Ottawa County · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Ottawa County public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Medical Examiner Fee Increase
A proposed increase to the cremation permit fee from $50 to $70, effective November 1, 2026.
County Facility Rental Fees
Proposed room rental rates would have jumped as much as sixfold; commissioners halved the increases, balancing cost recovery for custodial work against nonprofit and community access.
Kent County hauler fee collection at Ottawa landfills
The county approved rules letting its two landfills collect Kent County's $1.68-per-ton fee, but only on Kent-originated waste, with notice before any fee increase. Ottawa's own $1-per-ton fee still applies on top, and residents will see roughly 10 cents a month passed through hauler bills.
Live-streaming boards and commissions
Zylstra's feedback suggested streaming all county board meetings. Commissioners and staff cited real tech costs, staffing challenges, and YouTube's right to delete archives — the word 'all' will likely be dropped in favor of 'work toward.'
Remote work and AI policies for county workforce
New first-reading policies set expectations for county remote work (with amendments on revocation language) and establish rules for employee use of artificial intelligence, to be revisited annually.
2026 Meeting Schedule and Bandwidth
The board adopted its 2026 calendar but rejected adding extra monthly meetings or quarterly work sessions, with some members wanting more scheduled time after the March strategic planning session.
Emergency authority gap between chair terms
Commissioners debated whether the chair's term ending December 31 could leave the county without the official who makes the final call on emergency shutdowns. The compromise language keeps a chair in place until the next organizational meeting.