April 16, 2021
I had the opportunity to meet Erik Erhorn, new Crockery Township Supervisor yesterday along with Amanda Cooper, Director of Strategic Initiatives for Lakeshore Advantage, the County's economic development agency. I serve on the Lakeshore Advantage Board so met with Erik in the dual capacity of representing both Lakeshore and the County. Erik’s family has a long history in Ottawa County as does mine, so we had some fun trading stories. I also learned that the State just made the marijuana related excise tax disbursements and both Crockery and Ottawa County received $56,000, $28,000 each for the two dispensaries in Crockery Township.
The County also received notice of the initial US Treasury guidance for the American Rescue Act disbursement of nearly $57 million. This initial communication was about the technical details of the transfer of the funds from the Feds to the County, i.e., routing numbers, banks, id’s, etc. This communication did not include information on what the money can be spent on and how we will be held accountable so stay tuned!! The link for the US Treasury announcement is here: https://home.treasury.gov/policy-issues/coronavirus/assistance-for-state-local-and-tribal-governments/state-and-local-fiscal-recovery-fund
Al Vanderberg | County Administrator
 View the COVID-19 Update (https://youtu.be/EGBvPBiZP7Q?t=172) from the Ottawa County Department of Public Health presented at the April 13 Board of Commissioners meeting. The public health leaders shared local information about vaccination rates and cases. Join us (virtually) for the next meeting on April 27 at 1:30pm. The meeting link will posted on our home page.
Cases: Over the past seven days, Ottawa County is averaging 210 new COVID-19 cases per day. As it has been reported in the news media, this number has been increasing for the past month. We are now recording the highest number of cases we have seen since early December 2020. A positive note is that cases are declining, for those ages 65 and older, indicating vaccine success.
Vaccines: Among the general population of Ottawa County, 46.7% of residents have received at least one vaccination and 75.9% of those 65 and older have been administered a single dose. 30.7% and 66.8% are fully vaccinated respectively. Vaccines are now available in many locations and residents can still register for vaccine notifications at miottawa.org/covid19. While many younger people may not consider themselves “at-risk” for COVID-19 complications or death, we do urge everyone ages 16 and older to seek a vaccine.
Hospitalizations: Hospital capacity is rising and is being closely monitored as well. Just today (April 16) Spectrum Health reported a 432% increase in COVID-19 hospitalizations from this time last month. Among the hospitals in Ottawa County, 22% of beds are occupied by COVID-19 patients, and 25% of the ICU beds are COVID-19 cases.
 Ottawa County Central Dispatch Authority is committed to providing one point of contact for all emergency situations in Ottawa County. Central Dispatch is staffed 24 hours a day with Communication Specialists and Supervisors to ensure that calls are handled with urgency, and ensure the proper agency responds as quickly as possible. The staff is comprised of employees committed to serving the public during times of crisis, with courtesy and professionalism. Employees are trained and certified to provide pre-arrival first aid instructions over the phone as needed, until help arrives on the scene. See the 2020 OCCDA Annual Report here.
Getting Tech Friendly: Ottawa County Friend of the Court Offers Online Parenting Time Complaint Resolution
The Ottawa County Friend of the Court has expanded its ground-breaking online dispute resolution platform to include parenting time complaints. Parents may now initiate and resolve parenting time complaints online from a smartphone, computer or tablet. The 20th Circuit Court in Ottawa County is the only court in the state of Michigan and in the nation to offer this option.
"Online dispute resolution of parenting time complaints can happen outside of court hours," said Chief Judge Jon Van Allsburg, "and the parties don’t have to appear at the same time, to solve transportation and scheduling issues. Technology provides access to the court to parents who cannot attend court in person, and we believe that's important."
Jennell Challa, Ottawa County Friend of the Court, said "we encourage parents to prevent misunderstandings by putting their parenting time schedules in writing and by adjusting them as their circumstances change. If a parent misses scheduled time with their child, we seek to address the issue in a way that’s convenient for both parents."
Matt Schmid, Assistant Friend of the Court, notes that "this online process will work the same as it does in person. Any parent will get the chance to explain the problem or the circumstances. We can then create makeup parent time agreements or refer the parents to mediation via the platform, just as we would in person. Additional options are helpful during this difficult time."
The platform works by enabling any parent with an existing court case to electronically contact their caseworker. That person can provide information, and the caseworker then invites the other parent to respond. The other parent has various options for how to respond, including proposing make-up parenting time. The caseworker can assist by offering ideas and suggestions. If the parents reach an agreement, the case worker will prepare the legal document for all parties to review and sign. The agreement is then submitted electronically to the judge for signing. When the agreed upon order is signed, any hearing on the dispute is canceled if all disputed matters have been resolved. The parties need not come to court to finalize the agreement and the entire process can be completed in a few days, whereas filing a motion and scheduling a hearing on the same dispute can take several weeks.
This process is similar to "in-person" parenting time complaint resolution, is free of charge and convenient for people who cannot come to court for any reason, including work, school, health, or quarantine.
The 20th Circuit Court has long been a national leader in improving outcomes for families via online access. In 2016, it was the first family court in the nation to launch an online child support compliance platform. In 2020, the court launched an online dispute resolution process, which has now been expanded to offer parenting time complaint initiation and resolution.
The platform is powered by Matterhorn by Court Innovations, an online dispute resolution provider based in Ann Arbor, Michigan. "Congratulations to the Michigan 20th Circuit Court for taking a proactive, public-centered approach to working with families. We are proud to provide the technology platform for their great work," said Court Innovations CEO, MJ Cartwright.
Visit courtinnovations.com/MIC20 to see the platform.
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Contact: Lisa Tyler, Communications Director, ltyler@seniorresourceswmi.org, 231-733-3509
Let Your Voice Be Heard
Senior Resources of West Michigan, the area agency on aging for Muskegon, Ottawa, and Oceana Counties, is holding a public hearing via a virtual meeting to listen to the comments and opinions of older adults and caregivers regarding our plans for service provision for the period of October 1, 2021 – September 30, 2022.
The Public Hearings will include a review of the plan, including services we wish to fund, as well as an opportunity for participant input and comment.
Time: Tuesday, May 11, 2021 at 2:00 PM Eastern Time
Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/92827917000
Meeting ID: 928 2791 7000
Or phone: 1-312-626-6799
Advance copies of the plan will be available after April 27, 2021. To receive one, please call 231-733-3519 or 1-800-442-0054. A copy is available for download on our website at https://www.seniorresourceswmi.org. If you are unable to attend, comments can be submitted in writing by email to amy@seniorresourceswmi.org or through the postal service to Senior Resources, Attn: Amy, 560 Seminole Rd., Muskegon, MI 49444.
Senior Resources administers a variety of federal, state, local and private funds to support services such as in-home care, senior meals, transportation, programs for caregivers, health promotion, legal and other services for individuals aged 60 and over. Senior Resources identifies needs and develops an area plan, informs and educates seniors, families, and the public on available services and issues affecting older adults, and advocates on behalf of all older adults in Muskegon, Oceana, and Ottawa counties.
AMERICAN DISABILITY ACT POLICY FOR ACCESS TO OPEN MEETINGS
Senior Resources will provide necessary reasonable auxiliary aids and services to individuals with disabilities who want to attend the meetings. Persons with disabilities needing accommodations for effective participation in these meetings should contact Senior Resources at (231) 739-5858 at least 48 hours in advance to request mobility, visual, hearing, or other assistance.
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