A county charter is necessary for a county to be legally enabled to assume local control of an electric utility, and hence for Ottawa County to be able to purchase the Campbell plant from Consumers Energy at fair market value and hence avoid its closure and demolition in 2025. Some are concerned about Ottawa County becoming a charter county. It should be kept in mind that the Michigan Constitution provides for county charter repeal provisions, and repeal could even be incorporated into the original charter.
The Michigan Constitution reads thus: “Any county may frame, adopt, amend or repeal a county charter in a manner and with powers and limitations to be provided by general law, which shall among other things provide for the election of a charter commission. No county charter shall be adopted, amended or repealed until approved by a majority of electors voting on the question.” (see https://www.legislature.mi.gov/Laws/MCL?objectName=mcl-Article-VII-2 )