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It's a pleasure to greet you! I’m honored to serve our great staff, department directors, and elected officials as we continue and improve upon the fantastic work that has made Ottawa County the great place that it is.
I recently had the chance to attend the Michigan Association of County Administrative Officials conference, where I learned from many county administrators from all around the state, as well as shared some of our accomplishments from Ottawa County. The relationships built at these events are invaluable in sharing knowledge and best practices.
I continue my regular practice of meeting individually with our directors and elected officials – I’m pleased with the strength of the relationships and the high caliber of our leadership. I also continue to hold Brown Bag lunches with staff at the various County buildings, to hear any questions and concerns and update the team on matters of interest.
I'm excited about where the County is headed, and appreciate your continued support. Please find below some noteworthy news and updates.
John Gibbs | County Administrator
Ottawa County is a beautiful county with a bright future!
On May 24, 2023, the Ottawa County Board of Commissioners voted to become a Constitutional County. I encourage you to read the Resolution to Protect Constitutional Freedoms in its entirety, which sets a firm foundation and specific priorities for the county to follow.
The Constitution is a contract of timeless principles that created a government with a singular purpose— to secure the rights of the people.
The resolution highlights freedoms and constitutional rights that were violated over the past few years, as well as those at risk in the current political climate. Freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, freedom of conscience, religious freedom, parental rights, second amendment, and due process rights must not be infringed by local, state, or federal government.
Highlights from the resolution include:
"WHEREAS, 'The Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment protects certain fundamental parental rights, including the right of parents to make decisions concerning the care, custody, and control of their children, to direct the upbringing and education of their children, the right to make medical decisions on behalf of their children, and, in conjunction with the First Amendment, to guide the religious future and education of their children'; and
WHEREAS, constitutional freedoms are not suspended in times of crisis or everyday life, at the whim of elected officials, unelected health officials, or for the benefit of government bureaucracy or private institutions;"
Ottawa County is Where Freedom Rings! Together, we will cultivate a vibrant community with opportunity for business growth and the preservation of the American family and American values.
Joe Moss | Chairman of the Board of Commissioners
The following articles, updates, and upcoming events have been curated from a variety of sources:
The Michigan State Land Bank Authority recently awarded the Ottawa County Land Bank Authority $200,000 to address blight in our community. The Blight Elimination Program funds will be used for eligible demolition and stabilization activities in three communities – the City of Grand Haven, the City of Zeeland, and Chester Township. Each project site has exciting redevelopment plans that will greatly enhance their communities when completed. This funding came from the first of four rounds of Blight Elimination Program grant funding that will be made available to local land bank authorities, or to local units of government that are not served by a local land bank authority. The Ottawa County Land Bank Authority recently submitted an application for one million dollars of round two funding for projects in the City of Holland and the City of Hudsonville. A meeting to educate local cities and townships about funding priorities for rounds three and four is being planned and details will be disseminated in the near future.
At Ottawa County Community Mental Health, services are provided to a wide variety of individuals with mental health needs, including veterans. The Access Center assists these veterans in getting connected with behavioral health treatment and other resources. Community Mental Health collaborates with the regional Lakeshore Regional Entity veteran navigator, the local veteran service officer, and communicates with other veterans organizations as needed. The Access Center navigators also participate in the Ottawa County Veteran’s Alliance, whose mission is to prevent suicides in the Ottawa County veteran population.
As part of this effort, the Access Center Navigators act as resources for veterans and their family members by providing screening, referral, information, resources and assistance getting connected. Navigators also collaborate as needed with the CMHOC crisis team, Substance Use Disorders services and Crisis Intervention Team.
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The Ottawa County Brownfield Redevelopment Authority has been fortunate to be the recipient of two Environmental Protection Agency Brownfield Assessment grant awards – one that concluded in 2016, and one that will conclude in 2023. EPA Assessment Grant funding has helped dozens of projects from Allendale to Zeeland. The OCBRA applied for additional EPA funding last fall, however funding was not awarded. But even when EPA funding is not available to help repurpose brownfield sites, the OCBRA still has its locally designed, locally funded Brownfield Incentive Program to help developers and local units offset the additional costs required to assess contamination issues on brownfield properties. This fiscal year, the BIP has supported projects in the City of Grand Haven and Grand Haven Township. Two projects will support enhancing local manufacturing opportunities for the area and responsible development with regard to potential presence of contaminants. The third will support mixed use development that will provide housing, retail opportunities, and an event center. To see some of the projects that the OCBRA has supported, such as the Gull Lake Marine Project pictured below, check out the Brownfield Story Map.
Cal Taylor from Ottawa County Community Mental Health received an award from the Secretary of Defense for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve. He supervises Shaine, a clinician on our Access Team whose husband is in the Reserves. Shaine's husband was deployed shortly after the birth of their first child. Cal worked very hard at allowing her flexibility with her schedule so that she could keep working and Ottawa County could retain a great employee. Well done, Cal!
Photo from left to right: John from Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve Program, Cal and Access Center team member Shaine.
Unemployment rates for April 2023 were recently released by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management, and Budget. Ottawa County’s April unemployment rate dropped to 2.3% from March’s rate of 3.4%—the lowest for Ottawa County since December 2019. This rate is the fifth lowest in Michigan for April, with unemployment rates ranging from 1.5% in Livingston County to 13.4% in Mackinac County.
Motor vehicle permits are now available to purchase online. Ottawa County Parks & Recreation requires a motor vehicle permit at our Lake Michigan beach parks, as well as the boat launch at Riverside Park, Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day. You can get more details and purchase motor vehicle permits here: https://miottawa.info/parkingpermit
The 2022 city and township population estimates were recently released by the US Census Bureau. Some highlights of the release include:
- Since 2020, 15 of the 24 local units in Ottawa County saw population growth.
- The largest growth was seen in Port Sheldon Township (4.1%), Grand Haven Township (3.9%), Blendon Township (3.8%), and Holland Township (3.7%).
Run through two beautiful Ottawa County Parks in one race!
June 24 • 10K • 5K • 1 Mile Kids Run/Walk
The course starts at Grand River County Park winding you through a natural surface trail until you hit the newly completed Idema Explorers Trail segment that leads you along the Grand River to Grand Ravines County Park. As you enter Grand Ravines, you will see an old, covered bridge and go up a small incline to a spectacular view of the river. If you’re lucky, you might even see the resident bald eagles out fishing.
If you are running (or walking!) the 5K, you will turn around at this point. If you are running the 10K, you will continue to wind yourself through Grand Ravines Park, around the dog park, through the meadow, across the Idema suspension bridge, and back through the woods to Grand River Park. Sounds pretty grand, doesn’t it?
Why participate?
- Because your participation helps support our parks.
- Your participation will help bring awareness to parks and projects like the Grand River Greenway and the Idema Explorers Trail.
- Because parks are for everyone.
- Because parks, nature, and open spaces are essential for our mental and physical health.
While the Ottawa County Road Commission is a separate organization from Ottawa County government, we understand that being informed on projects like road closures and resurfacing projects is important to residents. Sign up now to receive weekly construction updates.
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