Letters to the Editor

Let's call the Ottawa Impact spade a divisive spade

On Jan. 3, Ottawa County's vision statement "Where You Belong" was deemed divisive and Marxist by Commissioner Rhodea and it was changed to "Let Freedom Ring." At the Feb. 28 board meeting, Ottawa Impact Commissioners Moss, Rhodea, Belknap, Ebel, Miedema and Cosby — despite being called out for underlying intentions — voted to correct an "error" from the Dec. 13 BOC minutes. Their vote and vindictiveness are divisive.

Let’s call a spade a spade — those who sided with Kallman Legal Group are divisive, as is the legal counsel itself. Thank you to Commissioners Bergman, Zylstra, Curran, Terpstra and Bonnema for voting in good conscience.

The dismissive behaviors of Chair Joe Moss and his sidekick Vice Chair Sylvia Rhodea are childish, controlling and unprofessional. Cutting off your peers mid-sentence, terminating pertinent questions asked on behalf of constituents, not facilitating open discussion, and not supporting a volunteer applicant with 100% approval (guess which two voted no), knowing full well the process was followed and the applicant met all criteria, are divisive.

Get involved, Ottawa County; this is about the common good and not party affiliation. Your public libraries and public schools may be in jeopardy, not to mention your mental, physical, and emotional health. The Ottawa Impact commissioners' agenda is clear: make decisions in secret, without minority board or public input, and use the majority vote to bully and promote unfair governance.

We extend kudos to Sarah Leach and The Holland Sentinel staff for unprecedented, comprehensive and unbiased reporting and support to Ottawa County employees for the unnecessary intrusion and micromanagement from the Ottawa Impact commissioners.

Chuck and Deb Cizek

Port Sheldon Township/West Olive

There is a problem with the Ottawa County commission

There are very many people in our county who are at the MERCY of this commission and their Health and Human Services agencies. They have no place else to go. There is no one else to help them.

They include foster children, the financially destitute, pregnant women and those who are physically and mentally compromised — especially the elderly. Recently, all those who work tirelessly and have dedicated their lives to these agencies are also subject to their MERCY.

The big problem with being at the MERCY of this commission is that they may not have any MERCY at all.

MERCY is the cornerstone of these agencies and of our social system. They were born to address how we can best distribute “MERCY” — in the form of caring and finances — to our community. It is also the foundation of Christianity.

The only MERCY I’ve seen to date is self-centered and shared only between the members of the Ottawa County Commission.

The goal of any commission should be to serve others, not to serve themselves. This arrogant, misdirected dedication to their own personal goals (in place of our community’s needs) is not only counter to the basic foundation of our social system but also to the basic reason they were elected.

It is also the opposite of what any Christian would do. Christ would NEVER do what they’re doing.

Of course, these members will all deny this. There will be lots of words, emotion and probably some finger-pointing. (I wonder what finger they will use to point with.) But after all the noise has settled and the threats, denials and rants have resolved, it all comes down to actions.

To those members of the Ottawa County Commission: Show your MERCY towards our county’s citizens. Show that you will serve us and not just those whose special agenda is your own. Do the job you were hired to do. We are watching, as is the entire country. We are subject to the consequences of your actions. We must live with those consequences — as you will also.

There is a problem with the Ottawa County Commission.

Craig Bade, MD

Holland

Thank you to all the qualified, competent health leaders we have

My name is Abraham Gonzales. I live in the city of Holland. I am just south of the county line, so I technically live in Allegan. I work for Ottawa County as an assistant public defender. I went to Longfellow Elementary, East Middle School, and graduated from Holland High in 2001. I grew up in Ottawa County and moved back here about 11 years ago.

I am just writing this letter to express how thankful I am to have a head of our health department who is as qualified and committed as Adeline Hambly. We are very lucky in Ottawa to have someone like her in the leadership of such an important department — same as her predecessor, Lisa Stefanovski.

With their leadership, we can trust that our health was and will always be the priority in their decision-making. Adeline’s courage in doing the right thing should be an example to our entire community. And I hope that she and her whole department know that they have a community full of support and friends.

Abraham D. Gonzales

Holland

Don't give bunnies as gifts for Easter

Thirty-three years (and 12 bunnies) ago, I impulsively bought a pet rabbit. Fluffy was adorable and I loved her right away. My son, 5 at the time, I learned was too young for a pet rabbit.

What saved Fluffy, who lived to 11 years, was that I fell in love with her and realized that I was responsible for her care. She was NOT meant to teach my son responsibility. I taught him by how I cared for and paid attention to her.

Years later, as an adult, he helps me care for our current buns, shelter adoptees 11 and 12, Baguette and Beignet, who are coincidentally a mom-and-son pair. Fluffy was our only bought rabbit. Shortly after we took her home, I found the House Rabbit Society, Rabbit.org, a national organization devoted to rescue, adoption and providing information on rabbit care.

In Michigan, the local chapter is West Michigan Critter Haven. HRS is run by volunteers who care about animals, and love and care for their own buns. All this has to do with the fact that this is the time when breeders and pet shops are selling Easter bunnies for children. I'd urge parents to get their children chocolate or plush buns. Unlike live rabbits, they do not require housekeeping with litter boxes or specialized food. A chocolate bun does not require expensive vet care or a special diet. Buns are delicate and should not be carried around or dressed in clothes AND they don't chew your charging cords, books, house furnishings and other things you might value.

Obviously, I love these, quiet, gentle and intelligent creatures. They are so adventurous. But they are not always a companion for everyone. Don’t encourage this annual breeding cycle. Not all, but many don’t care about the buns, and often put down or dispose of unsold buns outside to suffer and die. Domestic buns are not meant to live outside.

Go to Rabbit.org and do the research before getting a rabbit, and as with all animals, holidays are a poor time to bring home any animal to the tumult of a holiday celebration.

Judith Schneider

Saugatuck Township

This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Letters: Let's call the Ottawa Impact spade a divisive spade