OTTAWA IMPACT took over the OC Board

Ottawa Impact hired John Gibbs, a former Trump official, as county administrator. His lack of local government experience and controversial political background sparked concerns. Following is some of the documented behavior of Gibbs before being hired by Ottawa Impact;

• Founded a "think tank"  the Society for the Critique of Feminism.
• Argued against women's right to vote, claiming that women's suffrage contributed to bigger government and increased spending. He wrote, "The United States has suffered as a result of women's suffrage.”
• He praised an anti-feminist website called "Fathers Manifesto" that hosted a petition to repeal the 19th Amendment, which gave women the right to vote.  
• Women Working Outside the Home - Gibbs has argued that women have been "wrongly duped" into working outside the home.
• He has further claimed that mixed-gender workplaces reduce productivity and that sexual harassment laws "spawn a barrage of frivolous" cases.
• Gibbs stated that "women do not possess the characteristics necessary to govern"; and that most women lack "the ability to think logically about broad and abstract ideas" without relying on "emotional reasoning."

This man and his behavior were too toxic for even Ottawa Impact; he was fired and is now suing the

county for damages.

Nathaniel Kelly, known for criticizing COVID-19 restrictions and vaccine mandates, was appointed county health officer. Kelly lacked the minimum qualifications set by the state of Michigan for the job, and it was later revealed that county Human Resource officials recommended that he not be considered for the job. This decision upset many community members and health professionals, and was ultimately overturned,

 Appointed to this position (at 23 years old) instead of Ryan Kimball (49 years old), despite Kimball being more qualified. Emails show Gibbs' human resources director raised concerns about Gibbs'  comments about desiring to hire Epperson because he was younger and easier to "boss around”. This lawsuit is still ongoing and has resulted in legal costs for the county.

Ottawa Food, a nationally acclaimed partnership program between the government, charitable entities, and the private sector was a benchmark for cooperation. When Health Department funding was arbitrarily slashed this position was not funded resulting in food insecurity for the marginal citizens of Ottawa County most notably seniors. Numerous Ottawa County  Commissioner board meetings dominated by Ottawa Impact commissioners have failed to fund this position, despite the critical need.

Jon Anderson, a local gun shop owner, who has no experience in Ottawa County, was chosen as interim county administrator. This choice was politically motivated and not based on qualifications.