Ottawa Out Loud

Ottawa County, Michigan
  • 4.2 (5)
  • Government
  • Updated Monthly

An entertaining interview show that provides an in-depth look at the inner workings of Ottawa County's government, one department at a time, and the people who work every day to make it one of the best places to live in Michigan. Subscribe for frequent updates on Ottawa County's services, programs, policies, and more. 

  1. 6d ago

    22: Preparing for the Unpredictable w/ Emergency Management

    Michael J. Fox once said, "Don’t spend a lot of time imagining worst-case scenario", and that's a great quote to live by-- life is a lot more enjoyable and fulfilling when you're thinking positive thoughts. Notice how he doesn't say "NEVER imagine the worst-case scenario", though? Having a plan for when things don't go according to plan is the most important thing you can do to keep you and your loved ones safe in the event of a dangerous emergency. Thankfully, the folks in the Emergency Management division of the Ottawa County Sheriff's Office specialize in worst-case scenarios-- imagining what could happen, and most importantly, preparing for every possible situation. Emergency Planning Coordinator Derek Schroeder is here to tell us about how we work with local public safety organizations, businesses, and dozens of volunteers to build an impressive network to respond to whatever situations may arise. Plus, what you can do at home to prepare yourself for emergency situations, both natural or man made.  -----LINKS----- Follow Ottawa County Emergency Management on Facebook for timely updates and warnings: https://www.facebook.com/OttawaEM Visit https://www.ready.gov/ to learn about different types of disasters and what you can do to prepare at home Visit  www.miOttawa.org/Sheriff/em to learn more about Emergency Management, including volunteer opportunities and civilian training courses Connect with us! Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OttawaCounty/ Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ottawacountymi/ Follow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ottawacountymi?_r=1&_t=ZP-95CjqpqftTb Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@miOttawa?sub_confirmation=1 Sign up for County email updates: https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/MIOTTAWA/subscribers/new

    44 min

  2. Jun 11

    21: Paving the Way with the Road Commission

    Our friends at the Ottawa County Road Commission return to the podcast! Alex & Ken join us to talk about OCRC's summer road maintenance, covering gravel road maintenance, chip sealing, and more of the work that, while you might be inconvenienced for a bit, helps you reach your destination safely. Connect with the Road Commission for the latest updates to road construction, closures, and maintenance: Website: OttawaCoRC.com Facebook: facebook.com/Ottawacorc Instagram: instagram.com/ottawacorc Connect with us! Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OttawaCounty/ Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ottawacountymi/ Follow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ottawacountymi?_r=1&_t=ZP-95CjqpqftTb Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@miOttawa?sub_confirmation=1 Sign up for County email updates: https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/MIOTTAWA/subscribers/new

    41 min

  3. May 22

    20: Summer Safety with Environmental Public Health

    Memorial Day weekend is here, and that means that summer is just around the corner! But the new season doesn't just bring new opportunities to enjoy the great outdoors-- it also brings new safety concerns that might make you want to just stay inside: -Ticks, mosquitos, and the diseases they carry -Water contamination -Food safety -Rip currents Thankfully, the Ottawa County Department of Public Health employs several experts on their Environmental Public Health team who are dedicated to monitoring risks and informing the public, like today's guests, Drew and Nick. Their work helps make sure that you can enjoy spending quality time outdoors with your loved ones, worry-free.  Visit miOttawa.org/health/environmental to learn more about our Environmental Public Health team and the different services they offer our community! Connect with us! Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OttawaCounty/ Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ottawacountymi/ Follow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ottawacountymi?_r=1&_t=ZP-95CjqpqftTb Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@miOttawa?sub_confirmation=1 Sign up for County email updates: https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/MIOTTAWA/subscribers/new

    51 min

  4. Apr 13

    19: Central Dispatch: The Backbone of Ottawa County's Public Safety

    If you've ever had to call 911, you may remember feeling scared, hurt, or confused about what to do. What you might not remember is the calm voice on the other end, laser-focused on figuring out the best way to help. Police, Firefighters, and EMTs/Paramedics save lives every day-- but without Ottawa County Central Dispatch, they wouldn't be able to do their jobs effectively.  We're celebrating National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week (April 12-18) by featuring Matt and Austynn from the Ottawa County Central Dispatch Authority to teach us how OCCDA operates, the role they play in the emergency response process, and how staff are supported through stressful situations.  Learn more about OCCDA at https://occda.org/ Please save the non-emergency number in your phone: (800) 249-0911. For emergencies, call 911. Follow OCCDA on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OttawaCo911 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ottawadispatch?igsh=MW5raGhhaTJ0YjJzYg== Connect with us! Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OttawaCounty/ Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ottawacountymi/ Follow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ottawacountymi?_r=1&_t=ZP-95CjqpqftTb Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@miOttawa?sub_confirmation=1 Sign up for County email updates: https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/MIOTTAWA/subscribers/new

    37 min

  5. Mar 26

    18: Veterans Services Returns

    Veterans Services Director Jason Schenkel returns with Greg Carlson, a member of the Veterans Services Committee. Jason and Greg give us the latest in Veterans Services news, an explanation of the committee's role in decision making and oversight, and practical ways that OCVS supports our Veteran population.  Make sure to subscribe to see new episodes of Ottawa Out Loud and follow us on social media for daily updates on what's going on in Ottawa County. Connect with us! Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OttawaCounty/ Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ottawacountymi/ Follow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ottawacountymi?_r=1&_t=ZP-95CjqpqftTb Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@miOttawa?sub_confirmation=1 Sign up for County email updates: https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/MIOTTAWA/subscribers/new

    44 min

  6. Feb 26

    17: Investing in Our People with Human Resources

    We're bringing in Scott and Kirk from our Human Resources department to talk about how vital our staff is, what actions Ottawa County takes to be an incredible place to work, and why investing in our workforce creates the best value for taxpayers.  If you're inspired to come and work with us, visit miOttawa.org/apply to see our current openings and submit an application today! Visit miOttawa.org/parks to learn more about our Spring Break Camps. Act quickly-- it's already starting to fill up! Check out boards.miOttawa.org to see upcoming meetings from our boards and committees. The next Board of Commissioners Standing Committee meetings will be on Tuesday, March 10th at 9:30am, and the next full Board of Commissioners meeting will be March 24th at 6:30pm. Connect with us! Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OttawaCounty/ Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ottawacountymi/ Follow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ottawacountymi?_r=1&_t=ZP-95CjqpqftTb Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@miOttawa?sub_confirmation=1 Sign up for County email updates: https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/MIOTTAWA/subscribers/new

    40 min

  7. Jan 22

    16: The Water Quality Dream Team!

    Water Resources Commissioner Joe Bush, Ben Jordan from Ottawa Conservation District, and Dan Callam from the Outdoor Discovery Center Network join us to dive into the groundbreaking Water Quality Monitoring Initiative, spearheaded by our Water Resources department. This initiative brings together experts from across the county to collect data from our streams, rivers, lakes, and watersheds to understand how water pollution happens— and how we can improve Ottawa County’s water supply for generations to come.  Learn more about the Water Quality Monitoring Initiative: https://ottawacd.org/water_quality_monitoring/ Outdoor Discovery Center Network: https://outdoordiscovery.org Ottawa Conservation District: https://ottawacd.org OCCAA Walk for Warmth: https://miottawa.org/caa/walk-for-warmth/ Housing Commission Survey: https://ottawacounty.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_ehbLdX1t8d224rc Materials Management Plan Survey: https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/8592519/Recycling-Survey?source=slider Upcoming Board of Commissioners Meetings: https://boards.miottawa.org/calendar/ Connect with us! Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OttawaCounty/ Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ottawacountymi/ Follow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ottawacountymi?_r=1&_t=ZP-95CjqpqftTb Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@miOttawa?sub_confirmation=1 Sign up for County email updates: https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/MIOTTAWA/subscribers/new

    43 min

  8. Jan 2

    15: Having Snow Much Fun in 2026 w/ Ottawa County Parks

    Cold weather got you feeling stuck indoors? We're kicking off season 2 of Ottawa Out Loud with an exciting look at winter recreation opportunities from Ottawa County Parks, including skiing, snowshoeing, birding, and more. Plus, a sneak peek at the new-and-improved 2026 Parks Challenge, featuring bigger and better prizes! ——————Links—————— Learn more about Parks & Recreation Programs: https://miottawacountyweb.myvscloud.com/webtrac/web/splash.html?ccode=Activities Upcoming Birding events: https://miottawacountyweb.myvscloud.com/webtrac/web/search.html?module=AR&Type=Nature&Subtype=Birding&_csrf_token=Li0O1M611O112O2W3A2G2Z4I5L4P6E501N5I4Y4J6B01724Q6K400D5R5X6M4U1A005U5H4I055M4V5E4Z66044O5F6K706W65536P0P5R4G6O57734P4R56511I5H4L5K 2026 Parks Challenge information: https://miottawa.org/parks/parks-challenge/ Connect with us! Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OttawaCounty/ Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ottawacountymi/ Follow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ottawacountymi?_r=1&_t=ZP-95CjqpqftTb Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@miOttawa?sub_confirmation=1 Sign up for County email updates: https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/MIOTTAWA/subscribers/new

    35 min
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Ratings & Reviews

4.2
out of 5
5 Ratings

About

An entertaining interview show that provides an in-depth look at the inner workings of Ottawa County's government, one department at a time, and the people who work every day to make it one of the best places to live in Michigan. Subscribe for frequent updates on Ottawa County's services, programs, policies, and more. 

Information

  • Creator
    Ottawa County, Michigan
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    22
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Ottawa Out Loud
  • Show Website
    Ottawa Out Loud

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