Former Ottawa County Treasurer Amanda Price’s resignation became effective on December 31, 2023. Chief Deputy Treasurer Cheryl Clark was appointed to complete the remaining one year left of her term. The Ottawa County treasurer is a partisan elected position with a term of four years. With Ottawa County named as one of numerous counties across Michigan in a Federal Class Action Lawsuit, a primary election in August, and a general election in November, it is sure to be a busy year for the newly appointed treasurer.
The pending class action lawsuit has to do with proceeds from the sale of foreclosed properties. According to the M-Live Article, “The issue in the case was the fact that foreclosed properties frequently sell at auction for more than what is owed in unpaid taxes and fees, and, for years, Michigan counties habitually kept the surplus.” Both Ottawa County and former Treasurer Amanda Price, as well as numerous other counties and treasurers, are named in the lawsuit. Forty-three counties have agreed to settlements, and Ottawa County is still in final negotiations.
The Office of the County Treasurer was established by the Michigan Constitution, and is authorized to serve as the county's chief banker and investment officer. Under state law, the county treasurer's primary duties are to be custodian of all county funds and the collector of delinquent real property taxes. The county also has a finance department, sometimes referred to as fiscal services, which operates under the direction of the county administrator (John Gibbs). Fiscal services handles the budget, including debt management, accounting, billing, and payments. The treasurer’s office manages the balance sheet including asset management, foreclosure administration, land bank authority, property tax rolls, and recording revenue. There is some overlap, but there is a clear distinction in responsibility and oversight.
In addition, the county treasurer serves on a number of boards and commissions including:
County Plat Board
County Tax Allocation Board
County Apportionment Commission
Ottawa County Economic Development Corporation
Ottawa County Michigan Insurance Authority
Technology Advisory Group
Chair of Ottawa County Land Bank Authority
Eight of over twenty people who applied to fulfill the vacant position were interviewed on December 15, 2023, by Ottawa County Clerk Justin Roebuck, Ottawa County Prosecutor Lee Fisher, and Ottawa County Probate Judge Mark Feyen.
Jim Barry
Cheryl Clark
Dianne Fiske
Benjamin Genser
Ryan Girmscheid
Jeremy Latchaw (withdrew from consideration)
Joshua Westgate
Matthew Wiedenhoeft
The individuals interviewed had a wide variety of skills and experience which included public service, political campaign experience, business ownership and management, banking, accounting, teaching at the university level, military service, real estate and more. They were each asked the same twelve questions with additional follow-up questions.
The appointment committee seemed to place significant value on candidates who had direct experience with the treasurer’s office and insight into the pending lawsuit. Cheryl Clark and Diane Sluiter Fiske best met these two requirements, as Clark currently works in the treasurer’s office and Fiske works in the county finance department. During the selection discussion Roebuck, Feyen, and Fisher indicated they preferred a candidate that could perform the duties from the outset with little to no learning curve, and that their intent was to continue the status quo until the public could select a new treasurer in the upcoming election.
(6:05) County Clerk Justin Roebuck explained how he was uncomfortable with the process and the others agreed. “I honestly don’t like this at all. It’s three people choosing an elected official, and it is strange. I know the law has to allow for it, because if there is a situation where somebody leaves, we need to replace that person. For me, one candidate has risen to the top as someone who can really do this job on day one, and allow us to get to that point where the voters will then choose who is the next treasurer.”
(7:10) Judge Feyen said that he favored those with government and political experience over bankers and accountants. “After thinking about this over the weekend, I have decided that I would prefer not to go in the direction of the bankers and accountants, and focus more on those people that have some government experience and political experience. So, that for me meant I was likely not going to have Jeremy Latchaw in my top group [] and that also meant in the lower half of the eight people I would put Matthew Wiedenhoeft, Ryan Girmscheid, and Benjamin Genser. Benjamin Genser is in banking right now. Girmscheid is a CPA, and Wiedenhoeft is probably a CPA.”
The investment policy for Ottawa county states, “It is the policy of County of Ottawa to manage public funds in a manner which will provide the highest investment return with maximum security, while meeting the daily cash flow demands of the county and conforming to all state statutes and local resolutions governing the investment of public funds. The intent of the Investment Policy of the County of Ottawa is to define the parameters within which the county's funds are to be managed. The county recognizes its responsibilities with respect to the use and custody of public funds.”
I do understand the appointment committee’s decision to choose a candidate that they thought would acclimate to the position quickly. However, as the chief banker and custodian of all county funds, I would expect the treasurer to have comprehensive financial management experience, so I think Judge Feyen underestimated the value that private sector experience could bring to the office, especially during times of economic uncertainty. It will be interesting to see who runs for this position in 2024 and which skillsets the public prioritizes.