Ottawa Out Loud

In our most exciting episode yet, former interim administrator Gary Rosema and administrator Patrick Waterman join the podcast to talk about what administrators do, give their perspective on the last 12 months, and look toward the bright future of Ottawa County. Make sure that you're subscribed so you don't miss anything from Ottawa County! ----------------Links from Announcements---------------- Follow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ottawacountymi?_r=1&_t=ZP-91fYRiY5FB0 ...

Kendra, Bill, and Morgan join us to talk about just a handful of the many programs offered by Ottawa County's MSU Extension Office. Learn more about: MSU Extension: https://www.canr.msu.edu/ottawa/ Product Center: https://www.canr.msu.edu/productcenter/ Christmas tree farms in your area: https://mcta.org/choose-cut-farms-map/ Keeping your tree fresh all season long: https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/water_is_the_essential_ingredient_in_keeping_your_farm_grown_christmas_tree 4-H Club: https://ww...

Happy New (fiscal) Year! Thanks to Tyler and Sandi from Fiscal Services for joining us today to talk about our county budget: why it's necessary, how it's created, and what's new in fiscal year '26. For more information on the Fiscal Services Department, visit https://miottawa.org/fiscal-services/ FY2025 Budget Book: https://stories.opengov.com/countyofottawami/62d95624-e0be-4ccb-9c83-128fe6d3bbd4/published/ZBz7ZzVoY?currentPageId=6758633d804de880113a2dba -----Announcements----- Gam...

Sheriff Eric DeBoer joins us to talk about some organizational changes, new technology, recruiting updates, and what makes the Ottawa County Sheriff's Office an incredible place to work. Important Links: The Ottawa Sands Project Documentary Award Press Release: https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/MIOTTAWA/bulletins/3f2dd96 Board Meeting Calendar: https://boards.miottawa.org/calendar/ Sheriff's Office Website: https://miottawa.org/sheriff/ Sheriff's Office Facebook Page: htt...

Daniel and Max from Community Mental Health sit down with Scott to talk about the options provided for those struggling with substance use, the live-saving impact these programs have, and details about RecoveryFest, a family-friendly event celebrating recovery and building community. Crisis Helpline: 866-512-4357 or call 911 if someone is actively endangered. Find SUD resources from CMH: https://miottawa.org/cmh/substance-use/ Learn more about RecoveryFest: https://reachforrecovery.org/rec...

Newsflash--Ottawa County is one of the top agricultural powerhouses in the state. That means farming is literally (okay, figuratively) in our DNA. Julie Lamer and Becky Huttenga from the Department of Strategic Impact join the podcast to discuss how strategic, data-driven land planning is essential to the county's economic future, and how preserving and protecting farmland from being overdeveloped is at the center of that effort. We discuss the philosophy and data behind Farmland Protection P...

Jason and Caleb join us to chat about the philosophy driving the Ottawa County Veterans Services Department, the ways the team works to provide resources and community for local Veterans, and info about some big community events coming up! For more information about OCVS and everything we talked about: 1. visit https://miottawa.org/veterans-services/ 2. get in contact with the department by calling (616) 393-8387 or send an email to veteranservices@miottawa.org. 3. Subscribe to the Veterans S...

It's construction season, y'all-- the time of year where we all regret asking "when are they gonna fix this road????". Despite our grumbling, road maintenance is a necessary inconvenience and an essential part of our county's infrastructure. The Ottawa County Road Commission is hard at work making sure the roadways all across the county are maintained to a high standard, and Communications Administrator Alex Doty is here to teach us a bit about the OCRC's past, present, and future, give us a ...

Adam and Bekah from the Food Safety team join the pod to talk all about how restaurants, cafeterias, and food trucks in Ottawa County are inspected to keep YOUR dining experience safe! ---------------Announcement Links--------------- Veterans Services Coffee & Donuts Event (May 16): https://miottawa.org/events/coffee-donuts-at-renew-therapeutic-riding-center-05-16-2025/ Idema Explorers Camp Reservations ARE NOW OPEN: https://miottawa.org/parks/iec/ Volunteer with OCCAA: https://miotta...

On today's episode, we revisit the award-winning Ballots and Banter series as Ottawa County Clerk Justin Roebuck and Elections Supervisor Katie Bard guest star to talk allllllllll about the upcoming May 6th Special Election. Plus, a special appearance from some unexpected guests, and a very entertaining game show! ------------Main Segment Links------------ More information on the May 6th Special Election (and all things elections-related): https://miottawa.org/clerk/elections/ Check your v...

It's undeniable: Ottawa County is an incredible place to live. For decades, the dream of owning a home here has been attainable, but as the nationwide housing challenges persist and the county continues to grow, affordability is becoming a struggle for many. The Department of Strategic Impact (DSI), alongside multiple community partners, has developed a concept that could alleviate the need for more attainable homeownership options: A series of open source small-footprint home designs t...

Thanks SO much for listening to Ottawa Out Loud. We hope you learned and laughed. New episodes release every few weeks. Today, Jessica and Rylie join me to discuss the incredible Ottawa County Parks & Recreation Commission! Ottawa County is known for its expansive, accessible, and biodiverse natural spaces, and it's the perfect time to start planning your next visit to a park. In this podcast, we talk about the Parks dept, its funding sources, Jess & Rylie's favorite parks...

Thanks for listening to the very first episode of Ottawa Out Loud, the Official Podcast of Ottawa County! Jen Brozowski, Program Director of OCCAA (like mocha) and international icon, teaches us about OCCAA’s mission and the life-changing services they offer. We discuss how the department is organized and funded, and we spill all the details about the free, family-friendly, and overall incredible Walk for Warmth event on March 7th at 6pm at EV Construction in Holland. Learn more about O...