Generous Severance Agreements -A Look Behind the Scene
Ottawa County Releases Closed Session Audio
Suppose you wanted to quit your job. Wouldn’t it be great if you could seek dismissal and also receive a severance package?
As the result of a lawsuit settlement agreement, the Ottawa County Board of Commissioners (OCBOC) released audio recordings from two closed session meetings which took place on December 10, 2024. The meetings concerned the employment status of two employees. Jordan Epperson was the assistant to the county administer. Epperson was hired by former County Administrator John Gibbs and began working for the county in August 2023. Benjamin Wetmore was serving as the interim county administrator, and had been in that role for a little over three months. Wetmore was originally hired to be the deputy county administrator in November 2023. According to the Holland Sentinel article linked above, before working for Ottawa County, Epperson worked as a political consultant at Victory Strategies LLC, which was created by Wetmore.
Both Wetmore and Epperson had requested to cease working for Ottawa County at roughly the same time and were given generous severance agreements in exchange for signing release of liability documentation. After working for Ottawa County for 13 months Wetmore received one year of pay ($175,000) and after working for 16 months, Epperson received a lump sum of $75,000, five months of pay ($33,974), plus insurance benefits.
In the closed session meeting concerning Epperson, former Board Chair Joe Moss explained that, despite having filed a human resources complaint, Epperson wanted to fulfill his present duties and leave the county on good terms, without filing suit against the county. Moss explained he had discussed the matter with Ottawa County Human Resources Attorney Nate Wolf, and that [0:10] “legal council for human resources has been conducting an investigation at the request of Mr. Epperson due to potential claims against Ottawa County. [] Although HR legal council has not provided a written report, he has explained it is in the best interest of the county to get a release of claims from Mr. Epperson.”
Throughout the meeting, Moss made numerous contradictory statements. When Moss said, [3:00] “He wants to be terminated, and he doesn’t want to sue the county,” several commissioners asked “Why doesn’t he just quit?” Moss responded saying, [3:30] “there’s been an ongoing investigation, at Mr. Epperson’s request, against the county.” When commissioners asked, “What are the nature of those claims?” Moss responded with a vague, “There was a laundry list; a lot of it stems from issues he has had with HR,” and then said the list of complaints was not available to be seen by the other commissioners.
Several commissioners including Rebekka Curran, Doug Zylstra, and Jacob Bonnema then asked to speak with HR about Epperson’s situation, but Moss denied their request. Commissioner Gretchen Cosby explained that “he was hired in on one job description, and a second job description with different role requirements was released along with his resume, to the Holland Sentinel.” She indicated this release led to attacks by the media and others suggesting Epperson was unqualified for the position, and his reputation was consequentially destroyed. Commissioner Sylvia Rhodea suggested the leak to the media by HR was intentional and done for malicious purposes. At one point, [19:00] Cosby suggested the “potential risk” to the county could be as much as “$10 million.”
When Bonnema asked, [7:20] “What are his financial damages?” Moss talked about potential county expenses due to litigation and settlement, but did not address damages suffered by Epperson. Some commissioners noted “it’s not evidence” and again asked to speak with attorney Nate Wolf. In fact, requests to speak with Wolf were made throughout the closed session and repeatedly denied. Moss, the liaison between the board and the county, explained that he was relaying what the attorney had said, and that because Wolf was involved in the HR investigation, the commissioners could not speak to him.
Throughout the meeting Bonnema repeatedly tried to gain an understanding of the potential claims and liability of the county, [1:03:00] “I’m just trying to understand the whole picture of what his damages are.” But not receiving any pertinent information, he drew his own logical conclusion. [34:55] “You guys want to hand him a bunch of money because he’s your friend. [] I’m the only one willing to say it. [] You want to hand these guys golden parachutes.” Bonnema also suggested that Epperson may have played a role in his own reputation destruction, referring to statements Epperson had made online, saying [1:03:00] “Jordan said some horrible things about women.”
Commissioners also discussed the separation date. While some commissioners thought it would be good to let Epperson work until the end of the year, others thought an immediate separation was more appropriate. Despite having recommended “a clean break,” Moss stated [53:50] “He has limited work that’s definitely, strongly needed in the next month. [] What if we allowed him to choose that date?” Commissioner Sylvia Rhodea agreed, “We could do something like, whenever Jordan is ready to go between now and the 31st.”
Once commissioners were finished discussing the Epperson separation agreement, they turned their attention towards Benjamin Wetmore. While Wetmore had not filed an official complaint with the HR department, the commissioner discussion was very similar. Some of the commissioners were concerned Wetmore would be let go by the incoming board of commissioners and felt it was in the interest of Ottawa County to offer him a severance in exchange for a release of claims agreement.
Former Board Chair Moss stated, [1:45]] “I’m asking to consider a severance [] so that on January 2, the new board can appoint whoever they want.” He added, [3:00] “He is not looking to leave today. He is looking to provide a clean transition for the board. [] He understands that he will not be retained.”
Board members questioned offering Wetmore severance since he worked in an interim position and had only been in that position for three months. Moss clarified why he thought Wetmore deserved a generous severance. “I ask myself what is the right thing to do? He has nine kids. He has a family. He has worked very, very hard for the county. [] That’s why I’m at 12 months [pay as severance].”
When commissioners discussed Wetmore’s separation date, Commissioner Zylstra wanted to end his employment immediately, namely upon signing the separation agreement. Moss disagreed stating, “one of the key facts is that he is willing to stay on until the first so there is no gap in legal [inaudible].” Zylstra did not think a few weeks without an administrator would be problematic. Commissioner Mediema and another female commissioner noted there are some tasks such as “signing checks,” that only the administrator can do.
The response to the release of the closed session audio by some on social media has been to deflect criticism aimed at Moss, and encourage people not to listen to the audio or seek information for themselves.
As an early Ottawa Impact supporter, I am disappointed. Listening to the audio, it was apparent to me that Moss was in complete control. I thought he effectively dismissed all relevant questions and pursued his goals. Several of the other Ottawa Impact members of the board appeared to completely trust Moss, and did not seek additional background information. In my opinion, Moss displayed exactly the type of behavior that creates public disdain for elected leaders.
The photo below was posted on social media in October 2025 by Brandon Hall, who noted it was recently taken at a conservative event on Mackinac Island. Among others, the photo includes Hall himself and former board chair Joe Moss standing between Jordan Epperson and Benjamin Wetmore.
Referring to the upcoming change in the board of commissioners, Moss mentioned, [7:10] “the elephant in the room” saying “it would be ideal to take care of it [Epperson’s employment separation] before the end of the year.” Perhaps Bonnema was right when he said, “You guys want to hand him a bunch of money because he’s your friend?”
I’ve given you my opinion, but I recommend you listen to the OCBOC closed session audio meetings and draw your own conclusions. For me, they were not only disappointing and eye opening, but were also highly entertaining. At one point Bonnema says that Sheriff Kemper says Jordan is the most despised employee in the building. I was stunned to hear one board member call another “disgusting” and then to hear them going back and forth trading insults. It is not how I imagined my elected leaders would conduct business.