OLIVE TWP., MI (WHTC-AM/FM, Jan. 4, 2023) – It didn’t take long for “Ottawa Impact” to make an impact on Ottawa County Government.
During yesterday’s organizational meeting, the Board of Commissioners dismissed Administrator John Shay, dissolved the county’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Office, changed the county’s vision statement from “Where You Belong” to “Where Freedom Rings,” named a new health officer, and retained Kallman Legal Group as the county’s legal counsel.
“Ottawa Impact” is a political action group formed last year, and in the November 8th General Election, this group was able to put its supported candidates in eight of the 11 board seats. Yesterday, the panel, led by new chairman Joe Moss, changed the rules to include the above items on the agenda, while the new vice chairwoman, Sylvia Rhodea of Allendale, spoke for the new majority in explaining the reasoning for sacking Shay.
Shay, who was appointed last March to fill the vacancy created by the August, 2021 departure of Al Vanderberg to Kent County, was replaced by John Gibbs, who had lost in the November election to Democrat Hillary Scholten for the 3rd Congressional District seat.
Nathaniel Kelly was named the new Health Officer, pending state health department approval. He replaces Adelione Hambley, who had been approved by the state, but had not assumed those duties after the August retirement of Lisa Stefanovsky. The Kallman Legal Group, based in Lansing, had represented barber Karl Manke of Owosso during his legal battle to remain open in 2020 despite COVID 19 health mandates.
Moss and Rhodea are the co-founders of Ottawa Impact.
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