OTTAWA COUNTY
Our guest was Al Vanderberg, the County Administrator. He presented a lot of information in a slide presentation that moved quickly. My shorthand largely failed me. The bottom line is apparent – Ottawa County is doing very well and the administration does not sit by and gloat – rather they are constantly seeking new avenues of improvement.
Overall, the county has adopted a slogan coined by Judge Ed Post; “The Ottawa Way” (TOW). TOW encapsulates a culture and way of doing things which are good for citizens and employees alike. It signifies that good government is practiced here. As a result, four unions have left county representation, and employee grievances have dropped from 70 a year to as low as zero.
- Vision: Described as “Where You Belong,” Ottawa County is highly attractive and the fasted growing county in each of the last five decades.
- Mission: Committed to a safe environment from people to natural resources.
- Goals: There are a number of goals but primary among them are a strong current balance sheet and a long term financial environment which entices investment. Ottawa County has the fifth lowest tax rate (3.6 mills.) of the State’s 83 counties. Furthermore, it maintains a AAA bind rating with Moddy & Fitch.
- 4 “C’s”: Going forward the plan is:
- Communication. Improved and expanded delivery of information to citizens. This includes Facebook. Most county business can be transacted online.
- Cultural Intelligence. Need to work on and improve on diversity issues and training to eliminate unintentional biases.
- Customer Service. This includes intergovernmental cooperation.
- Creativity. Big issues to be addressed in this area:
- Ground water capacity
- Mental health funding
- S.W. Ottawa Landfill
- Michigan Indigent Defense Commission
- Juvenile Justice Center
- Grand River Greenway
- M-231 improvements
- Increasing the number of paved road shoulders
- Robots and use of artificial intelligence
To say that all has a lot on his plate only means he has filled a huge plate. The future paths look interesting and exciting and we all will be the beneficiaries of his efforts. Thanks Al!
Raffle Loser: Craig Cather
Raffle Winner: Doug Heins