Tag Archives: City of Kentwood Mayor Stephen Kepley

Viewpond Banquet Hall celebrates delayed ribbon cutting ceremony after pandemic

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Viewpond Banquet Hall celebrated a delayed grand opening ceremony on Wednesday in Kentwood. From left, Kentwood City Commissioner Bob Coughlin, Viewpond Banquet Hall Co-Owners Amit Verma and Ajay Chhabra, Kentwood Mayor Stephen Kepley, Kentwood City Commissioner Clarkston Morgan. (WKTV)



By Cris Greer, WKTV Managing Editor

greer@wktv.org

At a ribbon cutting ceremony Wednesday delayed by the pandemic, Viewpond Banquet Hall disclosed donating a portion of its profits to two popular charities.

Viewpond Manager Elisa Rodriguez said the company would donate to Make-A-Wish Foundation and Kentwood’s Little Free Pantry at the event sponsored by the Wyoming-Kentwood Area Chamber of Commerce.

“They are in need and we’re all about community so that’s who we chose to help and support,” said Rodriguez, who’s company is located at 1665 Viewpond Dr. SE, Kentwood.

Kentwood Little Free Pantry

Kentwood City Commissioner Clarkston Morgan said the Little Free Pantry is a passion of his.

“We have a lot of transitional families that rely upon that pantry for food, and there’s no questions asked,” Morgan said. “They can come in and get what they need and go home and feed their families right away.

“Viewpond cared about being able to help families. I’m tying in opportunities for local businesses to be able to join our city and support our efforts to feed our families.”

The Little Free Pantry began as a community service project for MLK Day in 2017. Located inside the Kentwood Activities Center at 355 48th St. SE, it helps a number of Kentwood families in need.

Donations can be dropped off at the Kentwood Activities Center during normal business hours and also are accepted at collection bins located at:

Viewpond Banquet Hall Manager Elisa Rodriguez (center) cuts the ribbon at a delayed grand opening ceremony Wednesday in Kentwood, sponsored by the Wyoming-Kentwood Area Chamber of Commerce. (WKTV)



Soft opening during pandemic

Viewpond co-owner Amit Verma said his company had a soft opening about 11 months ago.

“Last year, we missed the grand opening because of the pandemic,” said Verma, who’s partner is Ajay Chhabra. “It’s been a year, and we are doing good, so we decided to do it now.”

Viewpond handles everything from corporate meetings and seminars to weddings.

 

Kentwood Mayor Stephen Kepley

Kentwood Mayor Stephen Kepley was at the ribbon cutting as well, and talked about the business environment coming out of the pandemic.

Mayor Kepley said he thinks business is getting more back to normal after the pandemic, specifically this type of business.

“The owners of venues are telling me that they’re really doing well now, and are booked through 2022 and also getting booked through 2023,” Kepley said. “People are now getting back to getting married with large crowds of 200, 300 people and trying to get back to what it used to be. That’s good to see.”

Kentwood votes 2021: Mayor Kepley returns to lead city after defeating challenger Bridson

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City of Kentwood Mayor Stephen Kepley talks to supporters at a election night event. (WKTV/K.D. Norris)

By K.D. Norris

ken@wktv.org

The City of Kentwood, in a city-wide vote, returned incumbent Mayor Stephen Kepley to the city’s “strong mayor” leadership position in voting Nov. 2 as he defeated challenger and current Ward 1 city commissioner Emily Bridson.

With 100 percent of City of Kentwood precincts counted, Kepley defeated Bridson, 4,321 to 2,992, according to final unofficial results supplied by the Kent County Elections Office. The vote total of 7,366 was 18.7 percent of the 39,460 registered voters in the city.

“Thank you to all the Kentwood residents and friends who came together to vote for unity in our community with experienced servant leadership. I am honored and humbled by your support,” Mayor Kepley said in a statement to WKTV. “Our work continues as we unify our incredibly diverse community so that all residents know they belong. I look forward to serving with the new city commission to continue to ensure a high quality of service is provided for all of our residents and business community.”

City of Kentwood mayoral candidate Emily Bridson, left, talks to a supporter at an election night event. (WKTV/K.D. Norris)

Bridson, said she wishes the mayor the best and “hope he continues to move our city in a positive direction,” she said in a statement to WKTV.

“It has been an honor to serve as one of Kentwood City Commissioners and run for Mayor,” Bridson said. “Thank you to the residents that took the time to open their doors and share their vision for our city with me. Although my team and I hoped for a different outcome, we are proud of the work we have done and the goals for Kentwood that we have put forward.”

All City of Kentwood seats are for 4-year terms. The mayor, along with returning and new commissioners, will be sworn in on Monday, Nov. 8, at the regular City Commission meeting.

Kentwood’s mayor, city planners talk small business support, master plan on WKTV Journal In Focus

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By K.D. Norris

ken@wktv.org

On the latest episode of WKTV Journal In Focus, we take another look at the City of Kentwood doing business, with and for businesses large and small, during the current pandemic and in the future.

First we talk in studio with Mayor Stephen Kepley about what the city is doing to help small businesses survive in these difficult economic times, and then about the City of Kentwood’s newly approved Master Plan, which will not only guide the city in future business development but also various community land use and land preservation issues.

Then, separately, we talk with two city planners and delve deeper into the scope and impact of Kentwood’s Master Plan update. Visiting us via Zoom is two City of Kentwood planning department leaders — community development director Terry Schweitzer and economic development planner Lisa Golder. The planners tell us what the Master Plan means for city businesses, land owners and citizens, now and in the near future.

WKTV Journal In Focus airs on cable television in the Wyoming and Kentwood areas on Comcast WKTV Channel 26 and on AT&T Channel 99 Government channel (For dates and times on Channel 26, see our Weekly On-air Schedule. For dates and times on Channel 99, visit here). All individual interviews included in episodes of WKTV Journal In Focus are also available on YouTube at WKTVvideos.

City of Kentwood vehicles big and small to ‘parade’ through the city on July 4

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Many residents were colorful in their appreciation of a parade of trucks in late May. (City of Kentwood)

By WKTV Staff

ken@wktv.org

The City of Kentwood announced to WKTV this week that a dozen or so city vehicles will parade throughout the community on Saturday, July 4, as a way “to celebrate Independence Day safely in lieu of its traditional celebration activities this year.”

The city did much the same as a truck tour last month in celebration of national Public Works Week. See a WKTV video of the event here.

The July 4 parade will begin at 9 a.m. on the western border of the city, near the intersection of Division Avenue and Maplelawn Street, and travel toward the eastern border the city, ending about 11 a.m. near the intersection of Burton Street and Forest Meadows Court.

A small scale map if at the bottom of this story. The full parade route and tentative timeline is available online at kentwood.us/july4. The timeline is tentative as the parading vehicles will be traveling at a faster speed on main roads and at a slower speed on residential roads, according to the city’s webpage on the event.

Residents are invited to watch the parade from the nearest street to their home on the parade route but, according to the city statement, to practice physical distancing from others when they do so.

“The City of Kentwood is pleased to be able to offer a safe, alternate way of engaging with our community on the Fourth of July,” Kentwood Mayor Stephen Kepley said in supplied material. “It is our hope to inspire joy and celebration for America’s independence by bringing the traditional parade to residents throughout the Kentwood community.”

In early June, the City of Kentwood decided to join other communities in canceling this year’s annual July 4 celebration.

“Due to the uncertainty surrounding COVID-19 and restrictions on large group gatherings, the City Commission voted against hosting the event this summer out of an abundance of caution,” according to the city statement.

The fireworks show planned for July 4 has been postponed to the Kentwood Food Truck Festival this fall.

East Kentwood robotics ‘real world’ project aids Kentwood police to become better, safer

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Video cover photo of Red Storm Robotics 2020 by Andrew C. Schallier.

By K.D. Norris

ken@wktv.org

The story of a 2019 cooperative project between the City of Kentwood police department and the Kentwood Public Schools Red Storm Robotics team, a robot that reached full operation in 2020, was a good news story early this year.

And despite Kentwood schools, and WKTV Journal, seeing big changes in how they did business starting in March due to the COVID-19 restrictions, it is still a good news story — a tool for Kentwood police to help them make better decisions in the field and an example of the high level of interaction between the city’s schools and city staff that Kentwood Mayor Stephen Kepley relentlessly advocates for.

“What I love about this is always investing in the next generation,” Mayor Kepley said in March when WKTV was producing a video project on the Red Storm Robotics project with the police department. “And this is just another opportunity, and really a great opportunity, to invest in the next generation. … The city working with the school, working with professionals, using technology, and more importantly investing in the very individuals who will be leading this community in the future.”

The police robot project is a prime example of not only engagement with the students but of also giving advanced students a lesson in real-world, on-the-job, design of robotic technology.

Of course, Red Storm was up to the challenge presented by the police department.

WKTV talked with Mayor Kepley, Kentwood Police Chief Richard Roberts and Sgt. Jeff Leonard, and instructors/parents of the Red Storm Robotics project, including Adam Veenendaal, Mark VanderVoord and Wendy Ljungern.

But most importantly, we talked with students of the program past and present, including Jason Gray-Moore, Kerim Puczek, Jacobi Thompson and Annalise Welch.

For more information on Kentwood Pubic Schools’ Red Storm Robotics program visit their website at redstormrobotics.com.

Kentwood City Commission acts to alter regulations to support city businesses, local economic recovery

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The Kentwood City Commission recently passed a resolution reducing regulations and expediting the site plan review process some local businesses. (WKTV)

By WKTV Staff

ken@wktv.org

The City of Kentwood announced today that “in an effort to support Kentwood businesses and jumpstart the local economy,” the Kentwood City Commission recently passed a resolution reducing regulations and expediting the site plan review process for temporary outdoor retail, food, beverage and personal service uses.

Effective immediately and through Nov. 1, the resolution suspends time limits on temporary sign display and waives business license fees, according to a Wednesday, June 3, statement.

Retailers, restaurants and personal service businesses, such as training facilities, wanting to add expanded outdoor spaces for customers now have the opportunity to apply for such allowances through a streamlined administrative review process, the statement continues.

 “It goes without saying — COVID-19 and shelter-in-place requirements over the past three months have had tremendous impacts on our local businesses,” Kentwood Mayor Stephen Kepley said in supplied material. “As we look to restart the local economy, the City of Kentwood remains committed to being a help and not a hindrance for our business community, and has implemented a number of measures to assist.

“The resolution passed is intended to ease and expedite businesses’ abilities to serve customers in a manner that’s consistent with evolving public health recommendations.”
 

The review and approval of site plans for general retail sales, food, beverage and personal service establishments in the city seeking to utilize outdoor areas, such as exterior building aprons or parking areas, will be conducted through the Planning Department. Interested businesses are asked to complete the online application at kentwood.us/businessrestart for consideration.

Under the temporary sign moratorium, one temporary sign of up to 32 square feet in area is allowed per business. Other restrictions in the Zoning Ordinance applicable to temporary signs, such as sign placement and similar matters, remain in effect.

For the licensing year, city business license fees for all businesses located in the city will be waived with the exception of the following: transient, waste hauler, door-to-door, and snowplowing licenses, or hazardous material fees.

As part of the City Commission resolution, the city’s Economic Development Corporation and two members of the Planning Commission were tasked to review city ordinances and regulations and propose to the City Commission changes to enhance the local business environment during the state of emergency and to submit those recommendations to the City Commission for its consideration in an ongoing fashion until Nov. 1 or as further extended by the City Commission, according to the city.

  

Kentwood mayor talking business, judge talking courts on WKTV Journal In Focus

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By K.D. Norris
ken@wktv.org

On the latest episode of WKTV Journal In Focus, City of Kentwood Mayor Stephen Kepley talks about recent business news in the city and also the city’s continuing commitment to the quality of life of its residents. Then we talk with Chief Judge William G. Kelly of Kentwood’s 62-B Kent County District Court, a system celebrating 50 years of existence and often called “the people’s court”.

First up In Focus, Mayor Kepley likes to say that “Kentwood is Open for Business” – a fitting jumping-off point for a discussion about recent industrial growth in the city. But Mayor Kepley is also an advocate for the livability of his city and the quality of life there, so we will also talk about smaller new businesses that make the city a special place to call home.

Then In Focus, Judge Kelly talks about what the district court is, a little of its history, how it is working to help citizens as much as discipline citizens, and succeeding his father, Joseph Kelly, in the position. For a link to his interview video, click here .

WKTV Journal In Focus airs on cable television in the Wyoming and Kentwood areas on Comcast WKTV Channel 26 and on AT&T Channel 99 Government channel (see our Weekly On-air Schedule for dates and times). In Focus is also available on-demand within a week of play at wktvondemand.com. All individual interviews included in episodes of WKTV Journal In Focus are also available on YouTube at WKTVvideos.