Ottawa County commissioners unanimously voted June 23 to disband the municipality’s Housing Commission and replace it with a Housing Advisory Board.
The Housing Commission, formed in 2019, was initially bound by statutory rules in hopes of earning certification from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. After failing to earn that certification, the body functioned as a de facto advisory board.
The new board will study housing problems, recommend solutions to the board of commissioners and coordinate with local units of government.
“I’m excited about this new committee,” said Board Chair Josh Brugger. “It brings together and gives Ottawa County’s brightest and sharpest minds, volunteers who operate in the housing space, a platform and a direct voice to the (board).”
The advisory board will be largely volunteer-based and include members of the former Housing Commission. The body will be supported by the Department of Strategic Impact, which will request an additional staff member to support the effort, according to County Administrator Patrick Waterman.
“My hope is that this group will help us all find ways to reduce red tape, streamline approval processes and find tailored solutions to the housing needs of our communities,” Brugger said.
— Cassidey Kavathas is the politics and court reporter at The Holland Sentinel. Contact her at ckavathas@hollandsentinel.com. Follow her on X @cassideykava.
This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: There’s a new housing advisory body in Ottawa County. What to know
Reporting by Cassidey Kavathas, Holland Sentinel / The Holland Sentinel
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By Cassidey Kavathas, Holland Sentinel | USA TODAY Network
