Commissioners have heard 15 hours of litigation regarding the removal of public health director Hambley. If you missed the riveting discussion, I will give you all the analysis. The ultimate decision has not yet been made public, but it seems the result is inevitable. There have been many claims made and many hours of litigation and looking at specific documents and testimony regarding the charges against Hambley. The lawyers made their cases and analysis at the end. If you feel overwhelmed, you’re probably not alone. Come dive into the muck with me and get all the facts that will not be shared by certain media outlets. I’m Thomas Frye and this is the Homes Politicast.

Preventing Clamidia: https://www.youtube.com/live/QNp-QLALKUE?si=Jdyka49z0IrbLaOT&t=20178

No Fluff: https://www.youtube.com/live/QNp-QLALKUE?si=IOqEO6edfBE1yD68&t=24238

Hambley Closing Statement: https://www.youtube.com/live/QNp-QLALKUE?si=AD5UBoblvdqm2r1y&t=27345

Kalman Closing Statement: https://www.youtube.com/live/QNp-QLALKUE?si=tt_Hq-7O91afYWK0&t=28094

Hambley Lawer Makes A Good Point: https://www.youtube.com/live/QNp-QLALKUE?si=hFLrbceRr2T7wGrt&t=27389

Kalman Cites Character Attacks: https://www.youtube.com/live/QNp-QLALKUE?si=BHtruPyYdcfGXldR&t=28472

Another Misrepresentation: https://www.youtube.com/live/QNp-QLALKUE?si=5vcSQDqYQkRh0633&t=28565

Just Cause? https://www.youtube.com/live/QNp-QLALKUE?si=AhhT-Dp1rlp4Jt9g&t=28123

Standard for removal: https://www.youtube.com/live/QNp-QLALKUE?si=AhhT-Dp1rlp4Jt9g&t=28123

Zylstra Questions Point 1: https://www.youtube.com/live/QNp-QLALKUE?si=kZ_kgHMq1vbcTGvc&t=29276

Bergman  about Kalman? https://www.youtube.com/live/QNp-QLALKUE?si=Xc38Xyq9Ut8Qb6xQ&t=29727

The GHAPS has claimed their playgrounds are dangerous and some residents say the claim is an attempt to pressure parents and grandparents to vote for the new millage that has already been rejected by the people of Grand Haven. The tactic is not uncommon in Ottawa County. The current Grand Haven Mayor speaks out against one of the current candidates and has a lot to say on the subject. The former Mayor isn’t the only one speaking out against Hendrick. The general manager of the BLP, Dave Walters, has stepped down citing a “toxic work enviroment” created by Hendrick along with an attempt to show his commitment to the continuation of the BLP. Finally the hearing for Adeline Hambley is today and BOC meetings seem to be on hold until the issue is resolved. I’m Thomas Frye.

Schools Close Playground: https://substack.com/inbox/post/138153685

Smith’s Bridge: https://www.woodtv.com/news/ottawa-county/ferrysburg-bridge-is-so-bad-it-has-to-close/

Opened: https://www.woodtv.com/news/ottawa-county/smiths-bridge-in-ferrysburg-reopens-to-vehicles/#:~:text=Engineers presented a report Monday night to the,limit meaning large trucks are not allowed through.

Mayors Perspective: https://substack.com/inbox/post/138175668

Dave Walters: https://www.grandhaventribune.com/news/local/blps-walters-calls-his-resignation-a-constructive-discharge/article_6bbee969-7983-57c0-9d97-ee89731f89b6.html

https://substack.com/inbox/post/138176363

Music:

Play https://uppbeat.io/t/qube/play License code: IIZDSTKRDGXI7PNG : Tres French https://uppbeat.io/t/jonny-boyle/tres-french License code: C8HDT8WOK0YSWC1H

Good Thing https://uppbeat.io/t/soundroll/good-thing License code: 2ESACEXAUDUH1CQE

Seize the Day https://uppbeat.io/t/andrey-rossi/seize-the-day License code: SAPBW8FLFBZF0IIJ

Threatened https://uppbeat.io/t/alex-besss/threatened License code: QANMXKWPMBIW6AMZ

Psycho https://uppbeat.io/t/alex-besss/psycho License code: LN7SE04MRSYTNUIC

Hero’s Time https://uppbeat.io/t/paulo-kalazzi/heros-time License code: 6OH2OTOIZMLP2OH7

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. Two business tycoons in ottawa county get very different treatment from the holland sentinel. The only difference seems to be political party. The charges are even less serious for the republican but the paper can’t seem to find any information about Grand Haven’s mayoral candidate and her pot business. Residents stand in support for the Momentum Center and don’t quite understand what it is they support. Unfortunately there is some rationales that suggest that the momentum center may be harming the mentally unstable in our community and the community as a whole. Finally citizens express their frustrations about Commissioners in Ottawa County and their lack of transparency. The contract with Ottawa County stated that the OI commissioners wanted to make “county information “public by default” to increase transparency and accountability.” There have been a few things that have not been made public and residents deserve that transparency from their commissioners. Especially when that was a campaign promise. FOIA’s are taking a long time and seeing high fees, secret meetings are taking place without any explanation, and board members do not share their business ties or give clear reasons when they make a decision that effects their businesses. Will Ottawa County see transparency from this board in the near future? We still hope so. I’m Thomas Frye and this is The HOMES Politicast.

Sentinel on Moss: https://www.hollandsentinel.com/story/news/politics/county/2023/10/03/moss-linked-firm-received-75k-from-migop-after-nominating-karamo-as-chair/71041717007/

Andrea Hendrick: https://restoreottawa.substack.com/p/grand-haven-mayoral-candidate-andrea

Working While Conservative: https://simplyamerican.com/press-release-working-while-conservative

Replacing Momentum Center: https://www.youtube.com/live/luKxteqm6uE?feature=shared&t=2334

Momentum Center: https://substack.com/inbox/post/136036767

Public by Default: https://www.youtube.com/live/luKxteqm6uE?feature=shared&t=2990

The Michigan GOP pays Commissioner Moss’s business over 75 thousand dollars. That a lot of money from donors and questions are being asked about what the reason for that payment is. So far no one from either Karamo’s office or Moss’s circle have said anything about it. The Ottawa Impact commissioners are under fire for allegedly breaking the spirit of the Open Meetings Act and the arguments from both sides have been quite interesting. Finally, the Health Department Officer is facing removal by the board yet again. They might succeed this time. We will see on the 19th.

Donation to Moss: https://news.yahoo.com/moss-linked-firm-received-75k-190214108.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYmluZy5jb20v&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAALXwFOZfARFAnBDVkuKvWf2jVeJ5IkKaroZh6GTrHQ-aJYCttOoMP1_OUQWYDJ9IpNw3c0vh1Dp1fcFN39RXzGlPGbmmlddMNjOvCqtVw0xY3_dfjqwrPlOnPqP0jrbZTxE8vDIHusD-YFqMbkx3382hIquU6Q7eLAbWKl-uDVPx

Open Meetings Act: https://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/2023/09/ottawa-impact-commissioners-hold-closed-door-meetings-may-be-violating-law.html?outputType=amp

Hambley Removed: https://www.fox17online.com/news/local-news/lakeshore/ottawa/ottawa-county-readies-new-interim-health-officer-if-hambley-is-removed

Music:

Play https://uppbeat.io/t/qube/play License code: IIZDSTKRDGXI7PNG : Tres French https://uppbeat.io/t/jonny-boyle/tres-french License code: C8HDT8WOK0YSWC1H

Good Thing https://uppbeat.io/t/soundroll/good-thing License code: 2ESACEXAUDUH1CQE

Seize the Day https://uppbeat.io/t/andrey-rossi/seize-the-day License code: SAPBW8FLFBZF0IIJ

Threatened https://uppbeat.io/t/alex-besss/threatened License code: QANMXKWPMBIW6AMZ

Psycho https://uppbeat.io/t/alex-besss/psycho License code: LN7SE04MRSYTNUIC

Hero’s Time https://uppbeat.io/t/paulo-kalazzi/heros-time License code: 6OH2OTOIZMLP2OH7

Greensleeves https://uppbeat.io/t/dan-barracuda/greensleeves License code: EQEQX1GF7SAMQZGO

After a plethora of motions from Commissioner Zylstra to change the budget with not a single one passing the budget process is finally finished. We will now see whether or not the county will catch on fire and burn to the ground. The discussion about the Ottawa Foods budget has been confusing for some residents. I will lay out the facts that I have so far. Bonnema spoke quite well about the need for funding there but other commissioners are confident that the budget can be adjusted easily if needed. The communication breakdown continues as Bonnema says Gibbs has had no discussions with Hambley about the budget since July. Gibbs claims he has. Who knows for real? Commissioner Bergman makes some claims about the whole community but admits that he has not had any data from the community other than public comment. Finally, OI commissioners almost blunder and fund planned parenthood and Right to Life needs to step in. 

Bonemma on Ottawa Foods: https://youtu.be/36P2udhgdD8?si=sp9riVWYQKYMAqt5&t=18535

Rodea counters with ARPA funds: https://youtu.be/36P2udhgdD8?si=TBQrVEKjMepqSUHW&t=18673

Bonemma and Gibbs: https://youtu.be/36P2udhgdD8?si=_RsjJcAXFcC_xJrU&t=19240

Bergman says what the whole county wants: https://youtu.be/36P2udhgdD8?si=oinyi0_MIFTqermB&t=20972

Music:

Hero’s Time

https://uppbeat.io/t/paulo-kalazzi/heros-time

License code: 6OH2OTOIZMLP2OH7

The health department seems fixated on the dollar amount in the budget as the Ottawa Impact Commissioners seem fixated on the same thing. The two entities are talking past each other, and the drama of narrative continues. To the OI credit they did run on this issue, and they are delivering on their promises to their voters. A question comes up in the meeting on the 19th as to who has the authority to move funds around inside the budget. Does the health department have the authority to move the health department funds around within the health department? During the discussion the health department rep tries to make an emotional plea for people’s jobs. We have a huge cut in health education, and we still aren’t sure what that means since Hambley hasn’t gotten many reports about how many people we are servicing through our health education budget or what exactly we are spending that on. The health department rep gets a little belligerent and seems to be reaching for totally irrelevant data to support her department getting more money. Bonnema seems to disagree about whether or not he’s been involved in conversations with veterans and Sylvia Rhodea. Rhodea insists that he has not been. That was an interesting interjection. Finally, a letter sent to Gretchin Cosby has been obtained from Jacob Bonnema. The letter is very much in support of him and we will analyze it a little bit today.

The budget makes the cut: https://www.youtube.com/live/fi26GQTa5fU?si=IG84jRNn64OPvbbo&t=4152

Health Department tries to call the shots: https://www.youtube.com/live/fi26GQTa5fU?si=yuJcwkfmKsZPtnOw&t=4550

Belligerent: https://www.youtube.com/live/fi26GQTa5fU?si=xM4Og_6F4pBWFMEB&t=4673

Bonemma Interjects: https://www.youtube.com/live/fi26GQTa5fU?si=akAaW9Q-1ASiJUG6&t=6472

Music:

Play

https://uppbeat.io/t/qube/play

License code: IIZDSTKRDGXI7PNG

:

Tres French

https://uppbeat.io/t/jonny-boyle/tres-french

License code: C8HDT8WOK0YSWC1H

Good Thing

https://uppbeat.io/t/soundroll/good-thing

License code: 2ESACEXAUDUH1CQE

Seize the Day

https://uppbeat.io/t/andrey-rossi/seize-the-day

License code: SAPBW8FLFBZF0IIJ

Threatened

https://uppbeat.io/t/alex-besss/threatened

License code: QANMXKWPMBIW6AMZ

Psycho

https://uppbeat.io/t/alex-besss/psycho

License code: LN7SE04MRSYTNUIC

Hero’s Time

https://uppbeat.io/t/paulo-kalazzi/heros-time

License code: 6OH2OTOIZMLP2OH7

Greensleeves

https://uppbeat.io/t/dan-barracuda/greensleeves

License code: EQEQX1GF7SAMQZGO

Commissioner Bergman misquotes the laws in Michigan and this is a pattern with the board members that have been on the board long enough to know how laws work. To err is human, but with errors should come acknowledgment of the mistake. This goes for all the commissioners whatever their error. The legal counsel corrects the commissioner that was mistaken but he has not offered an apology for spreading misinformation. The same commissioner suggests that those who support Ottawa Impact are pedaling false information. Interesting that the suggestion comes after a bold declaration of misinformation. The public is confused about how public health is achieved in a county. One resident claims that the spending on std awareness is directly correlated to how many people have std’s. The battle of narrative continues in the media as the Holland sentinel doubles down on their claims even though the health department budget seems to be higher than previous years. Finally the possibility of Planned Parenthood stepping into Ottawa County seems to have been averted by the board after some quick changes. 

Bergman on Law: https://www.youtube.com/live/fM6IjyQyqd4?si=iagJVcY_4slBtcxa&t=14141

Corporate Counsel Explains: https://www.youtube.com/live/fM6IjyQyqd4?si=DP7WT92aDCMl3Sr6&t=14307

Bergman adds to inflammatory rhetoric: https://www.youtube.com/live/fM6IjyQyqd4?si=uqfzEFFd_CFVU1lN&t=14181

Confused Citizen: https://www.youtube.com/live/fM6IjyQyqd4?si=x9_eENK-dD-yroa-&t=12530

Sentinel: https://www.hollandsentinel.com/story/news/politics/county/2023/09/19/hambley-fights-oi-narrative-as-budget-moves-to-full-board/70889714007/

The Ottawa Impact Commissioners have once again moved against Jacob Bonnema. A recent removal from the Ottawa County Finance and Administration Committee vice chair position has led to much anger from Bonnema toward his former running mates. There is another year before we find out exactly what the county as a whole thinks of the new board and what they think of their local press. Our county administrator has been accused of being difficult to work with and making a mess of our county. It seems only the directors that are interested in media attention have experienced that. During the Commissioner meeting last week the administrator says that his working relationship with the finance director has been fantastic and that she has been very helpful. It seems that the Ottawa County elections are run very well. Many claims have been made that the 2020 elections were a disaster but County Residents can be assured that our election process is secure and widely used. Roger Bergman is given a puff piece in the Grand Haven tribune that we will take a look at. Finally the Ottawa County Health Department is fully funded with commissioners working with the budget to get all necessary programs funded. The question remains as to when our county will be able to see exactly what we are spending our money on but for now the health department seems to have created a scene that amounted to nothing. 

Bonnema Removed: https://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/2023/09/cowardly-vindictive-ottawa-county-commissioner-says-of-removal-from-leadership-position.html#:~:text=Bonnema%20was%20removed%20Tuesday%20from%20his%20role%20as,County%20Commissioner%20Roger%20Belknap%2C%20an%20Ottawa%20Impact%20member.

Gibbs: https://www.youtube.com/live/FojCfgrE90w?si=spSeeZGJOWAuekbK&t=9570

NCAL: https://www.youtube.com/live/FojCfgrE90w?si=rbmhEpQEQRiBcuyS&t=4176

Bergman: https://www.grandhaventribune.com/news/local/roger-bergman-discusses-issues-over-coffee/article_65d06488-8810-5ee3-b599-fc7212618cd2.html

OCHD: https://joemoss.com/press-release-ottawa-county-public-health-budget-updates-for-fiscal-year-2024

Leach Investigating: https://www.grandhaventribune.com/news/local/hambley-state-consequences-loom-as-gibbs-orders-cuts/article_6b82e9d8-7b06-5193-b862-ce600a8d7f51.html