OLIVE TWP., MI (WHTC-AM/FM, Jun. 6, 2025) – There will be three County Administrator hopefuls for the public to meet, and the Ottawa County Board of Commissioners to decide upon next week.
On Friday, the county announced that Muskegon County Administrator Mark Eisenbart, the Deputy County Administrator for Lee County in Florida, Glen Salyer, and retiring US Army officer Michael Tremblay, will come to the Conference Room of the Fillmore Street Administration Building (12220 Fillmore St.) on Wednesday. They will first meet with a group of what the county is calling “municipal professionals and community partners who regularly interact with the county,” before the two-hour public meet-and-greet, which starts at 3:30 PM.
A little on the three finalists, as described in a county statement:
- Mark Eisenbarth brings nearly two decades of public service experience, currently serving as the County Administrator for Muskegon County, Michigan. His leadership has focused on financial stewardship, strategic planning, and public-private partnerships. During his tenure, Muskegon County’s unassigned fund balance rose from 14% to 27%, and he helped secure more than $85 million in competitive grant funding—including collaborations with Ottawa County. He also oversaw initiatives that resulted in over $1 billion in community investment and has successfully negotiated multiple collective bargaining agreements.
- Glen Salyer currently serves as Deputy County Administrator for Lee County, Florida, where he helps manage a 2,900-employee government with a $733 million operating budget. He led the creation of LeeCARES, a $134 million COVID relief initiative, and has managed $1.2 billion in hurricane recovery efforts and a $149 million ARPA Recovery and Resilience Plan. His experience spans legislative policy, economic development, public health infrastructure, and municipal coordination, with over 20 years in local government.
- Michael Tremblay is a retiring U.S. Army officer and two-time Brigade Commander with over 20 years of executive leadership. He served as City Manager (Garrison Commander) of USAG Humphreys in South Korea, overseeing a $1.1 billion capital improvement budget and leading one of the largest infrastructure transformations in the region. Tremblay has deep experience in workforce development, municipal operations, crisis response, and strategic planning. His background also includes managing a $214 million operating budget and leading a team of over 2,400 employees across 280 locations.
These three were among five selected by the board in a special Wednesday meeting from among 30 persons whose applications were screened by retained consultant Double Haul Solutions. The county has not had a permanent administrator since John Gibbs was relieved of his duties on February 29th of last year, with retired Sheriff Gary Rosema handling the operational leadership duties on an interim basis.
“This next phase is about learning more about each finalist as a person—not just a resume. We’re looking for someone who can lead with steadiness, communicate with intention, and navigate complexity with professionalism and care.” – John Teeples, Ottawa County Board of Commissioners Chairman (R-Jenison)
The county board will hold individual public interviews on Thursday at 9 AM in the Administration Building, with a decision on a single person to undergo a final comprehensive background check, along with contract negotiations and onboarding support, expected by next Friday, June 13th.
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