The Annual
Service Awards Banquet was held at the Pinnacle Center on Wednesday
evening.
5 Year
Recipients: 42
10 Year
Recipients: 37
15 Year
Recipients: 39
20 Year
Recipients: 17
25 Year Recipients:13
30 Year
Recipients: 3
35 Year
Recipients: 3
Retirees: 30
Though not
all could be in attendance we did have a great group of about 280
Commissioners, Judges, Elected Officials, employees and guests.
The dinner
was conceived 30 years ago to standardize recognition over a County that has 33
different departments, offices, courts and agencies. The dinner is included as an employee benefit
and was approved as a de minimis
employee benefit way back when in order to conform to accounting guidelines and
standards.
I initiated
“quadrant” meetings in all four quadrants of Ottawa County and for many years
these served as a great purpose to build relationships, hear more about what was
happening in our cities, townships and village, and to inform the group on what
the County was doing. In recent years we
consolidated this effort to one annual meeting at the Fillmore Administrative
Complex.
This year’s
meeting was held last week with approximately 65 in attendance.
Sheriff
Rosema and Keith Van Beek kicked things off with a summary of the 500 page
Sheriff’s Office Organizational Review and Report that they led preparation
of. The report can be found at the
Administrator’s Office page on miOttawa.org and is an excellent summary of the
history of staffing and collaboration for the Sheriff’s Office with future
recommendations. Patrick Moran from the
United Way presented on ALICE and Housing Next and spoke of some of the daunting
challenges facing provision of affordable housing in Ottawa County. Marcie VerBeek and Sarah Salguera presented
on GOLD and some of the exciting training opportunities that have been opened
up for local units to participate in.
Christine Burns, Spring Lake Village Manager and Gordon Gallagher,
Spring Lake Township Manager presented on successful and planned collaborations
between those two units of government and Christine then covered Cool Things
and also the major financial benefits reaped from the Spring Lake/Ferrysburg
collaboration with the Sheriff’s Office for police services. Shane Pavlak updated the group on new GIS
capabilities and Dave Hulst spoke about the FOG-NET initiative that is linking
public agencies to a common phone provider as they need to upgrade or purchase
new systems. Prosecutor Ron Frantz
provided an update of relatively new service agreements that his office has
with the City of Coopersville and Georgetown Charter Township for ordinance
enforcement. Click here to view the material
that Ron provided entitled “Prosecutorial Services Agreement Facts,” If any other local units are interested in
contracting for this service they are encouraged to contact either Ron or
myself.
 Agenda
Register Online
Printable Registration
We are thrilled to announce an exciting opportunity! Ottawa
County is hosting a Customer Service Skills Workshop for Public Sector
Agencies. The training is provided by Customer
Service Advantage, Inc., a California based company. You can learn more
about the company by clicking the link above. If
you are interested, register soon because the training is limited to the first
25 people. Click on the image below for more details and to register.
 Join us in congratulating Shane Ryke
from the Sheriff’s Office, who has been recognized as Ottawa County’s
Outstanding Customer Service Award recipient for the third quarter of
2016.
Police officers are
often lauded as everyday heroes, protecting lives day in and day out. On
occasions, however, it is the small unexpected acts of kindness which catch the
eyes of residents. Simple acts earned Ottawa County's Deputy Shane Ryke the
quarterly Outstanding
Customer Service Award. This is the 11th award since the County
implemented its customer service initiative in 2012.
"Deputy Shane
Ryke takes great pride in serving others and provides a high level of
customer service. Deputy Ryke, in many instances, goes above and beyond to
help others through difficult times. Deputy Ryke's compassion and understanding
for others are the Ottawa County Way, " said Sgt. Dennis Luce.
An individual who
nominated Ryke wrote:
"Yesterday was my
daughter's fourth birthday we went to catch air to celebrate. On the way home
to Muskegon we had a tire blowout. We were on the side of the highway for about
two hours while my dad came to help and go get a new tire for us. While waiting
Deputy Shane Ryke stopped to help and stayed to make sure we were safe because
it was the driver side tire. While talking he learned it was my daughter's
birthday he had a stuffed animal in his cruiser and gave it to her. I just
wanted to share because it helped turn a bad situation into a pleasant one.
Thank you Deputy Ryke!
Read a second
nomination of Deputy Ryke and more at miOttawa.org
Ottawa County employees
are trained to present a friendly, professional demeanor treating customers
with integrity and respect. Customers can nominate an Ottawa County employee
for an Outstanding Customer Service award at miOttawa.org.
Customer Service is one
of the County’s Four C’s, along with Communication, Cultural Intelligence
and Creativity. Access county services and learn more at miOttawa.org,
facebook.com/miottawa
or @miOttawa
on twitter.
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On October 1, 270 runners, 50 volunteers and their cheering
fans hit the highway for the Michigan’s Credit Unions M23.1k Run & Relay.
The event took place on the new M231 highway which stretches seven miles from
West Olive to Nunica through Robinson and Crockery Townships. This is the
second year that the event was held under the direction of Ottawa County. New
this year was a relay which proved very popular. Three-person relay teams split
the 14.35 mile course to tackle between 4 to 6 miles. Following the run, all
were invited to the post-race party at the Pipeline Smokehouse. The purposes of
the event are to raise funds for and promote paved trails, advocate for
wellness and build community. Thanks to generous sponsors, runners, and
volunteers, the event raised $9,227 for the Grand Connection, West
Michigan’s system of paved bike paths.
M231 Runners cooled by rain
Grand Haven Tribune Photo Galary
Event sponsors included: Michigan's Credit Unions | Chemical Bank | Spring Lake Fitness &
Aquatic Center | Ottawa County | WGHN Radio | Michigan Department of
Transportation | Ottawa County Sheriff's Office | EcoTrek Fitness | Delta
Dental | Priority Health | Merle Boes | ImageSoft
| Presidio | Gordon Water Systems | Governmental Consultant
Services, Inc. (GCSI) | Grand Armory Brewing | The Pipeline Smokehouse | M
& S Storage | fairlife | JR Automation Technologies | Give ‘Em A
BRAKE Safety | Michigan Milk Producers Association | Joe Gee Photography |
Meijer | Kerkstra Portable Restroom Service.
A special thanks to all the employees, neighbors, friends, spouses, and other individuals who volunteered at the event. Several groups helped collectively including the Robinson Township Fire Department, the Friends of the Ottawa County Parks and the Committee to Elect Vern Helder.
The online store is still open. Click the image to purchase race swag.
Each year the Michigan State Police Emergency Management & Homeland Security Division (EMHSD) honors one Professional Emergency Manager (PEM) at the local level who has contributed distinguished service and demonstrated professionalism. This year it was my honor to nominate Director Beth Thomas, who was selected as the PEM of the Year, which was presented at the MEMA Awards Luncheon, by EMHSD Assistant Division Commander Anthony Katarsky.
 On September 16, the Ottawa
County Planning and Performance Improvement Department held the Ribbon-Cutting
and Donor Recognition Ceremony for the Spoonville Trail Phase I.
Phase I of the Spoonville Trail stretches 1.8
miles from North Cedar Drive to Leonard Road, incorporating the Sgt. Henry E.
Plant Pathway located on M-231 over the Grand River.
The Spoonville Trail benefits
residents and visitors of Ottawa County in numerous ways. A few of these
include: creating greater connectivity among West Michigan’s premier
recreational resources, facilitating access to State and local parks,
recreational areas, and scenic views of natural features, encouraging of safe
non-motorized transportation, and boosting the economy in neighboring
communities.
The Trail also offers
historical and cultural education opportunities. The Sgt. Henry E. Plant
Pathway includes a plaque that commemorates Ottawa County’s first Congressional
Medal of Honor recipient. In addition,
the Michigan Department of Transportation will be constructing an educational
terrace designed to educate users on local Native American culture and
heritage, while displaying images of artifacts found in the area during the construction
of the M-231 highway.
Ceremony speakers included:
- Paul Sachs, Director of the
Ottawa County Planning and Performance Improvement Department
- John Morrison, Executive
Director of the West Michigan Trails and Greenways Coalition
- Mike Smith, Manager of the
MDOT Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP)
- Leon Stille, Supervisor of
Crockery Township
- Al Vanderberg, Ottawa County Administrator
 The Ottawa County Agricultural Preservation Board unveiled its first sign recognizing the permanent preservation of farmland in Ottawa County on Thursday, September 29. The unveiling marked the preservation of the Hehl Farm, a 34.9 acre hog and cattle farm in Polkton Township. It is the first farm permanently preserved by the Ottawa County Purchase of Development Rights (PDR) Program.
At the event, a number of speakers addressed the benefits and importance of farmland preservation, including Carl Bednarski, the President of Michigan Farm Bureau. Following the sign unveiling, there was a celebratory picnic on the Hehl property that included information on the PDR Program and the history of the Hehl Farm—a registered centennial farm.
The PDR Program is a voluntary program that preserves farmland through the purchase and donation of development rights for actively farmed property. Landowners who participate in the program receive compensation for the development potential of the land, yet they still own their land and retain the majority of the rights associated with it. Development of the land is restricted by a permanent deed restriction, which bars any future residential and commercial development on the land. The PDR Program is funded entirely through private donations, contributions from foundations, and state and federal grants.
Here’s a link to an article in Michigan Farm News about the Hehls.
 When the Ottawa County
Poor Farm received its first resident in 1866, no one could have imagined the
benefits it would provide over the decades. The Poor Farm was a haven for
indigent people who, due to the happenstance of birth, misfortune, or poverty, were
in dire straits and needed a place to call home—a sanctuary staffed with people
who could nurse them to better health.
This year marks the 150th Anniversary of the
Ottawa County Poor Farm, and celebrate we did! On Saturday, October 1, the
1,000 guests who attended the Poor Farm Sesquicentennial Celebration took a
journey back through Ottawa County history.
The event included over 20 historical re-enactors sharing
stories aloud of farm residents. Local musicians played between acts. In
addition to modern musicians, the Happy Daze Kitchen Band paid tribute to those
who once performed at the farm, singing and using instruments like pots and
pans and spoons.
The last standing historical building on the property, a
barn constructed around 1928, hosted a variety of tributes to the farm.
“Upstairs at the Infirmary” showcased stories affixed to doors, taking you down
a hallway, arriving finally at an exhibit demonstrating what a room looked like
in the infirmary.
“No One Walks Alone” hung in the far corner – leather panels
with hand-lettered calligraphy that named over 500 people who had once lived or
worked at the farm.
The Coopersville Historical Museum showcased “Historical
Eastmanville” amongst hand-stitched quilts created by Coopersville Crazy Ladies
Quilting Society and the Lighthouse Quilting Guild.
An exhibit in the picnic shelter, known as Keepers Hall for
the day, was dedicated to sharing profiles of Keepers and Matrons who worked at
the Poor Farm.
Later that evening, a traditional 1899 dinner was served in
Keepers Hall. The emcee for the dinner program being none other than Judge Ed
Post, posing that evening as Judge David Fletcher Hunton, who spent the end of
his life at the farm.
Though the farm has been closed for many years, the land is
still used to serve the public. Hikers, equestrians, birders, and cross-country
skiers can enjoy the trails year-round at Eastmanville Farm County Park.
Report via Ottawa County Parks
Congratulations to the Ottawa
County Sheriff’s Office’s School Resource Officer Program which was honored
with the Outstanding Unit Award by the Prime Prevention Association of
Michigan. The award is a testament to the tireless efforts of ten deputies and
their supervisors in and around nearly 130 public, parochial, technical, and
alternative schools throughout Ottawa County. The program focuses on
proactive community policing initiatives, prevention, and awareness education.
School Resource Officers:
- provide education
including boater, hunter, and ORV safety classes.
- offer class
presentations on statutes such as criminal sexual conduct, threatening
communication, computer crimes, domestic violence, alcohol and illegal narcotics,
bullying and harassment, abuse and neglect, and driver education classes.
- coordinate and
advise programs such as Students Against Destructive Decisions and other
programs to promote positive decisions.
- ensure that
students, teachers, and school staff are safe in and around their school
campuses via patrols, safety drills, emergency preparedness planning, security
enhancements, and student handbook/best practices recommendations.
- support the
Sheriff’s Investigative Services Unit, other law enforcement agencies, and
Child Protective Services investigators.
- assist crime
victims and their families by providing recommendations for counseling through
school guidance and external treatment
resources.
- participate in a
variety of extracurricular activities as coaches, mentors, spectators, and
fundraising supporters.
Keeping it cool
Crowd has cones with cops
Ottawa
County Board and Commission vacancies have been posted to miOttawa.org, please
follow the link to view and apply for open positions.
Thank
you for your interest in serving on a Board or Commission!
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 The projects highlighted here are some of the programs and services offered through Ottawa Conservation District to assist local landowners with managing natural resources.
Hunter Access Program (HAP) land enrollment available to Ottawa County landowners
In early September, the coordinator for Michigan’s Hunter Access Program met with Ottawa Conservation District and Natural Resource Conservation Service staff to provide updates on the program, which offers landowners a financial incentive to allow public hunting on their land. District staff have begun talking with interested landowners in Ottawa County, and are available to answer questions about the program. Enrolled properties must offer a minimum of 40 acres.
Bass River Deer Creek Restoration Project cover crops workshop planned
The Bass River Deer Creek Restoration Project is planning a cover crops workshop for December 13, 2016 at the Allendale Township Library. Watch the Ottawa Conservation District website (www.ottawacd.org) for details as they become available.
West Michigan CISMA identifies aquatic invasive plant new to West Michigan
A technical team from the West Michigan Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area (WMCISMA) responded to a request from the Michigan DNR to survey a Grand Rapids area waterway for European frog-bit, an aggressively invasive aquatic plant. This plant, once thought limited to other parts of the state, has now been positively identified in West Michigan. To help prevent the spread of aquatic invasive plants, thoroughly clean waders, fishing equipment, and watercraft before moving to another water body.
Ottawa Conservation District
16731 Ferris Street
Grand Haven, Michigan 49417
(616) 842-5852
ottawacd@macd.org
www.ottawacd.org
Ottawa Conservation District is co-located with the Natural Resources Conservation District (USDA).
The USDA is an equal opportunity employer, provider and lender.
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LeighAnn Mikesell, Dennis Kent -
MDOT
Joe Baumann, Phil Kuyers, Al
Vanderberg, Don Disselkoen, Keith Van Beek - Ottawa County
Tom Bird, Tim Grifhorst, Brett
Laughlin - Road Commission
231 Bypass - MDOT
update, first section is open and includes work currently being done in
Holland. Next steps were discussed about potential future phase(s).
MDOT cannot initiate any environmental and alternatives analysis work or
purchase any right-of-way unless and until funding for the project is
secured.
West Michigan Pike -
question and discussion about West Michigan Pike markers that came to the
attention of the county. Neither MDOT or the Road Commission was aware of
the marker(s), and discussion about if they are noted in the remonumentation
program.
Holland 31 Project - MDOT
update on the project, currently on schedule. The southbound course will
have a final top course at the completion of the project.
Greenway Trail Connection - there
was a question about a section of this proposed project and where the trail
could be sited in relation to the road in the right of way. Evaluations
about this project and any requests for final design will be handled later this
Fall when the final project design is submitted, and will be reviewed and
approved in public session of the Road Commission.
Road Commission Updates - Brett
reviewed several reports, including: Salt Purchases, funding from Michigan
Transportation Fund, and Programs. (click here for the reviewed reports)
Asset Management -
discussed completing and meeting reporting requirements for the state asset
management program.
Feedback and Input from Townships -
Discussed the use of a survey of townships to allow for feedback for the Road
Commission. Brett also discussed that the road commission is looking to
have informal meetings with townships in the coming year.
At the Michigan Family Support Conference last
week, Ottawa County Friend of the Court received the award for top performance of a large county in four federal
performance measure areas. Congratulations to Jennell Challa, to Friend of the
Court staff, to the judges, to the referees and to everyone who plays a part in
the child support enforcement program in Ottawa County.
The call volume
numbers handled through Ottawa County Central Dispatch for September
2016 were:
Total Incidents –10,914
up 6.3% over September 2015 and down 1% YTD over 2015
Fire Incidents – 1,340
up 2.9% over September 2015 and even YTD with 2015
Law Incidents – 9,574
up 6.8% over September 2015 and down 1% YTD over 2015
911 Calls – 9,324 up 1% over September 2015 and even YTD with 2015
911 Hang Up calls - 980 down 2.8% over
September 2015 and down 3.1% YTD over 2015
Wireless 911 calls – 89.5% of 911
calls for September 2016 and 90% of Total 911 calls for 2015
911 calls answered in 10 seconds or less - 90.8% for September 2016 and
90.4% YTD for 2016
(NENA recommended standard is 90% within 10 seconds)
Smart 911 Measures:
Profile Pops - 79 up 20.3% over September 2015 and down 15.2% YTD over 2015
Hang up calls resolved by texting - 161 up 85% over September 2015 and up 38.7% YTD over 2015
Cost avoidance via texting - $3,703 up 46% over September 2015 and up 39.6% YTD over
2015
Chat success rate - 22%
up 27.2% over September 2015 and up 4.8% YTD over 2015
Click here for the most recent update, for older updates click here.
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