Tag Archives: Kent County Board of Commissioners

Leaders of Kent County Board of Commissioners look back on 2021, forward to new year

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The Kent County Board of Commissioners (from a 2019 meeting). (Supplied/Kent County)

By K.D. Norris

ken@wktv.org

As the outgoing chair of the Kent County Board of Commissioners looked back on a list of the county’s 2021 accomplishments — not the least of which was being a key partner in the West Michigan’s efforts to battle the pandemic — the board selected new leaders to begin 2022.

The Board of Commissioners unanimously selected Stan Stek (District 6) as chair and Emily Brieve (District 10) as vice-chair during a Monday, Jan. 3, organizational meeting. Stek, who had served as vice-chair, takes over as chair from Mandy Bolter.

As incoming vice-chair, Brieve will lead the Legislative and Human Services Committee.  Commissioner Diane Jones (District 4) will continue to serve in her role as chair of the Finance and Physical Resources Committee.

Kent County Board of Commissioner Chair Stan Stek. (Supplied)

“It is truly an honor to be chosen to lead this Board,” Stek said in supply material. “I look forward to working together to maintain our strong fiscal position, improve residents’ quality of life, enhance the overall delivery of services, and ensure continued economic growth for the region.”

And, in a statement from the county detailing some of the board’s 2021 accomplishments, the wide-ranging duties and efforts of the county board were detailed.

Financially, the board late last year approved a balanced 2022 budget of $527 million, including $454.8 million for operating expenditures, of which $16.7 million will be capital improvements. It also maintained maintained its dual AAA bond rating from S&P Global and Moody’s Investors Service — for the 23rd consecutive year.

The county also was a key player in the local effort to combat the COVID-19 pandemic and to distribute federal funds meant to do the same.

The West Michigan Vaccine Clinic, created in response to the need to vaccinate as many people as possible, saw Kent County, Mercy Health Saint Mary’s, and Spectrum Health develop one of the largest vaccination clinics in the country at DeVos Place — with more than 231,000 COVID-19 vaccinations administered between January and May 2021.

In addition, the county Health Department added three new mobile health units in 2021. These self- contained mobile health facilities have been used extensively to target vulnerable populations in the administration of COVID-19 and other vaccinations, HIV testing, and community outreach. To date, more than 1,000 county residents have received COVID-19 vaccinations at clinics supported by these units, according to supplied material.

 

Kent County Commissioner Mandy Bolter. (Supplied)

“Despite the various pressures placed on public services this past year, our Board and staff were dedicated to continuing to provide excellent service to our community,” Bolter said in supplied material. “While we continued to meet the challenges of the pandemic, we also maintained a strong focus on meeting the needs of continued economic growth.”

Other stated accomplishments, according to the county statement, included expansion and bonding of The Gerald R. Ford International Airport; the hiring of the county’s first Chief Inclusion Officer “to underscore our commitment to fully embedding diversity, equity, and inclusion in our strategic priorities and service delivery”; and establishing three new “issue-focused” subcommittees (Broadband, Judicial Resources and Veterans Millage Review).

The county also funded county Sheriff’s Office cruiser and deputy body cameras, and secured an expansion of the Chief Hazy Cloud Park into a 395-acre natural preserve along the Grand River and allow for future trail expansion to connect multiple communities.

Incoming leadership has long local history

Stek, whose District 6 includes the city of Walker and part of the city of Grand Rapids, was first elected to the commission in 2014. He is an attorney at Miller Canfield and, according to supplied material, has a long history of serving his community on various boards and committees.

Among his current and past work is serving on the Crisis Center Task Force, Dedicated Millage Committee, Kent County Community Action Board, Kent County Workforce Development Board, Lakeshore Regional Entity, Millennium Park Advisory Board, Michigan Works!, Network 180, Senior Millage Allocation Board, Substance Use Disorder Oversight Board, and Walker Citizens Advisory Committee.

 

Kent County Board of Commissioners vice-chair Emily Brieve. (Supplied)

Brieve, whose District 10 includes Gaines Township and part of Caledonia Township, has served in the board since 2014. She works for her family’s small business, FastoolNow.com.

She currently chairs the Board of Public Works and Community Health Advisory committees and is a member of the Gerald R. Ford International Airport Authority, Grand Rapids Public Museum, and West Michigan Sports Commission.

The cities of Kentwood and Wyoming are represented on the county board by Stan Ponstein (District 7), Dan Burrill (District 8), Matt Kallman (District 9), Monica Sparks (District 12), and Michelle McCloud (District 13). For complete information on the members of the board, and the areas they represent, visit here.

“We have a strong Board and an incredible community, and we are committed to supporting the prosperity of our businesses and residents,” Stek said. “We look forward to tackling the challenges ahead with fiscal responsibility, innovation, and collaboration.”

 

Kent County Board of Commissioners select Ottawa County leader as new county administrator

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The Kent County Board of Commissioners (from a previous meeting). (Supplied/Kent County)

By K.D. Norris

ken@wktv.org

After hosting a community forum and conducting third round interviews today, June 24, at a Kent County Board of Commissioners meeting, Kent County announced today that the board has selected Al Vanderberg, currently Ottawa County Administrator but with a history of working for Kent County, as its choice for the next county Administrator/Controller.

According to the announcement, Board of Commissioners chair Mandy Bolter “will enter immediate contract negotiations with Vanderberg with the aim of presenting a final contract for board approval” at the commission meeting on July 22.

 

Al Vanderberg (Ottawa County)

“This has been an exciting, thorough and transparent process that culminated with the selection of a strong, visionary and highly competent individual,” Bolter said in supplied material. “Thanks to our dedicated search subcommittee, our board of commissioners and the high level of community engagement in the process, I’m confident that Al will be the kind of leader who reflects the community’s priorities and can leverage Kent County’s assets for sustained growth and innovative service to our residents.”

Pending contract approval, Vanderberg is expected to take over the local job later this summer. He has been the administrator in Ottawa County since 2003 managing 1,200 employees who serve a population of about 300,000 residents. Immediately prior to joining Ottawa County, he was the Deputy County Administrator/Controller in Kent County from 1999-2003.

Vanderberg will take over Kent County’s top administrative position from Wayman P. Britt, who notified the board of his intention to retire last October. Britt has been with the county administration for more than 17 years and has served in the top spot since January 2018.

According to supplied material, the process to select Vanderberg was “a multi-faceted market outreach campaign targeting highly diverse recruitment sites across the country.”
 

A county-hired recruiting firm identified over 140 prospects and contacted more than 100 potential candidates and sources. From this group, the firm identified 13 external and one internal candidate to present for search subcommittee consideration on May 14. The subcommittee selected five candidates for first round interviews at public meetings on June 9 and 10, and three were advanced as finalists.

In all, the subcommittee met 10 times over the course of eight months, with all meetings noticed and open to the public.

Vanderberg’s resume

At his current position, Vanderberg is responsible for oversight of administrative and other departments within Ottawa County and serves on boards, committees and workgroups for numerous Ottawa County and community agencies and organizations, according to supplied material. Those duties included chair of the County Brownfield Redevelopment Board, president of the County Economic Development Corporation Board, and membership on the Grand Valley Metro Council Board, Lakeshore Advantage Board and Housing Next Board.

He began his career in Lenawee County in 1986, and subsequently served in city management in Greenville and South Haven.

Additionally, Vanderberg was appointed in 2018 by the Michigan Civil Rights Department to serve on the Michigan Council for Local Government and Education on Equity and Inclusion. In 2017, he was appointed to the Michigan Child Lead Exposure Elimination Commission by Governor Snyder and reappointed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in 2019. He is a member of the Government Finance Officers Association and the National Association of County Administrators.

He was president of the board of the Michigan Association of County Administrative Officials in 2011 and of the Michigan Local Government Management Association in 2010 and retains membership in both organizations.

‘Diversity, equity and inclusion’ at heart of Kent County’s creation of 1st Chief Inclusion Officer

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By K.D. Norris

ken@wktv.org

Teresa Branson, Kent County Chief Inclusion Officer. (Kent County)

Kent County announced last week that it has selected Teresa Branson as its first Chief Inclusion Officer — a position that will report to the Kent County Administrator and underscore “the organization’s commitment to fully embedding diversity, equity and inclusion in its strategic priorities,” according to the announcement.

Branson currently serves as the Deputy Administrative Health Officer for the Kent County Health Department (KCHD). Prior to that, she held numerous public health education positions within KCHD, Child & Family Services of West MI, Inc., and Arbor Circle Corporation. She will start her new  position May 24.

“We are fortunate to have someone as qualified as Teresa serve as our first Chief Inclusion Officer,” Kent  County Administrator Wayman Britt said in supplied material. “We elevated this role because we are committed to accelerating our efforts to be an inclusive workforce and to ensure we are being equitable in our service delivery. I am excited for Teresa to fulfill this role and help us expand our diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.”
 

According to the announcement, Branson brings to the job “extensive experience implementing strategic diversity and inclusion programs and processes.” During her tenure at KCHD, she provided direction for the department’s health equity initiatives and led several successful programs aimed at reducing health disparities. She has also facilitated health equity and social justice training sessions.

Branson serves on numerous community and statewide boards, including the Michigan Community Action Team of the Governor’s COVID-19 Racial Disparities Task Force.

“It is an honor to be selected as the first person filling this role at Kent County,” Branson said in supplied material. “I look forward to working with our leadership teams, employees and community partners to build on the work that has already been done and to implement meaningful change that will make county government more responsive in meeting diverse needs of our employees and community.”

“Inclusive Participation” was one of five strategic priorities identified in the county’s 2019 strategic plan. Over the past several years, the Kent County Board of Commissioners and administration have invested in programs to increase equity and inclusion in hiring, training and service delivery.

Branson will oversee all the county’s diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts and identify ways to improve the county’s ability to serve its employees and residents.

“Teresa has a wealth of experience that will help us develop best practices and break through potential barriers,” Britt said. “Our goal is to build a more welcoming workforce and community.”

Branson holds a Master of Health Administration from Grand Valley State University and a Bachelor of Science in Public Health Education from Central Michigan University.

WKTV Journal In Focus hosts county Commissioner Robert Womack to talk Black leadership at all levels

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By K.D. Norris

ken@wktv.org

When you ask about community and governmental leadership to Kent County Commissioner Robert Womack, you better be prepared for his unvarnished take on the matter — especially if you give him more than a 30-second soundbite.

WKTV Journal In Focus recently talked with him for 15 minutes or so, and asked those questions of Commissioner Womack, who late last year was named to co-chair Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s new state initiative, the Black Leadership Advisory Council — a group intended to “develop, review, and recommend policies and actions designed to prevent and eradicate discrimination and racial inequity in Michigan.”

Commissioner Womack gave us his opinion on the Governor selecting him to offer advice, his take on the similarities and differences between leadership and “Black leadership”, and, yes, he caught us up on the current and future plans of the advisory council.

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.

Despite pandemic shutdown, Kent County Health Department reports progress on lead exposure reduction

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Dr. Adam London’s presentation to Executive Committee of the Kent County Board of Commissioners on Feb. 25. (Kent County)

By K.D. Norris

ken@wktv.org

The pandemic has shut down many things, but not the efforts of Kent County and its partners to identify and reduce lead exposure in the community — a serious health hazard especially for children before, during and unfortunately likely to continue after COVID-19.

Kent County Health Department Director Dr. Adam London provided an update Feb. 25 to the Executive Committee of the Kent County Board of Commissioners. As part of the report, London detailed the “significant strides the department has taken over the last year to identify lead hazards and conduct education efforts,” according to a statement from the county, work which occurred despite the coronavirus pandemic shutting down site visits for approximately six months.

“There is no safe level of lead in children and it is toxic to everyone,” London said in supplied material. “We have to keep the momentum of this work going to mitigate long-term negative impact of lead exposure on our community.”
 

The Kent County Health Department (KCHD) manages three lead programs including the Children’s Health Insurance Plan (CHIP), the Multiple Elevated Blood Level (MEBL) list, and part of the county-funded Ready by Five effort.

According to the Kent County announcement, since December 2019, several actions have been taken, including: 161 ongoing or completed investigations at properties that have/had potential lead hazards, and 81 properties on the MEBL List out of 427 properties identified by Lead Action Team; 57 site visits for lead inspection, risk assessments and home health screenings; and 39 homes cleared of lead hazards including helping remediate/abate lead hazards at 28.

In addition, the effort has attained regulatory compliance through working with residents and landlords and initiated enforcement activities at five properties. Also, the lead team has been fully staffed with five lead sanitarians, a health educator, and a lead clerk.

 
“I am very proud of our team,” Brendan Earl, KCHD supervising sanitarian, said in supplied material. “We have been able to continue the critical work of reducing lead exposure despite the setbacks caused by COVID-19.”

 
Additionally, according the announcement, the KCHD will be “working in the months ahead to re-engage the Lead Action Team which was formed in February 2020 to bring together local units of government and a multitude of other partners to make our community safer from the harms of lead exposure.”

For more information on the Lead Action Team’s goals, visit here. For more information on the Lead Action Team’s accomplishments, visit here.

For more information about the health impacts of lead, how to prevent lead poisoning, and where to find help visit dontplayaround.org/.

 

Kent County to establish public, private internet broadband committee to ‘close service gaps’ in county

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(Creative Commons/Share Alike 4.0 International)

By K.D. Norris

ken@wktv.org

The leader of the Kent County Board of Commissioners announced early this month the formation of a new Kent County Broadband Subcommittee charged with “assessing barriers to broadband service throughout the county, developing collaborative strategies to break down the barriers” as well as identifying federal, state and local funding to support the strategies.

“The pandemic has made it clear: access to broadband internet service can no longer be considered ‘optional’ for residents of Kent County,” Commission Chair Mandy Bolter, who will convene the committee, said in Feb. 15 supplied material. “For almost a year, thousands of our residents have worked from home, our children have attended school online, and patients have relied on telehealth services for critical medical and behavioral health appointments. We need everyone in Kent County to have access to those opportunities through a quality broadband network.”

The committee, according to the county announcement, will assess existing broadband coverage countywide; prioritize areas where gaps are most significant and where the population is growing; identify regulations, policies and issues that may stand as barriers to service installation; monitor relevant statewide and national efforts; study successful models in other communities and recommend for the Board of Commissioner’s consideration collaborative strategies to address the challenge.

“There are many roadblocks we have to take into consideration when addressing the need for broadband throughout the County,” county Commissioner Michelle McCloud said in supplied material. “Our solutions will have to be creative and we will have to tap into the skillset of each subcommittee member.”

The group will also study the feasibility of establishing an organizing structure, such as an authority of local units of government that could work together to implement the strategies and “administer funding to fill the service gaps,” according to the announcement.

Commissioner Ben Greene will chair the subcommittee.

Other members will be Bolter and McCloud; Ken Yonker, Kent County Drain Commissioner; Steven Warren, Kent County Road Commission managing director; Tim Beck, director, Kent County information technology department; Ruth Gaudard, area manager, external affairs, Michigan Legislative & Regulatory Affairs, AT&T; Tim Mroz, vice president, Strategic Initiatives, The Right Place, Inc.; Marilyn Passmore, director, State Government Affairs, Charter Communications; Ryan Peel, Vergennes Broadband; Jeff Snyder, manager, External Affairs, Comcast, Heartland Region; and Natalie Stewart, vice president of Government and Public Affairs, Switch.

“I am eager to start working with this group to ensure our residents are able to access the services and information they need,” commissioner Greene said in supplied material. “Information technology has become a critical component of the county’s infrastructure. Each member of this subcommittee will bring unique perspectives and expertise into the conversation.”

 
The subcommittee will begin their work in March and will be asked to provide a progress report to the full Board of Commissioners at the end of 2021. Depending on the progress and recommendations made at that time, the board may extend their work into 2022.


County, aiding parents as well as children, allocates latest round of Ready by Five early childhood millage grants

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Ready by Five early childhood support programs are funded by a countywide milage passed in 2018 and provides programs that improve the health, school readiness, and well-being of children under age five. (First Steps Kent)

By K.D. Norris

ken@wktv.org

The goal of the ongoing Ready by Five early childhood support programs, funded by a countywide milage passed in 2018, is to provide “dedicated and sustainable funding for programs that improve the health, school readiness, and well-being of children under age five.”

And a key element of achieving that goal — to “increase their likelihood of success in school and beyond” — is to get parental involvement for the various Ready by Five programs, especially within at-risk families.

So, acting last week on the recommendation of First Steps Kent, the Kent County Board of Commissioners approved allocation of nearly $6 million in Ready by Five Early Childhood Millage funds with the largest among them going to a group working to gain engagement of the parents involved with the Child Welfare System.
 

The West Michigan Partnership for Children’s Parent Engagement Program — which includes efforts at “engaging, involving and equipping parents involved with the Child Welfare System” — was awarded just over $600,000 for a two-year funding cycle.

In all, $5,775,015 in Ready by Five Early Childhood Millage funds were allocated for 2021. The millage is funded by a .25 mil property tax increase passed in 2018 that was expected to generate about $5.7 million a year from 2019 to 2024.

A Ready by Five kid, preparing for the future. (First Steps Kent)

“Our Board is committed to assuring these funds are distributed equitably throughout the county,” Kent County Administrator Wayman Britt said to WKTV. “The Ready by Five millage was voted on by Kent County residents who confirmed that it is imperative we embrace the diverse needs of our community.”

The review process included action by the Ready by Five Resident Proposal Review Board, which included members of the Board of Commissioners, Phil Skaggs and Monica Sparks, as well as Dr. Juan Olivarez, of First Steps Kent Commission; Sandra Ghoston-Jones, of the Kent County Administrator’s Office; and early childhood expert  Joanne Kelty.

Another example of seeking to gain parental involvement in all levels of the Ready by Five effort is that the proposal review board includes four diverse “Parent Representatives” from different parts of Kent County.

“I am honored to serve on the Ready by Five Review Board,” Kent County Commissioner Sparks said to WKTV. “This is a very serious commitment as it will have a measurable and lasting impact on our children and families. We are working very hard to provide equitable resources to ensure the future success of our entire community.”

In total, the Ready by Five Resident Proposal Review Committee reviewed 18 proposals submitted to First Steps Kent for this funding cycle, and recommended funding 12. The latest recommended amounts are in addition to the 27 contracts currently in place with service providers.

In addition to the West Michigan Partnership for Children’s funding of $600,900 ($294,924 in fiscal year 2021 and $305,976 in 2022), another notable allocation was a Fetal Infant Mortality Review project by the Kent County Health Department ($264,005 over two years), and interpretation and translation services contracts with Bethany Christian Services, Hispanic Center of West Michigan and Liaison Linguistics ($210,000, with $70,000 each over two years).

First Steps Kent will receive $396,399.95 for administration of Ready by Five programs in 2021. First Steps Kent is, according to its website, “an independent nonprofit organization that works with parents, service providers, funders, advocates, and other stakeholders to build a comprehensive early childhood system in Kent County.”

For more information on First Steps Kent and Ready by Five, visit firststepskent.org.

Kent County commissioners issue social media ‘Takeout Challenge’ to support local restaurants

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Hankerin’ for a take out dinner? Wyoming’s TwoGuys Brewery’s Tom Payne shows off a take-home option (with a side of beer!). (WKTV/K.D. Norris)

By K.D. Norris

ken@wktv.org

Live everybody else in Kent County, the Kent County Board of Commissioners like to eat and like to support local businesses when they can. So the commissioners have issued the “Kent County Takeout Challenge” urging residents to support locally-owned Kent County restaurants hit hard by the pandemic.

The social media campaign encourages people to order takeout and publicly challenge three friends to do the same by tagging them on social media, according to a Dec. 4 statement from the county.

The campaign will run through the end of the year and is using the hashtag #KCTakeoutChallenge.

Board Chair Mandy Bolter kicked off the campaign this week at Noto’s Old World Italian Dining where she “nominated” — publicly challenged — fellow Board of Commission members and residents to take up the challenge.

“This campaign supports local businesses, workers and families,” Bolter said in supplied material. “Local restaurants are part of the fabric of communities all across Kent County, and thousands of our neighbors rely on them for their livelihoods. But they have been particularly hard hit by the pandemic. We want our local restaurants and their employees to emerge strong when this crisis is over.”

Restaurants, which were operating at 50 percent capacity since the spring 2020 ban on indoor dining was lifted, were again forced to move to takeout and delivery only when new Michigan Department of Health and Human Services orders took effect on Nov. 16.
 

According to the county statement, some local establishments fear the latest restrictions could force them to close permanently.

The campaign aims to help retain these businesses and the jobs they create. According to Local First, nearly 70 percent of every dollar spent at local businesses stays in the local economy through wages, local taxes, the local supply chain and more.

For more information on the challenge, including locally owned Kentwood and Wyoming restaurants, visit this page on accesskent.com.

Kent County’s CARES Act dollars to fund community violence prevention grants

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The Kent County Sheriff’s Department works to combat community violence, but it is looking to get some help with newly funded grants to community nonprofits. (KC Sheriff’s Department)

By K.D. Norris

ken@wktv.org

 

The Kent County Board of Commissioners announced this week the recent allocation of  $500,000 of CARES Act funding to community violence prevention grants “to help stem the increasing rates of violence occurring during the COVID-19 pandemic.”

The grant program will be administered by the Heart of West Michigan United Way.

Grant applications are due to the Heart of West Michigan United Way by noon on Monday, Oct. 19, and all funds must be expended by Dec. 15, 2020 pursuant to federal requirements.

Organizations can apply at hwmuw.org/community-violence-prevention-grant.

“We have seen a rise in violent crime throughout the County since the start of the pandemic,” Kent County Sheriff Michelle LaJoye-Young said in supplied material. “We need to work together as a community on prevention and education initiatives that can help reduce the incidents that result in violence.”
 

The Community Violence Prevention Grant Program will assist nonprofit organizations in preventing violent behaviors from occurring, stopping the progression of violence, and rehabilitating individuals with established violent behavior, according to the announcement.

To receive a grant, applicants must be a 501(c)(3) based in Kent County, have been in existence for at least one year, deliver all programming in Kent County, comply with all applicable state and federal laws, and provide a written summary of the project and its outcomes in January 2021.

 
A selection committee comprised of Kent County leaders, law enforcement, and community members will award grants ranging from $5,000 to $150,000.

 
“Ensuring we have a safe community is a fundamental role of government. However, we alone cannot solve the spike in violent crimes that is occurring because of COVID-19,” Kent County Board of Commissioners Chair Mandy Bolter said in supplied material. “It was a priority for the board to support local, grassroots programs that are working to make our communities safe for all.”

 

County commissioners allocate $2 million to local reopening schools to fund COVID-19 related expenses

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Local schools can use new funds provided by Kent County using federal CARES Act Funds for such things as student face masks. (Public Domian)

By K.D. Norris

ken@wktv.org

The Kent County Board of Commissioners last week approved $2 million, part of a nearly $115 million federal CARES Act grant awarded to Kent County earlier this year, to help county schools reopen safely during the COVID-19 pandemic. All county schools — public, private and charter — are eligible for the funding.

The grants are based on the number of students enrolled in each school in 2019, with schools receiving approximately $16 per student, according to supplied material. The grants provide schools with flexibility in how they use the funds as they continue to implement back-to-school plans.

“We are fortunate to have this federal funding and be able to provide our schools with the resources they need to ensure our children continue to learn and grow,” Kent County Board of Commissioners Chair Mandy Bolter said in supplied material.
 

Eligible uses of the funding could include purchase of personal protection equipment and sanitation supplies, technology costs necessary for enhanced virtual learning, or to finance mental healthcare and nurses.

“We appreciate the support of the Kent County Board of Commissioners. This approval will help schools secure the needed resources and services to meet the needs of students during this pandemic,” Kent ISD Superintendent Ron Caniff said in supplied material.
 

The Kent County Board of Commissioners has previously allocated CARES funding for other programs to assist communities during the coronavirus pandemic, including the Kent County Small Business Recovery Program, shelter assistance, non-profit assistance, and a business personal protection equipment program.
 

For more information about the CARES Act and related Kent County efforts, visit here.

Kent County formally allocates $94 million CARES funds to local COVID-19 battle, but actions and costs started almost Day 1

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Kent County Health Department worked with Guiding Light to provide an COVID-19 isolation facility for homeless persons. (Kent County Health Department)

By K.D. Norris

ken@wktv.org

The Kent County Board of Commissioners voted Thursday to allocate $94.2 million of a $114.6 million federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act grant to assist “a range of local governments, community partners, and small businesses which experienced costs due to COVID-19,” as well as to reimburse the county’s direct coronavirus mitigation efforts.

The remainder of the CARES grant available, $20.4 million, was placed in reserve for a possible second wave of COVID-19 infections, according to the June 11 county statement.

But Kent County’s efforts to battle the COVID-19 pandemic, and assist other county entities impacted, started almost on Day 1, when the crisis was labeled as such in late-March, including quickly applying for and receiving the CARES Act grant and forming a COVID Relief Subcommittee to spearhead a countywide effort starting in April.

Prior to this week’s formal county commission action June 11, WKTV talked with Kent County Administrator Wayman Britt about the county’s efforts and expenditures.

The Kent County Health Department and the county’s communication team have supplied the public information on COVID-19 in many ways, including a series of live videos. (Kent County video screenshot)

“First and foremost, we wanted to keep this community safe,” Britt said in a late May interview. “We wanted to communicate (with the public) right off the bat, and we have pushed hard on our communication. The health department has been stood up with additional resources … county staff has managed the communication … that was first and foremost, right up front, making sure we got out in front of this.”

Britt said county representatives, in the first days of local impact of the pandemic, “got out” and met a wide range of community groups via Zoom meetings, “with church leaders, with the black community … the Latinx community,  the Vietnamese community. We got out to the chambers, the Grand Rapids chamber (of commerce). The business side of things.

“Communication was really huge. Developing the relationships, continuing to grow the relationships. … Really just getting ahead of it. Every day (to begin with) we conducted command meetings, emergency management meetings every day, but that is ramped back now.”

The county either set up or assisted in setting up homeless shelters and isolation centers. They worked with Grand Valley State University and Michigan State University and a host of other organizations. They focused on reducing the risk at high-risk facilities such as the county correction facility and juvenile detention facility. They focused on developing hotspots across the county.

Wyman Britt, Kent County Administrator/Controller. (WKTV)

“The team has done a fantastic job, getting out to the nursing homes, to the convalescent centers. Making sure we jumped on that,” Britt said.

“I can’t believe the work we put into this thing. It is unlike anything I’ve ever experienced in my life. It is just every day grind it out. … We have weathered the storm. We weren’t ready but we got ready quick. Unfortunately we lost 70 plus (county deaths to the virus as of late May, the number now stands at 111), but compared to other parts of the state … this community has responded.”

County leadership led funding process

Considering the often slow response time of many governmental entries to form and execute a plan as complex as Kent County’s COVID-19 response and recovery plan, the action this week by the Board of Commissioners was fast — by design.

Commissioner Chair Mandy Bolter (District 5). (Supplied/Kent County)

“The COVID-19 public health crisis has significantly affected residents and businesses across our county, and it was critical for our board to allocate this federal funding as quickly as possible,” Kent County Board of Commissioners Chair Mandy Bolter said in supplied material. “As we do on so many issues, we worked closely with several businesses, organizations and non-profits to develop a comprehensive plan to ensure the funds meet the needs of our community and reflect the intent of the federal legislation.”

As part of the Federal CARES Act, Kent County was awarded a grant of $114.6 million from the U.S. Treasury on April 24 from which the county could gain reimbursement for COVID-19 mitigation expenses and economic relief for a wide range of economically impacted community groups and businesses.

According to Britt, Kent County was one of only four counties in the state, in addition to the City of Detroit, to receive CARES Act grants. But to take advantage of the grant, to be able to seek reimbursement, the county had to review needs, plan for how those needs would be met, and formally allocate funds to meet those needs.

That is where the COVID Relief Subcommittee — basically the already formed county commission Executive Committee, with some others added for specific needs such as state legislative liaison — came into play.

“Their charge was to analyze all available funds coming into the county, and how they are being applied,” Britt said. “The needs of the community. The process and strategies to allocate and disperse CARES funds under the guidelines established by the Federal Government.   … We don’t want to duplicate efforts, but we want to make sure we can push those dollars to as many places as we can.”

The county, in addition to the CARES Act grant of $114.6 million, is also looking at other funding reimbursements sources for COVID-19 expenses and recovery efforts, including possibly from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

The COVID Relief Subcommittee met twice a week during the past two months and, according to supplied material, “received testimony from representatives of underserved communities who are being disproportionally impacted by the pandemic, as well as representatives of local chambers of commerce” and other groups and individuals.

County expenses and community support

A set of funding recommendations — and executive report — was then developed for the full Board of Commissioners’ review and approval. Among the funding approvals was $35 million in direct county expenses —including community education, emergency operations, homeless population response, surveillance and contact tracing, testing, public safety and correctional facility.

Kent County Health Department staff at a county COVID-19 testing station. (Kent County)

As of a May 3 estimate of Kent County expenses, the latest report available, the county has spent or committed to spend about $6.3 million of the $35 million allocated. The major expense areas are $1.86 million in payroll — including $1.3 million in county Health Department payroll — as well as a separate expenditure of $1.5 million for “Essential Worker Compensation”.

“There are these essential workers who have no alternative but to be here (and can’t work from home) — they have to be here,” Britt said. “Our health department, our nurses who are engaged with setting up the homeless shelters. Our sheriff’s correction officers. Our road patrol officers. Those are essential workers. … What’s happening there is we are providing them eight hours of vacation for every week worked during the COVID, because they are on the front lines and to offer incentive for them to be here.”

The essential workers “have been very supportive of doing what is necessary to keep our community safe. … We have to have the right people on staff to ward off this terrible pandemic.”

The other major county expenditure included in the May 3 report are $1.1 million in medical and safety supplies.
 

Other CARES reimbursable expenses approved by the board this week included $25 million in business assistance, $15 million in assistance to local governments, $12.2 million for care of venerable populations, $3 million in “return to work” personal protective equipment (PPE) for county businesses, and $3 million to aid the county’s existing and newly homeless.

Administrator Britt and county administration will now develop a “process to distribute the funds” in partnership with the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce, the Heart of West Michigan United Way and other groups. Additionally, “the County will contract with a firm to conduct an audit on the distribution and use of the CARES Act funding,” according to the county’s June 11 statement.

The CARES Act funds must be fully spent by Dec. 30 or will be forfeited back to the federal government.
 

For more information on Kent County’s CARES Act and COVID-19 related activities, visit here. Copies of the COVID Relief Subcommittee Executive Report is available in English and Spanish here.

 

Kent County government leaders talk spending, services and legislative agendas on latest WKTV Journal In Focus

3-bottom, Going Local, Health, Local Faces, Our Cities, Recycling, Volunteers, WKTV Journal In Focus,

By WKTV Staff
ken@wktv.org

On the latest episode of WKTV Journal In Focus, we welcome two leaders of the Kent County Board of Commissioners, arguably the most influential group of elected officials in the county. While often little understood, it is a governing body whose decisions and leadership impact residents in a myriad of ways, from its health department to its road crews, from its park system to the county sheriffs office.

The commissioners last month elected their leadership and we have two of those leaders in studio today, Commission Chair Mandy Bolter and Vice-chair Stan Stek. Ms. Bolter represents District 5, which includes all or part of Cascade, Lowell, Bowne and Caledonia townships. Mr. Stek represents District 6, which includes the City of Walker and part of the City of Grand Rapids.

Top among the topics discussed are how and why the county was able to approve nearly $18.7 million for three strategic capital funding projects — all without the need for any issuance of bonds, which are repaid with taxpayers’ money.

Also discussed are the scope of county services and responsibilities, the relationship between the county and both state and federal governments, as well as challenges for the coming year in county governance.

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). All individual interviews included in episodes of WKTV Journal In Focus are also available on YouTube at WKTVvideos.

Kent County commissioners approve $18.7 million for three capital improvement projects

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The new Kent County North County Campus will be located on 14 acres of County-owned property at 17 Mile Road NE near US-131. The approximate address will be 4223 17 Mile Road NE., and it will be located in open land on the north side of 17 Mile Road. (WKTV)

WKTV Staff
ken@wktv.org

Kent County’s infrastructure for service delivery and operational needs will grow dramatically in the next 24 months as the The Kent County Board of Commissioners on Jan. 23 approved nearly $18.7 million for three strategic capital funding projects — all without the need for any issuance of bonds.

The projects include a new North County campus for various service delivery located just outside Cedar Springs , a permanent Kent County Parks and Recreation Department office at Millennium Park, and an expanded county vehicle repair and maintenance facility at the county’s Fuller campus.

The new Kent County North County Campus will be located on 14 acres of County-owned property at 17 Mile Road NE near US-131. The approximate address will be 4223 17 Mile Road NE., and it will be located in open land on the north side of 17 Mile Road. (WKTV)

The project expenditures include $12.5 million for the North County campus, $2.68 million for the parks department office, and $3.5 million for a fleet vehicle facility.


The funding for these projects was allocated from the county’s Capital Improvement Program Fund, established in 2015 to “reserve funding for future capital needs and to reduce the size of debt associated with large capital projects,” according to a county statement.


“I am very proud we were able to address the needs of the community and offer better, more efficient services without the need to issue bonds,” Kent County Board of Commissioners Chair Mandy Bolter said in supplied material. “Our fiscal team has been very responsible with taxpayer dollars over the years so we could make that possible. These projects wisely invest taxpayer dollars in areas that will not only improve access to County services but prepare our infrastructure for the future.”


The new North County Campus will be located on 14 acres of County-owned property at 17 Mile Road NE near US-131. The approximate address will be 4223 17 Mile Road NE., and it will be located in open land on the north side of 17 Mile Road.

The site’s conceptual master site plan includes a full-service sub-station for the Sheriff’s Office, a clinic for the Health Department, and additional space for other county services. This new shared facility is expected to “improve response times by the Sheriff’s Office and increase access to services in northern Kent County,” according to the county.


“By consolidating and upgrading our facilities and operations, we are focusing on the county’s quality of life and addressing long-awaited projects to better serve our residents now and into the future,” Kent County Administrator Wayman Britt, said in supplied material.

As for the new parks department office, the offices currently are located in modular facilities near Millennium Park. Initial design challenges and the economic recession delayed the development of a permanent parks department office, according to the county. However, “the Board felt it was important to create a new, permanent setting for employees and for residents to access park services.” The new office will be located in the same vicinity as the current facility.


“Our parks system is a true gem for the region, and we are committed to making it more accessible for families and visitors and more functional for our employees,” Bolter said.


Last, the county needs a larger and more modern fleet facility for the repair and maintenance of County vehicles. When the original facility was constructed, it serviced 35 vehicles, and today it maintains more than 290, according to the county. The location for the new 16,100 square foot facility will be located on the county’s Fuller campus and “will increase the efficiency of maintenance operations and address the physical limitations and safety issues associated with the current facility.”


The Kent County Building Authority will assume project management responsibility for the projects, and all are scheduled to immediately commence with architectural and engineering services. The projected timeline for the North County campus is 24 months, 15 months for the parks department office, and 18 months for the fleet facility, according to the county.

Kentwood, Wyoming commissioners voice support of Kent County spending after 2020 budget approval

3-bottom, Community Health, Crime Prevention, Going Local, Hard News,
The Kent County Board of Commissioners (from a previous meeting). (Supplied/Kent County)

By K.D. Norris
ken@wktv.org

The Kent County Board of Commissioners last week unanimously adopted Fiscal Year 2020 budget of $475 million and includes $12 million for capital improvement projects, $6 million in Ready by Five millage funding for early childhood development services, and $422,000 for the addition of five Sheriff Deputy positions to decrease response times.

The approval came at the Commission’s Nov. 21 regular meeting and it takes effect Jan. 1, 2020, the start of the county’s fiscal year. And both Kentwood and Wyoming’s representatives, Commissioner Monica Sparks (District 12) and Commissioner Harold Voorhees (District 8), praised the budget after passage.

Commissioner Harold Voorhees

“This is my 17th year on the county budget committee and, again, this has been fantastic working together to meet the needs (of the county) and to make sure we spend the money wisely,” Vorhees said to WKTV. “And we do it all within the restraint of a balanced budget.”

For details of Kent County ’s approved 2020 budget, visit here.

An operating millage of 4.2571 was used as part of the revenue estimating process, which is the same rate that was levied in 2019.

While most of the county’s income is flow-thorough funds — from the State of Michigan, for example — and expenditures are mandated, the approved 2020 General Fund budget for both operating and capital needs includes $187.9 million in spending, which is a 4.6 percent increase over the 2019 budget including operating expenditures of $140.2 million.

The General Fund budget supports the approximately 1,790 employees, which includes 16 new positions in the offices of the Clerk, Community Action, Friend of the Court, Health, Public Works, Sheriff and Administrator’s offices.

Other highlights of the county’s budget detailed by county officials included: $1.6 million to enhance parks and trails; $2 million allocated to support community homeless services programs; $75,805 to support a partnership with health care organizations to establish a community-wide mental health crisis system and approximately $127,000 for a Community Health Strategy position to these support health initiatives; more than $1 million for programs that identify sources of lead contamination in homes and to seek, reduction of lead poisoning in children and $500,000 to address emerging public health issues including PFAS.

“The budget insures we have continuing services for our constituents,” Sparks said to WKTV. “Our job it to make sure that we have a high quality of life for our constituents here in Kent County.”

Whether male or female, take a good look at the office before seeking it according to two Kent County Commissioners

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By WKTV Staff
joanne@wktv.org


Recently WKTV’s Donna Kidner Smith sat down with Kent County Commissioners Betsy Melton and Monica Sparks to talk about the challenges women face when running for public office.

Of the 19-member Kent County Board of Commissioners, six positions are held by women. The commission oversees services for about 660,000 people living in the county with a budget of around $444 million dollars.

Both the seats that Melton and Sparks currently have previously were held by men both of whom had served on the Board of Commissioners for a number of years. Harold Mast served in District 12 until 2018 when Sparks was elected to the seat. District 12 covers the western portion of the City of Kentwood and the eastern portion of the City of Wyoming. Dick VanderMolen served District 13 up until 2016 when Melton was elected to the seat. The 13th District covers the eastern portion of the City of Kentwood. 

“I don’t think people really looked at it was a man and now it is a women,” Melton said. “I think it was who has more experience in Kentwood and, actually my opponent was a woman equally as qualified. It is how you bring your passion for where you are representing to the city is what I think people look at.”

Sparks said before running for any seat know the issues that impact that specific board or governmental unit. 

“In this political climate, we want to fight for this or that and many of those things don’t affect us [on the Board of Commissioners),” Sparks said, adding that the main focus for the Kent County Board of Commissioners is to make sure it provides continued services for the county’s residents.

“So run on the platform of your passion but it has to meet with the job so you are not out here speaking about things that don’t really have anything to do with the position,” Sparks said. 

Both Melton and Sparks will be up for re-election in 2020.

Kent County Board of Commissioners approves 2019-23 Strategic Plan

3-bottom, Community Health, Our Cities

By Kent County

On Thursday, June 27, the Kent County Board of Commissioners approved its 2019- 2023 Strategic Plan which establishes the County’s mission, vision, values, and strategic priorities and goals.

The planning process, launched in May 2018 in partnership with Public Sector Consultants, engaged a variety of stakeholders through bilingual surveys, community forums and direct interviews. In total, more than 300 individuals shared their vision for the County in a meeting or survey.

“I am excited to release our strategic plan to the community,” said Kent County Board of Commissioners Chair Mandy Bolter. “Community participation not only helped us develop our priorities and goals but will assist us in establishing performance and outcome metrics which will ultimately increase our transparency and accountability to residents.”

The foundation of the 2019-2023 Strategic Plan are the new vision and mission statements, which are:

Vision: Kent County is where individuals and families choose to live, work, and play because we are a forward-looking, intentional, and inclusive community that serves as the economic engine of West Michigan.

Mission: Through responsible budgeting and thoughtful planning, Kent County government is committed to providing resources and services that promotes high quality of life for the community.

The plan’s five priorities, which establishes a framework for all facets of the County operations, include:

Economic Prosperity: We will focus on sound fiscal management and policies to support the economic prosperity of the County as well as the West Michigan region.


High Quality of Life: We will foster a high quality of life that promotes safe and healthy communities, strategic growth, and world-class outdoor resources.

Excellence in Service Delivery: We will adopt innovative ways to deliver services that maximize efficiency and provide an exceptional experience to those we serve.

Inclusive Participation: We will provide innovative and inclusive ways to engage residents and involve them in County government.

Effective Communications: We will be transparent and clear in the communications and decisions of the County.

Within these five priority areas are 19 associated goals, both short-term and long-term.

“One of our biggest challenges is balancing community needs with federal and state mandates and ongoing operations,” said Kent County Administrator Wayman Britt. “Our plan provides us with another tool to use when deciding how to allocate limited resources for current and future residents as well as well-defined priorities and goals on which we can measure success. I look forward to working with our talented staff in implementing the plan.”

The County’s strategic planning process is an ongoing activity. County leadership will quarterly review the plan and make adjustments as necessary to ensure the priorities and goals reflect the changing economic and demographic conditions and community needs.

“Our strategic plan clearly communicates the priorities and goals that will guide our decision-making, investments and service delivery,” concluded Bolter. “Translating these areas into tangible outcomes will ensure Kent County remains a place where all residents can live healthy, happy and purposeful lives.”

The 2019-2023 Strategic Plan is available on the County’s website at accesskent.com.

A Spanish version of the plan, translated by the Hispanic Center of Western Michigan, will be released In July.

Early childhood education millage use plan approved by Kent County commissioners

3-bottom, Area Education, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Community Health, Education, Kids Activities, Non-Profits,
An estimated 45,000 children in Kent County are below age 5. Too many of them and their parents need help so they can be healthy and prepared for kindergarten, according to early childhood advocates. (Supplied/First Steps Kent)

By WKTV Staff
ken@wktv.org

The Kent County Board of Commissioners last week approved First Steps Kent’s proposal to administer the countywide Ready by Five millage and to push forward a plan distribute the funds intended “to help young children be ready for school success” by “support young children and their families across the community.”

The action took place at the April 25 Board of Commissioners meeting. In November 2018, county voters approved the millage, which will provide more than $5.5 million annually for enhanced early childhood services.

“We are excited to work with First Steps and the broader community to increase community based, early childhood services,” Wayman Britt, County Administrator/Controller, said in supplied information. “The Ready by Five funds will allow us to reach children and their families early in life when brain development and social/emotional bonding are critical. We have confidence that First Steps and the system that is being created will ensure that the resources are directed where it can have a significant impact.”

The millage will support programs that improve the healthy development and school readiness of children ages zero to five. The funding will be distributed to community-based organizations across the county that provide services such as in-home parenting support, developmental screenings, play and learn groups, and outreach to “ensure families know what is available and have access to the services that best meet their needs,” according to supplied material.

A review board comprised of parents, Kent County commissioners, a First Steps Kent board member, and a community member with early childhood expertise will review proposals from service providers and make recommendations about which programs and services should be funded. The first round of funding will be awarded this fall.

“We are fortunate in Kent County to have innovative and effective early childhood programs that are getting great results,” Annemarie Valdez, president and CEO of First Steps Kent, said in supplied material. “The Ready by Five Millage will allow many more children and families in our community to benefit from those services. We again want to thank the voters of Kent County, who recognize this is an investment that will pay off for our community.”

The statement from Kent County stated that research shows money invested in high quality early childhood programs saves money down the road with reduced costs for child welfare, education, health care, and criminal justice. All programs funded by the Ready by Five Millage will be evaluated to measure their impact. Those results will be shared with the public. Kent County is the first county in Michigan to have local tax dollars dedicated to early childhood.

First Steps Kent is an independent nonprofit leading a community-wide effort to build a comprehensive early childhood system in Kent County. A comprehensive system requires that programs, policies, and supports are in place to help all young children and their families thrive.

For more information on First Steps Kent visit firststepskent.org .

Kent County commission has new leadership, two new members

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Kent County Board of Commissioners Swearing-In, from Jan. 3. (Supplied/Kent County)

By Kent County

The Kent County Board of Commissioners held an organizational meeting Thursday, Jan. 3, to determine leadership positions for the 2019-2020 term and to welcome two new commissioners.

Commissioner Mandy Bolter (District 5) was elected to serve as Chair of the Board of Commissioners and Commissioner Stan Stek (District 6) was selected to serve as Vice-Chair. Stek will also Chair the Legislative and Human Services Committee.

Commissioner Diane Jones (District 4) will continue to serve in her role as Chair of the Finance and Physical Resources Committee and Commissioner Emily Brieve (District 10) will serve as Vice-Chair of this committee.

The leadership team will also include Commissioner Jim Talen (District 15) serving as Minority Vice-Chair and Minority Vice-Chair of the Legislative and Human Resources Committee.

Commissioner Mandy Bolter (District 5) was elected to serve as Chair of the Board of Commissioners. (Supplied/Kent County)

“I am excited to work with this new leadership team to build upon our history of providing high-quality and fiscally responsible services while creating a greater emphasis on communication, efficiency, and innovation for the residents of Kent County,” said Commissioner Bolter.

Two newly elected board members were also welcomed to their first official board meeting, Monica Sparks (District 12) and Stephen Wooden (District 18), accepting the Oath of Office by Kent County Clerk and Register of Deeds Lisa Posthumus Lyons.

Bolter was first appointed to the Board in 2014 and was elected to her first full term later that same year. She currently serves as a Senior Analyst at Spectrum Health and had an 18-year career in public service, working in the legislature and state appropriations, prior to her role at Spectrum.

“Every day I am grateful to represent the people of Kent County and it is truly an honor to be chosen to lead this Board,” said Bolter. “I look forward to increasing our communication with our community – we do some awesome things in Kent County and I want everyone to know about them.”

Lastly, the Board approved appointments for various committees, subcommittees and boards. The County received 146 applications for 55 vacancies.

For a list of appointments, visit here.

For the complete list of board, commission and committee members, visit this page on accesskent.com .

Kent County’s MLK event holds special meaning to attendees, new top administrator

3-bottom, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Local History,

By K.D. Norris

ken@wktv.org

 

Kent County’s “Honoring the Dream” memorial event, held April 4 at Grand Rapid’s Calder Plaza in memory of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on the 50th Anniversary of his assassination, held special meaning to many of the people in attendance.

 

But it also held a very personal meaning to Wayman Britt, Kent County Administrator/Controller.

 

It did not escape Britt, an African-American recently selected to lead the daily operation of the county, that he, himself, was an example of the inclusion and opportunities Kent County leaders advocate for and work to embrace.

 

Wyman Britt, on the set of WKTV Journal: In Focus

“Dr. King meant a lot to a lot of us, and we remember what he stood for … I believe his dream is still alive, but we have to do more,” Britt said to WKTV. “What it does for me is it reinforces the role that I play as a leader in this community. That I do not need to be shy as to who I am: I am a black man who grew up in North Carolina and, one day, believed he would have a place in life to serve others. … I know the labor Dr. King and others put forth so that I could be in a place to serve.”

 

To see an interview with Britt on WKTV Journal: In Focus, visit our YouTube channel.

 

The event drew a crowd of several hundred despite the cold, wet noontime weather. It was hosted by the county Administrator’s Office, the Kent County’s Board of Commissioners and the county’s Cultural Insight Council.

 

The event began with a presentation of the colors by the Kent County Sheriff’s Honor Guard, the pledge of allegiance led by County Commissioner Robert Womack, and the invocation by Bishop Dennis J. McMurray. It ended with a prayer by Rev. Dr. Willie A. Gholston II.

 

Matthew Budd leading a poem of tribute at the Kent County event. (WKTV)

In between there was a poetic tribute by Matthew Budd and a musical tribute by Ashlie Johnson, as well as the reading of a proclamation by the County Commissioners and a moment of silence led by county Undersheriff Michelle Lajoye-Young.

 

There were also remarks by Britt, who, in part, discussed the county’s efforts towards diversity and inclusion, including the work of the Cultural Insight Council.

 

The Cultural Insight Council is a Kent County’s designed to advance diversity and inclusion in the workplace. Formed in January 2001, the CIC is an interdepartmental work group sponsored by the Administrator’s Office. The council is comprised of employees of diverse backgrounds, representing all levels of the organization. Its mission, according to the county’s website, is “To act as a catalyst to foster a culture which recognizes, accepts and values the individual differences of its employees and is responsive to the changing needs of our diverse community.”

 

“We wanted to gather as a community and spend a few minutes reflecting on the lessons of Dr. King’s life and death,” Darius Quinn, county human resources manager and chair of the CIC, said in supplied material prior to the event. “The CIC is dedicated to providing an environment where diversity, equity and inclusion are valued. This event is a reflection of the standard the County staff strives to achieve every day.”

 

Kent County agrees to sell downtown properties to support Riverfront Park, MSU Expansion

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The Kent County Board of Commissioners voted at its March 8 meeting to approve the sale of four properties on Monroe Avenue NW, just north of I-196, and to purchase a property on Ottawa Avenue NW, as part of a three-way public partnership that will clear the way for development of a downtown, riverfront park by the City of Grand Rapids and for expansion of the innovation park by Michigan State University.

 

Three riverfront lots at 511, 519 and 525 Monroe Avenue NW (totaling 1.285 acres) are being purchased by the City of Grand Rapids for $3.3 million, with funding from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Trust Fund. In 2016, the Trust Fund awarded the City a grant for 75 percent of the price of acquiring almost four acres of riverfront property which include the County parcels; the remaining 25 percent is being paid by the City. Also included in the project is 2.4 acres owned by MSU and the City.

 

The County is also selling property across from the riverfront properties, 520 Monroe Avenue NW for $1.65 million. The property is currently used as a parking lot by the County, and is adjacent to other MSU-owned property. The County will purchase City-owned property at 601 and 617 Ottawa Ave NW for $1.33 million. The County plans to develop these parcels for employee parking to replace the 520 Monroe parking lot, and intends to have the site available for public parking after hours and on weekends. The Board vote was 16-to-0 (three Commissioners were absent today).

 

“This is more than a property sale; it is an investment in the future of Kent County,” said Jim Saalfeld, Chair of the Board of Commissioners. “This Board feels the uses proposed here are beneficial to the entire community, and this series of transactions support the future vision of all three public entities. This is yet another example of the West Michigan collaboration that keeps our region thriving.”

 

The City of Grand Rapids Planning Commission is set to take up the issue next week.

Kent County selects person from within to be new administrator/controller

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Wayman Britt is Kent County’s new administrator/controller.

This morning the Kent County Board of Commissioners promoted Interim County Administrator Wayman Britt to the role of Administrator/Controller. The unanimous (19-0) vote came after a year-long search for candidates across the country. Britt has been with Kent County since 2004, serving as management oversight for the Kent County Health Department, Community Action and Veterans Services.

 

In addition, he is the liaison for the State Department of Health and Human Services, and is responsible for several community initiatives such as the Kent County Family and Children’s Coordinating Council. “This was a comprehensive search that led to a clear-cut result: Wayman Britt is the best person for the job,” said Board of Commissioners Chair Jim Saalfeld. “I’ve worked with Wayman for the past seven years, and I am confident Kent County has selected an outstanding leader and Administrator. Wayman shows a steadfast commitment to our community, a collaborative nature, and impeccable ethical standards.”

 

Britt has been serving as the Interim County Administrator since July 2017. “The past seven months made me more certain that I wanted to serve our County as Administrator/Controller. I am humbled by the support I’ve received throughout the process and honored to be selected by the Board,” Britt said. “I will continue to serve the people of Kent County with passion and enthusiasm, and I’m confident we will continue to find innovative ways to provide residents with the great programs and services they’ve come to know.”

 

Chair Saalfeld assembled an Administrator/Controller Recruitment Subcommittee comprised of himself, current and former Commissioners, and current community leaders to lead the search process. The subcommittee used the search firm GovHR, which received nearly 70 applicants for the role. Subcommittee Chair Sandi Frost Steensma (who previously served as County Board Chair) was pleased with the outcome. “Wayman excelled during the interview process; he has a demonstrated track record of great leadership abilities,” she said. “He had great support from the community and leaders throughout Kent County. He is the right leader at the right time.”

 

Subcommittee member and Board of Commissioners’ Minority Party Vice-Chair Carol Hennessy echoed that sentiment. “I’ve received many calls and emails from residents showing their support for Wayman throughout this process. He is the right choice for this role.”

 

Prior to beginning his career with the County in 2004, Britt held several management positions at Steelcase, Inc. and Michigan National Bank – Central. He holds a Bachelors of Arts degree in Communications from the University of Michigan. Britt has served on numerous boards and councils, including the Gerald R. Ford Council Boy Scouts of America, Grand Rapids Community Foundation Board of Trustees, Grand Rapids Downtown Market Board of Directors, West Michigan Sports Commission, Grand Rapids University Preparatory Academy Board and the Kent County Human Services Board.

Local leaders start new year at Chamber’s January WKTV Government Matters meeting

3-bottom, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Community Health, Hard News, Politics, , ,

WKTV’s Viebit service allows on-demand viewing of Wyoming and Kentwood government meetings, including the monthly Government Matters meeting. (WKTV)

WKTV Staff

news@wktv.org

 

Discussion ranging from national security to local mental health care were presented Monday, Jan. 8, as part of the Wyoming-Kentwood Chamber of Commerce’s monthly Government Matters meeting.

 

At the meeting, a representative of U.S. Sen. Gary Peters’ office talked about Sen.s Peters and Debbie Stabenow (both D-Mich.) attending the activation ceremony of the 272nd Cyber Operations Squadron at Battle Creek Air National Guard Base on Jan. 6. The 110th Attack Wing at Battle Creek “will bolster efforts to protect Department of Defense networks against cyber threats,” according to supplied information.

 

Also at the Government Matters meeting, Kent County Commissioner Harold Mast discussed the current funding shortfall for Network180, the county’s provider of support to persons with developmental disabilities, mental and behavioral health problems including addiction and substance use, and the family members who access services for those needing mental health assistance. Network180 is currently dealing with a nearly $10 million shortfall due to changes in State of Michigan reimbursement of Medicaid policies.

 

The monthly meeting brings together government leaders of all levels to discuss issues of importance and presents those discussions through WKTV’s live, delayed and on-demand broadcasts.

 

The Chamber’s Government Matters meetings include representatives of the cities of Kentwood and Wyoming, Kent County, local Michigan House of Representatives and Senate, and, often, representatives of other regional, State of Michigan and Federal elected officials. The next meeting will be Feb. 12 at Wyoming City Hall.

 

The meetings are on the second Monday of each month, starting at 8 a.m. WKTV Journal will produce a highlight story after the meeting. But WKTV also offers replays of the Monday meetings on the following Wednesday at 7 p.m. on Comcast Cable Government Channel 26. Replays are also available online at WKTV’s government meetings on-demand page (wktv.viebit.com) and on the chamber’s Facebook page.

 

Responding to funding shortfall, Kent County’s mental health provider begins cuts, service reviews

3-bottom, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Community Health, Hard News, Health, Non-Profits, , ,

The Kent County Family and Children’s Coordinating Council heard a presentation by Scott Gilman, executive director of Network180, on Jan. 2. (Supplied by Kent County)

By K.D. Norris

ken@wktv.org

 

Kent County’s community mental health provider, Network180, has already made internal staffing reductions and will likely cut funding from several community-service groups and projects after a now-started period of review and decision-making.

 

Combined, Network180 and a spectrum of independent groups provide support to persons with developmental disabilities, mental and behavioral health problems including addiction and substance use, and the family members who access services for those needing mental health assistance.

 

The bad news for Network180 employees, with more than 30 full-time equivalent positions cut — and the potential of more bad news of other providers — was detailed during a presentation Jan. 2 at the Kent County Family and Children’s Coordinating Council by Scott Gilman, executive director of Network180.

 

The basic cause of the funding shortfalls, according to Gilman, is the difference in state funding between two Medicaid programs: the older, established Disabled, Aged and Blind (DAB) program and Michigan’s newer Healthy Michigan. Healthy Michigan provides $24 per person versus the $270 received from DAB. That leads to a $9.7 million shortfall for Network180.

 

The scheduled and potential cuts will also be part of the agenda at a meeting of Network180’s Board of Directors, which is chaired by County Commissioner Harold Mast, whose district includes portions of both Wyoming and Kentwood.

 

Kent County Commissioner Harold Mast, right, at a recent Wyoming-Kentwood area Chamber of Commerce Government Matters meeting. (WKTV)

“We are going to be facing with roughly $11 million deficit for this fiscal year, which started in October, or we are going to start running out of cash in May and June,” Mast said Monday to the Wyoming-Kentwood Area Chamber of Commerce’s Government Matters meeting. “It is a complicated issue, (state) Sen. (Peter) MacGregor and, I know, (state) Sen. (Dave) Hildenbrand and a lot of other government officials, are trying to figure out what we can do to help it. But we are at a stage where we can’t continue to operate the way we are.

 

“It is not just our county, it is the seven counties in West Michigan, the Lakeshore Regional Entity. It is throughout the state,” Mast said Monday. “It is an issue of funding, the way the funding is given from the department of (Michigan Department of) Health and Human Services (MDHSS) for Medicaid eligible individuals. That has changed dramatically in the past year, and it just needs to get fixed. But in the meantime, we are running out of cash, so we are going to start cutting back some services.”

 

The Lakeshore Regional Entity manages a contact with MDHHS to provide services to Kent, Allegan, Lake, Mason, Muskegon, Oceana, and Ottawa counties.

 

“It is difficult for us because at the same time we are in a cost-cutting mode, we are also in a reinvention mode,” Mast said. “We really need to move forward … with an integration of physical and mental health, because that is what we need to perform better mental health services.”

 

And while funding for Network180, and groups and programs it funds, flow through the Kent County Commission, Mast admitted that, while there will be discussions on the situation, there is likely little the county can do to blunt the likely service cutbacks.

 

Mast said that likely only the state can solve the problem.

 

“Over the course of the last couple of months, as we saw it coming … we were confident until probably October, that the state was going to rectify what we thought was an easily solved issue,” Mast said to WKTV at the Jan. 2 meeting.

 

But “they have not recognized the discrepancy in the reimbursement rate. First of all they have resisted any acceptance of our study … they said even with that, you still have enough money. You should have enough money in your reserves. Well, we don’t … So we are at the cusp of a worse problem. All of a sudden its has come to a head, we have got to take some action, because we (Network 180) are going to run out of money … we are not going to be able to pay our bills.”

 

An independent study — funded by Lakeshore Regional Entity and eight of the state’s other nine Prepaid Inpatient Health Plans (PIHPs) — by the Grand Rapids based Rehmann Group estimated a $97 million state-wide revenue shortfall, and a $7.8 million loss for the Lakeshore Regional Entity.

 

And, Mast says, there is likely nothing the county commission can do to rescue Network180, and the Lakeshore Regional Entity it is a member of.

 

“We (the county commission) have not had that discussion, that would be a difficult discussion, I think, whether the county would be willing to ante up,” Mast said. “I our case, it would be $10 or $11 million. We would have to have some pretty good guarantees because that is local tax money. We have not had that discussion.”

 

The County Commission has not had any discussions on this issue, according to a Jan. 9 statement from the county. “There are still a number of regulatory issues that would need to be addressed (i.e. we may not be able to use County funds to supplant Medicaid funding). We continue to work with the State to find a resolution.”

 

There is some discussion, Mast added, that the Lakeshore Regional Entity might be able to get a commercial loan of some sort in the short term with the promise of state funding flowing in and paying the loans back. “But there is not guarantee of that,” he added.

 

For a more detailed discussion on the topic, see additional story here.

 

Update: Kent County leaders approve $417 million budget for 2018

3-bottom, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Community Health, Crime Prevention, Hard News, Our Cities, Veterans,

By K.D. Norris

ken@wktv.org

 

Just in case you think Kent County’s budget planning process is not big news, consider that its approved 2018 budget of $417 million will be second highest in the area, behind only the City of Grand Rapids’ $528 million budget, and that the county funds the sheriff’s office and courts, social services, the county’s elections, and veterans services.

 

The Kent County Board of Commissioners voted this week to approve a plan for how the county government will spend more than $356 million in 2018 — with public safety programs gaining the lion’s share at nearly $87 million, followed closely by social services programs at just over $81 million.

 

The county total budget includes $61 million in “transfers out” funding, which is designated funds for programs such as the Friend of the Court program. And the county’s main discretionary fund for operating and capital expenditures, its general fund, will be about $172 million.

 

In comparison to the 2018 plan, the county’s actual 2016 total expenditures were about $339 million and its adopted (but not yet completed and actual) expenditures for 2017 were $371 million.

 

The 2018 General Appropriation Act is on the agenda for approval by the Board of Commissioners at its meeting scheduled for the Nov. 30 — and after a lengthy budgeting process and public hearings, it is expected to be approved.

 

Commissioner Harold Voorhees

“It was in some ways a bit easier than many of the budgets (from) previous years in that, especially from 2007, we went through years of declining revenue — property values (and the county’s tax base) were on the decline, thus our property tax revenues declined,” Commissioner Harold Voorhees said to WKTV. “This year that is not so. (But) did that make budget discussions easier? No.”

 

Voorhees represents county District 8, which is all within the City of Wyoming. This was his 14th year serving on the county’s Finance and Physical Resources Committee.

 

The other commissioners representing Wyoming and Kentwood include Harold Mast (District 12/Wyoming and Kentwood), Betsy Melton (District 13/Kentwood), Matt Kallman (District 9, mostly the Byron Township but also a small portion of the City of Wyoming) and Stan Ponstein (District 7, the City of Grandville but also a small portion of the City of Wyoming).

 

Tax millage rate down slightly this year; more coming?

 

While not successful in this year’s budgeting process, Voorhees also said he plans to continue his outspoken efforts to institute a reduction in next year’s county income from property taxes.

 

“I was out front in my support of the dedicated millage for the John Ball Zoo and the Grand Rapids Public Museum,” he said. “This new revenue, and along with other savings and increases in revenues, caused me to seek a property tax reduction on Kent County families and all property owners. (But) I had to realize I had started my request for lowering taxes too late in the process for this budget year.”

 

The county tax millage rate, as proposed for the 2018 budget, is 6.0518 mills, which, according to the county, “is 0.0078 mills less than the millage rate levied for the 2017 budget due to the Headlee roll-back. As a result, Kent County’s total millage rate would be the 14th lowest in Michigan and the third lowest of the 13 counties in the West Michigan Region.”

 

Sheriff Department leads in increased expenditures

 

To break down the county’s general fund expenditures of about $172 million, which represents a 3.3 percent increase from the 2017 budget year, according to the county’s budget report. The budget includes operating expenditures of $134.0 million, including capital expenditures of $2.2 million, and $38.3 million to support the operations of other funded programs.

 

The Sheriff Department’s general fund budget will increase 5.2 percent, from $59.9 million in 2017 to $63.0 million in 2018. The personnel cost in the Sheriff’s budget is up $2.4 million, or 5.3 percent over the current year. This is attributed to general personnel increases and the addition of five correction positions, according to the county.

 

Some of the other highlights of the 2018 budget, according to the county, are: a Health Department appropriation of $29.2 million which represents a 3.6 percent increase over the 2017 budget; a total Child Care programs budget of $27.7 million that represents a 9.5 percent decrease; and a Circuit Court budget of $17.8 million that represents a 2.2 percent increase.

 

County budget planning part of Chamber’s November WKTV Government Matters discussion

3-bottom, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Politics, , , ,

Government representatives from all levels attended this month’s Wyoming-Kentwood Area Chamber of Commerce’s Government Matters meeting. (WKTV)

By K.D. Norris

ken@wktv.org

 

Two members of the Kent County Board of Commissioners were present at the October’s Wyoming-Kentwood Chamber of Commerce’s monthly Government Matters meetings Monday — and if you think the county’s budget planning process is not big news consider that its proposed 2018 budget will total nearly half of a billion dollars.

 

The monthly meeting brings together government leaders of all levels to discuss issues of importance and presents those discussions through WKTV’s live, delayed and on-demand broadcasts.

 

At the Monday, Nov. 14, meeting at Kentwood City Hall, commissioners Harold Voorhees (District 8/City of Wyoming) and Harold Mast (District 12/Wyoming and Kentwood) both discussed aspects of the county’s $417.6 million budget, set to be approved at a board meeting Thursday, Nov. 30. at 8:30 a.m. The Kent County Board of Commissioners govern a huge range of programs and expenditures ranging the sheriff’s office, to the county’s elections, to veterans services.

 

Among the other multi-level government discussions topics at the meeting were the the status of federal tax reform — including two local businessmen voicing support for the lowering of business tax rates, as well as continued upgrades at the Gerald R. Ford International Airport and state efforts to combat opioid addiction and abuse.

 

The Chamber’s Government Matters meetings include representatives of the cities of Kentwood and Wyoming, Kent County, local Michigan House of Representatives and Senate, and, often, representatives of other regional, State of Michigan and Federal elected officials. The next meeting will be Dec. 11 at Kentwood City Hall.

 

The meetings are on the second Monday of each month, starting at 8 a.m. WKTV Journal will produce a highlight story after the meeting. But WKTV also offers replays of the Monday meetings on the following Wednesday at 7 p.m. on Comcast Cable Government Channel 26. Replays are also available online at WKTV’s government meetings on-demand page (wktv.viebit.com) and on the chamber’s Facebook page.

 

County Commissioners approve merger, announce Kent County Community Action

3-bottom, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Community Health, Health, Non-Profits, ,

 

By Kent County Board of Commissioners

 

The Kent County Board of Commissioners approved the merger of the Area Community Services and Employment Training Council’s (ACSET) Community Action Agency (CAA) and the Kent County Community Development/Housing Commission at its meeting Thursday, Aug. 24.

 

The newly-formed department will operate as “Kent County Community Action,” putting all staff and resources under one roof to better serve the community.

 

County and CAA staff researched and evaluated the potential of combining and aligning resources of CAA and Kent County’s Community Development/Housing Commission during the last 18 months. In March 2017, the Board of Commissioners authorized staff to proceed with necessary steps for the County of Kent to be designated as the CAA for Kent County, and present necessary requests for approval and transfer of CAA programs and assets to the county.

 

ACSET’s CAA provides weatherization services, utility shut-off protections, food distribution, senior services and more to low-income clients in Kent County. The Kent County Community Development and Housing Commission staff often work on similar projects, programs and customers that align.

 

The new department will be led by Susan Cervantes, the Associate Director of the CAA since 2013. She brings nearly two decades of experience and proficiency to the role, having served with Community Action Agency since 1998.

 

“We truly believe that the transition of ACSET CAA to Kent County will be beneficial for our customers and that they will experience services seamlessly,” said Cervantes. “I am thrilled to see us pull together two teams with a wealth of knowledge who can serve our clients more effectively and efficiently.”

 

The Grand Rapids City Commission approved the merger on Aug. 22.

 

“We are pleased to support this partnership,” Mayor Rosalynn Bliss said. “Our residents will benefit from the enhanced coordination and more efficient operations that will result from this new alliance.”

 

Employees will all be housed in the Human Services Complex at Franklin and Sheldon in southeast Grand Rapids.

 

“This merger brings together staff from two programs that result in decades of understanding of the resources available to help some of our most vulnerable residents,” said Jim Saalfeld, Chair of the Kent County Board of Commissioners. “By bringing these programs together, Kent County is providing better service at lower costs, thereby serving our communities in a more efficient manner.”

 

Kent County Board approves funding for mental health court study

3-bottom, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, , , , , ,

By Lisa LaPlante

Kent County

 

Mental health issues are perhaps one of the largest contributing factors to recidivism. Providing much-needed treatment to those suffering from mental health issues could help offenders recover and stay out of the justice system, while alleviating the strain on the courts and jails. The Board of Commissioners recently voted to accept a $33,000 Mental Health Court Planning Grant from the State Court Administrative Office (SCAO) be appropriated to the 2017 Special Projects Fund budget.

 

The State Legislature created the mental health court statute in 2013, enabling trial courts in Michigan to develop and operate mental health courts.  A mental health court is a specialized court docket for certain defendants with mental illness that substitutes a problem-solving model for traditional criminal court processing.  The SCAO makes funds available annually for planning and implementation of mental health courts.

 

The 17th Circuit Court, in collaboration with Network180, received the funding to evaluate the need for a mental health court within Kent County and how these services would best be delivered.  As required by the grant, staff representing the 17th Circuit Court, local district court, Network180, County Prosecutor, Sheriff’s Office, Public Defender’s Office, mental health services providers and County Administration will participate in the project planning committee.

 

“We simply cannot operate in silos when it comes to the mental health system and the justice system,” said Judge Donald A. Johnston, 17th Circuit Court Chief Judge. “By working together, we hope to enhance public safety and make a difference in the lives of individuals who are trapped in an endless cycle of illness and jail.”

 

Grant funds will be primarily used to contract with a consultant to serve as the Mental Health Court Planning Coordinator. The coordinator will work with the project planning committee to determine whether implementation of a mental health court in Kent County would reduce recidivism, enhance public safety, and improve outcomes for mentally ill citizens.

 

“When we treat mental health issues successfully, we will save money that would be spent on court costs and incarceration,” said Jim Saalfeld, Chair of the Board of Commissioners. “Our Board is hopeful that this study will result in development of a program into the future.”

 

James Hughes, former Regional Administrator for the Michigan Supreme Court, will coordinate the effort on a contractual basis under the direction of the 17th Circuit Court Administrator Andrew Thalhammer.  “Kent County has a great opportunity to improve outcomes for persons with serious mental illness who become involved in its criminal justice system.  I plan to identify the best practices from other Mental Health Courts in Michigan that could be started here in Grand Rapids,” Hughes said.

 

The study is expected to be completed by September 30, 2017 to allow development of a proposal for an implementation grant during FY 2018 if recommended by the planning committee and accepted by the court and appropriate funding unit.

 

“Treatment is a much more cost-effective way to deal with mental health issues, but it is also a more holistic course of action,” said Scott Gilman, Executive Director of Network180. “I look forward to the work we can do and the lives we can positively impact through this planning period.”

Need to make some home repairs? Kent County increases grant funding

3-bottom, City of Kentwood, , , , ,

By Lisa LaPlante

 

Residents in need of repairs or home modifications may be eligible for additional funding through a grant available in parts of Kent County. The Board of Commissioners voted this morning to provide an additional $181,689 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds for repairs on homes owned by low- to moderate-income families.

 

Kent County currently contracts with Home Repair Services (HRS) to provide home repairs of up to $10,000 for eligible clients outside of the cities of Grand Rapids and Wyoming (which have their own funding components). Those living in Kentwood would be eligible. The Kent County CDBG funds two programs:

*         Minor Home Repair Program: emergency home repairs to single family, owner-occupied homes for very low income homeowners making 80 percent of area median income (i.e. roofs, septic systems, furnaces, etc.);

*         Access Modification Program: modify homes of eligible individuals with mobility impairments in order to improve access and use of the home.

 

“The County partnership with Home Repair Services is vital to many homeowners,” said Jim Saalfeld, Chair of the Kent County Board of Commissioners. “Home repair or modification is often difficult for families living on a fixed budget, especially our most vulnerable elderly residents or those living with disabilities. This funding will assist families with necessary repairs that will also help retain or improve home values.”

 

“Home Repair Services is thrilled and honored to partner again with Kent County to maximize the use of these extra funds,” said HRS Executive Director Joel Ruiter. “We look forward to strengthening additional lower-income and vulnerable homeowners throughout the County. Successful and safe homeownership builds value and results in a stronger more vibrant community for us all.”

 

To learn more about Home Repair Service programs, call 616-241-2601 during business hours or go to www.homerepairservices.org.

Government Matters: Kent County commissioners lists 2016 accomplishments

3-bottom, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Politics, , , ,

News of Your Government

WKTV Staff

Last year was a big year for the Kent County Board of Commissioners with 2016 including such accomplishments as the approval of the 70 cents per month increase in dispatch surcharge to improve dispatch services and the .44 mill property tax increase for the Grand Rapids Public Museum and the John Ball Zoo.

 

The new financial support for the John Ball Zoo was one of the accomplishments of the Kent County Board of Commissioners last year. (Supplied)

Board Chair Jim Saalfeld and County Administrator/Controller Daryl Delabbio, in a recent press release, recently detailed several other major tasks achieved by the board and county staff during the year, as well as upcoming 2017 efforts and plans.

 

“While there will certainly be other issues that we face during the course of a year, as you can see, it is already shaping up to be a very busy 2017,” Saalfeld said in supplied material. “This Board remains committed to providing effective services to our residents while operating transparently and with a balanced budget. We look forward to great results in 2017.”

 

Along with the dispatch and the museum/zoo millage, those tasks include implementation of a “space needs” study for the detention facility, correctional facility and new Circuit Court courtrooms; a Lakeshore Regional Partnership; successful negotiations of the corrections officers and court employees contracts; receiving a triple-A credit rating; creating the first Renaissance Zone to enable Switch to move into the area; and transitioning the airport from a county department to an airport authority.

 

Several items will continue in 2017, including the “space needs” study, the Agri-Business Work Group, the Lead Task Force and the FOC Engagement Task Force. Also this year, the board will appointing a new administrator/controller as Delabbio will be retiring on July 1. This is the first time since 1998 that the Board of Commissioners will be faced with the selection of a county administrator/controller.

 

Also up for 2017 is more collective bargaining; discussions of the potential merger of the Area Community Service and Employment Training Community Action Agency with the County’s Department of Community Development and Housing; a review of the board’s standing rules; and the 2018 budget.

 

Secretary of State details ExpressSOS advantages to citizens

 

Secretary of State Ruth Johnson and a rapping kangaroo are teaming up to encourage Michigan residents to hop online to do their Secretary of State business as part of an online effort to spread the word about its ExpressSOS.com website.

 

The “Kangaruth” video is being aired at youtube.com/michsosoffice or www.Michigan.gov/kangaruth.

 

Secretary of State Ruth Johnson and a rapping kangaroo are teaming up to encourage Michigan residents to hop online to do their Secretary of State business. (Supplied)

“I am asking you to help out and share the video and the message of hopping online at ExpressSOS.com with as many people as possible to help shorten the wait times at Secretary of State branch offices,” Johnson said in supplied material. “The more people that know about using the online services the shorter the wait times are for those who must visit an office in person.”

 

Residents can renew their registration/tabs for your car, truck, motorcycle and watercraft. Most people can renew or replace a standard driver’s license or state ID. And with its Print ’N Go feature, customers can print their receipt and drive legally until they get their card or sticker in the mail. (Every eight years, customers need to visit an office to get an updated photo).

 

Customers can get a duplicate vehicle registration or title, and change/update their address and personal information. You can even join the organ donor registry, all from the comfort of your home, library, office or on the go.

ExpressSOS.com, launched in 2011 and having conducted 9.6 million online transactions, saves customers the trip and avoiding standing in a line.

 

Customers may call the Department of State Information Center to speak to a customer-service representative at 888-SOS-MICH (767-6424).

 

Gerald R. Ford International Airport is ready to fly

3-bottom, City of Kentwood, Hard News, , , , ,

Kent County Board of Commissioners
Official on July 1, the Gerald R. Ford International Airport Authority officially began operating. It will over see the Gerald R. Ford International Airport.

The Gerald R. Ford International Airport Authority (GFIAA) is officially operating. The Authority transition was approved by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Friday, July 1, with support from Kent County Commissioners and government officials.

 

For 60 years, Kent County owned and operated the Gerald R. Ford International Airport, through its Department of Aeronautics, with major policy matters decided by the Kent County Board of Commissioners through the Gerald R. Ford International Airport Board. The transition to an Airport Authority will transfer governance to a regional Airport Authority Board, appointed by the County Board of Commissioners.

 

“This is a historical day for our region, our County, and our Airport,” said Roger Morgan, GFIAA Board Chairman and Kent County Commissioner. “The transfer to an Authority has been a goal of our Board’s for several years, and to see the teamwork, the collaboration of organizations, and the FAA’s support has been truly remarkable. We had a smooth process along the way, and we are grateful to each and every person who assisted us in this transition.”

 

The transfer to an Authority creates an independent governing enterprise whose sole purpose is the future development of the Airport, greater levels of economic development and proactive commercial revenue development, a stronger regional focus to respond to air service needs, and a more entrepreneurial, business, and hospitality management focus – driven by customer service.

 

The Authority Legislation was signed by Governor Rick Snyder on June 30, 2015, the Kent County Board of Commissioners formed the Regional Authority and adopted the Articles of Incorporation on August 27, 2015, and Kent County and the Authority signed final operating and lease agreements on December 17, 2015. The final approval of the Authority came from the FAA, which granted and signed the Authority’s operating certificate today.

 

The transition came about with full support from the Kent County Board of Commissioners.

 

“Kent County prides itself on making decisions that are best for the entire community,” said Jim Saalfeld, Chair of the Kent County Board of Commissioners. “The Gerald R. Ford International Airport is a regional asset for all of West Michigan.  In that regard, the County knows the best long-term move for the Airport is to be operated by a regional authority that includes representation from outside of the County.  This is another great example of collaboration by Kent County at many levels.”

 

“Kent County Commissioner Dan Koorndyk was instrumental in this transition, and we sincerely appreciate all of his support, along with County Board Chair Jim Saafeld and the entire commission,” said Morgan.  “We also would not have completed this changeover without our amazing employees. Each and every one of them keeps our Airport operating day in and day out, and we have far succeeded expectations in air service, customer service, construction, and safety because of their efforts.”