Ottawa County approves $563K contract to restore Crockery Lake as process faces criticism
Questions remain on why the deal happened with little public discussion and didn’t follow the county’s traditional purchasing policies.
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Howard challenges legality of severance agreements, Crockery Lake contract
A trio of controversial decisions approved by the Ottawa County Board of Commissioners are in limbo after a local attorney filed a motion for a temporary restraining order preventing funds of about $850,000 from leaving the county’s coffers.
County confirms $280,000 in payouts to interim administrator, aide
Ottawa County will pay more than $280,000 in a pair of severance agreements with its interim administrator and administrative executive aide, county-provided documents confirmed Monday.
Severance agreements for Ottawa interim administrator, aide to exceed $280,000
According to multiple sources with direct knowledge of the situation, the severances were approved because both employees allegedly said they would pursue legal action against the county.
Federal judge tosses First Amendment retaliation claim in Gibbs' lawsuit, allows 'whistleblower,' defamation claims to stand
A former administrator for Ottawa County was not able to convince a federal court judge that his former employer retaliated against him for exercising his First Amendment right to free speech.
Ottawa administrator search halts after last finalist withdraws as officials claim, decry 'intimidation'
At a Monday meeting, board Chair Joe Moss announced that Sparta Village Manager Jim Lower, the last remaining top finalist in the county’s search, had withdrawn.
Finalist who withdrew: Ottawa could issue $250K contract to next county administrator
Freed said he spoke to Moss on Wednesday — the day after his interview, but one day before the executive search committee met — which could be an Open Meetings Act violation.
Ottawa County names top 2 picks for administrator, then 1 immediately withdraws
Just hours after Ottawa County announced it had narrowed down its county administrator to two finalists, one of them publicly withdrew from the process.
Ottawa County narrows down administrator finalists to four — including one who criticized the process
Ottawa County is inching toward appointing a new county administrator — its fifth in the past two years.