UPDATE: Ottawa Co. Board Chooses Rosema as Interim Administrator

OLIVE TWP., MI (WHTC-AM/FM, Jan. 7, 2025) – If the members of Ottawa County Board will ever pull together the proverbial governmental oars in the same direction and cadence, it apparently won’t come right away.

During the organizational meeting on Tuesday at the Fillmore Street Complex, the lines of division that emerged during last Thursday’s board chairman and vice chairman votes were still very evident. On a seven-four vote – with the four members of the Ottawa Impact majority of the last board all dissenting – the board approved Gary Rosema to serve a six-month term as Interim Administrator.

Board Chairman John Teeples said that the appointment couldn’t come soon enough for him.

Rosema, along with fellow retired county elected officials Ron Frantz and Steve Kempker, had stepped forward last month when a previous search for an administrator turned out to be fruitless.

Rosema had retired as County Sheriff in 2016 but remained in the area.

An online link to the meeting agenda and supporting documents is here.