Copyright M Live Michigan
OTTAWA COUNTY, MI -- Ottawa County has released audio from a 2024 closed session that some county commissioners say proves a former county leader gave misleading information to get an inflated severance for an exiting employee. The county, as part of an agreement in a recently settled lawsuit, released minutes and audio Monday, Oct. 20, of a December 2024 closed session. The session’s topic was whether to approve a severance agreement for administrative executive aide Jordan Epperson, who became a source of controversy in 2023 because he was hired over another more qualified candidate. Information surfaced that then-Administrator John Gibbs wanted Epperson, just 23 at the time, over the other candidate because Epperson was someone he could “boss around.” Epperson and former county Deputy Administrator Ben Wetmore, who also received a December 2024 severance, both were hired in 2023 just months after the highly conservative political faction Ottawa Impact gained a board majority. The Ottawa Impact majority was responsible for numerous controversial decisions, including hiring Gibbs, trying to fire the county health officer and dissolving the county’s DEI office. Because of the November 2024 election, the Ottawa Impact majority became a minority this January. Related: Ottawa County commissioner claims leader’s misinformation spurred big severance for former aide Epperson was awarded a nearly $110,000 payout with five months of benefits -- based in part on alleged claims he had against the county for wrongdoing. Ottawa County resident Dan Zimmer filed a lawsuit, hoping to stop severances to Epperson and Wetmore. It didn’t, but he hoped the September settlement he reached with the county would provide transparency about the two deals. At a September board meeting, Commissioner Jordan Jorritsma accused Commissioner Joe Moss, former board chair and Ottawa Impact co-founder, of giving false or misleading information at the December 2024 closed session. Specifically, Jorritsma claimed Moss told commissioners that a county human resources attorney had made a recommendation on a payout for Epperson. But Jorritsma said an affidavit from the attorney shows no financial recommendation was ever made. Moss, during the closed session, talked about the attorney’s recommendation. “HR legal counsel indicated the board of commissioners should consider a clean break to clear any and all claims by using a severance and separation agreement. He then provided a draft of a release of claims agreement,” Moss said during the closed session. Jorritsma said the attorney did provide Moss with a severance agreement template, but that someone else filled it out to show a six-month salary severance. The audio recording also shows that several commissioners asked for the attorney to speak to them directly, but Moss said he wasn’t available. Jorritsma said the attorney later said he would have attended the Dec. 10 meeting if asked. Moss, in responding to Jorritsma’s allegation, denied ever making any false claims. In December 2024, commissioners ultimately voted 9-2 to approve the severance agreement for Epperson. Commissioners Jacob Bonnema and Doug Zylstra voted no. During the closed session, Bonnema said he wanted to give Epperson nothing and Zylstra said two months of pay would be appropriate.
