Letters to the Editor: Reconsider cuts to Ottawa County Health Department

Urgent appeal: Reconsider cuts to Ottawa County Health Department

I am writing with a sense of urgency and concern about the proposed FY 2024 budget currently under development by the Ottawa County Board of Commissioners. The lack of transparency and the potential consequences of the proposed cuts, particularly those affecting the Ottawa County Health Department, have raised serious red flags for our community's well-being.

The budget process is meant to be transparent and inclusive, reflecting the needs and priorities of all residents. Unfortunately, the current process appears to be lacking in both of these aspects. The proposed budget suggests a disconcerting inclination to dismantle the capabilities of the Ottawa County Health Department, which plays a crucial role in safeguarding public health.

As of today, it has come to light that the Health Department is being asked to endure a staggering 60% cut in proposed general funds. Even more worrisome is the consideration of rejecting grants related to COVID-19, leading to a potential revenue loss ranging from 30% to 45% of the originally proposed FY 2024 budget. These potential cuts contrast starkly with the overall healthy state of Ottawa County's revenues.

Equally perplexing is the selective nature of these cuts. While some areas like administration and corporate counsel receive substantial budget increases, other essential programs, particularly the health department, are being disproportionately affected. It's essential to note that no other programs are facing such drastic reductions.

The lack of written information in commission or committee meeting packets adds to the opacity of this process. As concerned citizens, we deserve detailed, accessible information to comprehend the rationale behind such critical decisions.

I strongly urge the board to reconsider the proposed cuts and engage in a more open and transparent dialogue with the community. Our health department's capacity and effectiveness are not just numbers on a spreadsheet; they directly impact the health and safety of every resident in Ottawa County.

Edward Post

Grand Haven

The Ottawa Impact extremists have to go

Claims from the current majority of extremists running the Ottawa County Board of Commissioners “are patently false, bad faith, and disingenuous fear-mongering tactics. This approach represents a continued pattern of insubordinate and unprofessional behavior out of the” majority of the board.

The body of that quote was part of a press release purportedly from the Ottawa County Public Health Department, but I assume it must have been written at the behest of the extremist commissioners as the actual public health officials have been locked out of their own county social media accounts. I altered the quote to accurately reflect the reality of these claims — the majority of the board and Administrator John Gibbs are acting in bad faith and are busy fear-mongering. Their actions are the ultimate in disingenuity. They adore power for power’s sake. They do not know the first thing about genuine service or good governance. They are bullies.

These commissioners are punishing a department of hard-working healthcare professionals by demanding impossible budget cuts that will not be enough to cover the state of Michigan-mandated health minimums. They claim that their “fiscally responsible budget” demands are necessary — I say their actions display their lack of fiscal awareness, much less responsibility: capriciously and unnecessarily changing the county motto, causing strife that requires increased legal fees incurred by their pet lawyers, deleting an entire department that provided access and service to under-served and under-represented members of our community, and causing turnover of county professional staff through firings, burnout, and poor morale.

Vote these self-serving upstarts out and restore Ottawa County to a place where we all belong. A good start is to sign the petition to recall Lucy Ebel if you live in her district.

Kudos to The Sentinel for its unflagging coverage of these extremists and their many resolutions in their attempts to codify their unending need for power.

Catherine Ristola Bass

Holland

The not-so-hidden agenda of Ottawa Impact

What was the real intention of the Ottawa Impact-aligned board of commissioners when they gave Ottawa County Public Health Officer Adeline Hambley two days to prepare a budget that included approximately $3.9 million in budget cuts? It sure looks like they intended to undermine the health department’s ability to provide quality services as well as create a reason to dismiss Hambley.

Previously, the OI commissioners requested that County Administrator John Gibbs prepare a budget that reduced all department expenditures by 5%. Although Gibbs has a master’s degree in public administration from Harvard University and recently hired an administrative assistant whose qualifications were to include budget analysis, Gibbs reported back that he needed to hire a consultant to determine how to cut departmental budgets in order to minimize the impact on Ottawa County residents.

Meanwhile, Gibbs gave Hambley two days to prepare a budget that included the board’s $3.9 million in requested cuts. The services provided by the Ottawa County Public Health Department are some of the most important to Ottawa County residents and its funding sources are by far the most complex. It is a credit to Hambley’s knowledge and professionalism that she prepared a budget within the deadline and parameters given; something that Gibbs was unable to do. Next, in what has become typical behavior for the OI-aligned commissioners, rather than addressing the concerns Hambley raised, they retaliated by cutting off the Public Health Department’s ability to independently communicate.

Prior to the OI takeover, Ottawa County was ranked as the second-healthiest county in Michigan. It is unlikely it will be able to maintain its ranking once the OI commissioners have their way. Sadly, the most vulnerable Ottawa County residents, including many OI supporters, may end up being the biggest losers of the OI commissioners’ not-so-hidden agenda.

Kathy Warner

Holland

Grave concerns about the OI-led board

I am writing to express grave concerns over the recent board of commissioners' request to significantly cut Ottawa County Health Department funding. I have been a women's health nurse practitioner/midwife for nearly 40 years. Numerous studies show investing in public health improves outcomes and ultimately reduces spending on healthcare dollars. It is an “investment” in the community. When funding is reduced to rock-bottom levels, care for vulnerable populations is what often suffers most.

Health departments are often the only choice many residents have to obtain healthcare.

Health departments do more than disease prevention. They fund preparedness, perform threat assessment, collect and monitor data, and communicate with and educate the public in partnership with the community. They collaborate with the community via needs surveys then tailor data-driven solutions.

The board wants to slash funding, now that the crisis (they never believed in) is over. This is short-sighted and an unfortunate pattern that misses the point. It is a vendetta-driven plan to cut funding by an unheard of 60% in two days, wreaking havoc and crippling the health department. This is a reduction they are not asking of other departments. My quality management head is spinning when I see processes changed without input from those in position to implement them. If you wanna be a change agent, you include those who are part of the process.

This board is actively trying to obstruct access to services they don't care for. As a clinician, the health department is an invaluable partner in the care I provide daily, such as contraception and family planning among others. This board objected to the OCHD presence at Sex Ed Week at GVSU. I may have instructed my 3-year-old never to cross the street, but I made sure they knew how to do it. This is good parenting. I did the same when it came to healthcare.

Lisa Veach, FNP, CNM, FACNM

Grand Haven

This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Letters: Reconsider cuts to Ottawa County Health Department