Planning and Performance Improvement Department
12220 Fillmore Street, Room 260
West Olive, Michigan 49460
Phone: (616) 738-4852
FAX: (616) 738-4625
E-mail: plan@miottawa.org
Hours of Operation: Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Staff (Organizational Chart)
| Mark Knudsen Director |
Denise Kingsbury Senior Secretary |
Paul E. Sachs Assistant Director |
| Shannon Virtue Research and Evaluation Analyst |
Nate Lisenbee Land Use Planning Specialist |
Fred Wezeman Economic Development Coordinator |
| Stephanie Roelofs Data Entry Clerk |
Departmental Overview
The Planning and Performance Improvement Department provides a range of important services to residents and businesses of Ottawa County. The Department implements programs and initiatives to increase Economic Development, develops innovative Land Use Planning tools to protect and improve quality of life in Ottawa County, and spearheads the County’s Performance Improvement effort. This effort involves conducting outcome-based evaluations for targeted County programs and services in order to maximize the use of financial resources.
Since 2003, outcome-based evaluations completed by the Department have saved over $4.4 million in taxpayer dollars as a result of recommendations that modified, privatized, or discontinued ineffective programs and services. Moreover, $15 million in County programming and services has been verified as cost-effective through the evaluation process.
Department staff also provide statistical data that is used by County departments and local agencies to justify requests for grant funding and to promote economic development, and performs reviews of grant applications and award requirements to protect the County from any permanent financial obligations. The Department is also responsible for the administrative oversight of the County’s Remonumentation Plan for public survey corners.
