Public comment went on for over an hour as constituents voiced their often-passionate views on whether or not the motto, “Where Freedom Rings,” should remain. Some criticized the Board for not focusing on more important issues. Others argued the motto was not about freedom, but about oppression and racism. Some demanded the motto return to “Where You Belong,” the former motto rooted in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

The Board rolled through agenda items quickly until they arrived at the action item concerning the motto.

• Commissioner Allison Miedema questioned the timing of eliminating the motto. She talked about how a motto helps to focus on what matters and is where every decision comes from. “The motto, ‘Where Freedom Rings,’ was voted in on January 3, 2023, as a promise to the people of Ottawa County that their voices had been heard, that the government did indeed need to be kept in its lane, and that the gift of freedom was one that was going to be continuously fought for whether in easy or hard times that fell upon our community.”

• Miedema added that another way in which the 2023–24 Board protected freedom was the termination of Corporation Counsel Doug VanEssen—who during the pandemic was involved with county threats to jail people and use pressure with the Health Department and County leadership to mask young children. Earlier this year the Board majority hired interim counsel Ron Bultje, who in turn hired Doug VanEssen. And now VanEssen has slid back into the seat of Corporation Counsel, doing the work secretly behind the scenes.

• Commissioner Sylvia Rhodea reflected on the 2020–2021 impact on the county and read an excerpt from the citizen-written resolution from that time as a reminder of what residents had gone through. Rhodea pointed out that now, a month after celebrating Independence Day, the current Board is moving to strip freedom from the County’s vision. “This is not leadership. This is surrender. Words matter. So do political alliances. The truth is this uni-party majority owes its power to democratic voters and establishment power brokers. You cannot pretend to champion freedom while serving those who oppose it.”

• Commissioner Jordan Jorristma said that he has “respect for both mottos.” He thought it more effective for people to learn about Ottawa County through interactions rather than a motto.

• Commissioner Doug Zylstra followed up on his recent social media posts that said the motto Where Freedom Rings is a “politically charged and divisive statement.” He explained that eliminating the current motto isn’t about removing freedom but a “united action to make us as strong as we can be.”

• Commissioner Jim Barry shared that half of Michigan counties don’t have a motto and that he would rather not have one. “I am of the opinion this is a point of division… Let’s go forward and get the people’s business done.”

• Commissioner Josh Brugger shared from Martin Luther King’s speech. He alluded that eight months of wearing masks and ten years of DEI promotion were not comparable to 175 years of segregation and slavery. “If it’s not abundantly clear that the adoption of the phrase ‘Where Freedom Rings’ on the heels of MLK and the civil rights movement and his I have a dream speech… was a mistake from the outset, I don’t know what more could be said to soften hardened hearts.” He supported eliminating the motto, but his speech was so confusing, local news reported that he supported the motto.

• Commissioner Joe Moss weighed in that he thought Brugger had highlighted “the critical importance of freedom,” and why freedom should be of number one importance with this Board. “I never want to go back to a place where I’m being threatened with jail by our County or anyone else—and keeping freedom as number one priority is part of that.”

• Moss made a motion to replace the current motto with, “In God We Trust.” He explained that it’s one of the best mottos in the country, well established, difficult to criticize, positive, and in line with what people have said.

• Commissioner Jacob Bonnema said that while he liked the current motto and “In God We Trust,” he would prefer to start fresh and have the next administrator lead them through the process, and supported eliminating the motto Where Freedom Rings.

• Moss suggested tabling making a change to the motto until the item can go through strategic planning. No one showed interest in tabling, so he didn’t make a motion.

• Miedema said that if the current motto is eliminated, she would like the community to weigh in on a replacement.

The commissioners took a vote on whether to replace the current motto with “In God We Trust.”

Yes votes: Commissioners Joe Moss and Sylvia Rhodea.

No votes: Commissioners John Teeples, Josh Brugger, Jacob Bonnema, Jim Barry, Phil Kuyers, Jordan Jorristma, Doug Zylstra, Kendra Wenzel, and Allison Miedema.

After the motion to replace the current motto failed, the Board was back to the original motion to eliminate the motto, Where Freedom Rings.

• Teeples said that he is against what the motto has come to stand for and that “In short, this motto is divisive.” He added that since the beginning of his leadership, his action and decision has been to get rid of divisive governmental structures by changing “politically aligned county attorneys,” and realigning community membership assignments based on “qualifications and equity.” He also said that individual freedom comes with social responsibilities. Teeples favored the former motto (Where You Belong) and said he had been waiting seven months to vote against the current motto for the reasons stated.

• In response to Chair Teeples’ reasons, Commissioner Kendra Wenzel shared that she and her husband had raised their kids on facts, not feelings. “Freedom is never a bad thing,” she said. “When you continually act on feelings, you get nowhere… What you’re suggesting is feelings. It’s not factual.”

The vote was taken to eliminate the motto, “Where Freedom Rings.”

Yes votes: Commissioners John Teeples, Josh Brugger, Jacob Bonnema, Jim Barry, Phil Kuyers, Jordan Jorristma, and Doug Zylstra.

No votes: Commissioners Joe Moss, Allison Miedema, and Kendra Wenzel. Commissioner Sylvia Rhodea voted “Absolutely no.”

Interim Corporate Counsel Ron Franz explained that the Chair had ordered the pause on the County Administrator until July 1. Franz contacted all 22 of the Double Haul candidates to determine their interest in continuing in the process. Of the 22, only two chose not to continue. Additionally, four new candidates have recently applied through the posting. The posting will remain open until August 11. Packets of all the candidates will then be pulled for the Board in September.

Chair Teeples added that at the August meeting the Board would go into closed session to review the candidates so as to keep with the September timeframe.

• Questions were raised about the necessity of having a Citizen Work Group. Miedema pointed out that the candidate already interviewed did not go through the committee. Zylstra added that the committee would cause confusion in the process since there would be no work product from them. Rhodea questioned the legality of having the committee be a part of the process.

• Franz explained that having the committee would provide for community involvement by having them evaluate the candidates’ strengths and weaknesses.

• Rhodea further clarified her concern saying there are legalities around using a Citizen Work Group based on those recent Supreme Court rulings and Appeal Court ruling. A committee would need to comply with the Open Meetings Act by giving notice, welcoming the public, and having an open meeting. She said if the committee is coming back with recommendations to the Board, the entire process would need to be open and transparent.

• Chair Teeples said as he understood it, the committee would not be making recommendations. Rather it was a way to get the county involved and have township supervisors, city managers, and others weigh in who understand the nuances of municipal administration. He added that their duties wouldn’t be to rank or prioritize but rather give information from their perspective.

• Rhodea responded that what Chair Teeples described was “really shaky legal ground.” She said that their feedback will impact the decision, and that township and municipal government are different than county government. When the Board’s authority is delegated to other officials, it is saying that they know more about the county than county commissioners.

• Chair Teeples assured the Board there was no delegation of authority. The committee’s job would be to help the Board do its job.

• Zylstra agreed with Rhodea that there had been a recent evolution of the Open Meetings Act in December of 2024. He encouraged the Board to be sensitive to Rhodea’s concerns and also to weigh whether there was any benefit to even having a committee. He made a motion to cancel the Citizens Work Group.

• Brugger said he would not be voting to cancel the committee. He valued the input from professionals and was looking forward to reading their feedback.

• Rhodea responded that the fact that the feedback would be valuable and provide so much information makes the point that it will weigh into the decision making.

• Zylstra offered to withdraw his motion if Chair Teeples confirmed the meeting would follow the Open Meetings Act and be noticed and videotaped, so anyone could watch it.

• Teeples said that the committee will be asked to give a product—their evaluation of strengths and weaknesses. “We need to know what they think, without any commentary. And then we will take that into consideration.”

• It was confirmed the work group meeting would be handled transparently for all to participate, according to the Open Meetings Act.

• Zylstra withdrew his motion.

Miedema asked whether this meeting would be an appropriate time to discuss whether the Board will be evaluating candidates in a closed session. Chair Teeples said it was.

• Zylstra asked Chair Teeples to explain the purpose of going into closed session because he didn’t see how the Board would arrive at a different outcome.

• Chair Teeples explained that he was concerned they would lose candidates who would be afraid to be exposed, and that candidates have a right under the law to a closed-door meeting.

• Miedema responded that the law does not prohibit the Board from not going into closed session. She said the Board has a bigger responsibility to protect the freedoms of the individuals who come and listen than those who are applying. Miedema recommended having guidelines for discussing candidates in an open forum, for example, not mentioning their state.

• Moss emphasized that evaluating candidates using a number instead of their names was a common practice for boards with confidentiality searches. He added that the Board has an obligation to maintain some confidentiality, but no legal obligation to go into closed session.

• Brugger said, “If there are not enough numbers to vote to go into closed session, to avoid the situation that we had last time, as much as I hate to do it, I would just as soon that five of us or seven of us, whoever are willing to go into closed session, form a separate committee.”

• Moss clarified that Brugger’s point was to threaten to go into closed session with a smaller committee because there wouldn’t be enough votes with the full Board. “It’s a threat. It’s obvious. ‘You will vote for closed session or else.’”

• “We want you involved,” Chair Teeples said. “It will be up to you whether you are on this issue.”

• “Again, a threat.” Moss said.

• “It’s up to you,” Chair Teeples said. He added, addressing Miedema, Moss, Wenzel, and Rhodea, “You guys have to decide if you want to participate in that process.”

• Rhodea recommended the Board go back and look at the legality of having a subcommittee that by delegation of the Board would make a determination in closed session, out of the public eye.

• Interim Corporate Counsel Ron Bultje assured the Board that a subcommittee would be legal. He furthered that the committee would be a public body that, in an open session, would have the authority to go into closed session with a 2/3 vote to consider and then report back to the full Board.

• Moss asked if that meant that the full Board would not even know who the candidates were.

• “If we can’t get eight votes to go into closed session,” Chair Teeples said, “and it will be up to the four of you to decide that, then the other option being discussed here it to form this committee which would be able to go into closed session to make that decision for us. That’s not the preference.” Teeples added, “You have to decide if you want to participate in that process, but we’re moving forward so we can have a decision by mid September.”

During the time of Commissioner Comment, Moss shared how Republicans across America have looked to abolish DEI everywhere they can find it. The University of Michigan announced in March 2025 the closing of its DEI bureaucracy. MSU has now eliminated DEI from its 2030 strategic plan and announced there would no longer be DEI statements in its job postings, employee evaluations, promotions, or other hiring practices.

Moss didn’t have an update on Grand Valley State University, but said he would keep the Board informed.

Other commissioners gave lighthearted comments about recent events and happenings in the area, as the meeting wrapped up.

July 22, 2025, Ottawa County Board of Commissioners meeting.

Ottawa County Board of Commissioners
Regular Session
July 22, 2025

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