At their Oct. 22 meeting, the Oceana County Board of Commissioners met with a representative from Midwest Strategy Group Consulting, the lobbyist firm contracted to represent Oceana County and four other regional counties in Lansing. The proposition to engage with a lobbyist firm came from Newaygo Township and was introduced to commissioners back in June. There was some expressed trepidation then from board members regarding the effectiveness of the service when compared to the associated costs, but by August they approved a one-year contract with Midwest Strategy.
Adam Wright, working in government relations for Midwest Strategy, has been involved in politics from the local to state levels, having worked as a Newaygo County Commissioner as well as Chief of Staff for Michigan State Senator Jon Bumstead. Wright assured commissioners that Midwest Strategy is a bipartisan firm, with five lobbyists representing either side of the aisle. “We don’t do conflicts, and so, if we represent you and your interest, we’re not going to represent somebody on the other side of your interest. We’re here for you as a team.”
From the beginning, when Newaygo’s proposal was announced, commissioners saw the benefit of lobbyists dedicated to Oceana County and other counties in West Central Michigan and the issues facing rural communities. Prior to this, the only lobbyists Oceana County had in Lansing came from the Michigan Alliance of Counties (MAC) who, as Wright put it, “(do) a good job for you, but MAC is there for 83 counties. My goal is to be there for the five counties… [that have] contracted with us, on your behalf.”
Wright also explained one of the services provided by Midwest Strategy is to flag any of the thousands of new bills introduced weekly in Lansing that may affect the county, whether positively or negatively. From there, Midwest Strategy can work with the county to respond appropriately. Similarly, Wright is meeting with commissioners and other department heads to see what they need in Lansing, be it legislative assistance or grants. Said Wright, “I can’t ever promise you that we’re going to get something, but I promise you that if you don’t submit a project, you won’t get it.”
Wright also assured commissioners that there would be consistent communication from Midwest Strategy. “I try to be overcommunicative,” Wright said, promising weekly update emails, frequent meetings with the county administrative office and quarterly meetings with the board of commissioners.
After the meeting, Wright left to meet with Undersheriff Ryan Schiller and Parks Commission Chair Garry McKeen to discuss concerns or requests for their respective departments, but not before being thanked for his time and efforts by commissioners. Commissioner Paul Erickson in particular expressed his thanks to Administrator Tracy Byard for organizing the opportunity to contract the lobbyists and said of Midwest Strategy, “I think this is a good look into Lansing and the things we may be able to influence through you or with you that we didn’t have before. Another tool in the toolkit.”
At the meeting, commissioners also met with two candidates for the open seat on the local Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) board, which also acts as the board of directors for the Oceana County Medical Care Facility (OCMCF). The two candidates were Dale Danes, who was seeking reappointment for a second term, and Andrew Sebolt, who submitted an application to serve in Danes’ seat.
Sebolt served on the MDHHS board as previously appointed by former Governor Rick Snyder and stressed his interests in protecting local access to quality care, supporting employees and spending taxpayer funds wisely. His professional experience also grants him Medicare Parts A and D and insurance administration would also assist him in the role. He also voiced his interest in pursuing the overturning of a nearly century-old statute that limits the board to three members, hoping to expand it to five to better foster discussion and a variety of viewpoints. Sebolt said he believes he has the “legislative relationships” to advocate for the board expansion.
In his final statement to commissioners, Sebolt expressed, “I’m not asking for this appointment simply because I've held the position before. I'm asking because I understand its responsibilities, have learned from past challenges and can contribute immediately. I’ll bring experience without complacency, independence without hostility and advocacy grounded in fiscal responsibility.”
During his turn to speak, Danes highlighted to commissioners the importance of his 35 years at OCMCF as head plant manager and manager of five departments, believing he has a “well-rounded” experience with the facility and its operations. As one of the major concerns facing OCMCF currently is building operations, his knowledge of the facility and oversight through its many expansions is invaluable to helping the board “ask the right questions” in regard to contractors.
Danes said he wants to continue to create an environment where residents are provided excellent care, which in turn brings in future residents and revenue. Danes asked commissioners to reappoint him "for the opportunity to continue contributing my knowledge, history and experience gained over more than three decades of service. There are many people who can fill this job, but there are very few who know this facility the way I do. I believe experience still is a value, and I would appreciate your support to continue helping protect the medical care facility and residents who call it home.”
Commissioners were provided several recommendations for either candidate. For Danes, it was from MDHHS Board Chair Linda East and OCMCF Administrator Sally Choponis, and for Sebolt, it was a letter from Congressman John Moolenaar. Erickson, commissioner liaison to the MDHHS board, also provided copies of two further letters of recommendation from OCMCF HR Director Brenda Jones and OCMCF Medical Director Cynthia Ochs advocating for Danes. Prior to the committee meeting’s adjournment, East took the opportunity of public comment to address her interest that the “integrity of the [MDHHS] board stays intact,” and that Sebolt’s employment with Hometown Pharmacy, OCMCF’s largest vendor, would pose a conflict of interest.
At the regular meeting, Commissioner Joel McCormick made the motion to reappoint Danes for his seat, which was supported by Erickson and further approved by Commissioners Craig Hardy and Tim Beggs, passing the motion to reappoint. Commissioner Board Chair Robert Walker was the singular dissenting vote.
Of his dissension, Walker expressed that he was troubled by the amount of letters voicing support for Danes coming from administrative positions in “public government that [the board of commissioners] are financing taxes for,” saying that “they’re trying to select their own board members. That’s not the way public government is supposed to work… You let a board like this do the best job they can do without trying to influence them as an employee.”
In other business, commissioners did unanimously approve a cash advance of $200,000 to keep the county’s indigent defense care fund solvent, with the intent to request the state for reimbursement, as the amount is beyond what the county is required to contribute to the fund. Much of the state funding for the county’s indigent defense goes towards retaining lawyers for the courts. While Walker questioned what issues there may be present in the system causing funds to deplete at such a rate, ultimately he said he has “no choice but to support this transfer of the money from our general fund in order to do this. We can’t shut down our court systems.”
The $200,000 is calculated based on the monthly average for indigent defense costs, and it is hoped it will last the county until the next fiscal year begins in January.
