Latest news with #JustinRoebuck
Yahoo
20-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ottawa County Elections Division wins national award for voter education series
OTTAWA COUNTY— The Elections Division of The Ottawa County Clerk's Office has received national recognition for its innovative approach to helping voters understand the election process. The office was announced as a winner of a national Clearinghouse Award for Distinguished Voter Education and Communications Initiatives by the U.S. Election Assistance Commission on Wednesday, April 16. The award recognizes innovation, sustainability and replicability in election administration during the 2024 presidential election. Ottawa County was one of 53 programs across the country recognized. Ottawa County earned the award for its 'Not a Podcast – Ballots and Banter" series, created in collaboration with the Ottawa County Communications Department. More: Ottawa County voters should have an easier time finding results in May. Here's why The series of short videos with Ottawa County Clerk Justin Roebuck and Elections Supervisor Katie Bard addressed topics such as voter registration, election security, how to obtain absentee ballots and more. The goal was to deliver clear and accessible voter information by using a casual podcast format. 'As election officials, it's critical that we communicate information to voters in the many ways they receive their information,' Roebuck wrote in a release. 'I'm so proud of our innovative Elections Team and thankful for the partnership we have with our County Communications Department. This national award is a well-deserved recognition of their collaboration to educate voters.' The series was initially posted on Facebook and Instagram, but can also be viewed on YouTube. The EAC is an independent, bipartisan federal agency solely focused on election administration. The organization's Clearinghouse Awards, also known as Clearies, are presented annually and are now in their ninth year. Submissions were judged on innovation, sustainability, outreach, cost-effectiveness, replicability and the generation of positive results, according to a release. — Cassidey Kavathas is the politics and court reporter at The Holland Sentinel. Contact her at ckavathas@ Follow her on Twitter @cassideykava . This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Ottawa County Elections wins national award for voter education series
Yahoo
23-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Feb. 24-28: Campbell Plant, Crockery Lake, KLG on stuffed Ottawa County agenda
HOLLAND — In 2025, The Sentinel is providing a weekly round-up of the biggest topics in upcoming municipal meetings, giving our readers a chance to engage with their local officials on the projects, appointments and decisions that hit closest to home. These round-ups are written on Fridays, and will not include an agenda if one hasn't been posted by 1 p.m. Municipalities are not required by the Michigan Open Meetings Act to provide an agenda in advance of a meeting, but they are required to provide notice. Please visit your local municipality website for the most updated information. Here are the biggest topics for meetings Monday-Friday, Feb. 24-28: Election Commission: 3 p.m. Monday, Feb. 24, at the Ottawa County Fillmore Street Complex The agenda includes: Consideration of a motion to approve combining certain precincts for the May 6, 2025, special election Consideration of a motion to approve ballots for use in the May 6, 2025, special election Consideration of a motion to charge County Clerk Justin Roebuck with the responsibility for any other preparations or changes with regard to the May 6, 2025, special election Read the agenda: Board of Commissioners: 9 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 25, at the Ottawa County Fillmore Street Complex The agenda includes: Consideration of a motion to approve the 2025 "purchase of development rights" scoring. The Agricultural Preservation Board uses this scoring to determine land preservation. Consideration of a motion to approve the agreement to join the Grand Haven Area Convention and Visitors Bureau Assessment District. Consideration of a motion to approve general claims in the amount of $24,624,710.45 as presented by the summary report for Dec. 23, 2024-Jan. 31, 2025 Consideration of a motion to approve the 2026 Budget Calendar Hearing a quarterly financial status report for the General Fund, Mental Health Fund and the Special Revenue Fund through the end of the first quarter of fiscal year 2025 Consideration of a motion to approve the new fee structure for Laredo Remote Access, the online subscription searching system for the Register of Deeds Office Consideration of a motion to approve an agreement with Karpel Solutions and the Prosecuting Attorneys Association of Michigan for the Prosecutor's Office to implement a new case management system to replace the current system Consideration of a motion to approve a contract with Baker Tilly Advisory Group for wage and compensation services for a total of $107,400. This item passed in a 7-4 vote during a meeting of the Finance and Administration Committee but faced backlash from some commissioners due to Baker Tilly's interest in DEI. Consideration of a motion to authorize no more than $37.6 million in Ottawa County Water Supply System Bonds Consideration of a motion to boost the Corporate Counsel Administrative Assistant Position to full-time at a cost of $1,996 Consideration of a motion to approve a request to sign the MERS Defined Contribution Plan (Retirement) Adoption Agreement for the Judge's Division Consideration of a motion to approve the Fiscal Year 2025 Budget Adjustments. This passed on a 7-4 vote during a meeting of the Finance and Administration Committee, though some commissioners lamented the $900,000 emergency communicable disease response grant for the Ottawa County Department of Public Health. Consideration of a motion to appoint Interim Administrator Gary Rosema to the Grand Valley Metropolitan Council for Ottawa County for 2025 Consideration of a resolution voicing support for a delayed closing of the Consumers Energy's Campbell Plant in Port Sheldon Township. The resolution will continue discussion from a meeting of the Planning and Policy Committee. Consideration of a legal opinion finding the controversial Crockery Lake Agreement, approved and dated on or about December 10-27, 2024, invalid because the board reportedly lacked the authority to enter it. Consideration of a motion to accept the resignation of Kallman Legal Group and retain Dickson Wright (Ronald Bultje) as Interim Corporation Counsel. Read the Packet: Plat Board: 12 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 25, at the Ottawa County Fillmore Street Complex An agenda was not immediately available Materials Management Planning Committee : 9 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 26, at the Ottawa County Fillmore Street Complex An agenda was not immediately available Community Mental Health Board : 9 a.m. Friday, Feb. 28, at the Ottawa County Fillmore Street Complex An agenda was not immediately available Materials Management Planning Committee: 6 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 25, at the Allegan County Services Building An agenda was not immediately available Board of Commissioners: 9 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 27, at the Allegan County Services Building An agenda was not immediately available How to attend remotely: You can attend via Zoom on your web browser by visiting and entering password "Board" or on YouTube at @allegancounty. Board of Public Works Board of Directors Special Meeting: 4 p.m. Monday, Feb. 24, at Holland Board of Public Works Service Center The agenda includes: Consideration of a motion to adopt the Integrated Resource Plan, a tool that looks at the forecast of future energy and demand requirements and identifies optimized resource mixes to meet those needs A discussion on wastewater utility issues A discussion of the fiscal year 2026 budget overview Read the agenda: Joint Meeting: 5 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 25, at Holland City Hall This meeting includes Holland's City Council, Planning Commission, Board of Appeals, Downtown Development Authority, Neighborhood Improvement Committee, Historic District Commission, Washington Square Business Improvement District and South Shore Village Business Improvement District. The agenda includes: A welcome and introduction by Steve Peterson, AICP, Senior Planner A training titled 'How to run a meeting' by City Attorney Vince Duckworth Read the agenda: Brownfield Authority: 7:30 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 26, at Holland City Hall The agenda includes: Consideration of a motion to approve a plan by 24 East for the property located at 717 E. 24th St. The eligible cost reimbursable to the developer is up to $792,605 and local administrative costs are estimated at $150,000. The mixed-use residential and commercial redevelopment project includes 202 residential units and 13,200 square feet of commercial space. The majority of the units will be for households earning 80% of area median income or less, with 40 units being market rate. Read the agenda: City Council Study Session: 6 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 26, at Holland City Hall The agenda includes: Discussion of the 2025 Strategic Plan and Business Plan Discussion of Fiscal Year 2026 Goals Discussion of the Fiscal Year 2026 Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats Analysis Read the agenda: Taft Street Reconstruction Project Public Meeting: 6 p.m. Monday, Feb. 24, at the Howard Miller Community Center An agenda was not immediately available City Council Meeting: 6:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 24, at Saugatuck City Hall The agenda includes: Hearing an annual report from the Allegan County Sheriff's Office Consideration of a proposal for professional services for the preparation of a MDNR Passport Grant Application for the Village Square Courts Consideration of a motion to appoint Leah Root to the Historic District Commission Consideration of a motion to appoint Kathleen Quick to the Board of Review Consideration of a motion to appoint Mark Bekken, Diana Decker and Kathleen Quick to the Compensation Commission Consideration of a motion to approve accounts payable in the amount of $1,163,443.11 Consideration of a motion to update the Saugatuck Harbor Natural Area Master Plan Read the packet: How to attend remotely: You can attend via Zoom on your web browser by visiting and entering Meeting ID 2698572603. Downtown Development Authority: 2 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 26, at Douglas City Hall An agenda was not immediately available Zoning Board of Appeals Meeting: 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 25, at Holland Township Hall An agenda was not immediately available Planning Commission Meeting: 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 27, at Park Township Offices The agenda includes: A public hearing regarding a rezoning request from BanVan Land Co. to rezone 3453 N. 114th Ave. from AG Agricultural and Permanent Open Space District and R-3 Low-Density Single-Family Residence District, to R-4 Medium-Density Single- and Two-Family Residence District Consideration of a motion to recommend approval of the rezoning request to the Park Township Board The continuation of a public hearing regarding a request by Baumann Building to construct 20 single-family homes in a condominium development with a pond Consideration of a motion to recommend approval of the condominium development to the Park Township Board Read the packet: How to attend remotely: You can attend via Zoom on your web browser by visiting and entering Passcode 868459. Board of Appeals: 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 25, at Zeeland Township Hall An agenda was not immediately available Zoning Board of Appeals: 6 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 26, at Laketown Township Hall An agenda was not immediately available How to attend remotely: By calling 312-626-6799 and typing in 455 671 8351. You can attend via Zoom on your web browser by visiting — Cassidey Kavathas is the politics and court reporter at The Holland Sentinel. Contact her at ckavathas@ Follow her on Twitter @cassideykava. This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Feb. 24-28: Big meetings in Ottawa County, Holland, Saugatuck
