The commissioners considered a resolution outlining the one-year term for the Board Chairperson.

• Commissioner Doug Zylstra made a motion to amend the resolution, ending the chairperson’s term on December 31st rather than “upon the election of a Chairperson in January of 2027.”

• Commissioner John Teeples disagreed saying that not having a chairperson from the end of December until the Organizational Meeting in January would put the county at risk if there were an emergency with no chair to sign off on the County’s actions.

• Zylstra countered that the County has Emergency Management, a clerk, and a sheriff who easily could handle emergencies during that time.

• Commissioner Joe Moss suggested the resolution be changed to read that the chair’s term begins upon election by the Board at the Organizational Meeting and concludes at the completion of the elected term or the next Organizational Meeting, whichever comes first.

• Commissioner Sylvia Rhodea tweaked Moss’ suggestion to the chair’s term concluding at the beginning of the following Organizational Meeting.

The amendment to the resolution as suggested by Moss and tweaked by Rhodea passed.

Those voting yes: Commissioners Sylvia Rhodea, Josh Brugger, Jacob Bonnema, Kendra Wenzel, Allison Miedema, Joe Moss, Jordan Jorritsma, Phil Kuyers, Jim Barry, and John Teeples.

Those voting no: Commissioner Doug Zylstra.

With the terms established, the commissioners first voted in Commissioner Kuyers as temporary Chair to run the election proceedings for Chair and Vice Chair. Once Kuyers had the gavel, the commissioners commenced to nominating for 2026 Chair.

• Rhodea said Commissioner Allison Miedema would be outstanding as Chair. Miedema has a “proven desire to provide leadership to the Board and the County” and is also wise, diligent in her research, and a fierce advocate for all of the constituents in the county.

• Miedema thanked Rhodea and said she would appreciate the opportunity to serve as Chair. If not elected, she also would be willing to serve as Vice Chair. Acknowledging the community’s desire for a unified Board, Miedema said she would work with the Administrator to increase transparency among the commissioners and the constituents and make sure all voices and ideas on the Board are heard.

• Teeples nominated Commissioner Josh Brugger. He stated that Brugger is tireless, committed to the betterment of Ottawa County, gets along well with people, and is a strategic thinker and a planner. He has appreciated Brugger’s foresight into issues and his prudency.

• Zylstra nominated himself, saying he’d served as a commissioner for the last seven years and had learned from prior Chairmen what works well and where the Board can improve. He would use his knowledge and experience to lead with even-handedness and consistency and would support each commissioner so that the Board could be the best it could be.

The commissioners voted on the three nominees, Miedema, Brugger, and Zylstra.

Those who voted for Commissioner Josh Brugger:
Commissioners Jim Barry, Jordan Jorritsma, Jacob Bonnema, John Teeples, Phil Kuyers, and Josh Brugger.

Those who voted for Commissioner Allison Miedema:
Commissioners Joe Moss, Kendra Wenzel, Sylvia Rhodea, and Allison Miedema.

Those who voted for Commissioner Doug Zylstra:
Commissioner Doug Zylstra.

Upon winning the majority of votes, Brugger shared a few comments. He talked about how the Board had been in a reactionary phase but now could focus forward. The Special Meeting on January 13 will be when the appointments, standing committees, board rules, and the CMH decision are addressed, as he hadn’t wanted to be presumptuous that he would be Chair and come prepared. He said he wants the Board to focus on “one, two, maybe three issues tops” this year in order to be laser focused and make a difference. “And we’re all going to have to get behind that and set aside our individual desires…,” he said.

The commissioners next voted on the position of 2026 Vice Chair.

• Rhodea again nominated Miedema.

• Bonnema nominated Kuyers.

• Zylstra spoke in support of Miedema, recognizing that there are factions on the Board and a need for leadership that “makes some sense.”

• Kuyers talked about his 20 years of experience and how he thought that he, the County Administrator, and Brugger would make a “really great team.”

• Brugger mentioned that when the discussion came up about him potentially being Chair, his first thought was to have Kuyers as Vice Chair, given his “monumental experience.” Brugger told how one of his campaign slogans had been to “bring boring back to Ottawa County,” and that he thought Kuyers could help him do that.

The commissioners voted on the two nominees, Miedema and Kuyers.

Those who voted for Commissioner Allison Miedema:
Commissioners Doug Zylstra, Allison Miedema, Sylvia Rhodea, Joe Moss, and Kendra Wenzel.

Those who voted for Commissioner Phil Kuyers:
Commissioners John Teeples, Jordan Jorritsma, Phil Kuyers, Jim Barry, Jacob Bonnema, and Josh Brugger.

Once Commissioner Kuyers received the majority of votes, County Clerk Justin Roebuck swore Commissioners Brugger and him into their positions.

Zylstra made a motion to have the Committee Assignments and Board Rules added to the Organizational Meeting agenda, as had been done in the past, rather than pushing them to another meeting.

• Miedema supported Zylstra, explaining that it’s helpful to know where each will be serving from the start of the year.

• Teeples disagreed. He didn’t want Brugger to have to make numerous assessments and figure out such a complicated process during his first meeting as chair.

• Miedema interjected that since this is a nonelection year, she wouldn’t expect there to be much change to the committees.

• Brugger said he was disappointed in the motion because during his conversation with Zylstra the night before, he had assured him the assignments and Board Rules would not be happening at the Organizational Meeting. He added that he could be open to it in the future.

The motion to add Committee Assignments, Board and Commission appointments, and Board Rules to the agenda failed.

Those who voted no: Commissioners Jordan Jorritsma, Jim Barry, Allison Miedema, Joe Moss, Phil Kuyers, Jacob Bonnema, John Teeples, and Josh Brugger.

Those who voted yes: Commissioners Sylvia Rhodea, Doug Zylstra, and Kendra Wenzel.

The commissioners reviewed the 2026 meeting times that had been proposed.

• Zylstra made a motion to add in one Board of Commissioners meeting per month February through October. He said while he appreciated the “experiment” of last year’s scheduling, in some ways the commissioners didn’t have the band width to handle what they needed to handle.

• Miedema agreed with adding more scheduled meetings rather than having to call a special meeting when issues arise. Having the meetings scheduled would allow for better planning. She added that the Chair could cancel the meetings if needed.

• Moss did not feel the need to add meetings to the current agenda, but said he supported adding more work sessions and regular meetings for the Board to work and requested commissioners receive 30- or 60-day notice.

• Teeples spoke about last year’s scheduling being an “experiment.” He thought it worked. In addition to the special meeting for CMH, he said there was only one other special meeting called that didn’t fit into the agenda. He claimed the Board accomplished the work it needed to and in less time than the previous Board. To him, adding more dates to the schedule would add more “bureaucracy” of oversight by the people’s elected representatives.

• Rhodea said she would appreciate getting more notice for added meetings.

• Both Kuyers and Barry were open to more work sessions.

• Miedema offered to amend the motion to adding four established quarterly work sessions. Zylstra supported Miedema’s amendment, adding that the meetings should allow commissioners to offer topics of discussion.

• Brugger said he would be interested in a later discussion about work sessions, after the strategic planning session in March.

The amended motion to add four quarterly work sessions starting in March failed.

Those voting no: Commissioners Joe Moss, Phil Kuyers, Sylvia Rhodea, Jordan Jorritsma, John Teeples, Jacob Bonnema, Jim Barry, Josh Brugger

Those voting yes: Commissioners Kendra Wenzel, Doug Zylstra, Allison Miedema,

After the failure of the amendment, the proposed meeting times passed as presented.

County Treasurer Cheryl Clark presented a resolution regarding tax credits for senior citizens, paraplegics, quadriplegics, eligible servicepersons, eligible veterans, eligible widows, totally and permanently disabled and blind persons. Those who qualify can use their tax credit from the State of Michigan to pay their property tax bills without incurring fees or interest.

Clark shared that not many know of this deferment opportunity and encouraged the commissioners to get the word out before the next send out of summer taxes.

• The process begins with qualified property owners requesting a summer tax deferment from their township or city where their property is located. A summer tax deferment will defer payment on their summer tax bill until February 15, which is when their winter tax is due.

• Next the property owners would go to the township or city where their property is located and request a deferment for their winter taxes, which would give them until the end of February.

• Then the Ottawa County Treasurer’s Office would begin collection of those taxes in March, giving the Treasurer’s Office the authority to give a deferment to those who qualify until May 1—which is usually when property owners get their taxes back from the State of Michigan. The property owners can use those taxes to pay their property taxes.

The resolution passed unanimously.

The commissioners offered congratulations to Brugger and Kuyers and spoke of their enthusiasm for the year ahead.

• Miedema appreciated that the Board had increased the band width of the Veterans Service Department and highlighted some of the department’s work across the county.

• Rhodea said she believes both Kuyers and Brugger have the best interest of the county at heart and appreciates their hard work. She then put forth a challenge. She shared that when Kuyers was running for a spot with the MAC Conference, he was asked how he would handle it when he disagreed with those in state/federal leadership. Kuyers had reportedly responded that it would not be his position to buck something he disagreed with, but would go along with the governor, president, or whomever was in charge. Rhodea challenged Kuyers and Brugger that in “bringing boring back,” they resist “blanketly following unwise leaders or government structures that are doing things that are unwise.” She mentioned her support for President Trump and that following Governor Whitmer was problematic. She encouraged them to use their discretion and discernment as they lead the county.

January 2, 2026 Ottawa County Board of Commissioners meeting.

Ottawa County Board of Commissioners
Organizational Meeting
January 2, 2026

Ottawa County Administration Building
12220 Fillmore Street
West Olive, MI 49460