“I believe there is one voice that’s often missing from these conversations, and that is the voice of our preborn constituents, who do have the constitutional right to life.” —Vice-Chair Sylvia Rhodea.

WHEREAS, America is an exceptional nation made up of beautiful people, who share a history of triumph over adversity, with our nation built on the strength of our founding documents. The Declaration of Independence eloquently affirms, and the Constitution protects, the God-given, unalienable right to life; and

WHEREAS, the Ottawa County Board of Commissioners (“Board”) swore an oath to uphold the Constitution of the United States and the State of Michigan. The Fifth and Fourteen Amendments of the Federal Constitution guarantee that no person be deprived of life without due process of law; and

WHEREAS, abortion, the use or prescription of any instrument, medicine, drug, or any other substance or device harms women and intentionally terminates her pregnancy by causing the death of her preborn child; and

WHEREAS, the right to life belongs equally to all members of humanity including children born and preborn, individuals healthy or unhealthy, and the elderly or infirm. The unspeakable harm to women and the loss of 63 million preborn babies following the Supreme Court’s 1973 decision in Roe v. Wade does not negate the right to life; and

WHEREAS, the fifty plus years following Roe v. Wade additionally resulted in a cheapening of the perceived worth and respect for the sanctity of human life, and the anguish of millions of women and girls pressured to have an abortion; and

WHEREAS, medical and scientific evidence establishes the beginning of a human being’s life cycle to be at fertilization. Children are persons before birth, sharing all the basic attributes of human personality. Preborn children have morally and legally protectable interests in life, health, personal security, and well-being; and

WHEREAS, in 2022, the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade through Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, affirming that there is no Federal constitutional right to an abortion, and

WHEREAS, the people of Ottawa County have a love for life, with a desire to safeguard laws protecting women, the rights of the preborn children and future generations. Children are our greatest treasure and the preborn are our most vulnerable population; and

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, the Board affirms the unalienable personhood and rights of every American, from the moment of conception until natural death. Further, we commit to protect the lives and well-being of each member of our community including the life of the preborn, upholding the virtues of our nation and its founding; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that County staff and resources support women who make a choice for life for their preborn children and for counseling through existing resources throughout the county; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the Board recognizes that the Ottawa County Department of Public Health does not provide abortions or transportation to abortion services, and the Board encourages this practice to continue; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the Board encourages individuals and communities to promote life, support women in making a choice for life, protect the preborn, provide resources for expectant mothers, and support organizations, which assist mothers and fathers with life affirming decisions in unplanned pregnancies, and adopt and foster children, ensuring every child is valued, loved and protected; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that nothing in this Resolution shall be interpreted to conflict with the United States and Michigan Constitutions and Federal and State law, and shall be construed and applied in a manner consistent with the United States and Michigan Constitutions and Federal and State law.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a copy of this Resolution be sent to Michigan Senators Mark Huizenga, Roger Victory, and Rick Outman, Michigan Representatives Nancy DeBoer, Luke Meerman, Brad Slagh, Rachelle Smit, and Greg VanWoerkom, to the Clerk of each county in the State of Michigan, and all Ottawa County department directors.

• “This resolution has no business being on our agenda,” Commissioner Roger Bergman said. “I am pro-life but that doesn’t mean I go against the oath that I took.”

• “Each of us are here today because someone chose life. This is a fact that cannot be disputed,” Commissioner Allison Miedema added. “All men are created equal and endowed to be given life. We must protect all life, especially vulnerable unborn who are our future and need us to be their voice.”

• Commissioner Doug Zylstra said, “I appreciate a lot of what Commissioner Bergman had to say. I don’t think it is our role as a Board to split the community in this way. So, I will be voting no.”

• “This issue is an issue that is very near and dear to my heart and has impacted my personal life profoundly as a mother of an adopted child whose birth mother chose life for him,” Vice Chair Rhodea said. “I am very honored to have walked through that process for my son.”

• Chairman Joe Moss wrapped up the discussion saying, “There are some really great truths in this resolution. Children really are our greatest treasure.”

• The Resolution to Promote Life passed with a vote of 8–2. Bergman and Zylstra voted against it, and Commissioner Jacob Bonnema left before the first public comment was finished.

Vice-Chair Sylvia Rhodea reads the Resolution to Promote Life, April 23, 2024 Ottawa County Board of Commissioners Meeting.

A motion was made to “approve a resolution declaring April as Autism Awareness Month.” This resolution was requested by Commissioner Zylstra and written by Vice-Chair Rhodea.

WHEREAS, April is recognized across the United States and international community as being Autism Awareness Month; and

WHEREAS, the Ottawa County Board of Commissioners (“Board”) recognizes that Autism Awareness includes not only acceptance of those affected, but increased awareness to healing treatments and root causes of Autism; and

WHEREAS, in 2020, the Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network reported that roughly 1 in 36 eight-year-old children were identified with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), and the percentage of affected individuals (both adults and children) with ASD has increased over four times since the year 2000; and

WHEREAS, the increasing rate of children with ASD is reflected in an increase in the number of children obtaining care for ASD in Ottawa County. The increased number of children impacted with ASD necessitates development of long-term strategies for family and community resources, particularly as children and parents age over time; and

WHEREAS, a well-supported family in an informed and equipped community gives a child with autism the best chance of success and development with hope for the future; and

WHEREAS, the Board recognizes a variation in symptoms and severity exists in youth and adults diagnosed with ASD, with a corresponding range of challenges and impact for individuals and families; and

WHEREAS, the Board recognizes the hardships that parents and families may face in dealing with ASD diagnosis and the importance of diagnosis and community resources; and

WHEREAS, the Board is committed to supporting children and adults diagnosed with ASD, as well as the families of those affected with ASD, by providing education and resources. We stand with families in asking for continued research that will provide additional answers and solutions for impacted families; and

WHEREAS, it is widely recognized that there are early warning signs for ASD in young children including by not limited to: delayed speech, poor fine motor skills, poor gross motor skills, repetitive behaviors, sensory issues, lack of eye contact, and/or anti-social behaviors; and

WHEREAS, early intervention results in improved outcomes. Further, the group Early On provides in-home evaluations of children under the age of three (3) to detect developmental delays (including ASD) and provides families with in-home therapies and solutions if significant delays are found; and

WHEREAS, the Board recognizes the compassionate commitment of families, schools, teachers, therapists, and medical professionals to provide care for children and adults with ASD, as well as, the work of churches and businesses to provide sensory areas; and

WHEREAS, the Board recognizes the work of Community Mental Health and the Sheriff’s Department in providing and utilizing Carter Kits for children with ASD in crisis situations, as well as, the Children’s Mobile Crisis team; and

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board is committed to bringing awareness to the treatments and resources available for families affected by ASD, and to continue to support families and resources for children and adults diagnosed with ASD; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Board encourages continued investigation into the cause of the increase in ASD diagnosis in children, as well as continued research and development of prevention and treatment strategies for children and individuals with ASD; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Board declares April 2024 to be Autism Awareness Month in Ottawa County; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a copy of this Resolution be sent to Michigan Senators Mark Huizenga, Roger Victory, and Rick Outman, Michigan Representatives Nancy DeBoer, Luke Meerman, Brad Slagh, Rachelle Smit, and Greg VanWoerkom, to the Clerk of each county in the State of Michigan, and all Ottawa County department directors.

The motion passed 10–0.

Commissioner Gretchen Cosby reads the Autism Awareness Month Resolution, April 23, 2024 Ottawa County Board of Commissioners Meeting.

Commissioner Allison Miedema comments, April 23, 2024 Ottawa County Board of Commissioners Meeting.

A motion was made to approve a resolution in support of Citizens for Local Choice. Public Act 233 was signed into law by the Governor last November. Public Act 233 strips away zoning powers from local officials for large scale utility projects, such as wind and solar farms, and places them into the control of the state.

WHEREAS, the Ottawa County Board of Commissioners strongly supports preserving local control of zoning; and

WHEREAS, in October 2023, the Ottawa County Board of Commissioners passed a resolution opposing the state’s plan to assume control of wind and solar zoning; and

WHEREAS, Public Act 233 of 2023 strips away powers from local officials for large scale utility projects and places them into the control of the state centralized Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC); and

WHEREAS, the Ottawa County Board of Commissioners remain committed to preserving local control and opposing state centralization of zoning; and

WHEREAS, by granting the Michigan Public Service Commission this authority, local control is circumvented, disenfranchising local communities; and

WHEREAS, Citizens for Local Choice is leading a ballot initiative to amend Public Act 233 of 2023 to restore local control of zoning for these large scale utility projects; and

WHEREAS, a poll commissioned by Michigan Townships Association found more than 87% of Michigan citizens agree that permitting for utility-scale renewable energy should remain at the local level. This included 85% of Democrats, 91% of Republicans, and 84% of independents supporting local control; and

WHEREAS, if not stopped, local control of zoning will be stripped away when Public Act 233 goes into effect in November 2024.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that Ottawa County continues to oppose the pre-emption of control in solar and wind siting and zoning; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Ottawa County continues to oppose state mandates for large scale utility projects; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Ottawa County supports Citizens for Local Choice’s efforts to protect local control and prevent the state centralization of massive energy projects; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this resolution be forwarded to Governor Gretchen Whitmer, all Ottawa County legislators, and the other 82 counties in the State of Michigan.

• Commissioner Zylstra stated that he would be voting no and read a prepared statement: “I am in favor of having a robust and as diverse a portfolio of energy sources as possible, and I believe that this petition will negatively affect that by adding an additional layer of red tape to the process of starting wind and solar projects here in Michigan.”

• “I personally would like to have the decision making put at the local level with many voices looking at the plans,” Commissioner Miedema said, “versus a three-member board that is not right in our county or down to our local townships.”

• Commissioner Cosby added to Miedema’s comment by reminding the public that the three-member board is an unelected board

• Cosby shared with the Board that she had recently attended the Macatawa Area Coordinating Council meeting, and they too were concerned about Public Act 233 and would like to maintain local control

• Chairman Moss reminded everyone that “Ottawa County has maintained local control as a legislative priority for decades.”

• “Who better to make these decisions, than the people who actually live here,” Commissioner Kendra Wenzel said, closing out the discussion.

• The motion passed 9-1, with Commissioner Zylstra voting against the resolution to keep zoning local

Commissioner Allison Miedema reads the Citizens for Local Choice Resolution, April 23, 2024 Ottawa County Board of Commissioners Meeting.

Ottawa County Board of Commissioners
Regular Session
April 23, 2024

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