YouTube video of the Mar. 24, 2026 Ottawa County Board of Commissioners business meeting courtesy Ottawa County, Michigan
OLIVE TWP., MI (WHTC-AM/FM, Mar. 25, 2026) – The possibility of two millage questions before voters later this year, as well as changing how governmental legal matters are handled, were among the items before members of the Ottawa County Board during its monthly business meeting on Tuesday night.
Commissioners approved scheduling public hearings for April 30th on a proposed ballot question involving renewing the Community Mental Health levy and restoring it to a third of a mill, as well as a request of over half a mill to replace the Parks and Open Space assessment. Whether those questions will be on the August 4th Primary Election ballot or the November 3rd General Election ballot will be determined by the board following those hearings.
Commissioners also endorsed a proposal to restructure the county’s in-house legal services from a single County Attorney to that of a Director of Legal Affairs. This comes as both Ron Bultje and Doug Van Essen are planning to retire, and this new director would serve as an external coordinator and an internal counselor for all of the county’s legal activities. It’s an idea that made sense to Commissioner John Teeples of Jenison.
The governing panel also choose who would fill vacancies on the Community Mental Health Board, the Community Action Agency Advisory Board, the Veterans Services Committee, and the Land Bank Authority.
The Ottawa County Board of Commissioners met at the administration building on the Fillmore Street Complex in West Olive (12220 Fillmore St.). An online link to the agenda and supporting documents is here.
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