2010 Board & Commission Positions

The following appointments are accepting applications:

Technology Committee One (1) Local Governmental Official
Technology Committee One (1) Private Sector Representative Vacancies
West Michigan Regional Planning Commission One (1) Private Sector Vacancy
West Michigan Regional Planning Commission/CEDS One (1) Private Sector Vacancy
Workforce Development Board One (1) Business Sector Vacancies
Housing Commission One (1) Member Vacancies
Community Corrections Advisory Board One (1) Communication/Media Vacancy
Community Action Agency Advisory Board Three (3) Public Sector Vacancies
Community Action Agency Advisory Board Two (2) Private Sector Vacancies
Community Action Agency Advisory Board Three (3) Consumer Sector Vacancies
Ottawa County Building Authority One (1) Member Vacancy
Lakeshore Coordinating Council Advisory Committee One (1) Member Vacancy
Ottawa County Land Bank Authority Board One (1) Economic Development Corp. Vacancy
Ottawa County Land Bank Authority Board Two (2) Local Township Official Vacancies
Ottawa County Land Bank Authority Board Two (2) Local City/Village Official Vacancies
Ottawa County Land Bank Authority Board One (1) Citizen of Ottawa County Vacancy

If you would like to be considered for an appointment please submit an application, or call the County Clerk’s office at (616) 994-4533 to request an application. If you prefer, you may stop in and pick up an application or write to:

Ottawa County Clerk's Office
12220 Fillmore Street, Room 130
P.O. Box 296
West Olive, MI 49460

All applications (Requests for Appointment) should be returned to the County Clerk’s Office by August 31, 2010.

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Appeals Board for Sanitary Code

The Appeals Board for Sanitary Code is responsible to hear on-site sewage related appeals of the requirements contained in the Ottawa County Environmental Health Code. The meeting schedule is an as needed basis.

Contact Person: Adam London, Environmental Health Director
Contact Number: (616) 393-5625

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Ottawa County Agricultural Preservation Board

The Agricultural Board is advisory in nature. The Agricultural Board is established by the Purchase of Development Rights (PDR) Ordinance as passed by the Ottawa County Board of Commissioners to oversee and administer the Ottawa County Purchase of Development Rights Program. The Agricultural Preservation Board is responsible for establishing selection criteria for the ranking and prioritization of all landowner applications for Purchase of Development Rights; Reviewing and providing oversight in scoring all applications according to the adopted selection criteria; ranking and prioritizing the top scoring applications for acquisition and making recommendations to the County Board of Commissioners for the purchase of development rights; approving the restrictions and permitted uses under the agricultural conservation easement; establishing the price to be offered to the property owner and authorize negotiations for the purchase of development rights and agricultural conservation easement; establishing monitoring procedures and overseeing subsequent monitoring to insure compliance with the agricultural conservation easement; and providing an annual report to the County Board of Commissions each year. The Agricultural Preservation Board is expected to meet once per month. Terms are 3 years. Members shall not be compensated for their services, and members must comply with the Ottawa County Attendance Policy.

Community Corrections Advisory Board

The purpose of this Board is to implement the County Community Corrections Plan, act in an advisory capacity to the Ottawa County Director of Community Corrections, approve applications for grant funding, monitor programs and services in accordance with Public Act 511 of 1988, utilization of the County jail with respect to felony and misdemeanant population and operational programs that divert offenders from prison and jail. The opening must be filled with a representative from mental health, public health, substance abuse, employment and training or community alternative programs.

Contact Person: Dave Schipper, Director of Probation & Community Corrections
Contact Number: (616) 355-4315

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Community Action Agency Advisory Board

The Community Action Agency Advisory Board offers advice in the setting of basic goals, policies, procedures for the CAA-funded programs, and recommends needed changes to best serve Ottawa County residents eligible for services, including senior citizens, low income, and individuals with barriers to self-efficiency. The length of the term is two (2) years. Meetings are every other month, on the fourth Monday of the month at 1:30 p.m. in Holland.

Contact Person: Bill Raymond, Director of MI Works! and CAA Director
Contact Number: (616) 393-5601

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Community Mental Health Board

The Community Mental Health Board is a Policy Governance Board pursuant to Section 226 of the Mental Health Code. The Board is comprised of up to four (4) County Commissioners, four (4) Primary Consumers and Family Members and four (4) General Public Members. Appointments are made by the Board of County Commissioners and the term length is three (3) years. The Community Mental Health Board meets every 4th Monday of the month at 3:00 p.m., at the James Street Campus; place, time and date may vary depending on the committee. Members must attend the monthly Community Mental Health Board of Directors meeting and may be required to attend ad hoc meetings as needed.

Contact Person: Michael Brashears, Executive Director
Contact Number: (616) 393-5649

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Department of Human Services Board

TThe Department of Human Services (DHS) Board oversees the local administration of the Department of Human Services Programs to assure that the social needs of the community are met. For the most part, the Board serves in an advisory capacity; however, it is specifically responsible to review all purchase of service contracts involving programs administered by the local Department of Human Services. The DHS Board meets on a monthly basis and the terms of the Board appointments are for three years.

Contact Person: Loren Snippe, Director of the Ottawa County DHS
Contact Number: (616) 394-7206

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Officer’s Compensation Commission

The Ottawa County Officer’s Compensation Commission is comprised of seven members who are registered electors residing in Ottawa County. Pursuant to the recommendation of the 2005 Rye Study Appeals Committee, the Ottawa County Board of Commissioners believes it is in the best interests of the citizens of Ottawa County and the efficient administration of Ottawa County government to establish a County Officer’s Compensation Commission to determine the compensation to be paid to the Board of Commissioners and the other non-judicial elected officials of Ottawa County. A person may not apply to be a member of the Officer’s Compensation Committee if they are a member of the legislative, judicial, or executive branch of any level of government or a member of that person’s immediate family (spouses of public employees and public officers and their children or parents residing with the public employee or public officers). The first meeting will be held on April 17, 2006 at 1:00 p.m. at the Fillmore Street Complex.

Contact Person: Al Vanderberg – Ottawa County Administrator
Contact Number: (616) 738-4898

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Lakeshore Coordinating Council Advisory Committee

The Lakeshore Coordinating Council Advisory Committee serves a five (5) county region of West Michigan including representatives from each of its member counties: Allegan, Berrien, Cass, Muskegon, and Ottawa. Members are appointed by the Board of Commissioners. The Advisory Committee is responsible for reviewing the licensing applications and annual renewals for local substance abuse services programs, advising the Council on selected issues, and acting as a liaison to the Council on local community needs. The term is for two (2) years. This committee meets every other month on the third Wednesday of the month at 8:30 a.m. at the Village Hall in Douglas, Allegan County. Mileage reimbursement is offered.

Contact Person: Karen Youngs Hartley, Executive Director
Contact Number: (616) 846-6720

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Ottawa County Land Bank Authority Board

The laws of the State of Michigan establishing Land Bank Authorities provide a set of tools to allow a Land Bank to acquire, hold, improve and return to the tax rolls land within its jurisdiction. Property can come to a Land Bank from tax-foreclosed property, purchases from HUD, gifts from people, an agreement with a developer, and more. The goal of the Land Bank is to take acquired property and do something with it that results in the community being enhanced. The Land Bank Board’s responsibilities consist of directing all decisions regarding the Authority including property, finances and staffing.

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Ottawa County Building Authority

The Building Authority is an appointed corporate body organized for the sole purpose of overseeing Ottawa County building projects as assigned by the County Board of Commissioners. The Authority has three members with staggered three year terms and currently has two building projects. The meeting schedule is dependent upon the needs of the projects and is at the discretion of the Building Authority.

Contact Person: Erika Rosebrook, Assistant Administrator
Contact Number: (616) 738-4642

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Ottawa County Planning Commission

The Ottawa County Planning Commission is completely advisory in nature. Its priorities are coordinating local land use efforts and education. By statute, the Planning Commission must review and comment on local zoning changes proposed within 500 feet of a political boundary, review Public Act 116 (Farmland and Open Spaces) applications and terminations, and comment on new County projects.

Contact Person: Mark Knudsen, Director of Planning and Grants
Contact Phone: (616) 738-4852

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Ottawa County Workforce Development Board

The Workforce Development Board oversees employment and training programs and provides guidance in developing operational plans to be delivered through a No Wrong Door System in Ottawa County. The terms are for three years and the meeting schedule is bimonthly, the fourth Tuesday of the month at 3:30 p.m., in Holland.

Contact Person: Bill Raymond, Director of MI Works! and CAA Director
Contact Number: (616) 393-5697

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Ottawa County Parks and Recreation Commission

The Ottawa County Parks and Recreation Commission oversees all functions of the Parks and Recreation Department. These functions include park and open space acquisition, development, operations and outdoor education programs. The meeting schedule is the first Wednesday of each month, at 4:00 p.m., in the Fillmore Street Complex Board Room.

Contact Person: John A. Scholtz, Parks and Recreation Manager
Contact Number: (616) 738-4810

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Ottawa County Road Commission

The Road Commission provides direction and sets policies for the Ottawa County Road Commission Board. Actions include property acquisitions, equipment purchases, contract approvals, and traffic control. It is a three member committee. The term length is for six years and the meeting schedule is the second and fourth Thursday of the month at 9:00 a.m.

Contact Person: Kent Rubley, Managing Director of the Road Commission
Contact Phone: (616) 842-5400

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Ottawa County Remonumentation Committee

The Ottawa County Remonumentation Commission is responsible to adopt an Annual County Plan for monumenting or remonumenting all public land survey corners. The Plan must address all objectives of Public Act 345 of 1990 and contain all areas identified in the model plan, yet provide flexibility to accommodate the monumentation in a timely manner.

Contact Person: Mark Knudsen, Director of Planning and Grants
Contact Phone: (616) 738-4852

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Ottawa County Housing Commission

The Ottawa County Housing Commission will work cooperatively with federal, state, and local governments to address the housing needs of the citizens of Ottawa County. The purpose of the Housing Commission is to take advantage of federal and/or state funding that may become available to Ottawa County residents through a created housing commission.

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Ottawa County Economic Development Corporation

A public economic development corporation created to alleviate and prevent conditions of unemployment and to assist and retain local industries and commercial enterprises. The term length is six years. The meeting schedule is annual and at the call of the president.

Contact: Bradley J. Slagh
Contact Phone: (616) 846-8227

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Technology

Shall be responsible for the general development of plans and strategies to utilize existing and developing technologies to enhance public access to information and availability surrounding County government services, including but not limited to the Internet and other electronic mediums.

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Veteran Affairs Committee

Provides financial assistance for widows and families of deceased veterans; provides financial assistance in purchasing headstones for graves of veterans. The terms are three years and the meeting schedule is once a month.

Contact: Chief Probate Judge Mark A. Feyen
Contact Phone: (616) 786-4110

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Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) Committee

The West Michigan Regional Planning Commission (WMRPC) administers a federal economic development planning and development program- Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS)of the Economic Development Administration of the U.S. Department of Commerce for a seven county Economic Development District consisting of Allegan, Ionia, Kent, Mecosta, Montcalm, Osceola and Ottawa Counties. A 20-member public/private Committee of persons from throughout the seven counties oversees the CEDS Program. The overall goal of this program is to undertake activities (programs & projects) that reduce unemployment and increase incomes. WMRPC’s Office is located in Grand Rapids. The Executive Director of WMRPC is Dave Bee. He can be reached by calling 616-774-8400 or by e-mail at dbee@wmrpc.org

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West Michigan Regional Planning Commission

The West Michigan Regional Planning Commission (WMRPC) undertakes planning in several fields, including transportation, economic development, land use and recreation for a seven (7)County Region consisting of Allegan, Ionia, Kent, Mecosta, Montcalm, Osceola and Ottawa Counties. It is one of 14 Regions covering the entire State of Michigan. WMRPC is also known as Region 8. The WMRPC Board of Directors is comprised of 33 public & private, elected & appointed officials from throughout the seven counties. The WMRPC acts as a regional forum to share ideas and develop regional solutions to problems & issues. WMRPC also acts a liaison between these counties and State & federal agencies. It is also a designated depository for U.S. Census Bureau information. WMRPC’s Office is located in Grand Rapids. The Executive Director of WMRPC is Dave Bee. He can be reached by calling 616-774-8400 or by e-mail at dbee@wmrpc.org

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