Ottawa County gives initial approval to 2024-29 capital improvement plan
OTTAWA COUNTY — A capital improvement plan for 2024-29 was given initial approval by the Ottawa County Board of Commissioners in a special planning and policy meeting Tuesday, Aug. 8.
The CIP outlines projects for the next five years to maintain, improve and renovate county facilities, technology and programs. Items included are typically one-time expenses over $50,000. The plan was initially presented to the board Aug. 1.
The CIP is broken into several sections, including facilities, crime prevention through environmental design, information technology, strategic impact, and parks and recreation. It also lists projects by the year funds will be committed and where the funds come from.
More: Ottawa County considers budget, capital improvement plans
With the new CIP, the county will look to invest $5 million from the general fund each year. From 2024-28, ARPA savings will be used to supplement the general fund commitment.
Total funds allocated for a given year may be above $5 million, as money will also be used from sources like the Ottawa County Insurance Authority and the county’s parks millage.
Prior to adopting the plan Tuesday, commissioners agreed unanimously to amend the document to add projects bringing some county buildings into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
When the CIP was first presented, fiscal services director Karen Karasinski and facilities director Blake Upright said the team was still developing a plan for ADA projects. On Tuesday, Upright shared a plan for compliance at three buildings by the end of fiscal year 2024.
Upright said there were only around $4.6 million in projects allocated for FY24 out of the recommended $5 million CIP investment, so the ADA compliance projects could be added without exceeding that amount.
Sylvia Rhodea motioned to add those projects to the CIP, supported by Joe Moss. It was approved unanimously. The later vote to approve the CIP and forward the document to the full board of commissioners was also approved 9-0.
Other projects listed in the CIP include various pavement and sidewalk improvements, roofing at several buildings, elevator replacements at the courthouses in Holland and Grand Haven, HVAC improvements, safety and security upgrades, courthouse security stations, annual updates to the county’s geographic information system, server upgrades and parks improvements.
Funding for body cameras for the Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office are listed in the CIP as a “currently approved project,” meaning the funding was allocated in a previous year. Funds were set aside through an OCIA grant, the CIP states.
The department's lack of body cameras was called into question earlier this year after an Ottawa County deputy fatally shot a man near Jenison. Sheriff Steve Kempker said in 2016, when he was running for sheriff, that he wanted to have body cameras in place by 2017, WOOD TV-8 reported.
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In late July, Commissioner Gretchen Cosby posted on her website that OCSO requested ARPA funds for body cameras, but the request was denied. However, when Cosby asked Karasinski about this Tuesday, Karasinski said no formal request was made by OCSO, because funding had already been allocated.
The CIP is meant to be a proactive guide for future planning, and can change as other needs are identified.
— Contact reporter Mitchell Boatman at mboatman@hollandsentinel.com.
This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Ottawa County gives initial approval to 2024-29 capital improvement plan
