If you've ever had to call 911, you may remember feeling scared, hurt, or confused about what to do. What you might not remember is the calm voice on the other end, laser-focused on figuring out the best way to help. Police, Firefighters, and EMTs/Paramedics save lives every day-- but without Ottawa County Central Dispatch, they wouldn't be able to do their jobs effectively.

We're celebrating National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week (April 12-18) by featuring Matt and Austynn from the Ottawa County Central Dispatch Authority to teach us how OCCDA operates, the role they play in the emergency response process, and how staff are supported through stressful situations.

Learn more about OCCDA at https://occda.org/

Please save the non-emergency number in your phone: (800) 249-0911. For emergencies, call 911.

Follow OCCDA on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OttawaCo911

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ottawadispatch?igsh=MW5raGhhaTJ0YjJzYg==

Connect with us!

Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OttawaCounty/

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ottawacountymi/

Follow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ottawacountymi?_r=1&_t=ZP-95CjqpqftTb

Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@miOttawa?sub_confirmation=1

Sign up for County email updates: https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/MIOTTAWA/subscribers/new

Veterans Services Director Jason Schenkel returns with Greg Carlson, a member of the Veterans Services Committee. Jason and Greg give us the latest in Veterans Services news, an explanation of the committee's role in decision making and oversight, and practical ways that OCVS supports our Veteran population.

Make sure to subscribe to see new episodes of Ottawa Out Loud and follow us on social media for daily updates on what's going on in Ottawa County.

Connect with us!

Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OttawaCounty/

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ottawacountymi/

Follow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ottawacountymi?_r=1&_t=ZP-95CjqpqftTb

Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@miOttawa?sub_confirmation=1

Sign up for County email updates: https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/MIOTTAWA/subscribers/new

We're bringing in Scott and Kirk from our Human Resources department to talk about how vital our staff is, what actions Ottawa County takes to be an incredible place to work, and why investing in our workforce creates the best value for taxpayers.

If you're inspired to come and work with us, visit miOttawa.org/apply to see our current openings and submit an application today!

Visit miOttawa.org/parks to learn more about our Spring Break Camps. Act quickly-- it's already starting to fill up!

Check out boards.miOttawa.org to see upcoming meetings from our boards and committees. The next Board of Commissioners Standing Committee meetings will be on Tuesday, March 10th at 9:30am, and the next full Board of Commissioners meeting will be March 24th at 6:30pm.

Connect with us!

Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OttawaCounty/

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ottawacountymi/

Follow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ottawacountymi?_r=1&_t=ZP-95CjqpqftTb

Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@miOttawa?sub_confirmation=1

Sign up for County email updates: https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/MIOTTAWA/subscribers/new

Water Resources Commissioner Joe Bush, Ben Jordan from Ottawa Conservation District, and Dan Callam from the Outdoor Discovery Center Network join us to dive into the groundbreaking Water Quality Monitoring Initiative, spearheaded by our Water Resources department. This initiative brings together experts from across the county to collect data from our streams, rivers, lakes, and watersheds to understand how water pollution happens— and how we can improve Ottawa County’s water supply for generations to come.

Learn more about the Water Quality Monitoring Initiative: https://ottawacd.org/water_quality_monitoring/

Outdoor Discovery Center Network: https://outdoordiscovery.org

Ottawa Conservation District: https://ottawacd.org

OCCAA Walk for Warmth: https://miottawa.org/caa/walk-for-warmth/

Housing Commission Survey: https://ottawacounty.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_ehbLdX1t8d224rc

Materials Management Plan Survey: https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/8592519/Recycling-Survey?source=slider

Upcoming Board of Commissioners Meetings: https://boards.miottawa.org/calendar/

Connect with us!

Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OttawaCounty/

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ottawacountymi/

Follow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ottawacountymi?_r=1&_t=ZP-95CjqpqftTb

Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@miOttawa?sub_confirmation=1

Sign up for County email updates: https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/MIOTTAWA/subscribers/new

Cold weather got you feeling stuck indoors? We're kicking off season 2 of Ottawa Out Loud with an exciting look at winter recreation opportunities from Ottawa County Parks, including skiing, snowshoeing, birding, and more. Plus, a sneak peek at the new-and-improved 2026 Parks Challenge, featuring bigger and better prizes!

——————Links——————

Learn more about Parks & Recreation Programs: https://miottawacountyweb.myvscloud.com/webtrac/web/splash.html?ccode=Activities

Upcoming Birding events: https://miottawacountyweb.myvscloud.com/webtrac/web/search.html?module=AR&Type=Nature&Subtype=Birding&_csrf_token=Li0O1M611O112O2W3A2G2Z4I5L4P6E501N5I4Y4J6B01724Q6K400D5R5X6M4U1A005U5H4I055M4V5E4Z66044O5F6K706W65536P0P5R4G6O57734P4R56511I5H4L5K

2026 Parks Challenge information: https://miottawa.org/parks/parks-challenge/

Connect with us!

Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OttawaCounty/

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ottawacountymi/

Follow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ottawacountymi?_r=1&_t=ZP-95CjqpqftTb

Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@miOttawa?sub_confirmation=1

Sign up for County email updates: https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/MIOTTAWA/subscribers/new

CEO Dr. Michael Brashears joins us to give you a deeper look into Community Mental Health, the philosophies that drive it, and the challenges that it faces in today’s complex environment. See how CMH administration and staff are preparing for changes at the federal, state, and county level while still providing top-notch comprehensive mental health services to our community.

“Did you Know?” Video Series: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLyDvvIv66xGcrHhSd1cmRDsRpK405PSE_

Learn more about CMH Services: https://miottawa.org/cmh/

Connect with us!

Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OttawaCounty/

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ottawacountymi/

Follow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ottawacountymi?_r=1&_t=ZP-95CjqpqftTb

Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@miOttawa?sub_confirmation=1

Sign up for County email updates: https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/MIOTTAWA/subscribers/new

In our most exciting episode yet, former interim administrator Gary Rosema and administrator Patrick Waterman join the podcast to talk about what administrators do, give their perspective on the last 12 months, and look toward the bright future of Ottawa County.

Make sure that you're subscribed so you don't miss anything from Ottawa County!

----------------Links from Announcements----------------

Follow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ottawacountymi?_r=1&_t=ZP-91fYRiY5FB0

Ottawa County Road Commission: https://ottawacorc.com

Connect with us!

Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OttawaCounty/

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ottawacountymi/

Follow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ottawacountymi?_r=1&_t=ZP-95CjqpqftTb

Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@miOttawa?sub_confirmation=1

Sign up for County email updates: https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/MIOTTAWA/subscribers/new

Kendra, Bill, and Morgan join us to talk about just a handful of the many programs offered by Ottawa County's MSU Extension Office.

Learn more about:

MSU Extension: https://www.canr.msu.edu/ottawa/

Product Center: https://www.canr.msu.edu/productcenter/

Christmas tree farms in your area: https://mcta.org/choose-cut-farms-map/

Keeping your tree fresh all season long: https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/water_is_the_essential_ingredient_in_keeping_your_farm_grown_christmas_tree

4-H Club: https://www.canr.msu.edu/ottawa/4-h/

Follow 4-H Club on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Ottawacounty4HMSU

Participate in the Kitchen Survey for aspiring or active food and beverage entrepreneurs: https://msu.co1.qualtrics.com/survey-builder/SV_a3ubmJiLcoJqcbI/edit

-------------------

Food resources in Ottawa County:

CALL-211: https://www.call-211.org/news-events/

Ottawa Food: https://ottawafood.org/findfood/

Meeting Minutes for the October 28 Board of Commissioners Meeting: https://youtube.com/shorts/ldP_kIIwMdA?feature=share

Connect with us!

Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OttawaCounty/

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ottawacountymi/

Follow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ottawacountymi?_r=1&_t=ZP-95CjqpqftTb

Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@miOttawa?sub_confirmation=1

Sign up for County email updates: https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/MIOTTAWA/subscribers/new