Awards
Several of the projects and studies completed by the Planning and Performance Improvement Department have been recognized by regional, state, and national organizations for their innovation and excellence. A list of recent awards presented to the Department is as follows:
Performance Improvement Awards
Electronic Content Management (ECM) System EvaluationOttawa County's Electronic Content Management (ECM) System Evaluation earned a 2011 NACo Achievement Award. The ECM System Evaluation is the first full-scale, comprehensive study that verifies, through time-analysis, the actual time and material savings from using an ECM system to process court documents, as well as the resulting cost-savings. The study is being used to justify the need for legislative changes at the state-level that would encourage greater utilization of the technology, thereby further reducing labor and material cost. The award was given in the category of County Administration and Management.
Planning Awards
Planning Award for the Model Wind Energy Ordinance
Ottawa County’s Model Wind Energy Ordinance earned a 2009 NACo Achievement Award. This ordinance is unique in that it is one of the first in the nation to provide specific, size-appropriate zoning standards for small, medium, and large wind energy turbines. This model ordinance proactively assists local units of government with the promotion and regulation of wind turbines by providing a framework that local communities can draw from to set their own size-appropriate wind energy zoning standards.
Planning Award for the Integrated Road Salt Management Project
Ottawa County’s Integrated Road Salt Management Project received a NACo Achievement Award in 2008. Since the program was adopted over the winter of 2004-2005, the Ottawa County Road Commission implemented new snow and ice clearance techniques that successfully reduced salt use in “environmentally sensitive” areas by 75 percent. This project not only had a positive impact on the local environment, infrastructure, and agriculture, but also resulted in direct and indirect cost savings for the County.
Planning Awards for the Urban Smart Growth Demonstration Project
Ottawa County's Urban Smart Growth Demonstration Project has earned four awards: a 2011 NACo Achievement Award, a 2009 NACo Achievement Award, a 2008 Outstanding Planning Project Award from the Michigan Association of Planning, and the 2008 Urban Design Award from the Grand Valley Chapter of the American Institute of Architects. The 2011 NACo Achievement Award was earned for the Model Downtown Zoning Ordinance. The Downtown Zoning Ordinance establishes a precedent for the use of visual illustrations in community planning documents. The first-of-its-kind Ordinance contains over 600 high-quality graphics that clearly convey a community’s zoning standards with respect to architecture, setbacks, parking, signage, landscaping, and lighting. The Ordinance was developed for the City of Hudsonville as part of its participation in the County’s Urban Smart Growth Demonstration Project. The award was given in the category of Land Use Planning.
Data Books
Environmental Data Book Award
Ottawa County's Environmental Data Book earned a 2011 NACo Achievement Award. The Environmental Data Book is a comprehensive, easy-to-use reference guide that contains an assortment of environmental-related data for Ottawa County. This unique, web-based resource synthesizes pertinent environmental facts and statistics into a single, convenient document that is easily accessible to the public. The award was given in the category of Civic Engagement and Public Information.
