Board of Commissioners


We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness, that to secure these rights governments are instituted among men.

- The Declaration of Independence

The Ottawa County Board of Commissioners is elected to serve the people of Ottawa County by promoting and preserving freedom and constitutional rights in our beautiful county for future generations of all who live here. The Board's priority is to uphold the Constitutions of the United States and the State of Michigan, which protect the natural, God-given rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. By pursuing this priority, the Board seeks to continually make Ottawa County Where Freedom Rings, which is the vision and motto of the county.

Read the Constitutional County Resolution

The Board of Commissioners is comprised of 11 members elected from districts of equal population. Board members currently serve two-year terms that end December 31, 2024. Starting in 2025, the Michigan Legislature changed terms to be four years. Commissioners elected in the November 2024 general election will serve from 2025-2028.

The board has seven standing committees. Each committee has five members, except the Strategic Planning Committee, which has 11 members.
* Denotes Chair

Finance and Administration
  • Gretchen Cosby *
  • Roger Belknap
  • Rebekah Curran
  • Joe Moss
  • Kendra Wenzel
Health & Human Services
  • Sylvia Rhodea *
  • Gretchen Cosby
  • Lucy Ebel
  • Joe Moss
  • Doug Zylstra
Talent & Recruitment
  • Allison Miedema *
  • Jacob Bonnema
  • Gretchen Cosby
  • Lucy Ebel
  • Kendra Wenzel
Planning & Policy
  • Roger Belknap *
  • Roger Bergman
  • Allison Miedema
  • Joe Moss
  • Sylvia Rhodea
Board Rules
  • Joe Moss *
  • Roger Belknap
  • Rebekah Curran
  • Sylvia Rhodea
  • Kendra Wenzel
Broadband
  • Allison Miedema *
  • Roger Belknap
  • Gretchen Cosby
  • Joe Moss
  • Kendra Wenzel
Strategic Planning
  • Joe Moss *
  • Roger Belknap
  • Roger Bergman
  • Jacob Bonnema
  • Gretchen Cosby
  • Rebekah Curran
  • Lucy Ebel
  • Allison Miedema
  • Sylvia Rhodea
  • Kendra Wenzel
  • Doug Zylstra

What does the Board of Commissioners do?

  • Policy – The board passes resolutions which establish polices for things like budgets, services, capital improvements and other maters.
  • Leadership - Commissioners participate in county, regional, and state committees. The board engages in an annual strategic planning process, anticipating changes and needs for the future.
  • Oversight and Accountability - The board provides oversight and accountability for county departments, including budgets, outcomes, policy, and grants to make sure they align with the county vision and will of The People. Commissioners coordinate with the County Administrator and county employees to make sure county-funded services are effective and efficient.
  • Serve Constituents - Commissioners serve and communicate with county residents, including helping them find information or services they need. Commissioners also build relationships with local community members and attend city, township, and local functions to serve residents.

Commissioners do not oversee the Ottawa Area Intermediate School District, local school boards, or city and township boards. However, they interact with these boards and sometimes enter into agreements with them.

The salaries of the Ottawa County Commissioners as well as other non-judicial elected officials are determined by the Officers' Compensation Commission as permitted by PA 485 of 1978. The Officers' Compensation Commission presents its recommendations to the Board of Commissioners. The recommendations go into effect unless they are rejected by the Board of Commissioners. The most recent compensation determination can be read in detail beginning on page 14 of the meeting agenda from March 24, 2022. It was approved at the meeting.

Meetings

In 2023, the Board of Commissioners changed the board meeting schedule to include a morning meeting and an evening meeting to allow the public greater opportunity to attend meetings. Meetings of the Board of Commissioners and its Standing Committees are open to the public. The Board of Commissioners meets on the second Tuesday at 9:00 AM and the fourth Tuesday at 6:30 PM in the Board Room at the Administration Building: 12220 Fillmore Street, West Olive.

On the first Tuesday of each month, the Planning & Policy Committee meets at 9:00 AM and the Finance and Committee meets at 10:00 AM. On the third Tuesday of the month, the Health and Human Services Committee meets at 9:00 AM and the Talent and Recruitment Committee meets at 10:00 AM.

Watch videos of recent meetings on YouTube

The Board Rules contain more information about the structure and dynamics of meetings.

Opportunities for the Public to Comment

Each Board of Commissioners meeting begins and ends with an opportunity for the public to address the Commissioners. Comments can be made in person or online using the meeting's Zoom link.

To comment in person, the County Clerk asks you to sign up when you arrive at the meeting as it assists the Clerk's office in ensuring accurate meeting minutes. If you do not sign up, you will be afforded an opportunity to speak after those who signed up. Approximately 45 minutes before the scheduled meeting time, the sign-up sheet for public comments will be available. Your name and residence (i.e. township/city/village) will appear in the minutes. The Chair of the Board or Committee offers each speaker three minutes at the podium. The County Clerk will ask you to state your name and residence for the record, and then you are welcome to make your comment to the Board Chair. To keep the County business of the agenda progressing, comments to the board are not intended to be question-and-answer sessions or times for discussions.

To comment on Zoom, use the meeting link to sign in. Use the "raise hand" feature to indicate that you wish to make a public comment. When it is your turn, you will be called by name and asked to unmute. You will be given three minutes to address the Board Chair.

Board Standing Committee meetings begin and end with opportunities for the public to address the Commissioners in person.

Residents are welcome to contact their Commissioner or the Board Chair at any time to share a comment. Contact information is listed below.

Contacting your Commissioner

You can communicate directly with your commissioner via email, phone, or mail. Letters should be addressed to Ottawa County Administration, 12220 Fillmore Street, West Olive, MI 49460 and include the County Commissioner's name. If you are unsure which district you reside in, please use our interactive mapping tool below.


Meet Your Commissioners

District 1

Gretchen Cosby
  • Port Sheldon Township
  • Olive Township
  • Park Township Precincts 1, 2, 3, 5, 6 & 7

Gretchen A. Cosby was elected to the Ottawa Board County Board of Commissioners in 2022 to represent District 1. Her entire career has been one of service. “It is my very nature to think of others first. I work to create then continuously innovate processes and environments where the experience of people is enhanced.” Gretchen holds Associates, Bachelor's and Master's degrees in nursing and nursing management. She has 30 years of practical, working experience. As a nursing leader, she has provided vision and direction to teams of 200 people with healthcare budgets of more than $30 million dollars. She served as the Director of Nursing Services for North Ottawa Community Hospital, opened and ran the Holland Hospital COIVD testing center, was the Practice Lead for two Mercy Health's Innovative Primary Care practices, assisted in the development of strategy for Region 6 Statewide Trauma Initiative, has had leadership responsibilities for emergency rooms, intensive care units, and taught mental health for nursing. Gretchen served on the Rest Haven Board of Directors. Gretchen has worked in the service of fair elections as the local leader for Election Integrity Force.


District 2

Lucy Ebel

Lucy Ebel
(616) 250-4461
lebel@miottawa.org

  • Holland Charter Township Precincts 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8 & 11
  • Park Township Precinct 4


District 3

Doug R. Zylstra
  • City of Holland

Doug Zylstra was born and raised in Ottawa County. He is a graduate of Calvin Christian High School, The University of Michigan, and the Eli Broad School of Business at Michigan State University. He is the President and owner of West Side Clothing since 1996. Commissioner Zylstra was elected commissioner for the City of Holland district in 2019 . Previously, he was on the Ottawa County Planning Commission from 2010 to 2017. He also served one term on the West Michigan Regional Planning Commission. He serves or has served on many board and committees including: the Finance Committee, SmartZone Board, Health and Human Services Committee, the Community Mental Health Board, the Talent and Recruitment Committee, as well the Local Emergency Planning Committee.


District 4

Jacob Bonnema

Jacob Bonnema
(616) 980-7349
jbonnema@miottawa.org

  • City of Zeeland
  • Holland Charter Township Precincts 5, 9, 10 & 12
  • Zeeland Charter Township Precincts 1, 2 & 3


District 5

Joe Moss

Joe Moss, Chairperson
(616) 250-0249
jmoss@miottawa.org

  • Blendon Township
  • City of Hudsonville
  • Jamestown Charter Township
  • Zeeland Charter Township Precinct 4


District 6

Kendra Wenzel

Kendra Wenzel
kwenzel@miottawa.org

  • Georgetown Charter Township Precincts 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 & 17


District 7

Rebekah Curran
  • Georgetown Charter Township Precincts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 & 8

Rebekah Curran is a seasoned sales & marketing professional with 15 years of managerial experience with Marriott International, Hilton Hotels, Hyatt Hotels, and The Berkeley Hotel. In 2012, after completely submitting her life to Christ, she felt led to forge a new path into politics and fundraising. She is thankful for the honor of working for The Family Foundation, Amanda Chase for Virginia State Senate & Governor, Ben Carson's Presidential Super PAC, and Trump Victory. She also worked in fundraising to advance the cause of many non-profits. She has been married to her supportive husband, Jeff Curran, for 21 years. Together they have raised two amazing children, Devin & Conner. Rebekah, and her family, live in Georgetown Township and attend Resurrection Life Church in Grandville. As a first-time Commissioner, she is looking forward to bringing a new perspective and serving the people of Ottawa County.


District 8

Sylvia Rhodea

Sylvia Rhodea, Vice-Chairperson
(616) 250-2932
srhodea@miottawa.org

  • Allendale Charter Township


District 9

Roger Belknap
  • Grand Haven Charter Township
  • Robinson Township
  • Spring Lake Township Precinct 5

Roger (Rog) Belknap is a lifelong West Michigan resident, having grown up in Chester Township and currently resides in Grand Haven Township. Belknap is a small business owner and has over 20 years of public service experience, most recently working for the Michigan Department of Transportation as the Transportation Asset Management Council Program Coordinator. He has infrastructure planning and management experience gained while working as the Public Works Director for the communities of Cedar Springs and Spring Lake. Rog also worked for the Kent County Road Commission as a Transportation Planner where he was involved with roadway information system management and coordination of community development initiatives. Rog earned Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Public Administration and over the course of his career obtained licenses for municipal utility operations and other vocational training. Belknap represents Ottawa County Commission District 9, which includes the townships of Grand Haven, Robinson and Precinct 5 of Spring Lake Township.



District 10

Roger Bergman
  • City of Ferrysburg
  • City of Grand Haven
  • Spring Lake Township Precincts 1, 2, 3, 4 & 6

Roger A. Bergman was born in Holland, and attended Holland Christian Schools and Hope College. In 1966 He started working at Borr's Bootery and met his wife Karen that same year. They soon married and started a family after moving to their first home ten miles south of Holland in Allegan County. When Borr's opened a new store in Grand Haven, they moved north and followed the store to the city. In addition to being involved with the merchant's organization, they soon became active in starting a new church. At the same time, Roger was the legal guardian for two mentally challenged older brothers as well as was co-director of a financial planning ministry. In addition to this, Karen and he were raising two boys, Nick and Bryce. In 1999, Roger took his post on Grand Haven City Council where he served four years. Following that, Bergman served as Grand Haven's mayor for eight years. Next, Roger turned his attention to Ottawa County and was elected to the Board of Commissioners in 2012. As Roger looks back at this time, he sees how God has blessed him and my family in so many ways and is thankful.


District 11

Allison Miedema
  • Chester Township
  • City of Coopersville
  • Crockery Township
  • Polkton Charter Township
  • Tallmadge Charter Township
  • Wright Township

Allison Miedema was elected in 2022 to represent District 11 as county commissioner.

Allison has a teaching degree from Grand Valley State University with a Master's degree in Early Childhood, and has taught preschool for 21 years in both public and private schools. Allison looks forward to bringing her expertise in child development to advocacy for the best interest of children in policy decisions made by Ottawa County. Through her work with hundreds of families, Allison fostered strong communication skills, relationships, team work, and goal setting.

Allison became involved in politics when she noticed the rights of parents and children, along with the everyday American citizen, were being neglected, abused, and overstepped by the government in response to Covid-19. Due to the government overreach in schools, which violated her own personal conscience and spiritual convictions, she resigned her much loved position as a teacher in August 2021. Allison understands the government must work for the people to protect life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for citizens. She prioritizes freedom, the Constitution, and parental rights.

Allison is married to her best friend Brent and they have a teenage son. Her family is an active part of a local church where she has led a ladies Bible study, served as an active participant in the high school youth group, children's ministries, and more recently served on the pastor search team. Allison enjoys many outdoor adventures including camping and hiking, as well as enjoys reading and spending time with family and friends.