There were several policies that were analyzed and tweaked throughout the meeting, but the policies garnering the most conversation were concerning commissioner expense and mileage. The changes up for consideration read like the County staff’s policies, but with caveats.

• Commissioner Doug Zylstra pointed out that the updated version of the mileage policy no longer allows room to document details—only providing enough space to list a lump sum.

• Commissioner Allison Miedema said she preferred including details so that constituents can see the events commissioners attend, adding that there also was no longer a provision for mileage reimbursement to and from work.

• Commissioner Phil Kuyers said that he considers his place of work as his home and his district, not the County building.

• Commissioner John Teeples agreed that what was considered a commissioner’s work location was confusing.

• Commissioner Joe Moss pointed out that the policy updates still allow for mileage reimbursement, but that going forward the amount would be treated as taxable. He concurred with making it taxable but wanted to know the reason behind it.

• Commissioner Sylvia Rhodea disagreed with the policy being changed, reflecting on the “commissioner compensation fiasco.” She said that compensation for commissioners is “ridiculous” and a statewide problem, which comes from commissioners being statutorily responsible for setting their own pay. No one is ever brave enough to increase it in order to compensate commissioners for the amount of hours it actually takes to do the work. She added that one of the ramifications is that it disqualifies those who can’t afford to be a commissioner. Compensating commissioners for mileage makes the situation “a tiny bit better” and, according to Rhodea, though it’s different from the staff policy on mileage allowance, it’s “perfectly acceptable.”

• Interim Deputy Administrator Ron Frantz said he was behind the policy change, agreeing there was confusion on what to define as a commissioner’s office. His solution was to make mileage taxable to avoid any problem with the IRS.

The Board decided to table the mileage and expense policy updates to allow for further discussion.

Veterans Services Director Jason Schenkel encouraged the public to attend the following upcoming event:

Stand Down and Resource Fair
September 18, 10 am – 2 pm
Central Park Place Event Center
421 Columbus Ave.
Grand Haven

Approximately 65 community partners have signed up to attend, including local government, state, and federal VA to provide resources and services. Lunch and Hudsonville ice cream will be provided free of charge.

Schenkel shared about the work the Veterans Services Department is doing with burials. Last year the department assisted with six burials, whereas this year there have been about thirty. Schenkel said they serve surviving veterans and families with federal cemetery expenses and advocate on their behalf in national cemeteries. The department also works to obtain any federal funding for survivors.

Kory Plockmeyer, the new Executive Director for Lakeshore Nonprofit Alliance (LNA), was introduced to the Board.

• Commissioner Allison Miedema told Plockmeyer that DEI has been a topic of concern for the Board and that the Board voted to continue to fund LNA with the understanding there would be internal changes. “We were told by your organization prior to your hire that you would be cleaning up your website to reflect the values we desire to be promoted through Ottawa County, which includes the elimination of infusing DEI into nonprofits,” Miedema said. She asked Plockmeyer to share his current position on DEI either during the meeting or the next time he appears before the Board.

• Plockmeyer responded, “Absolutely… there are still some of the specific fine tune details that I am still learning. [I] was certainly aware that that commitment was part of the organization’s commitment to the County… it is my intention to honor those commitments. Full transparency, I have not been onboarded yet… so on the specifics I can’t speak in more detail… I know that it is an ongoing conversation within the Board to ensure we have alignment with the County while we continue to support the efforts of nonprofits… I look forward to figuring out what that looks like in the next 90 days.”

Prosecuting Attorney Sarah Matwiejczyk provided the 2024 Annual Report from the Ottawa County Prosecutor’s Office.

• Ottawa County caseloads are down in: Total Crime, Misdemeanor Drunk Driving, Drugs, Domestic Violence, Breaking and Entering, Property, Robbery, Weapons Offenses, Extraditions, Abuse Neglect Cases, Adult Felonies, and Adult Misdemeanors.

• Ottawa County caseloads are up in: Juvenile Delinquency Petitions, Felony Drunk Driving, Criminal Sexual Conduct, and Arson.

Sheriff Eric DeBoer shared the 2024 Annual Report from the Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office.

• The Sheriff cautioned those reading the report to remember that crime numbers always will rise and fall within normal fluctuations. What matters is identifying what lies outside the norm. DeBoer said it’s also important to consider the reasons behind the numbers in the context of the department’s operations. Some fluctuations may reflect the impact of understaffing, with fewer deputies to detect and respond.

• Beyond the statistics, DeBoer said the investigative team handled numerous major cases in 2024 that demonstrate the complexity of crime in Ottawa County and the dedication of the staff.

•On average, the jail housed 269 individuals each day and processed 4527 bookings over the course of the year. The facility continues to offer programs that support rehabilitation.

(Part I) September 9, 2025 Ottawa County Board of Commissioners Planning & Policy Committee meeting.

(Part II) September 9, 2025 Ottawa County Board of Commissioners Planning & Policy Committee meeting.

Director of Strategic Impact Paul Sachs provided a progress report of ARPA-funded initiatives (page 8 of the Agenda Packet). Commissioners expressed appreciated for how complete and thorough the report is and asked if it could be made available for constituents. Sachs said he would add it to the website and make it downloadable.

Finance Agenda items received unanimous commissioner support until they came to the Environmental Health Fee Schedule.

• Moss requested the removal of the RETE (Real Estate Transfer Evaluation) Rush fee, saying that over the last few years it was one of the constituent complaints he’s received the most. The fee is $250 and is paid when someone needs a well or septic evaluation more quickly. Moss said because everyone pays it, it’s no longer a rush fee but more like a default fee. He added that from his understanding the time it takes to schedule well and septic real estate inspections has gone down, and there’s a negative perception by realtors forced to pay a fee to speed up the process. “It’s only $10–15,000, not a big item, but it is a pinch point for people.”

• Environmental Health Manager Spencer Ballard explained that the rush fee essentially covers the cost of paying an employee time and a half to do the work after hours or on the weekend.

• Miedema asked how many people are using the rush fee, adding that if everyone is using it, then it is more of a staffing issue.

• Commissioner Josh Brugger expressed concern that if the fee were removed, there would be complaints that there was no way to expedite the process.

• Commissioner Jim Barry doubted whether the fee was as much of a concern now as it was five years ago.

• Moss agreed the issue was much bigger in the past when the market was hotter, but added that with the improvement in turnaround times he thought it would be seen as a positive move for realtors who do business in Ottawa County. “If we take it away,” Moss said, “it will increase the accountability of the process and will help us understand how long inspections are taking… It causes the responsibility to deliver quickly, then rests on shoulders of the County. And it’s a 100% government-controlled process because you can only go through the County.”

The motion to eliminate the rush fee failed.

Those voting no: Commissioners Josh Brugger, Doug Zylstra, Phil Kuyers, Jim Barry, Allison Miedema, John Teeples, Jacob Bonnema.

Those voting yes: Commissioners Joe Moss, Sylvia Rhodea, Kendra Wenzel.

After a failed attempt by Miedema to table, the Board approved Environmental Health’s fees but at a 65% increase of the proposed amounts.

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

Those voting no: Commissioners Doug Zylstra and Josh Brugger.

• Commissioner Rhodea asked for clarity around commissioner expenditures reflecting on when commissioners were invited by the White House to attend a conference in D.C. there was only enough money for one commissioner to attend. Those commissioners not covered split the expenses with the commissioner whose costs were paid.

• Interim County Administer Gary Rosema responded that he thought the commissioners should put a value on what would be gained out of an experience. “If you just put money in a pot, it won’t be long before this one’s going to this conference, and that conference, and that conference…”

• Commissioner Brugger suggested adding the topic to the strategic plan discussion with the new administrator.

On Monday, September 8, 2025, the Citizen Work Group met to interview the five candidates and detailed their perceptions on evaluation sheets for the commissioners.

On Wednesday, September 10, 2025, the Board of Commissioners met to conduct interviews of the candidates.

The candidates:
Paul Sachs
Matthew Farrar
Kurt Dykstra
Patrick Waterman
Chris Kukulski

Following the interview, commissioners talked about finding value in the Citizen Work Group due to the good questions that were asked. The Board also appreciated the high quality of candidates presented.

Citizen Work Group interviews for County Administrator, September 8, 2025.

Ottawa County Board of Commissioners interviews for County Administrator, September 10, 2025.

Ottawa County Board of Commissioners
Planning & Policy and Finance Committee Meetings
September 9, 2025

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