OTTAWA COUNTY, MI -- An Ottawa County commissioner alleges a former county employee received an inflated severance payout based on misinformation.

Ottawa County Commissioner Jordan Jorritsma claims the misinformation came from former county Board Chair Joe Moss during a Dec. 10, 2024 closed session.

The severance, a nearly $110,000 payout with five months benefits , went to former executive aide Jordan Epperson.

Epperson’s boss at the time, former Interim Ottawa County Administrator Ben Wetmore, also received a severance payout of $175,000 in a separate vote during the same Dec. 10 meeting.

The payouts later were the subject of a lawsuit filed by Ottawa County resident Dan Zimmer, who claimed the board violated the Open Meetings Act.

County commissioners on Tuesday, Sept. 23 agreed

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