Ottawa County Settles Two Legal Disputes, Including Major Case
Ottawa County has reached settlements in two significant lawsuits, one involving a local newspaper, the Holland Sentinel. These legal actions were initiated due to controversies stemming from decisions made by a previous board of commissioners in 2024. The settlements, approved on October 28, 2024, aim to resolve ongoing disputes regarding closed-court hearings and grant allocations.
One of the lawsuits revolved around the Holland Sentinel’s request to unseal testimony from a closed court session concerning an alleged settlement of $4 million offered to Health Officer Adeline Hambley. This settlement, which was later found to be unenforceable, was a point of contention among the commissioners. To put an end to the litigation, the commissioners agreed to release minutes from a November 6, 2023, closed session, which led to a court hearing on January 19, 2024. In return, the Holland Sentinel has agreed to dismiss its lawsuit.
The controversy began when a majority of commissioners sought to terminate Hambley’s position early in 2023. Following a series of legal disputes, the board began negotiating a settlement later that year. During the November 6 closed session, some commissioners believed they had agreed to pay Hambley the substantial settlement. Former board Chair Joe Moss, who co-founded the conservative political platform Ottawa Impact, stated that the vote was intended merely to continue negotiations. Hambley and her legal counsel interpreted the situation differently, leading them to seek judicial clarification on the alleged agreement.
During the subsequent hearing, Muskegon County Judge Jenny McNeill ruled that Moss’ motion was ambiguous and therefore unenforceable. Nevertheless, she acknowledged that a general settlement agreement had been reached, adding complexity to the case.
The second lawsuit settled involved a payment of $6,299 to Chester Township to cover legal fees related to a disputed $563,000 grant aimed at cleaning up Crockery Lake. In December 2024, the previous board approved this grant. However, after new commissioners took office in January 2025, they halted the payment and requested judicial review of the grant’s legality. Recently, Ottawa County Circuit Judge Jon Hulsing ruled that the grant was not legally valid. The settlement ratified on October 28 preempts any potential appeal by Chester Township.
The board voted 7-4 to settle the case with the Holland Sentinel, with Moss, Sylvia Rhodea, Kendra Wenzel, and Allision Miedema opposing the decision. In contrast, the vote to approve the Chester Township settlement was unanimous. Rhodea expressed her disappointment with how the county handled the situation, stating that the county had “bullied” Chester Township.
These settlements mark a significant step in resolving the legal complexities surrounding the county’s governance and decision-making processes, reflecting the ongoing challenges faced by local officials in managing public resources and accountability.
