GET ME REWRITE: Far-right Ottawa Impact incompetence results in 19 months without a county administrator

 

Headline:  mlive, 9/11/2025

John Tunison reports:

Waterman was formerly deputy Ottawa County administrator but resigned in July 2023 over concerns about county leadership at the time. 

His departure came seven months after Ottawa Impact, a highly conservative political platform that brought controversial decisions, gained a majority on the county board. 

That majority fizzled after the November 2024 election. 

Seven commissioners not affiliated with Ottawa Impact voted for Waterman, with the remaining four commissioners voting for Muskegon County Deputy Administrator Matthew Farrar. 

Commissioner Sylvia Rhodea, co-founder of Ottawa Impact, believed Waterman was the wrong choice. 

She described the past administration, prior to 2023, as progressive.

Timeline of dysfunction in county government:

September 2025

Fellow Ottawa County commissioner schools far-right Ottawa Impact clown Joe Moss.  (9/11)

July-August 2025

Divisive, far-right Ottawa Impact clowns on Ottawa County Board get yet another comeuppance. (7/24)

Not likely that the Looney Tunes @OttawaImpact will let this go down without a fight.  (7/20)

Michigan's Ottawa County Board:  The question remains, "Who would want to work with these clowns?"  (7/19)

Four far-right members of Ottawa (Michigan) County Board devolve into the Sore Losers Club.  (7/8)

June 2025

Ottawa County Michigan is still recovering from the damage done by far-right Looney Tunes at Ottawa Impact.  (6/21)

Ottawa County Commission moves to the next iteration of hiring process for new administrator.  (6/14)

Even with far-right, MAGA-fueled Ottawa Impact not in control, Ottawa County Commission botches hiring process,  (6/12)

 

April 2025

Far-right, MAGA-fueled members of Ottawa Impact lose county commission vote to stop closure of coal-fired energy plant.  (4/26)

Even though they're no long in control, the Ottawa Impact Looney Tunes Show continues.  (4/12)

Far-right Ottawa Impact co-found Joe Moss is in the news again.  And it's another clown show.  (4/1)

February 2025

Far-right Ottawa Impact member and former @miottawa Commission chair gets called out for conflict of interest hire.  (2/26) 

Far-right Ottawa Impact member and former county commission co-chair Sylvia Rhodea admits that lake restoration was special interest project for her conservative constituents".  (2/25)

Chickens come home to roost for far-right Ottawa Impact spendthrifts @miottawa Commission.  (2/6)

What's next for far-right Ottawa Impact:  More "Leave It To Beaver" pro-family values, apparently.  (2/1)

January 2025

Far-right members Ottawa Impact celebrate their legacy of incompetence and ineffectiveness.  (1/31)

Remaining members of far-right Ottawa Impact on @miottawa commission unwilling to own up to their past mistakes.  (1/29)

Far-right Ottawa Impact leftovers on county commission love to sit on their asses and cause trouble.  (1/9)

Far-right Ottawa Impact members on county commission continue their naysayer role.  (1/7)

Newly elected chair of Ottawa County Commission apologizes for 2 years of incompetence brought to bear by far-right Ottawa Impact loonies.  (1/3)

End of an era:  Far-right Ottawa impact member Joe Moss loses bid for 2nd term as chair of Ottawa County Commission.  (1/2)

December 2024

First task of newly formed majority on Ottawa County Commission is to clean up the mess left behind by far-right Ottawa Impact.  (12/31)

First it was Ottawa Impact, now it's bird flu.  Don't know which is worse!  (12/25)

Incompetent far-right Ottawa Impact members finish their business with a flourish of unintended humor. (12/21)

Incompetents at far-right Ottawa Impact continue to stumble to the finish line.  (12/20)

Incompetent members of Ottawa Impact stumble to the finish line in "turmoil-filled year".  (12/11)

Far-right Ottawa Impact up to more shenanigans.  (12/5)

November 2024

Joe Moss Ottawa Impact Clown Show:  Only 40 days to go til the nightmare ends.  (11/27)

Everything far-right Ottawa Impact members touch turns to shit.  (11/25)

Just 44 days left until far-right incompetent leadership of Ottawa County Commission comes to an end.  (11/23)

Far-right Ottawa Impact's lame-duck leadership looks to muck things up one more time.  (11/20)

Another big bill to pay thanks to the incompetence of the far-right Ottawa Impact.  (11/13)

Ottawa County moderate Republicans snatch majority from far-right Ottawa Impact.  (11/8)

In Michigan, it's the end of a short-lived era for far-right Ottawa Impact.  (11/2)

October 2024

Dear Ottawa County voters:  Now is your chance to dump that incompetent clown Joe Moss.  Vote smart!  (10/21)

More evidence that far-right Ottawa Impact members Joe Moss and Sylvia Rhodea must go.  (10/15)

Reviews are in for far-right Ottawa Impact:   They suck!.  (10/12)

Once again far right members of Ottawa Impact ignore the rules.  (10/11)

Serving the community is the last things on the minds of far-right Ottawa Impact members.  (10/3)

September 2024

Thanks to the incompetents @OttawaImpact, the county has to pay out another big settlement.  (9/13)

Two defeated members of far-right Ottawa Impact take desperate measures to regain their seats on Ottawa County Commission.  (9/12)

Ottawa County recounts confirms that far-right Ottawa Impact member lost his primary by more than 1000 votes.  (9/1)

August 2024

Maybe Ottawa County Michigan voters should demand that the incompetent members of far-right Ottawa Impact pay the tab.  (8/26)

Far-fight Ottawa Impact member Roger Belknap is in denial.  (8/21)

Trump-appointed judge sides with far-right members of Ottawa impact.  (8/17)

Lots of excitement over the 'bust' of far-right Ottawa Impact on primary election night.  (8/16)

Far-right ideologue and Ottawa Impact founder Joe Moss opens the door for Democrats in red Ottawa County.  (8/13)

From burst to bust:  (8/12)

Far-right Ottawa Impact member Joe Moss will need to build a coalition in order to remain chair of Ottawa County Commission.  (8/8)

Far-right Ottawa Impact incumbent Roger Belknap loses to moderate Republican by 15 percentage points.  (8/7)

2024 primary election Ottawa County Commission:  Far-right Ottawa Impact incumbent Gretchen Crosby gets crush by moderate Republican.  (8/7)

July 2024

Far-right Ottawa Impact Clown show on Ottawa County Commission leads to GOP split.  (7/30)

Far-right Ottawa Impact member Roger Belknap too busy applying clown make-up to talk with news media.  (7/27)

Former Ottawa County administrator looks for payback against far-right conservative Ottawa Impact.  (7/27)

Far-right Ottawa Impact member Kendra Wenzel too busy applying clown make-up to talk with news media.  (7/25)

Ottawa County Commission news: Recalled in May, far-right Ottawa Impact member Lucy Ebel looks to make a comeback.  (7/23)

Far-right Ottawa Impact member Gretchen Crosby too busy applying clown make-up to talk with news media.  (7/22)

GOP moderates push back against Ottawa Impact Clown Show.  (7/20)

Ottawa County Commission's clown show leadership fractures county GOP. (7/1/2024)

 

June 2024

Newly elected commissioner fights back against Ottawa County Commission clown show leadership.  (6/22)

Yet another reason to boot these two clowns out of office.  (6/19)

Trickle-Down Effect: MAGA meltdown in Ottawa County, Michigan.  (6/17)

If you had county commission leadership like this, you’d drink, too!  (6/13)

Another reason to boot these two clowns out of office.  (6/12)

Momentum against clown show otherwise known as Ottawa Impact continues to grow.  (6/4)

May 2024

Crackpots at Ottawa County (Michigan) Republican Party endorse Ottawa Impact crackpots on Board of Commissioners.  (5/26) 

Voters in Ottawa County Michigan would be wise to show Joe Moss the door in August primary election.  (5/17)

Ottawa Impact Looney Tunes Clown Show:  Danger, amateurs at work!.  (5/16/)

Lucy Ebel recall marks beginning of the end for ultra-right Impact Ottawa Looney Tunes Clown Show Circus.  (5/8)

It's feeding time at the public trough for the clueless incompetents at Impact Ottawa.  (5/7)

Impact Ottawa plans to reward their incompetence with 60% pay raise  (5/3)

April 2024

Clueless, tone-deaf Impact Ottawa members stock up on political kryptonite in advance of re-election campaigns.  (4/27)

Impact Ottawa members sign up to be foot soldiers in the GOP war on women.  (4/25)

Clueless incompetents at Impact Ottawa give voters a big incentive to vote blue.  (4/19)

Dear voters of Ottawa County Michigan, Please fire this ultra-incompetent cast of Ottawa Impact Looney Tunes characters.  (4/17)

Ottawa County Board continues to be a hot mess.  (4/8)

"Who is that clown on the Ottawa County Board?" asks mlive. (4.6)

Members of incompetent Ottawa Impact Clown Show dig themselves into deep re-election hole (4/1)

March 2024.  

Many Ottawa County residents are getting sick and tired of the Ottawa Impact Clown Show,  (3/25)

When it comes lack of governance skills, members of Michigan's Ottawa County Board are gold medal incompetents.  (3/20)

Wonder how voters fells about far-right Ottawa Impact spendthrift ways.  (3/18)

Ottawa County (Michigan) voters are sick and tired of far-right Impact Ottawa bullshit.  (3/17)

Far-right Ottawa Impact members look to grow membership of MAGA Team Drool. (3/16)

If young adults vote in the next Ottawa County Board election, far-right Impact Ottawa members are toast.  (3/15)

How much loonier can things get on the Ottawa County Board?  There is no bottom. (3/13)

Ottawa Impact Looney Tunes Show gets poor reviews.  (3/11)

Conservative law firm earns $730K rides the crazy Ottawa Impact gravy train. (3/10)

Hey, hey, there's gonna be a showdown in Ottawa County, Michigan.  (3/9)

Trump fanboy gets the hook.  (3/2)

John Gibbs says something we already know about the Ottawa County Board .  (3/1)

February 2024 

In a humiliating turnabout, hard-right Ottawa County Board votes unanimously to keep top health official they tried so hard to remove.  (2/28)

Far-right wackos on Michigan's Ottawa County Board give a master class in how not to conduct employee relations.  (2/27)

Candidate endorsed by Trump to unseat Peter Meijer in Congress finds himself in a whirlwind of chaos in Ottawa County, Michigan.  (2/24)

Meet the stumblebums of Michigan's Ottawa County Board.  (2/23)

With far-right Ottawa Impact wackos in control, litigation shit continues to hit the fan. (2/22)

Chris Vander Sys challenges Ottawa Impact whackjob Gretchen Cosby for seat on Michigan's Ottawa County Board.  (2/21)

Chris Vander Sys challenges Ottawa Impact whackjob Gretchen Cosby for seat on Michigan's Ottawa County Board.  (2/21)

Former Ottawa County Board commissioner hopes to win seat back from far-right Ottawa Impact whackjob.  (2/20)

Far-right whackjobs on Michigan's Ottawa County Board prefer to let less fortunate constituents starve to death.  (2/19)

Meet Roger Belknap, the most cretinous member of Michigan's Ottawa County Board.  (2/18)

Prayer by Episcopal minister reveals homophobic makeup of Ottawa County Board. (2/17)

Ottawa County board member breaks away from his crackpot Impact Ottawa colleagues. (2/15)

The continuing shit show that is Michigan's Ottawa County Board.  (2/14)

Looney Tunes Festival otherwise known as Michigan's Ottawa County Board.  (2/7)

January 2024

When county government turns into a series of Looney Tunes episodes.  (1/27)

It's time to cancel the Looney Tunes sideshow on Michigan's Ottawa County Board.  (1/26)

Cast of Looney Tunes takes over Ottawa (Michigan) County Board.  (1/17)

Days are numbered for MAGA whackos in Ottawa County, Michigan.  (1/1)

2023

Far-right GOP whackos imperil everyone's health care in Ottawa County Michigan.  (9/17)

Meet the deeply conservative members of the Ottawa (Michigan) County Board.  (8/25)

As its population increases, Ottawa County Michigan voters find less to like about a hardcore GOP.  (11/5)

2022

Homophobic voters in Michigan town give master class in how to cut off your nose to spite your face.  (11/22)

Dear Jamestown Charter Township Michigan residents, A truly great library contains something in it to offend everyone. Best, Retiring Guy.  (7/25)

Greetings from Trump's America:  Ottawa County, Michigan, which is not as Trumpy, or as red, as it used to be.  (7/22)