The Ottawa County commissioners recently learned the news that they will be getting pay raises from the local media. It appears the media was informed of this decision before the board itself. Some media outlets reported Ottawa County Board of Commissioners Votes to Give Themselves a Hefty Raise, but this is wholly false. Ottawa County commissioners did not make this decision.
Compensation for the Ottawa County Board of Commissioners (OCBOC) is not controlled by the commissioners, but rather by an independent group of individuals known as The Compensation Commission. Besides the Board of Commissioners, the Compensation Commission also establishes the salaries of the prosecutor, sheriff, treasurer, clerk/register of deeds, and water resources commissioner.
On May 1, 2024, the Compensation Commission looked at comparables and then voted to give commissioners a 60% raise. It seems commissioners currently only earn $20,844/year for their efforts.
Commissioner Allison Miedema commented on the dramatic announcement of pay increases, noting that she is “not serving in the role of county commissioner for the money.” And that “currently, the amount of money offered to county commissioners is a bit above the poverty rate.”
In a short podcast, Board Chairman Joe Moss commented on the media announcement. “I received the report from the Compensation Commission this afternoon, after the news articles were released.” In his comments, Moss included a chart comparing salaries set by the commission with Kent County salaries.
Moss then pointed to Larry Jackson as a possible source of the leaked information to local media. Jackson is part of the Compensation Commission, part of the Ottawa County Democratic Party, and failed Democratic candidate for the 86th Michigan House seat. According to an article in the Holland Sentinel, Larry Jackson’s past includes DUI, public drunkenness, and carrying a concealed weapon without a permit. Jackson is also the driving force behind the effort to recall Lucy Ebel, who is up for special election on May 7, 2024.
On one hand, we have the virtuous Mr. Jackson declaring to an unquestioning press that the commissioner raises are “outlandish”, while on the other hand we can see the Mr. Jackson, as chairperson, signed the very resolution that sets and approves the new raises. Isn’t it interesting that this story was leaked to the press, and spun, just days before the May 7th special election? Just asking a question for a friend: does this meet the standard for election interference?