:10:58,240 --> 05:11:00,958
is a true mess.

7781
05:11:00,958 --> 05:11:03,120
Mr. Bush and Miss Clark are not making

7782
05:11:03,120 --> 05:11:05,680
this up. This is a mess, right? We need

7783
05:11:05,680 --> 05:11:08,798
to figure this out. The board discussed

7784
05:11:08,798 --> 05:11:11,600
this back in December that yeah, we want

7785
05:11:11,600 --> 05:11:13,200
to do this the right way. We need to

7786
05:11:13,200 --> 05:11:14,638
figure out a way to do this the right

7787
05:11:14,638 --> 05:11:16,480
way.

7788
05:11:16,480 --> 05:11:20,400
Once Mr. Waterman uh took his seat, he

7789
05:11:20,400 --> 05:11:22,400
was tasked with trying to figure out a

7790
05:11:22,400 --> 05:11:25,440
way to make this work.

7791
05:11:25,440 --> 05:11:27,360
When I asked questions as to how this

7792
05:11:27,360 --> 05:11:29,680
all took place over the last 48 hours,

7793
05:11:29,680 --> 05:11:31,600
there's a there's a lot of information

7794
05:11:31,600 --> 05:11:34,160
here to digest, but I was very satisfied

7795
05:11:34,160 --> 05:11:36,718
that it was done in a very fair and

7796
05:11:36,718 --> 05:11:40,160
legal way because it put the interests

7797
05:11:40,160 --> 05:11:43,120
of Ottawa County first. This could have

7798
05:11:43,120 --> 05:11:44,638
been a very expensive litigation to go

7799
05:11:44,638 --> 05:11:47,760
through. We avoided that. This was a

7800
05:11:47,760 --> 05:11:50,080
solution that two wonderful public

7801
05:11:50,080 --> 05:11:53,680
servants were willing to go along with.

7802
05:11:53,680 --> 05:11:55,840
appreciate that too. We need to not

7803
05:11:55,840 --> 05:11:59,040
repeat the the messes of the past. Do

7804
05:11:59,040 --> 05:12:00,480
things the right way. I'm very grateful

7805
05:12:00,480 --> 05:12:02,480
that the new compensation committee is

7806
05:12:02,480 --> 05:12:05,360
now meeting with legal counsel with uh

7807
05:12:05,360 --> 05:12:08,560
experienced seasoned leadership is uh is

7808
05:12:08,560 --> 05:12:10,798
public. They're using the cameras and

7809
05:12:10,798 --> 05:12:13,840
audio. Uh all things that the last

7810
05:12:13,840 --> 05:12:15,920
compensation committee didn't do. They

7811
05:12:15,920 --> 05:12:18,798
didn't even take minutes. It was a true

7812
05:12:18,798 --> 05:12:20,798
mess that needed to be cleaned up. So,

7813
05:12:20,798 --> 05:12:22,480
I'm grateful that we found a solution

7814
05:12:22,480 --> 05:12:26,480
that works, very inexpensive solution.

7815
05:12:26,480 --> 05:12:29,600
The the the false flag here to try to

7816
05:12:29,600 --> 05:12:31,200
equival

7817
05:12:31,200 --> 05:12:34,240
make the uh the accusation that certain

7818
05:12:34,240 --> 05:12:36,718
people are being paid, you know, without

7819
05:12:36,718 --> 05:12:40,160
the the whole board knowing is reckless.

7820
05:12:40,160 --> 05:12:41,040
>> No, it's not.

7821
05:12:41,040 --> 05:12:42,958
>> It's reckless. You should not be saying

7822
05:12:42,958 --> 05:12:45,200
that. You are making accusations about

7823
05:12:45,200 --> 05:12:47,280
things you know nothing of. You haven't

7824
05:12:47,280 --> 05:12:51,680
asked your questions. You know, you're you're

7825
05:12:51,680 --> 05:12:53,840
what happened under Commissioner Moss'

7826
05:12:53,840 --> 05:12:55,920
leadership with Eper and Wetmore. I keep

7827
05:12:55,920 --> 05:12:58,320
hearing it's it's like that this is

7828
05:12:58,320 --> 05:13:02,400
these this this is a false flag if I've

7829
05:13:02,400 --> 05:13:04,480
ever seen one. I appreciate that you

7830
05:13:04,480 --> 05:13:06,878
handled it correctly, that you came up

7831
05:13:06,878 --> 05:13:08,480
with a solution that we could move

7832
05:13:08,480 --> 05:13:10,878
forward with and this is in the best

7833
05:13:10,878 --> 05:13:13,120
interest of Ottawa County. So, I found

7834
05:13:13,120 --> 05:13:15,360
out about this just like everybody else

7835
05:13:15,360 --> 05:13:18,000
did, asked questions and got

7836
05:13:18,000 --> 05:13:19,920
satisfactory answers. So, I understand

7837
05:13:19,920 --> 05:13:22,000
that there's no there's no backroom

7838
05:13:22,000 --> 05:13:25,120
deals going on there. This kind of

7839
05:13:25,120 --> 05:13:28,638
language needs to stop because this

7840
05:13:28,638 --> 05:13:31,600
isn't helpful. So, that's where I stand

7841
05:13:31,600 --> 05:13:33,520
on this. I think that we can move

7842
05:13:33,520 --> 05:13:35,520
forward from this and I think that we

7843
05:13:35,520 --> 05:13:37,440
have a plan with the new compensation

7844
05:13:37,440 --> 05:13:39,280
committee to make sure that things are

7845
05:13:39,280 --> 05:13:41,040
back on track.

7846
05:13:41,040 --> 05:13:42,638
>> All right. Thank you. Uh, Commissioner,

7847
05:13:42,638 --> 05:13:45,280
anyone else care to comment? Uh,

7848
05:13:45,280 --> 05:13:46,000
Commissioner Winsel,

7849
05:13:46,000 --> 05:13:48,080
>> you just made the point that others knew

7850
05:13:48,080 --> 05:13:50,480
nothing of.

7851
05:13:50,480 --> 05:13:52,480
>> No, that that is the role of the

7852
05:13:52,480 --> 05:13:55,200
insurance authority to deal with this.

7853
05:13:55,200 --> 05:13:57,440
We've we've dealt with so many lawsuits

7854
05:13:57,440 --> 05:13:59,520
from Ottawa Impact's decisions.

7855
05:13:59,520 --> 05:14:01,520
>> How much how many millions of dollars

7856
05:14:01,520 --> 05:14:03,040
are sitting in the insurance authority

7857
05:14:03,040 --> 05:14:03,840
at the moment?

7858
05:14:03,840 --> 05:14:05,600
>> That is not what we're discussing,

7859
05:14:05,600 --> 05:14:08,160
Allison. We're discussing how to fix a

7860
05:14:08,160 --> 05:14:10,400
problem that was created by leadership

7861
05:14:10,400 --> 05:14:13,040
you put in place. Don,

7862
05:14:13,040 --> 05:14:15,280
>> well, I think it's important to keep in

7863
05:14:15,280 --> 05:14:18,160
mind understanding that

7864
05:14:18,160 --> 05:14:20,560
>> uh the insurance authority didn't change

7865
05:14:20,560 --> 05:14:23,280
any compensation commission decision.

7866
05:14:23,280 --> 05:14:27,350
They didn't change compensation.

7867
05:14:27,360 --> 05:14:28,958
» They basically gave additional

7868
05:14:28,958 --> 05:14:32,878
assignments to two elected officials.

7869
05:14:32,878 --> 05:14:35,760
The pay those elected officials get for

7870
05:14:35,760 --> 05:14:38,798
their statutory duties did not change.

7871
05:14:38,798 --> 05:14:40,560
And they're taking a risk. They they got

7872
05:14:40,560 --> 05:14:43,280
extra pay for extra duties. They did.

7873
05:14:43,280 --> 05:14:45,280
>> It was real work meetings.

7874
05:14:45,280 --> 05:14:48,080
>> Extra duties to get what they had been

7875
05:14:48,080 --> 05:14:51,520
owed all along and they still don't have

7876
05:14:51,520 --> 05:14:53,920
that in their salary. Now their salary

7877
05:14:53,920 --> 05:14:56,000
from the county is still below and

7878
05:14:56,000 --> 05:14:57,680
they're taking the risk that this will

7879
05:14:57,680 --> 05:15:00,878
be worked out I assume. Do you haveus to

7880
05:15:00,878 --> 05:15:03,440
show their work?

7881
05:15:03,440 --> 05:15:04,798
>> I don't have anything. I'm just

7882
05:15:04,798 --> 05:15:06,718
listening here like all of you like like

7883
05:15:06,718 --> 05:15:08,560
you I think. Well, no, no, no. Because

7884
05:15:08,560 --> 05:15:11,440
all you have at least you all have read

7885
05:15:11,440 --> 05:15:13,600
stuff before me. I walked into this

7886
05:15:13,600 --> 05:15:16,718
today. So, no, I don't have anything. Um

7887
05:15:16,718 --> 05:15:19,680
but but the idea But the idea that

7888
05:15:19,680 --> 05:15:22,480
county board decisions were changed, no,

7889
05:15:22,480 --> 05:15:24,798
or compensation commission decisions

7890
05:15:24,798 --> 05:15:27,280
were changed, that's not true. The

7891
05:15:27,280 --> 05:15:30,080
insurance authority acted on its own

7892
05:15:30,080 --> 05:15:32,958
with its own dollars with its own

7893
05:15:32,958 --> 05:15:35,280
assignments and these officials had to

7894
05:15:35,280 --> 05:15:36,878
do things beyond their statutory

7895
05:15:36,878 --> 05:15:39,360
authorities to get these dollars from

7896
05:15:39,360 --> 05:15:41,200
the insurance authority.

7897
05:15:41,200 --> 05:15:42,958
>> Okay. Thank you. Comfortable with that.

7898
05:15:42,958 --> 05:15:47,200
So I I am requesting um copies of the

7899
05:15:47,200 --> 05:15:49,200
affidavits from the members of the

7900
05:15:49,200 --> 05:15:55,760
officers compensation commission that are believed to have justified

7901
05:15:55,760 --> 05:15:58,320
these decisions. And so when when this

7902
05:15:58,320 --> 05:16:00,400
was brought to us before, we didn't

7903
05:16:00,400 --> 05:16:03,440
believe the evidence was there. And so

7904
05:16:03,440 --> 05:16:06,240
uh my understanding was was that you

7905
05:16:06,240 --> 05:16:08,798
know more a was that testimony was

7906
05:16:08,798 --> 05:16:11,360
requested of those officer compensation

7907
05:16:11,360 --> 05:16:14,160
commission members and then we as a

7908
05:16:14,160 --> 05:16:17,120
board didn't hear anything more after

7909
05:16:17,120 --> 05:16:20,080
those those things were requested. So, I

7910
05:16:20,080 --> 05:16:22,000
would like a copy of those records

7911
05:16:22,000 --> 05:16:24,878
because it appears to me that based on

7912
05:16:24,878 --> 05:16:27,440
whatever you received, you came to a

7913
05:16:27,440 --> 05:16:29,440
conclusion, I'm not saying you, but you

7914
05:16:29,440 --> 05:16:33,600
came to a conclusion that um that money

7915
05:16:33,600 --> 05:16:36,000
was owed to these two elected officials.

7916
05:16:36,000 --> 05:16:38,240
And so, that's information that we did

7917
05:16:38,240 --> 05:16:40,958
not have and that we were not provided

7918
05:16:40,958 --> 05:16:43,200
at that board meeting because because

7919
05:16:43,200 --> 05:16:45,600
that piece was missing for us. We were

7920
05:16:45,600 --> 05:16:49,680
not sure that that all the board members

7921
05:16:49,680 --> 05:16:52,480
truly did um vote on that and have that

7922
05:16:52,480 --> 05:16:54,480
understanding at that at that time and

7923
05:16:54,480 --> 05:16:57,280
that date. So, if you received evidence

7924
05:16:57,280 --> 05:16:59,200
that proves that, we would like to have

7925
05:16:59,200 --> 05:16:59,520
that.

7926
05:16:59,520 --> 05:17:01,520
>> I I'll have to look back, but I'm pretty

7927
05:17:01,520 --> 05:17:03,280
sure that that was included in the

7928
05:17:03,280 --> 05:17:04,480
resolution already.

7929
05:17:04,480 --> 05:17:07,280
>> No, it was included from one board

7930
05:17:07,280 --> 05:17:09,840
member, Larry Jackson, and we did not

7931
05:17:09,840 --> 05:17:12,400
have affidavit from all board members.

7932
05:17:12,400 --> 05:17:14,240
And so whatever information was

7933
05:17:14,240 --> 05:17:17,040
collected from all board members, this

7934
05:17:17,040 --> 05:17:19,920
board I believe needs to see.

7935
05:17:19,920 --> 05:17:22,400
>> I'll just jump in here. I I think valid

7936
05:17:22,400 --> 05:17:24,000
question. Sure, Silia. I I don't think

7937
05:17:24,000 --> 05:17:25,920
it's valid given the solution has

7938
05:17:25,920 --> 05:17:27,200
already taken place.

7939
05:17:27,200 --> 05:17:29,040
>> Well, but the solution might not have

7940
05:17:29,040 --> 05:17:31,680
been needed if it wasn't justified. So,

7941
05:17:31,680 --> 05:17:34,320
the justification is needed.

7942
05:17:34,320 --> 05:17:36,480
>> I appreciate that, but we chose not to

7943
05:17:36,480 --> 05:17:38,480
take action. I'm gonna read my draft

7944
05:17:38,480 --> 05:17:41,680
response to the board from earlier and

7945
05:17:41,680 --> 05:17:44,400
then let's wrap this up. Um,

7946
05:17:44,400 --> 05:17:45,840
>> Josh, could I do one really quick

7947
05:17:45,840 --> 05:17:47,280
comment before you do that?

7948
05:17:47,280 --> 05:17:49,360
>> I haven't I haven't spoken yet.

7949
05:17:49,360 --> 05:17:50,560
>> Keep it super short.

7950
05:17:50,560 --> 05:17:51,840
>> I'm just getting tired and it's

7951
05:17:51,840 --> 05:17:53,840
>> I know I have a meeting I have to go to,

7952
05:17:53,840 --> 05:17:55,040
too.

7953
05:17:55,040 --> 05:17:56,560
>> Um, I I'll just say I do have a much

7954
05:17:56,560 --> 05:17:57,600
better understanding of everything

7955
05:17:57,600 --> 05:18:00,560
that's happened now. Um, and as

7956
05:18:00,560 --> 05:18:02,638
Commissioner Bono was saying, I I think

7957
05:18:02,638 --> 05:18:05,200
I am there's one element that I'm

7958
05:18:05,200 --> 05:18:08,000
particularly just I'd like to raise and

7959
05:18:08,000 --> 05:18:09,760
that's that members of the insurance

7960
05:18:09,760 --> 05:18:11,840
authority were not aware of what the

7961
05:18:11,840 --> 05:18:16,000
work group did. So, as we've that

7962
05:18:16,000 --> 05:18:17,280
probably should have that should have

7963
05:18:17,280 --> 05:18:20,160
had a little tighter

7964
05:18:20,160 --> 05:18:21,040
connection.

7965
05:18:21,040 --> 05:18:23,440
>> That's not I I did report that to to the

7966
05:18:23,440 --> 05:18:25,040
insurance authority at the next meeting

7967
05:18:25,040 --> 05:18:26,878
following that. I give a report at every

7968
05:18:26,878 --> 05:18:29,040
meeting. did report that

7969
05:18:29,040 --> 05:18:30,718
>> I was out of the country for that

7970
05:18:30,718 --> 05:18:32,638
meeting. So that's correct.

7971
05:18:32,638 --> 05:18:34,000
>> Thank you. Thank you for providing the

7972
05:18:34,000 --> 05:18:35,920
additional information. And I have other

7973
05:18:35,920 --> 05:18:36,798
thoughts, but

7974
05:18:36,798 --> 05:18:37,600
>> Okay.

7975
05:18:37,600 --> 05:18:38,878
>> And and by the way, we have commissioner

7976
05:18:38,878 --> 05:18:40,480
comments later, which is where I thought

7977
05:18:40,480 --> 05:18:42,400
a lot of this belonged for me

7978
05:18:42,400 --> 05:18:44,958
personally. All right. Um here you go.

7979
05:18:44,958 --> 05:18:46,240
Having watched the compensation

7980
05:18:46,240 --> 05:18:48,080
committee meeting and reviewed the

7981
05:18:48,080 --> 05:18:49,840
December finance committee meeting

7982
05:18:49,840 --> 05:18:51,680
discussion about compensation for

7983
05:18:51,680 --> 05:18:54,240
countywide officials, I can completely

7984
05:18:54,240 --> 05:18:55,520
understand the confusion and

7985
05:18:55,520 --> 05:18:57,040
frustration.

7986
05:18:57,040 --> 05:18:59,200
At the December 9 finance committee

7987
05:18:59,200 --> 05:19:01,440
meeting, commissioners told staff that

7988
05:19:01,440 --> 05:19:02,798
they were not comfortable with the

7989
05:19:02,798 --> 05:19:04,240
proposed solution to increasing

7990
05:19:04,240 --> 05:19:05,920
compensation for Miss Clark and Mr.

7991
05:19:05,920 --> 05:19:08,638
Bush. A motion to address the issue was

7992
05:19:08,638 --> 05:19:10,560
tabled and staff were tasked with coming

7993
05:19:10,560 --> 05:19:13,200
up with another solution.

7994
05:19:13,200 --> 05:19:14,560
different interpretations on whether

7995
05:19:14,560 --> 05:19:15,920
that was to come back to the board or

7996
05:19:15,920 --> 05:19:19,430
not. I agree.

7997
05:19:19,440 --> 05:19:21,520
The next time the full board met was a

7998
05:19:21,520 --> 05:19:24,480
week later, December 18. The issue was

7999
05:19:24,480 --> 05:19:26,320
not addressed or discussed. It was not

8000
05:19:26,320 --> 05:19:28,080
put back on the table. Matter of fact,

8001
05:19:28,080 --> 05:19:29,360
it shouldn't have been because it wasn't

8002
05:19:29,360 --> 05:19:31,680
the finance committee meeting. The next

8003
05:19:31,680 --> 05:19:33,360
time the finance committee meeting met

8004
05:19:33,360 --> 05:19:36,160
was on January 20th. The issue was not

8005
05:19:36,160 --> 05:19:37,760
discussed. No commissioners brought it

8006
05:19:37,760 --> 05:19:39,120
back onto the table for further

8007
05:19:39,120 --> 05:19:41,280
discussion.

8008
05:19:41,280 --> 05:19:43,920
In the meantime, staff approached Miss

8009
05:19:43,920 --> 05:19:46,400
Clark and Mr. Bush from the through the

8010
05:19:46,400 --> 05:19:48,400
vantage point of the insurance authority

8011
05:19:48,400 --> 05:19:49,840
with an opportunity to take on

8012
05:19:49,840 --> 05:19:51,920
additional work on behalf of the

8013
05:19:51,920 --> 05:19:54,320
insurance authority. Both Miss Clark and

8014
05:19:54,320 --> 05:19:58,798
Mr. Bush agreed to do additional work

8015
05:19:58,798 --> 05:20:02,160
and were assigned projects

8016
05:20:02,160 --> 05:20:05,600
as stated by uh Mr. uh Waterman over

8017
05:20:05,600 --> 05:20:07,280
there. Mr. Bush is working on an

8018
05:20:07,280 --> 05:20:09,200
evaluation of insurance authority owned

8019
05:20:09,200 --> 05:20:11,840
property associated with the 231 bypass.

8020
05:20:11,840 --> 05:20:13,680
Miss Clark is working on numerous

8021
05:20:13,680 --> 05:20:17,360
lawsuit reviews.

8022
05:20:17,360 --> 05:20:20,560
Between December 9

8023
05:20:20,560 --> 05:20:22,798
and this week's compensation committee

8024
05:20:22,798 --> 05:20:24,718
meeting, which was last week at the time

8025
05:20:24,718 --> 05:20:26,798
I wrote this, while neither the finance

8026
05:20:26,798 --> 05:20:28,560
committee nor the board of commissioners

8027
05:20:28,560 --> 05:20:30,320
asked for further updates from staff

8028
05:20:30,320 --> 05:20:32,638
regarding the December 9 discussion,

8029
05:20:32,638 --> 05:20:34,878
neither did staff nor board leadership.

8030
05:20:34,878 --> 05:20:36,718
I'll put myself in that offer that a

8031
05:20:36,718 --> 05:20:38,240
solution had been found and undertaken

8032
05:20:38,240 --> 05:20:40,638
with the insurance authority.

8033
05:20:40,638 --> 05:20:42,958
The reason that this slipped my mind at

8034
05:20:42,958 --> 05:20:45,360
the insurance authority meeting is that

8035
05:20:45,360 --> 05:20:47,920
was the first meeting in January

8036
05:20:47,920 --> 05:20:49,680
and while commissioner or excuse me

8037
05:20:49,680 --> 05:20:51,680
administrator Waterman did bring this up

8038
05:20:51,680 --> 05:20:53,920
and mentioned that the work group had

8039
05:20:53,920 --> 05:20:56,320
resolved the issue the primary

8040
05:20:56,320 --> 05:20:58,718
discussion at that meeting was the

8041
05:20:58,718 --> 05:21:02,480
lawsuit against Mr. Moss by Mr. Klein.

8042
05:21:02,480 --> 05:21:05,200
At that lawsuit, we were informed that

8043
05:21:05,200 --> 05:21:06,798
would we should we not settle this

8044
05:21:06,798 --> 05:21:09,120
lawsuit, we would be looking at millions

8045
05:21:09,120 --> 05:21:12,240
of dollars in damages.

8046
05:21:12,240 --> 05:21:14,638
So, you'll have to forgive me if a 10

8047
05:21:14,638 --> 05:21:18,000
to$15,000 issue slipped my mind at that

8048
05:21:18,000 --> 05:21:21,520
time. However, I will say that we should

8049
05:21:21,520 --> 05:21:23,040
have myself and Patrick should have

8050
05:21:23,040 --> 05:21:25,280
reported back to the full board um at

8051
05:21:25,280 --> 05:21:27,120
the next earliest meeting or to the

8052
05:21:27,120 --> 05:21:28,958
finance committee as this originated in

8053
05:21:28,958 --> 05:21:30,958
the finance committee. And for that lack

8054
05:21:30,958 --> 05:21:33,200
of communication, I do apologize. And we

8055
05:21:33,200 --> 05:21:34,638
will work to do a better job, won't we,

8056
05:21:34,638 --> 05:21:35,120
Patrick?

8057
05:21:35,120 --> 05:21:35,680
>> Yep.

8058
05:21:35,680 --> 05:21:38,320
>> All right. Thank you. Let's move on now

8059
05:21:38,320 --> 05:21:40,560
to the next item on the agenda, which I

8060
05:21:40,560 --> 05:21:42,560
think

8061
05:21:42,560 --> 05:21:45,840
>> I don't know where it went.

8062
05:21:45,840 --> 05:21:46,958
>> Oh, report from the county

8063
05:21:46,958 --> 05:21:49,680
administrator. Clear the slate, take a

8064
05:21:49,680 --> 05:21:52,000
deep breath, and Patrick, take it away.

8065
05:21:52,000 --> 05:21:54,480
>> You um I don't want to steal any of the

8066
05:21:54,480 --> 05:21:56,718
commissioners thunder, but I did. Brian

8067
05:21:56,718 --> 05:21:58,080
and I enjoyed the time we were able to

8068
05:21:58,080 --> 05:21:59,600
spend with the seven commissioners who

8069
05:21:59,600 --> 05:22:01,680
attended this week's MAC legislative

8070
05:22:01,680 --> 05:22:04,240
conference in Lancing. Uh he and I came

8071
05:22:04,240 --> 05:22:06,000
back with a lot of good notes and ideas

8072
05:22:06,000 --> 05:22:07,440
on things we can look at doing here in

8073
05:22:07,440 --> 05:22:10,240
Ottawa. The legal services director

8074
05:22:10,240 --> 05:22:12,080
position is currently posted and while

8075
05:22:12,080 --> 05:22:13,600
there have been several qualified

8076
05:22:13,600 --> 05:22:15,680
applicants that have applied, we did

8077
05:22:15,680 --> 05:22:17,120
decide to extend the application

8078
05:22:17,120 --> 05:22:19,360
deadline to May 15th to allow additional

8079
05:22:19,360 --> 05:22:22,958
time for an eer even deeper pool of more

8080
05:22:22,958 --> 05:22:25,280
qualified applicants. So we do hope to

8081
05:22:25,280 --> 05:22:27,440
begin the interview process for that

8082
05:22:27,440 --> 05:22:30,320
towards the end of May. Work continues

8083
05:22:30,320 --> 05:22:33,040
on the CH authority transition efforts

8084
05:22:33,040 --> 05:22:35,120
which seem to pop up new thoughts and

8085
05:22:35,120 --> 05:22:38,080
questions daily. Uh I have asked Deputy

8086
05:22:38,080 --> 05:22:39,680
Administrator Deette to prepare an

8087
05:22:39,680 --> 05:22:41,440
update on the progress for the board at

8088
05:22:41,440 --> 05:22:43,040
the next month's meeting.

8089
05:22:43,040 --> 05:22:46,080
Coincidentally, um I ran into the deputy

8090
05:22:46,080 --> 05:22:47,760
from Mskegeegan and one of his

8091
05:22:47,760 --> 05:22:50,160
commissioners um at the MAC conference

8092
05:22:50,160 --> 05:22:51,760
who are now looking at transitioning

8093
05:22:51,760 --> 05:22:54,320
their CH department to an authority. So

8094
05:22:54,320 --> 05:22:59,280
they want to ask uh questions about that. Uh speaking of which, as was

8095
05:22:59,280 --> 05:23:01,200
noted, May is mental health awareness

8096
05:23:01,200 --> 05:23:04,638
month, which was established in 1949 to

8097
05:23:04,638 --> 05:23:06,080
highlight the importance of mental

8098
05:23:06,080 --> 05:23:07,600
health, educate the public, and

8099
05:23:07,600 --> 05:23:09,840
celebrate recovery from mental illness.

8100
05:23:09,840 --> 05:23:12,000
The observance encourages individuals

8101
05:23:12,000 --> 05:23:14,320
and communities to recognize the vital

8102
05:23:14,320 --> 05:23:16,080
role mental health plays in overall

8103
05:23:16,080 --> 05:23:18,320
well-being and to foster supportive

8104
05:23:18,320 --> 05:23:20,240
environments for those experiencing

8105
05:23:20,240 --> 05:23:22,400
mental health challenges. Staff will be

8106
05:23:22,400 --> 05:23:24,320
working on creative ideas on how to

8107
05:23:24,320 --> 05:23:26,080
answer this challenge and I would invite

8108
05:23:26,080 --> 05:23:28,560
any of the board members uh to do the

8109
05:23:28,560 --> 05:23:31,360
same to submit any ideas on how we can

8110
05:23:31,360 --> 05:23:33,840
raise awareness this month.

8111
05:23:33,840 --> 05:23:36,480
Next week I will be receiving uh

8112
05:23:36,480 --> 05:23:38,320
feedback on the proposed strategic plan

8113
05:23:38,320 --> 05:23:40,560
that I received from leadership team and

8114
05:23:40,560 --> 05:23:43,040
using it to populate the action steps in

8115
05:23:43,040 --> 05:23:46,400
the draft plan. Uh we plan to present

8116
05:23:46,400 --> 05:23:48,560
the draft plan to this board at a May

8117
05:23:48,560 --> 05:23:49,920
work session. I think we're looking

8118
05:23:49,920 --> 05:23:52,160
somewhere chair offsite. Is that

8119
05:23:52,160 --> 05:23:52,638
correct?

8120
05:23:52,638 --> 05:23:53,520
>> For the May

8121
05:23:53,520 --> 05:23:55,520
>> uh in towards the end of May. So um

8122
05:23:55,520 --> 05:23:58,320
we're excited to uh circle back on that

8123
05:23:58,320 --> 05:24:00,080
conversation on the strategic priorities

8124
05:24:00,080 --> 05:24:02,798
of this board. And lastly, based on

8125
05:24:02,798 --> 05:24:05,440
today's vote, a newly created document

8126
05:24:05,440 --> 05:24:07,120
from our communications department

8127
05:24:07,120 --> 05:24:09,360
called your millillage investment will

8128
05:24:09,360 --> 05:24:10,958
be published and made available for

8129
05:24:10,958 --> 05:24:13,280
public distribution. The document

8130
05:24:13,280 --> 05:24:15,520
provides educational talking points that

8131
05:24:15,520 --> 05:24:17,280
you as board members can discuss with

8132
05:24:17,280 --> 05:24:19,920
your constituents. And we'll also be

8133
05:24:19,920 --> 05:24:22,480
launching on our website at my Ottawa a

8134
05:24:22,480 --> 05:24:24,718
millillage calculator so property owners

8135
05:24:24,718 --> 05:24:28,560
can uh see personally what that impact

8136
05:24:28,560 --> 05:24:31,520
will be uh on their property taxes and

8137
05:24:31,520 --> 05:24:33,360
that's based on the taxable value. So

8138
05:24:33,360 --> 05:24:36,080
it's a true accurate uh calculation of

8139
05:24:36,080 --> 05:24:38,878
the impact. That's all I have.

8140
05:24:38,878 --> 05:24:41,360
>> Thank you sir. Just a round table round

8141
05:24:41,360 --> 05:24:44,798
robin if anybody would like to comment.

8142
05:24:44,798 --> 05:24:46,080
>> You are welcome to do so.

8143
05:24:46,080 --> 05:24:49,520
>> Sure. Uh festival season is back. Tulip

8144
05:24:49,520 --> 05:24:51,440
time is going to be here. Uh I'm excited

8145
05:24:51,440 --> 05:24:53,200
about that. It's going to be a great

8146
05:24:53,200 --> 05:24:55,760
time to celebrate our Dutch heritage. Uh

8147
05:24:55,760 --> 05:24:57,360
let's be safe out there. Let's stay out

8148
05:24:57,360 --> 05:25:00,080
of the traffic and uh yeah, I'm excited.

8149
05:25:00,080 --> 05:25:02,160
There's a lot of economy that takes

8150
05:25:02,160 --> 05:25:03,440
place for a lot of small businesses

8151
05:25:03,440 --> 05:25:05,840
right now. And so be praying for safe

8152
05:25:05,840 --> 05:25:07,760
roads and safe crowds.

8153
05:25:07,760 --> 05:25:09,520
>> Thank you, Commissioner Bonama. Anyone

8154
05:25:09,520 --> 05:25:11,680
else?

8155
05:25:11,680 --> 05:25:12,480
>> I'll go.

8156
05:25:12,480 --> 05:25:14,080
>> Oh, Commissioner Roing. Okay. I also

8157
05:25:14,080 --> 05:25:15,840
enjoyed the Matt conference was good

8158
05:25:15,840 --> 05:25:17,440
spending time with you guys and getting

8159
05:25:17,440 --> 05:25:21,200
to know Brian better. Um and so uh that

8160
05:25:21,200 --> 05:25:23,280
was really good. Also just spending time

8161
05:25:23,280 --> 05:25:25,360
talking with commissioners from other

8162
05:25:25,360 --> 05:25:27,200
counties and finding out you know

8163
05:25:27,200 --> 05:25:28,400
different things that have been

8164
05:25:28,400 --> 05:25:30,000
happening in their counties was very

8165
05:25:30,000 --> 05:25:34,320
helpful as well. Um I'm really pleased

8166
05:25:34,320 --> 05:25:37,760
to see the CH um you know and the parks

8167
05:25:37,760 --> 05:25:40,480
millillage go on forward and um

8168
05:25:40,480 --> 05:25:42,160
hopefully those will be great things for

8169
05:25:42,160 --> 05:25:43,440
our county.

8170
05:25:43,440 --> 05:25:45,280
Thank you, Commissioner. Anyone else?

8171
05:25:45,280 --> 05:25:46,320
Commissioner Barry,

8172
05:25:46,320 --> 05:25:49,040
>> I just want to apologize for being tardy

8173
05:25:49,040 --> 05:25:51,680
today uh with the price of gasoline. I I

8174
05:25:51,680 --> 05:25:53,600
rode my bicycle out here from Park

8175
05:25:53,600 --> 05:25:55,840
Township, but

8176
05:25:55,840 --> 05:25:58,638
somehow my calendar showed 9:30 for the

8177
05:25:58,638 --> 05:26:00,320
meeting and then when Josh called me, I

8178
05:26:00,320 --> 05:26:03,280
about had a stroke and set a world

8179
05:26:03,280 --> 05:26:05,200
all-time world speed record getting out

8180
05:26:05,200 --> 05:26:08,160
here from Park Township. But um uh but I

8181
05:26:08,160 --> 05:26:10,080
just wanted to say I I also wanted to

8182
05:26:10,080 --> 05:26:12,878
apologize to uh employees that were

8183
05:26:12,878 --> 05:26:14,878
recognized today or the sheriff's

8184
05:26:14,878 --> 05:26:16,798
accommodation awards and the customer

8185
05:26:16,798 --> 05:26:18,798
service awards. We got some terrific

8186
05:26:18,798 --> 05:26:20,638
employees here at the the county and I'm

8187
05:26:20,638 --> 05:26:22,878
really glad that uh our board takes time

8188
05:26:22,878 --> 05:26:25,120
to recognize that.

8189
05:26:25,120 --> 05:26:26,798
>> All right. Thank you, Commissioner. Uh

8190
05:26:26,798 --> 05:26:29,760
Commissioner MBA. Um just just again a

8191
05:26:29,760 --> 05:26:34,320
huge thank you to staff um for the hours

8192
05:26:34,320 --> 05:26:38,080
of work for putting into um our our

8193
05:26:38,080 --> 05:26:40,718
deliberating on the millages. Um it

8194
05:26:40,718 --> 05:26:44,000
doesn't go unnoticed. Um I recognize a

8195
05:26:44,000 --> 05:26:46,400
lot of time was spent in that into that

8196
05:26:46,400 --> 05:26:48,560
and I appreciated the dialogue that we

8197
05:26:48,560 --> 05:26:51,040
had as a board as well.

8198
05:26:51,040 --> 05:26:55,120
>> Commissioner, thank you. Anyone else?

8199
05:26:55,120 --> 05:26:57,120
All right. Uh seeing none, I'll just

8200
05:26:57,120 --> 05:26:58,560
close us out by saying thank you

8201
05:26:58,560 --> 05:27:00,160
everyone for uh your attention during

8202
05:27:00,160 --> 05:27:01,680
this very long meeting. We got through a

8203
05:27:01,680 --> 05:27:02,958
lot of stuff, some of it difficult, some

8204
05:27:02,958 --> 05:27:05,920
of it smooth. Um but this is the work we

8205
05:27:05,920 --> 05:27:07,920
are called to do. So um it's a privilege

8206
05:27:07,920 --> 05:27:09,760
and an honor to serve with all of you.

8207
05:27:09,760 --> 05:27:11,200
Thank you to our staff for sticking

8208
05:27:11,200 --> 05:27:18,470
around. And with that, we are adjourned.

8209
05:27:18,480 --> 05:27:22,600
I've had a choice to stick around.