Gibbs presents strategic planning timeline to Ottawa County Board
OTTAWA COUNTY — A new committee of the Ottawa County Board of Commissioners, consisting of all board members, held its first meeting Tuesday, Jan. 23.
The board’s strategic planning committee held its inaugural meeting, including a presentation from Administrator John Gibbs. The health and human services and talent and recruitment committees also met Tuesday.
Gibbs outlined a potential 2024-25 strategic plan and timeline for the board. He said the county’s most recent plan, for 2022-23, is a “good foundation” to build on, but suggested several changes moving forward.
They include utilizing an outside vendor, using “cost of service” data instead of “standalone metrics,” being more data-driven than text-driven, and having an interactive dashboard of goals.
Gibbs said using cost of service data — the dollars or staff time spent per person served — will show how money and staff time are being spent and allow for comparison to jurisdictions of different sizes.
More: Ottawa County makes big changes to committees in first meeting of 2024
Gibbs also noted the importance of including due dates and measurables for goals listed in the plan.
“I do think some of the objectives are good objectives," he said of the previous plan. "But we need to be able to know how to measure and how to track it.”
Gibbs’ timeline includes a funding request for the finance committee on Feb. 6. He said he’s planning a budget of $100,000. Between then and March, he plans to define the scope of the plan, issue a request for proposals and select a vendor.
An offsite planning session is expected sometime in the spring, with the strategic plan developed between March and June. The plan would be released in the summer, per Gibbs’ draft timeline.
Chair Joe Moss showed support for Gibbs’ changes, saying he “wholeheartedly” supports cost of service data. Moss said the board should look at a long-term plan in addition to the 2024-25 plan.
“We need to look at the next one to five years," he said. "We really need to be looking at a 10- to 20-year plan, as well."
During the health and human services committee, Veterans Affairs Director Jason Schenkel gave his first committee report.
He read a new mission statement created for the department: “Ottawa County Department of Veterans Affairs is committed to providing accurate, efficient, timely information and services to our veterans and families. We will advocate for our veterans and cultivate purposeful community partnerships.”
Schenkel said the department will be built on four pillars — employment, education, health and quality of life.
“Those four pillars will holistically hold up the roof, which will be our veterans and families,” Shenkel said.
He also said he has meetings scheduled with veterans staff in Muskegon County and Kent County, as well as local VFWs and at GVSU.
Lynn Doyle shared during health and human services the children’s mobile crisis unit is up and running in Ottawa County. Families with youth ages 0-20 experiencing a mental health crisis can call 616-494-5590 from 5 p.m.-12 a.m. Mondays-Fridays to receive support.
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Gretchen Cosby was elected vice chair for both health and human services and talent and recruitment. She also chairs the finance and administration committee. Sylvia Rhodea was named vice chair of the strategic planning committee.
Cosby, Allison Miedema and Lucy Ebel were selected to serve as the interview subcommittee of talent and recruitment. The three commissioners served in that role throughout 2023.
— Contact reporter Mitchell Boatman at mboatman@hollandsentinel.com.
This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Gibbs presents strategic planning timeline to Ottawa County Board
