September 15, 2026 Ottawa County Board of Commissioners Planning & Policy Committee

The September 15, 2026 meeting of the Ottawa County Board of Commissioners Planning & Policy Committee focused heavily on policy discussions, particularly regarding the proposed Code of Ethical Conduct for commissioners. Public comments expressed concerns about the ethics policy's language on consensus and the process for reporting ethical violations, emphasizing the importance of free speech and public involvement. The committee discussed and debated amendments to the ethics code, including removing or rephrasing the term "consensus" to better reflect decision-making without mandating unanimity. The committee ultimately tabled the ethics code for further revision and review. Procurement-related actions included approval of contracts and grant agreements: a $400,000 Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund grant for the Rosy Mound expansion, an $80,780 contract with NextGen Construction for repairs at Ottawa Beach Park, and a $103,677 contract with Veritas Design Group for the Bend Area Master Plan update. Additionally, the committee approved a five-year master agreement with the Michigan Department of Transportation for public transportation projects and authorized contract execution under this agreement. The committee also approved appointments of medical examiners under a contract with Michigan State University and discussed a $3 million SAMHSA grant awarded to Community Mental Health for jail and crisis services. The meeting included updates on veterans services and Community Mental Health transition plans, highlighting budget challenges and Medicaid funding issues.