Ottawa County Board of Commissioners Planning & Policy Committee

The Ottawa County Board of Commissioners Planning & Policy Committee met on June 10, 2026, to discuss several procurement and policy matters. Key procurement actions included approval of a $711,741.96 contract with Midwest Construction Group for building a restroom facility at the Upper Makatawa Natural Area, funded partly by the Transportation Alternatives Program. The committee also approved a $2,100 easement acquisition for the Explorers Trail Allenale segment, with funding from MDOT. Additionally, the committee reviewed and approved revised personnel policies related to salary continuation and personnel requisitions, aiming to improve transparency and budget oversight. A significant discussion focused on a proposed ordinance to implement a user fee on landfill waste haulers to cover legacy environmental cleanup costs, with concerns raised about the fee's impact and the need for further review by the Materials Management Planning Committee. The committee also considered restructuring the Ottawa County Housing Commission into an advisory board to enhance local representation and flexibility, with motions passed to disband the commission and establish the advisory board under modified open meeting requirements. Finally, the committee discussed a housing development initiative leveraging county-owned property to create affordable small-footprint homes, with plans to issue an RFP to developers pending further board approval. Throughout, the committee emphasized transparency, fiscal responsibility, and strategic partnerships in advancing county infrastructure and housing goals.