More: Christian nationalism is gripping the nation - has it arrived in Ottawa County? The group's Christian-driven platform More: Ottawa County a glimpse of what happens when American democracy is consumed by ideology 'We've become what we despised,' Curran recently told The Washington Post. Rebekah Curran, a former member of Ottawa Impact, is also doubtful about the direction of the group. “I believe they’re going to do this on everything.” They want to have control over all the grant money that's spent. They want to have control over the media that goes out from the county. “They want to show they can have control over all these questionnaires that are sent out. They want control over this whole process,” Bergman said. “I think they want control over how much money is spent on different things.

It all boils down to having control, he said. “It was a circus last night,” Bergman said following a late April meeting on the topic. The questions ask adults about traumatic childhood experiences and ask teens about sexual activity.Īfter three months of delaying approval for a procedural memorandum of understanding to continue one survey’s progress, Moss and Rhodea were instrumental in delaying the vote again as they evaluate options to break or renegotiate a contract they already approved in January - all in an effort to “protect” the public from answering questions Ottawa Impact deems inappropriate. Most recently, the far-right faction voiced disapproval of questions in several routine surveys the county's health department helps curate with local health partners in order to identify what's working and where resources are needed. More: Health officer chastises Ottawa County board for failing to approve health assessment

More: Ottawa Impact stalls health survey again, stakeholders vow to move forward “I come away from meetings thinking, ‘What the heck am I even doing here?’” It’s disheartening,” said District 10 Commissioner Roger Bergman. It’s left several commissioners worried about the county’s future. From withholding already-approved mini-grant funds to holding up a widely accepted community health survey to quashing dissent during its meetings, Ottawa Impact founders Joe Moss and Sylvia Rhodea have indicated they'll assert authority wherever possible.

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