Kent County Administrator/Controller Wayman P. Britt — who has held leadership roles in county administration for nearly two decades — will retire in 2021, (Supplied)
Following an announcement early this month from Kent County that current Administrator/Controller Wayman P. Britt — who has held leadership roles in county administration for nearly two decades — will retire in 2021, the county wasted no time in setting out plans for future leadership.
The county expected to extend Britt’s current contract, due to expire in January 2021, to July 2021. It has hired a new Deputy County Administrator who brings more than 15 years of local government leadership experience to Kent County. And it has formed a seven-person Administrator/Controller Search Committee comprised of county commissioners and community leaders to “coordinate a national search to identify a replacement for Britt” as top administrator.
“After 17 years serving Kent County, it will be hard to walk away from this job,” Britt said in his letter of resignation, according to supplied material. “But I remind myself that I’m not walking away from this tremendous community. So many people have made an indelible mark on me — from our County team to those leading and making a difference out in our community. I’ll carry that with me well beyond my tenure here.”
Britt joined the county as its assistant county administrator in March 2004. In July 2017, he assumed the interim county administrator/controller position and was hired to fill the position in January 2018.
At the time of his resignation, announced Oct. 8, county Board of Commissioners Chair Mandy Bolter confirmed that, “working under the authority granted to her by the board,” she and Britt negotiated the six-month extension to his current employment agreement. The Board voted on the extension Oct. 22 to push the contract expiration to July 24, 2021.
“On behalf of the entire Board of Commissioners, I want to thank Wayman for his commitment, dedication, leadership and true public service to the people of Kent County over the past 17 years,” Bolter said in supplied material. “I feel very fortunate to have had the opportunity to partner with him in service of our County and wish him the best on his well-deserved retirement.”
Under Britt’s leadership, according to supplied material, Kent County significantly modernized its IT infrastructure, worked with First Steps Kent to create a funding source for early childhood services, and helped launch the Kent County Population Consortium to address the need for a mental health crisis center in our community.
Also under his leadership, the county funded a new Kent County Parks Office, a northern county service hub and a new fleet service facility, as well as developed and launched a comprehensive strategic plan, and hosted the first-ever State of the County Address “as part of their commitment to heighten transparency through enhanced County communications programs.”
Most recently, of course, Britt has led the county’s ongoing public health and economic relief response to the COVID-19 crisis — including planning and distribution of more than a $100 million in federal CARES Act pandemic relief funding.
Administrator/controller search committee formed
The county announced on Oct. 12 that the board formed a committee to replace Britt, headed by Commission chair Bolter, as well as fellow commissioners Stan Stek and Carol Hennessy.
Also on the committee are Birgit Klohs, President & CEO of The Right Place, Inc.; Mike Verhulst, Vice President of Rockford Construction; Dante Villarreal, Vice President, Business & Talent Development, at the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce; and Sam Moore, executive director of the Kent County Parks Foundation.
“I am thankful to the community leaders who have agreed to serve on the search committee,” Bolter said in supplied material. “Together, I am confident we will find a highly qualified individual who is dedicated to maintaining not only what we have achieved, but who possesses the drive and ability to push us toward continued innovation and excellence in service to our community.”
Jennifer Kimball James named Deputy County Administrator
The county announced on Oct.15 that it had hired Jennifer Kimball James as deputy county administrator. She was expected to start the new position on Oct. 19.
Kent County deputy county administrator Jenny Kimball James. (Supplied)
“Jennifer’s passion for public service and more than two decades of experience in local government — including 16 years in leadership positions — are what set her apart from an excellent field of candidates,” Britt said in supplied material. “We are confident her background, skills and enthusiasm for serving her community will help us further the County’s mission and execute our strategic plan.”
Most recently, James was the deputy city manager for the City of Rockville, Maryland, and previously served as the assistant city manager. She worked for the City of Rockville since 2004. Prior to that, she held research and analyst positions with Montgomery County, Maryland‘s Office of Legislative Oversight.
“I am honored to have spent the past twenty-three years collaborating with elected officials, city and county leaders and employees, residents, businesses and other stakeholders to implement the vision of the community where I lived,” Kimball James said in supplied material. “I look forward to partnering with the people of Kent County in the same way as, together, we work to strengthen West Michigan.”
According to supplied material, James will “plan, direct, coordinate, and oversee operations activities of the County, ensuring development and implementation of efficient operations and cost-effective systems to meet current and future needs of the County all under the direction of the County Administrator.”
The Kent County Board of Commissioners has 19 districts of which five represent portions of the cities of Kentwood and Wyoming. Here are those seeking to represent Wyoming and Kentwood residents at the county level.
7th District Kent County Commissioner
In the 7th District Kent County Commissioner race, Republican incumbent Stan Ponstein, of Grandville, will be facing off against Democrat challenger Jane Newton, of Grandville. The 7th District covers most of the City of Grandville and the northern portion of the City of Wyoming, most of which is in the Godfrey-Lee Public Schools district. For specific borders, visit accesskent.com.
Jane Newton – Candidate (D)
Occupation: Operations Manager at LaFleur Marketing
Why did you decided to run for the 7th District Kent County Commission seat?
I am running for Kent County Commission because people in our community are ready for real change and new leadership. I am passionate about how local government affects our daily lives and care deeply about equity, air and water protection, public health, accessibility, and supporting the community and small businesses. I’m a creative problem solver who brings a lens of sustainability, equity, and access to decision making.
If elected, what issue (s) would you want to focus on and why?
1) Water is our most valuable and irreplaceable natural resource. We must do all we can to protect it. For example, the county’s department of public works can help protect groundwater and our environment by building the sustainable business park to stop burying trash and drastically reduce what we send to the landfill. Protecting water and being on the cutting edge of sustainability creates jobs and makes Kent County a leader.
2) Make sure our health department has all the tools and resources it needs to respond to public health crises like COVID with a test, trace, and isolate strategy to protect the health of all individuals as well as our local economy and small businesses.
3) Build and create truly accessible county parks for kids and adults of all abilities. This year has shown us how valuable and essential the county’s outdoor spaces are for the physical and mental well-being of residents and how important it is to keep parks and trails maintained and updated.
Stan Ponstein – Incumbent (R)
Occupation: Works for Costco
Why did you decide to seek election to the 8th District Kent County Commission seat?
2020 has been an interesting year as we faced the challenge of COVID-19. I believe it is important to for the Board of Commissioners to have the experience and expertise on the board as we continue to maneuver through the next challenges to keep our county moving forward.
If elected, what issue (s) would you want to focus on and why?
COVID-19 showed some areas that we need to improve upon, mental health being one of them. As a board member of the Network 180 Mental Health Board and the Regional Substance Use Advisory Board, the shutdown affected the most vulnerable in our communities. We need to refocus and prioritize programs for mental health, substance abuse, and the mental and physical health so that those who are most vulnerable do not get left behind. Another area that stood out due to COVID, was our park system. Having the park system provided a place where people could get out of the house and socialize. I have always made our park system a priority so we can ensure that future generations will be ale to enjoy the beauty of nature in Kent County. The county has strong fiscal policies and has been able to maintain a AAA bond rating along with a fully funded pension program. Lastly, I fully support law enforcement in Kent County. We have partnered with communities and governmental agencies to deliver effective services at reduce costs and better outcomes. Our Sheriff Department is always looking at and challenging itself to deliver services with better outcomes for all people. Whether it’s partnering with Court officials, jail diversion programs or local community engagement, we have something we can be proud of in Kent County.
8th District Kent County Commissioner
There are two candidates seeking the 8th District Kent County Commission seat, which had been held by Harold Voorhees. Voorhees announced earlier this year that after more than 18 years as the 8th District Kent County commissioner, he would not seek re-election.
The candidates are Republican Dan Burrill and Sarah Chatterley, both of Wyoming. The 8th District Kent County Commission seat covers the eastern portion of the City of Wyoming, including the pan handle. For specific boarders, visit accesskent.com.
Dan Burrill – Candidate (R)
Occupation: Residential real estate and builder
Why did you decide to seek election to the 8th District Kent County Commission seat?
My desire to serve started back on the student council for middle school. When I was older, I served on the Grandville Public Schools Board of Education and continued that obligation to serve our community by first being on the Wyoming Zoning Board of Appeals and currently on the Wyoming City Council. I believe if you have the ability and willingness to serve that you owe it to the local community to offer your tools, talents and time to help make it a better place. With Harold Voorhees stepping down after 18 years of serving Wyoming at the county level, I was encouraged by others to run for the 8th District Commission seat and continue the great job that Harold Voorhees has done and the success at the county level.
If elected, what issue (s) would you want to focus on and why?
I want to continue to assure that we have clean water throughout the county. I would want to make sure that there is adequate funding for mental health services, especially since COVID-19 has heighten awareness of such issues as violence and mental health. COVID-19 has brought forth a number of issues for businesses and health which the county will need to continue to focus on.
Sarah Chatterley – Candidate (D)
Occupation: Candidate for Kent County Commission; Planning Commissioner for the City of Wyoming
Why did you decide to seek election to the 8th District Kent County Commission seat?
I am running for this seat because I am passionate about issues that are facing Kent County. I want to make sure that county government is adequately and equitably serving each of our residents – all 650,000 of them. I am excited to meet constituents, hear their ideas and concerns, and advocate for our community on a variety of issues, including health and economic inequities that existed before and were exacerbated by the pandemic. I look forward to engaging in a countywide effort to address disparities and making sure that our community has all that it needs to recover. This includes help for members of our community who are already struggling to make ends meet: vulnerable populations, including ALICE households (households that are Asset Limited, Income Constrained, & Employed), households experiencing poverty, and marginalized communities. Nearly one third of households across Kent County are ALICE households, struggling to afford the basic necessities. About 11 percent of Kent County households are living in poverty, and approximately one in every seven children in Kent County live in poverty (Source: https://poverty.umich.edu/data-tools-poverty-and-well-being-map-2020/). It will be important to pay attention to how these numbers change due to the pandemic and respond appropriately.
If elected, what issue (s) would you want to focus on and why?
I would like to focus on prioritizing people in various ways. Here are a couple of issues I would like to focus on: expand investment in early childhood learning and improve access to fair and affordable housing. Early childhood learning is important to creating the foundation of education and helps all of our community’s children get the best start in life. Fair and affordable housing is greatly needed throughout the county. I would also like to improve the transparency of the Commission by making meetings more accessible to the public. I believe that attendance could be improved by moving County meetings to the evenings, outside of most residents’ working hours.
9th District Kent County Commissioner
In the 9th District Kent County Commissioner, Republican incumbent Matt Kallman is being challenged by Democrat candidate Keith Courtade. Both are from Byron Center. The 9th District is all of Byron Center and a southern portion of the City of Wyoming east of Burlingame Avenue and west of Clyde Park Avenue to 36th Street and a portion that goes from north of 40th Street to Division Avenue. For specific boarders, visit accesskent.com.
Keith Courtade – Candidate (D)
Occupation: Worked for GM
Why did you decide to run for the 9th District County Commissioner seat?
I have a real passion for this and I miss not being able to represent and serve the people of Kent County. When I served as a Kent County Commissioner, I was a voice for the working families, the middles class, the poor and senior citizens – all the residents. I brought a commitment to fiscal responsibility, tax fairness and open government.
If elected, what issue (s) would you want to focus on and why?
I will put jobs first, working to find jobs and retaining laid-off workers; ease family burdens by helping them cope with the demands of caring for family members who are disabled; keep parks affordable by opposing park and recreation fees so no Kent County families would be priced out of county activities; push for local first purchasing to keep our tax dollars with local businesses; and defend the senior millage.
Matt Kallman – Incumbent (R)
Occupation: Software
12th District Kent County Commissioner
In the 9th District Kent County Commissioner, Democrat incumbent Moncia Sparks, of Kentwood, is being challenged by Republican candidate Ryan Malinoski, of Kentwood. The District 12 Kent County Commissioner seat covers the western portion of the City of Kentwood and the eastern portion of the city of Wyoming. For specific boarders, visit accesskent.com.
Ryan Malinowski – Candidate (R)
Occupation: Security guard
Why did you decide to run for the 12th District County Commissioner seat?
I’ve always been interested in running for office from a young age and feel it’s my time to serve the people by keeping Kent County going in the right direction.
If elected, what issue(s) would you want to focus on and why?
I think voters want to feel like the government is working with the health department to give the knock out punch to COVID and end the lockdown orders, and I believe most feel the defund the police movement is sending the wrong message.
Monica Sparks – Incumbent (D)
Occupation: Small business owner, State of Michigan licensed real estate broker and instructor
Why did you decide to run for the 12th District County Commissioner seat?
To become a policy maker that seeks to protect the services of our residents and ensure a quality of life for those living in Kent County.
If elected, what issue(s) would you want to focus on and why?
Too many uncertainties of the future with COVID for everyone, especially education.
Local Small businesses are suffering and closing affecting our local economy.
Access and barriers exist to mental health care services and stigma reduction.
Violence and crime rates rising.
13th District Kent County Commissioner
With the announcement that current 13th District Kent County Commission Betsy Melton would not seek re-election, two candidates are vying for the seat: Republican Levi Cipcic, of Kentwood, and Democrat Michelle McCloud, of Kentwood. The Kent County Commission District 13 covers the eastern portion of the City of Kentwood. For specific boarders, visit.accesskent.com.
Levi Cipcic – Candidate (R)
Occupation: Producer
Why did you decide to run for the 13th District County Commissioner seat?
I want to represent Kentwood in a way that brings the city to the forefront of thought when decisions are being made. In order to be effective, one needs to show up and communicate efficiently. I will do just that. Kentwood has a lot to be proud of and it’s time we position the city in a way that inspires the other districts around the county to be as equally exceptional.
If elected, what issue(s) would you want to focus on and why?
Health and wellbeing. Community safety and emergency preparedness. Fiscal responsibility.
Michelle McCloud – Candidate (D)
Occupation: Assistant Dean, Grand Valley State University
Why did you decide to run for the 13th District County Commissioner seat?
I’m running to serve as your Kent County Commissioner because I want to bring positive results to our community.
If elected, what issue(s) would you want to focus on and why?
Defending Public Health during the COVID-19 Pandemic. In collaboration with the county health department, ensure that the department is equipped with the resources necessary to test, trace and isolate COVID-19 cases. Our community’s essential workers deserve leaders that are willing to address the impact of COVID-19 today and in the future.
Invest in Early Childhood Education. Ensure children are kindergarten-ready through initiatives geared towards infants and toddlers, while ensuring that all children receive equal opportunities.
Support Our Neighborhood Businesses. Ensure that commercial property tax dollars are invested locally, so that we can prioritize smart economic growth for our local business. The City of Kentwood is an extremely vibrant community and local businesses are the heart of this great city.
All candidates were contacted and invited to participate in sharing their message to the voters.
The Kent County Board of Commissioners announced Aug. 6 that it is seeking residents who are interested in serving the community through appointment to various boards, commissions, and committees. Most positions begin January 2021.
For example, the county Veterans Services Committee is seeking veterans who served honorably on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces to work to support the county’s veterans population.
Kent County residents may apply for the various vacancies by completing an online application on the county’s website at accessKent.com/boardappointments. Resumes and cover letters are encouraged and may be attached. The application deadline is Sept. 30.
After the deadline, applications for the vacancies will be reviewed by the Legislative & Human Resources Committee, which will then recommend candidates to the full Board of Commissioners for final approval.
There are openings for terms effective Jan. 1, 2021 (unless otherwise noted) on the following:
Agricultural Preservation Board (openings for agricultural interest representative and township representative)
Community Corrections Advisory Board (openings for service provider and business representative)
Community Health Advisory Committee (openings for community-based organization representative, health care provider, and faith-based organization representative)
Community Mental Health Authority (Network180) Board (term begins April 1, 2021)
County Building Authority
Department of Health and Human Services Board
Fire Commission (openings for elected official and public representative)
Friend of the Court Citizen’s Advisory Committee (opening for custodial parent)
Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GRFIA) Authority Board
Grand Rapids-Kent County Convention/Arena Authority (openings for Kent County county resident and non-county resident (must live in Allegan, Barry, Ionia, Mecosta, Montcalm, Muskegon, or Ottawa counties)
Kent County Community Action Advisory Governing Board (openings for consumer, private, and public sector)
Kent County Family & Children’s Coordinating Council (openings for advocates and private funding representatives)
Kent District Library Board (Region 3, a resident of Alpine, Plainfield Township, or City of Walker; and Region 7, a resident of Byron Township or City of Grandville). Applicants must live in Region 3 or 7.
Remonumentation Peer Review Group (must be a professional surveyor to apply)
Road Commission Board
Residents with questions about the appointment process should contact Natasha Karambelas in the Board of Commissioners’ Office at 616-632-7580 or natasha.karambelas@kentcountymi.gov.
Kent County announced Friday, June 11, that a majority of the county’s departments, offices and agencies will resume in-person services today, Monday, June 15, including the animal shelter, the county clerk, veterans services and others.
However, court operations — 17th Circuit Court, 63rd District Court, and Probate — are open but remain closed to in-person services, following the mandated phased approach ordered by the Michigan Supreme Court. Court staff is assisting the public by e-mail and telephone. Additionally, to the greatest extent possible, hearings and proceedings are being conducted electronically and live-streamed via YouTube, according to a county statement.
While a majority of offices will reopen on June 15, residents are encouraged to visit the county’s website to determine if their service can be fulfilled remotely. Visitors are also asked to stay home if they are feeling any symptoms of illness or have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, wear a mask if they are medically able, limit visits to one person per household, and maintain a 6-foot physical distance between others.
Please visit the county’s website — accesskent.com — for specific information on how to interact with each county department, office and agency.
About 62 Kent County companies were among the 195 small businesses in West Michigan negatively impacted by Executive Orders due to the COVID-19 pandemic that received grant support from the Michigan Small Business Relief Program.
This program was made possible by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) releasing $20 million in grants and loans through the Michigan Strategic Fund. MEDC allocated the 11-county West Michigan region $1,000,000 in grant funding to be administered by The Right Place, Inc. This region included Barry, Ionia, Kent, Lake, Mason, Mecosta, Montcalm, Muskegon, Newaygo, Oceana and Osceola counties.
The demand for funding throughout the region was staggering with over 3,300 applications received, requesting over $71 million in both grant and loan funding. Each county formed committees to accept and review applications for the extremely limited grant funding. A full list of the review committees can be found at this link. Grant applications were evaluated based on the criteria set forth by MEDC.
Of the $1,000,0000, $615,000 went to 62 companies in Kent County. Ionia received $40,715 grants for seven companies and in Muskegon County, $140,000 was awarded to 30 companies.
These grants may be used for working capital to support payroll expenses, rent, mortgage payments, utility expenses, or other similar expenses that occur in the ordinary course of business. To respect the privacy of our region’s small-business owners during this challenging time, The Right Place, Inc. will not be releasing the list of individual grant recipients.
As well, The Right Place, Inc. received and forwarded 33 loan applications to MEDC for evaluation under the loan portion of the Michigan Small Business Relief Program. MEDC will make final determinations for loan applications.
Rivers know this: there is no hurry. We shall get there some day.
Winne-the-Pooh
By WKTV Staff joanne@wktv.org
Visit Drummond Island or check out Harbor Country
Drummond Island now has a live camera. (WKTV)
Two new Michigan destination spots added live video or virtual tours this week. The West Michigan Tourist Association added a livestream video of Drummond Island to its website, wmta.org. The stream is one of 12 livestreams featuring West Michigan locations such as the Grand Rapids Public Museum, Binder Park Zoo, and the USS Silverside Museum. To learn more, click here.
Also, Harbor Country, which features eight towns, Michiana, Grand Beach, New Buffalo, Three Oaks, Union Pier, Lakeside, Harbert, and Sawyer, along the southeast edge of Lake Michigan, announced it has released its annual tour guide of the area digitally. To check it, click here.
Run for the Tulips
Sign up for the Tulip Time 5K virtual run and then start training. Just do the run sometime between May 1 and 10 and you will receive a t-shirt and a finisher medal plus a dollar from each registration will go toward the Kids Food Basket. You must register by April 20 to participate in the run. For more information, click here, and remember to follow social distancing guidelines!
Check out the May ballot
Michigan’s Secretary of State’s office has announced that the coming May 5 ballot will “primarily” use a mail-in voting system by expanding the state’s existing absentee ballot process with all registered voters in areas set to vote being sent absentee ballot registrations. There are two school districts that will have items on the ballot, Kelloggsville and Godwin Heights. For more on how the May 5 election will work, click here.
Fort Gratiot Lighthouse (Wikipedia Commons)
Fun Fact: Lighthouses
Michigan has more than 100 lighthouses, 116 that can be toured. Ever wonder which one is the oldest? Fort Gratiot Lighthouse was established in 1825 and is the oldest surviving lighthouse in Michigan. It help keeps watch over Lake Huron at the St. Clair River.
Lighthouse of Alexandria (Wikipedia Commons)
Bonus Fun Fact
The oldest lighthouse in the world happens to be the first lighthouse, the Pharos of Alexandria, commonly called the Lighthouse of Alexandria. It was built by the Ptolemaic Kingdom of Ancient Greece sometime between 280 – 247 BCE
On Wednesday, Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed Executive Order 2020-14 extending the redemption deadline on 2017 tax foreclosures from March 31, 2020 to May 29, 2020.
Due to this order and to minimize face-to-face interaction during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Kent County Treasurer’s Office is closed to the public until further notice. Taxpayers are encouraged to mail check and money order payments to Kent County Treasurer, P.O. Box Y, Grand Rapids, MI 49501.
The order does not defer nor cancel interest charges. Interest will accrue beyond the original March 31, 2020 deadline until paid. Money orders are available at banks and many retailers. Residents should not mail cash. Staff continues to process mail and is available to take calls at 616-632-7500.
The Treasurer’s office closure follows suit with several other Kent County offices.
Kent County Clerk/Register Office
The Kent County Clerk/Register Office suspended in-person transactions until further notice.
This change, effective until further notice will apply to the Clerk Office (Vital Records), Elections Department, Register of Deeds, and Clerk of the Circuit Court. A listing of how customers can still request or obtain common services, as well as contact information for clarification, is below.
Until further notice, the Kent County Clerk/Register’s Office will be serving customers via online or bymail services only. Below are specifics relating to service changes:
Certified copies of birth, death, marriage, business certificates/licenses/ registrations can be requested online; copies will be mailed via USPS, no in-person pick-up available.
New birth and death certificates received via hospital or funeral home will be processed; copies will be mailed via USPS, no in-person pick-up available. No new home births processed until further notice.
New marriage licenses applications accepted online only, applicants will be contacted
No new CPL applications accepted until further notice; renewals processed online via MSPwebsite
No new notary applications accepted until further notice
No in-person access to records until further notice; call or email for assistanceClerk – Elections:616-632-7650 https://www.accesskent.com/Elections
All candidate filings (Affidavit of Identity, Statement of Organization, campaign finance reports) are to be submitted via email: gerrid.uzarski@kentcountymi.gov. Payments for candidate filings should be mailed. Receipt of filings will be confirmed.
Individuals needing to turn in petitions should contact the Elections office to make an appointment.
No in-person access to records until further notice; call or email for assistanceClerk of the Circuit Court: 616-632-5480 https://www.accesskent.com/Courts/Clerk
Pleadings must be mailed to the court with the appropriate filing fee. Please do not send cash through the mail.
Ex-Parte Pleadings may be submitted to: ccclerksexparte@kentcountymi.gov. Appropriate filing fees must be mailed or waived. More information forthcoming regarding online payments.
Filings received via USPS will be processed uninterrupted. For urgent filings, call or email theoffice.
Searches and recording copies are available online; will be mailed via USPS
No in-person access to records until further notice; call or email for assistance
Courts
Most of the area courts are closed to in-person, public access. For specific details on each court, please click the court below. Due note, that many of the courts do offer an online option to pay tickets and other fines.
For a single mom whose main income is dependent on her waitressing job, the closure of all the restaurants and bars in Michigan can be devastating. But yesterday, the Kent County Health Department released a video where residents who need food or financial assistance can get help.
The answer: call 211 according to Essential Needs Task Force Director Wende Randall as she talked to Kent County Health Department Director Dr. Adam London.
Started in 2016, the United Way’s 2-1-1 has connected thousands of services in 14 counties such as Kent County. Services include food, shelter, utility assistance, disaster recovery, childcare, transportation, and more.
“They should call if they are in need assistance,” Randall said, adding that another excellent resource is the Heart of West Michigan United Way’s website, hwmuw.org.
Food
“We have several resources that have started to shift operations in terms of how they provide food access to the community,” Randall said.
As reported by School News Network, 20 school districts in the Kent Intermediate School District are making free meals available to students and families during the mandatory statewide school closures. Families are invited to pick up meals of any child ages 18 and under, and students with disabilities ages 18 – 26 with an activity IEP (individualized education program.) For a complete list of the schools and schedule of pick ups, click here.
Randall said that for older adults, Meals on Wheels has continued and many area senior centers are also providing packaged meals to seniors. Area pantries are not allowing the usually shops for food but if contacted will provide a box with food items, Randall said.
Such is the case at United Church Outreach Ministry (UCOM) which according to its website has closed its facility to the public, but food services will continue. Those in need of food services should call and talk to staff for further details, 616-241-4006. Those coming to the UCOM facility are asked to remain in their car in the parking lot and call for service.
The Pantry, now called the Green Apple Pantry, has announced it will be open for food distribution on March 18 on its website. However, neighbors and volunteers will not be allowed to enter the pantry. Instead, boxes will be prepared and set outside for pick up.
Randall noted that the YMCA and Kids Food Basket also are providing meal kits. On the Kids’ Food Basket website, it states that “because a virus will not and cannot stop hunger, we are committed to continuing to pack and distribute nourishing food in a safe, healthy and responsible way.”
Kids’ Food Basket stated that when a partner school is open, such as Godfrey-Lee Public Schools, Kids’ Food Basket staff and volunteers will be there to distribute Sack Suppers to the students that rely on the program.
Utility payments and other needs
“What we anticipating is the need for utility assistance is going to be delayed by a couple of weeks,” Randall said. “People may have the paycheck they’ve been working toward coming up this week or next week but then they will see their hours reduction hit their paycheck.
“So we are anticipating the biggest need for financial support in those areas to come within the next two weeks and beyond because of course we don’t know how long these work shortages are going to continue.”
Randall said that 2-1-1 can help with referrals for rent and utility assistance, adding that there could be some qualifications for those calling.
“Winter and spring are the biggest months for utility needs,” Randall said, adding that this could put financial strains on the organizations who help the community.
“The greatest need right now is going to be financial support for those agencies that are providing direct service to community members,” Randall said, adding that many of these organizations run on fairly thin margins with the coronavirus situation putting a financial strain on them.
Some banks and credit unions also have reached out to members stating if they are having any financial issues, to contact the specific institution that you bank at.
Volunteering
Randall said some agencies may need volunteers to help. For tips on volunteering, visit the Heart of West Michigan United Way website, hwmuw.org or volunteergr.org. Volunteer opportunities will be mostly solo efforts of providing food to people at home. It is recommended if you are bringing food to someone, make sure to practice social distancing by either texting or ringing the door bell after placing the bag on the porch and then move away.
Kent County Treasurer Kenneth Parrish recently announced that he would not seek re-election in the November election. (Supplied)
By Kent County
Kent County Treasurer Ken Parrish announced last week at the Kent County Board of Commissioners meeting he will not seek re-election for a seventh term in November. His term is set to expire on Dec. 31.
First elected in 1996, Parrish previously served as a Kent County Commissioner (1992-1996) and as a Cascade Township Trustee (1988-1992).
Parrish is especially proud of the following accomplishments that occurred during his tenure as County Treasurer:
founding the Kent County Land Bank Authority,
reaching an agreement with Airbnb to collect a five percent lodging and excise tax from online rental property companies, and
minimizing tax foreclosures.
Additionally, he was the recipient of the 2019 Outstanding Officer Award presented by the National Association of County Collectors, Treasurers and Finance Officers. Parrish also praised the staff in his office.
“It has been an honor and privilege to serve the residents of Kent County over the last 32 years,” Parrish said. “The trust voters have shown me over the years is truly humbling. Kent County will always be my home, and I remain comminuted to serving but in new ways.”
While his future plans remain uncertain, Parrish believes he has at least one more career left to pursue.
The holidays are a great time for packaging and parties, but there can be a lot of waste to be recycled properly. (Pixabay)
The Kent County Recycling & Education Center at 977 Wealthy St. SW will reopen on March 16 following scheduled equipment upgrades. The recycling drop-off locations in Grand Rapids and Rockford will also reopen on March 16.
Scheduled upgrades have been completed as originally scheduled and equipment has successfully been tested. During the upgrades the facility was closed and unable to accept recyclable materials from both curbside and drop-off locations.
“There were eleven different contractors on site over the last three weeks doing everything from changing conveyor belts and pulleys to installing ten-ton pieces of equipment,” said Nic VanderVinne, Resource Recovery & Recycling Manager for the Kent County Department of PublicWorks. “All the work went very smoothly, and we expect to see improvements to the quality of the recyclables that are sent to market as well as a significant reduction in downtime due to maintenance.”
The Kent County Recycling & Education Center is approaching its 10th year of single-stream recycling. Over the past decade, the center has undergone periodic maintenance and upgrades to adapt to changes in community recycling habits and packaging trends. In 2017, Kent County added equipment to accept paper cartons and improve automation.
In 1790, it took about 650 U.S. marshals to complete the first decennial census. Two-hundred thirty years later, the U.S. Census will need a lot more than 650 people to complete the 2020 Census.
And like many employers, the U.S. Census is finding it difficult to find qualified candidates. The Bureau has fallen short of its goal of more than two million applicants to fill the estimated 500,000 temporary, part-time census positions needed to complete this year’s census. In fact, the only place in the United States not looking for census workers is the commonwealth of Puerto Rico, according to a recent press release from the U.S. Census Bureau.
“With low unemployment, the Census Bureau is taking extraordinary efforts to attract enough applicants to fill nearly 500,000 positions this spring,” said Timothy Olson, Census Bureau associate for Field Operations.
Michigan is one of the states were census workers are most needed. Kent County has reached about 48.2 percent of its applicant goal while Ottawa County has done a little better, filling a little more than half of its applicant goal.
“Our aim is to reach interested applicants right now, inform them of updated pay rates in their area, and get them into the applicant pool to be considered for these critical jobs,” Olson said. “The hiring process occurs in stages, and we are encouraging everyone to apply right now before selections being in January and February.”
To learn more about or to apply for a position with the U.S. Census Bureau, go to 2020census.gov/jobs.
According to a press release from the U.S. Census Bureau, the positions, — many are enumerators, people hired to take the census of the population — offer competitive pay, flexible hours, paid trainings, and weekly paychecks. Pay rates for census takers in Michigan have increased, with a range from $14 to $25. Currently the rates for Kent County is $20 per hour and in Ottawa County, it is $18.50 per hour. Visit 2020census.gov/jobs to confirm or check on pay rates in other communities.
The positions are open to anyone who is 18 or older. Census takers will be hired to work in their communities and go door-to-door to collect responses from those who did not fill out their census questionnaire. The selection process starts this month with paid training taking place in March and April. After paid training, most positions will work between May and early July by going door-to-door to collect responses from households who have not responded online, by phone, or by mail.
The U.S. Census is important not just because it counts the number of people living in a city, state or the country, but the results can have an impact on how billions of dollars in federal funds are allocated to local communities every year for the next 10 years. Some of the federally funded programs that use the census in determining allocations are community block grants, road funding, and school lunch programs.
The U.S. Census also determines the number of seats a state has in the U.S. House of Representatives. In 2010, the census showed the number of Michigan residents fell by .6 percent since 2000 with Michigan’s number of seats in the U.S. House of Representatives being reduced from 15 to 14. The census also determines the number of Michigan House of Representative seats as well.
For more information about the 2020 Census, visit 2020census.gov
By April 1, all U.S. households will receive an invitation to participate in the census. Residents will be able to respond one of three ways, online, by phone, or by mail.
Starting in April, census workers will begin visiting college students who live on campus, people living in senior centers, and others who live among large groups of people. Census takers also begin conducting quality check interviews to help ensure an accurate count.
Starting in May, census workers will begin visiting homes that have not responded to the 2020 Census to make sure everyone is counted.
The U.S. Constitution mandates that a census of the population be conducted every 10 years. By law, the U.S. Census Bureau must deliver apportionment counts to the President and the U.S. Congress in December. Redistricting counts will be sent to the states by March 31, 2021.
Kent County Community Action (KCCA) is hosting a public forum on Tuesday, Aug. 20, at 2 p.m. to discuss the community’s needs and KCCA’s services for the next three years. The event will be held at KCCA’s office located at 121 Franklin SE, Grand Rapids in Multi- Purpose Room A and B.
KCCA has partnered with Public Sector Consultants, a Lansing-based research and project management firm, to conduct this public forum with community members and service providers to determine the underlying causes of poverty within a community and to identify available resources.
“We are encouraging residents from all walks of life to participate in the forum so we can successfully work together to end poverty in Kent County,” said KCCA Director Susan Cervantes.
The community forum will integrate the preliminary findings of the Community Needs Assessment, which KCCA is federally required to conduct every three years, and raise awareness of poverty.
“The findings from the Community Needs Assessment will guide our decision-making and service delivery,” concluded Cervantes. “It is important for the community to participate in this process as it will help shape future services for Kent County which will ultimately lift individuals and families out of poverty.”
Immediately following the public forum, attendees will celebrate the 55th Anniversary of Community Action. President Lyndon Johnson signed legislation on August 20, 1964, to establish a War on Poverty stating that “this administration here and now declares unconditional war on poverty.” Since then, more than 1,000 community action agencies nationally work every day to create opportunities and transform the lives of community members, including KCCA.
School superintendents from Kent, Ottawa and Muskegon counties gave their state legislators an earful about how state funding cuts have impacted students during a meeting on Monday, June 24.
Chris Glass, director of legislative affairs for the West Michigan Talent Triangle, said they wanted to give the legislators a “boots on the ground” perspective on how education has suffered. Michigan has fallen far behind other states in achievement scores and funding levels, the school superintendents and teachers told the legislators who were seated among them at round tables.
“We’re not where we need to be on student performance,” Glass told about a dozen state legislators and their top aides during a luncheon session hosted by Kent ISD.
The educators also offered a solution developed by the School Finance Research Collaborative, which tracked school funding trends in Michigan and made comparisons with other state education funding programs.
East Grand Rapids Superintendent Heidi Kattula records the legislator’s concerns
New Funding Formula Sought
Instead of Michigan’s one-size-fits call funding formula based on each district’s student population, the study urged Michigan to change its school funding formula so it is weighted on the basis of each student’s learning needs. That means additional funding for districts that rely more heavily on English Language Learning programs, special education and have greater numbers of students in poverty.
The study recommended that the base funding in Michigan rise to $9,590 a year, not including transportation, meals, and other costs. Michigan schools currently receive $8,188 per student in base funding.
Adjusted for inflation, Michigan schools get only 82 percent of the funding they received in 1995, when Proposal A shifted school funding formulas from local sources to the state. Funding for at-risk students has fallen 60 percent from 2001 to 2017, according to the study.
Michigan now ranks among the worst states in the funding gap between school districts with the most students in poverty and those with the fewest students in poverty. “We think the poor are getting poorer and the rich are getting richer,” said Kent ISD Assistant Superintendent Ron Koehler, a member of the School Finance Research Collaborative’s steering committee.
Legislators Respond
For their part, the legislators were sympathetic but also had suggestions.
State Rep. Julie Calley, R-Portland, said she has three children in public schools. “How do we deal with all of the factors that have entered the classroom? We’re expecting our teachers to be parents to the kids and parents to the parents.”
Citing golfer Tiger Woods’ early training in golf, State Rep. Tommy Brann, R-Wyoming, said he liked the idea of mandatory full-time pre-school and kindergarten as a way to prepare students for achievement.
State Rep. Pamela Hornberger, chair of the House Education Committee and a former teacher, drove to the conference from her district in Macomb County to participate in the discussion. She said funding increases for education would not be automatic and needed bi-partisan support.
State Rep. Greg VanWoerkem, R-Norton Shores, said the reforms being proposed may require structural changes in the way education is funded to overcome the constitutional restrictions currently in place. “There’s got to be a total reform if you want to get the type of dollars you’re looking for and that’s going to be difficult because of term limits.”
For more stories on our area schools, visit the School News Network website at schoolnewnetwork.org.
West Michigan educators gave their legislators first-hand accounts of the challenges they face. (School News Network)
A series of first-time tests of kindergarteners in Kent County shows many of them need exposure to more early childhood programs, according to Kent ISD educators specializing in early childhood development.
The tests showed 40 percent of kindergarteners tested were considered ready for kindergarten while 35 percent were “approaching readiness.” Twenty-five percent were classified as “emerging readiness,” the lowest category. The tests were given in the fall of 2018 to 65 percent of kindergartners in 19 of Kent County’s 20 school districts.
Students from low income families and Hispanic and African American households tested lower than students from white households, according to the test results.
Although kindergarten readiness tests were not given statewide, Kent ISD officials were able to compare the results to similar statewide tests in Maryland and Ohio. Those tests showed Kent County kindergarteners – especially those in Hispanic and African American families — were not as prepared as their peers in Maryland and Ohio.
Ashley Karsten, Great Start Readiness Program supervisor for Kent ISD, said the test results show the need for early childhood programs. The first round of funding from a countywide early childhood millage that was approved by voters last fall will help establish those early childhood programs, she said.
Last fall, Kent County voters approved a “Ready by 5” millage request to support early childhood development programs. The request for 0.25 mills, to provide an estimated $5.7 million per year, was approved 142,875 to 109,513.
“Our biggest takeaway from the test is that it confirmed early childhood programs are effective. The tests show that where they had early childhood experiences, they were ready for kindergarten,” said Kelli Campbell Brockway, director of teaching and learning for Kent ISD.
“We’re going to keep trying to provide that opportunity to as many students in Kent County as we can.”
For more stories on area schools, visit the School News Network website, schoolnewsnetwork.org.
One element of the just released Kent County profile. (Kent County/Public Sector Consultants)
By K.D. Norris ken@wktv.org
After three community meetings — one in Kentwood in mid-December, an extensive “profile” of the county and a current bilingual survey, the Kent County administration is in the final stages of information collection for its current strategic planning process.
Over the past six months, according to supplied information, county leaders have “engaged in a strategic planning process that will guide its leadership through the next five years to better reflect the changing demographics, economics, and needs of the County.”
One currently ongoing element of community input is a Spanish-language bilingual survey, which will be accepting input until Monday, Jan. 7, 2019. (A link to the survey is here.)
“Community engagement is absolutely integral to the success of Kent County,” Wayman Britt, Kent County Administrator/Controller, said in previously supplied information. “It is important for us to hear the thoughts and ideas from our communities as we renew our strategic plan and effectively plan for the future.”
Partnered with Public Sector Consultants, a Lansing-based research and project management firm, the county conducted “several forward-looking conversations with external stakeholders, elected officials, County administration leaders, and residents on what goals and action items should be included in the County’s next strategic plan.”
Among the highlights of the profile are that the county’s median age of 34.9 years old is more than five years younger than Michigan as a whole and that 50 percent of the population of about 648,594 is 35-years-old or younger. That population is up 7.6 parent from 2010, when the last Federal census was conducted. Other highlights of the profile are that the county as the fastest growing metro economy in the United States, up 21.8 percent over five years, and that county’s violent crimes (reported in 2016) of 367 per 100,000 population was less than both the state and the country as a whole.
Upon completion of the community-engagement process, Public Sector Consultants will develop a strategic plan with the goal being to have the Board of Commissioners review a draft plan in late February 2019 and then to publicly release it in March.
“Solutions and ideas do not just come from government — they come from our residents who live, work, and play in Kent County,” said Britt.
For more information about the Kent County Administration visit accesskent.com .
Kent County will be holding three community forums to allow residents an opportunity to participate in the development of its strategic plan. The county is currently developing a strategic plan that will guide its leadership through the next five years, better reflecting the changing demographics, economics, and needs of the County.
Wyman Britt, Kent County Administrator/Controller. (WKTV)
“Community engagement is absolutely integral to the success of Kent County,” said Wayman Britt, Kent County Administrator/Controller. “It is important for us to hear the thoughts and ideas from our communities as we renew our strategic plan and effectively plan for the future.”
The meetings will be held from 6-7:30 p.m. as follows:
Thursday, December 6, at the Kent County Health Department (700 Fuller Ave. NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503)
Tuesday, December 11, at the Rockford Freshman Center (4500 Kroes St. NE, Rockford, MI 49341)
Thursday, December 13, at the East Kentwood Freshman Campus (6170 Valley Lane Dr., SE, Kentwood, MI 49508)
All three meetings will cover the same information. Due to space constraints, each event is limited to the first 100 individuals and pre-registration is required.
To register for one of the forums, residents should click on this link. If an individual would like to register by phone, please call Diane Kelly at (517) 484-4954.
“Solutions and ideas do not just come from government – they come from our residents who live, work, and play in Kent County,” said Britt. “These forums are another way we can hear directly from the public by allowing residents to provide open and honest feedback on the in our strategic plan, which in turn, will goals and action items that should be included improve our great County.”
The straightforward message behind “Strive for Less than 5”, the countywide campaign to reduce absences: The more school a child misses, the further they fall behind and the more at risk they are of eventually dropping out.
Kent ISD and Kent County hosted a media briefing recently at the Kent County Building to share that message, backed by statistics presented by Kent ISD data analyst Sunil Joy. There is a 14 percent gap in third-grade reading scores between students who are chronically absent and those who aren’t, with the impact much worse for low-income students, Joy said. Also, students who have been chronically absent every year since kindergarten are performing at levels lower than those never chronically absent.
To address the issue, Kent ISD districts recently created a common definition for chronic absenteeism: missing 10 percent or more school days. Ten percent translates to two days per month or 18 days in a 180-day school year. Then they created the campaign, including flyers, posters, yard signs and a video, with the help of sponsors.
Kent County Circuit Court Judge Kathleen Feeney said she helps to connect students who end up in front of her for truancy with transportation, mental health services, housing programs, removing whatever barrier might be keeping them from school.
“We are trying to impress upon parents that they need to take children to school all day every day,” she said. “It all starts with attendance. They have to show up to be successful.”
Check out School News Network for more stories about students, schools, and faculty in West Michigan.
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)
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 who are backing a millage proposal on the Nov. 6 ballot.
They are asking Kent County voters to approve a 0.25 mill property tax levy that would provide an estimated $5.7 million a year to agencies and programs that support early childhood development programs. The millage would cost the average Kent County homeowner about $23 a year, or $1.90 a month.
The millage request was placed on the ballot this summer by the Kent County Board of Commissioners on a 13-5 vote. The request was made by First Steps Kent, a coalition of local foundations, community leaders and United Way agencies that support early childhood programs.
“We are reaching only a fraction of these children,” said Karen Lezan, program coordinator for Bright Beginnings, a Kent ISD program that helps parents prepare their children for school success. Although Kent County offers great services for early childhood development, they lack the funding to reach all of the children who could benefit, she said.
Bright Beginnings, an affiliate of the national “Parents as Teachers” initiative, provides parents with tools to encourage language, intellectual, physical and social and emotional growth. Their program was only able to see 532 children last year, Lezan said.
“Investing in early childhood pays off not only for children and their families, but for the entire community,” according to a 2017 “gap analysis” report that inspired the millage request. The study concluded 20,500 children under age 5 in Kent County are “economically disadvantaged.”
“Every child in Kent County deserves to be healthy and ready to learn by kindergarten, and this proposal will help make sure children under age 5 receive vital early childhood and health care services,” said Annemarie Valdez, president/CEO of First Steps Kent. “Working together, we can make sure all Kent County children have brighter futures and the opportunity to succeed.”
If the millage request is passed, the money would be passed along to successful programs selected by a board that is appointed by the county board. The millage request was patterned after the Kent Senior Millage, which provides funding for programs that benefit senior citizens in Kent County.
Taxpayer dollars raised by the millage would go through an independent financial audit every year to ensure taxpayer funds are spent wisely, according to its sponsors. This audit would evaluate the effectiveness of the funded programs to ensure transparency and accountability, sponsors said.
The Kent County Board of Commissioners has 19 districts of which six represent portions of the cities of Kentwood and Wyoming. Of those six districts, two have unopposed candidates. Here are those seeking to represent Wyoming and Kentwood residents at the county level.
7th District Kent County Commissioner
In the 7th District Kent County Commissioner race Republican incumbent Stan Ponstein, of Grandville, will be facing off against Democrat challenger Mike Johnson, of Wyoming. The 7th District covers most of the City of Grandville and the northern portion of the City of Wyoming, most of which is in the Godfrey-Lee Public Schools district. For specific borders, visit accesskent.com.
https://youtu.be/95Z2c70vH8o
Mike Johnson – Candidate (D)
Occupation: Pharmacist tech in-patient at Mercy Health Hospital
Why did you decide to seek election to the 7th District Kent County Commission Seat?
I decided to run because of President Donald Trump’s attacks on the Hispanic community, how local hispanics are treated, and because of my experiences in Arizona with ADOT in that every citizen was required to have a state ID so law enforcement could verify identity, but it was mostly being used against minorities. I also noticed there was no LGBTQ representatives sitting on any of your local boards.
If elected what issues would you want to take a look at?
I would like to center focus on schools in financial need. Godfrey Lee being one of them. I would like to bring back a second Kent County Health Department because our population needs it or expand on our current health department. Obviously putting pressure on to end the contract with ICE and work with local law enforcement to develop ongoing cultural sensitivity trainings. Also, if it should pass, to fairly regulate district facilities in regards to marijuana distribution.
https://youtu.be/gvaHqfxgxh8
Stan Ponstein – Incumbent (R)
Occupation: Works for Costco Wholesale
Why did you decide to run for re-election to the 7th District Kent County Commission Seat?
Since being re-elected last year, I was elected to the Michigan Association of Counties and the National Association of Counties. I believe it is so important for Kent County to have a voice on the state level since so much of our money is funded through the federal and the state.
What are the issues you see for the county in the next couple of years?
It is the things that occur everyday. Money is always a concern and there is never enough but it is how we use it and the priorities we set. Since I was elected the opioid epidemic has exploded and in the last year, the PFAS issue exploded. West Nile has also reappeared. To clean up the PFAS will probably take a lot of resources and the one thing we have discovered is we are not alone in that there are counties across the country dealing with the PFAS issue. So it is the day-to-day issues that you have to be prepared to deal with. The sheriff department and the health department make up most of our budget. So having placed the right people in the right place with the right support is something we need to focus on.
8th District Kent County Commissioner
The 8th District Kent County Commission covers the eastern portion of the City of Wyoming, including the pan handle. For specific boarders, visit accesskent.com.
Harold Voorhees – Incumbent (R)
Harold Voorhees is the incumbent for the 8th District and he is running unopposed for the Nov. 6 election.
9th District Kent County Commissioner
In the 9th District Kent County Commissioner, Republican incumbent Matt Kallman is being challenged by Democrat candidate Bob Smith. Both are from Byron Center. The 9th District is all of Byron Center and a southern portion of the City of Wyoming east of Burlingame Avenue and west of Clyde Park Avenue to 36th Street and a portion that goes from north of 40th Street to Division Avenue. For specific boarders, visit accesskent.com.
https://youtu.be/1HYzq1LoPNM
Bob Smith – Candidate (D)
Occupation: Factory Worker
Why did you decide to seek election to the 9th District Kent County Commissioner seat?
I was getting more involved with local politics, through the UAW CAP (Citizenship and Legislative Committee, most often referred to as the Community Action Program, or CAP), and started to take part in the Kent County Democratic Party meetings. … People started suggesting to me that I should run for something. … I starting thinking what would I do with that office should I get it.
If elected, what issue(s) would you immediately want to focus on and why?
I would want to get First Steps (Kent) expanded.(The program deals with early childhood services.) I think that is a great program. We also need to expand veterans services. Kent County is a pretty big county with a lot of rural area that our busing system does not reach out to. So we have one place where all the veterans services are centered, downtown, which isn’t very helpful. … I would definitely want to invest more in that.
Matt Kallman – Incumbent (R)
Occupation: Software
Why did decide to run of re-election for the 9th District Kent County Commissioner seat?
I love representing the people of my part of Wyoming and Byron Center on the Board. Kent County is a well run organization and I enjoy being able to learn and work with my colleagues to make sure it stays that way. I also think having someone with a technical background on the Board is important as we make numerous significant IT investments to better serve the people of Kent County.
If elected, what issues do you want to focus on and why?
I want to continue to ensure that Kent County makes good budget decisions. We are in good financial shape due to a long history of wise management of our resources. Generally, I want to bring my perspective from a younger, more tech-savvy generation to the Board to make sure we are considering long term decisions with a good mix of perspectives.
10th District Kent County Commissioner
The 10th District Kent County Commissioner seat covers Gaines Township and the southern half of Caledonia Township. For specific boarders, visit accesskent.com.
Emily P. Brieve – Incumbent
Emily P. Brieve, of Caledonia, is the incumbent for the 10th District and she is running unopposed in the Nov. 6 election.
12th District Kent County Commissioner
With the announcement that incumbent Harold Mast would not be seeking another term, the 12th District Kent County Commissioner race features three new faces, Republican Jill Martinez, Democrat Monica Sparks, and Green Party Charlotte Aikens. The District 12 Kent County Commissioner seat covers the western portion of the City of Kentwood and the eastern portion of the city of Wyoming. For specific boarders, visit accesskent.com.
https://youtu.be/ZdF6wxLDoBk
Charlotte Aikens – Candidate (G)
Occupation: Register Nurse for nine years, in the health care field for 12 years.
Why did you decide to seek election to the 12th District Kent County Commission seat?
I got interested more than a year ago and the issues that got me to enter were deciding where the money goes and health care.
If elected what issues would you want to take a look at?
The ICE contact is a big deal. I know a lot of immigrant families, so I know the process and how hard it is to try and bring family members into the country. It can take years. Most families don’t understand the process to get their families. They live in fear. they just want to be a family, to live, to work, and to pay their taxes like the rest of us. I am not certain what the solutions are but I want to be part of the solution.
https://youtu.be/xgJMjDVvkOo
Jill Martinez
Occupation: Healthcare Management
Why did you decided to seek election to the 12th District Kent County Commissioner seat?
This community has so much to offer, community and sporting events, local businesses and great people, and it continues to flourish. I love my community and want to play my part in seeing that we continue to thrive. Growing up, my family emphasized a strong work ethic and service to others and those lessons have stayed with me.
If elected, what issues do you want to focus on and why?
As I meet with residents, it is clear that they want a county that protects its seniors and veterans, safeguards essential services, keeps our community safe and supports all taxpayers.Our seniors and veterans have given a lot to our community and we need to give back to them. By safeguarding essential services, we can secure the care and central resources they need to survive. A successful county is a safe county. I will support officers and give them the funding they need to protect you and your families. I will also support new measures that will contribute to our safe community.
https://youtu.be/vwCbB_5CDTA
Monica Sparks
Occupation: Small Business Owner and Real Estate Broker
Why did you decide to seek election to the 12the District Kent County Commissioner seat?
I am running to be an advocate to help protect the services of families, individuals, children and those with special needs, and especially our seniors and veterans living in Kent County.
If elected, what issues do you want to focus on and why?
There are many isssues that affect citizens in Kent County. I will start with Mental Health Services, if we do not have strong healthy minds we cannot have strong healthy communities! Also our Veteran’s Services and Senior Services are a priority. Kent County Seniors or Veterans should never be abandoned. Everyone deserves to have an address, so fair affordable housing is an important issue to tackle. Quality of life in Kent County is important to me.
13th District Kent County Commissioner
For the 13th District Kent County Commissioner, Republican candidate Jessica Ann Tyson is challenging Democrat incumbent Betsy Melton. Both are from Kentwood. The Kent County Commission District 13 covers the eastern portion of the City of Kentwood. For specific boarders, visit.accesskent.com.
Betsy Melton – Incumbent (D)
Occupation: Retired registered nurse
Why did you decide to seek re-election to the 13th District Kent Count Commissioner seat?
During my first two years, I have learned a lot about what is to be on the Board of Commissioners and there was a lot more to it then I knew. I decided to run again because I wanted to provide my community with the experience I have gained during those two years. Also there are some items that I would have been working on that I would like to see through. That and I am very, very passionate about my City of Kentwood and feel very honored to be be able to represent the city at the county level.
If re-elected, what issues do you want to focus on and why?
Certainly one of them is the PFAS problem in Kent County. Also the opioid crisis is something that we have been addressing and will need to continue to address. Farmland preservation is another area that we certainly have been talking about. Lastly, if I have two more years, I would like to somehow affect a positive wave in how we look at issues that is much more unified and much less partisan.
https://youtu.be/gZfHKVgeoNE
Jessica Ann Tyson – Candidate (R)
Occupation: Business Owner
Why did you decide to run for the 13th District Kent County Commission seat?
Because I believe a good representative of the community has to be immersed and very engaged in the community. I believe in giving back to the community that has given me so much.
If elected, what issues do you want to focus on and why?
I feel we need to work on our roads and I will work with county and state officials to invest in our infrastructure. Also I want to focus on the health care crisis. We need to find ways to help with such issues as mental health and the opioid crisis.
All candidates were contacted and invited to participate in sharing their message to the voters.
The Frey Foundation is currently seeking innovative ideas to accelerate access to sustainable, quality housing opportunities in Kent County. The foundation is specifically focused on addressing housing access for people who are employed yet may be struggling to make ends meet, a circumstance defined by the United Ways as ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed).
“This concept of launching an innovation award to catalyze community creativity around this important topic aligns with the foundation’s core values.” said Ellie Frey Zagel, chair of the initiative.
According to the Heart of West Michigan United Way, at least 25 percent of Kent County’s households are considered among the ALICE population. For families in these circumstances, adults in the household are employed and earning above the Federal Poverty Level. However, they do not earn enough o cover the basic cost of living, considered to be $56,460 per year for a family of our in Kent County.
“Innovation requires us to reexamine an issue and consider different perspectives” said Frey Foundation President Holly Johnson. We hope this opportunity results in new ideas, partnerships and new ways to leverage change.”
The foundation will award a grant of up to $150,000 to an agency or partnership that submits an innovative, actionable plan, concept or collaboration that effectively reduces the number of ALICE families paying more than 30 percent of monthly income for housing. Submissions will be evaluated, and an idea selected, by an external, multi-sector advisory committee coordinated by the Grand Valley Metro Council.
For families whose circumstances fall within the ALICE parameters, many factors contribute to housing insecurity. “Low supply and high housing costs are just the start,” said Lynne Ferrell, Frey Foundation Program Director. “Beyond basic supply and demand, stagnant wages, illness or unanticipated household expenses can hinder a family’s ability to afford rent or a mortgage payment. This can snowball into an eviction or damaged credit and present an entirely new set of challenges.”
To be considered, ideas should address at least one of the following:
• Finance
• Creative Development• Policy
This call for housing innovation is an addition to the foundation’s regular grantmaking. While the foundation serves West and Northern Michigan, this particular opportunity is focused on Kent County.
Ideas are currently being accepted online. The deadline for submission is Oct. 29. More information is available at freyfdn.org/housinginnovation.
The Kent County Board of Commissioners is looking for residents who are interested in serving the community through appointment to various boards, commissions, and committees. Any Kent County resident may apply by completing an online application form on the County’s website at www.accessKent.com/boardappointments. Resumes and cover letters are encouraged and may be attached. The application deadline is Sept 30.
Listed below are the boards, commissions, and committees that have openings for terms effective January 1, 2019 (unless otherwise noted):
Agricultural Preservation Board (openings for agricultural interest representative and conservation representative)
Community Action Agency Advisory Governing Board (openings for consumer and public sector representatives)
Community Corrections Advisory Board (openings for Defense Attorney and Probation Representative)
Community Health Advisory Committee (openings for community-based and faith-based organization representatives and health care providers)
Community Mental Health Authority (Network180) Board – term begins April 1, 2019
County Building Authority
Fire Commission (openings for township elected officials only)
Friend of the Court Citizen’s Advisory Committee (openings for the general public and family law attorney)
Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GRFIA) Authority Board
Grand Rapids-Kent County Convention/Arena Authority
Housing Commission
Kent County Family & Children’s Coordinating Council (openings for private funding and private agency representatives)
Kent District Library Board (Region 1 – resident of Nelson, Oakfield, Spencer and Tyrone Township; and Region 5 – resident of Ada, Cascade, Grand Rapids Township, and City of East Grand Rapids).Applicants must live in Region 1 or 5.
Land Bank Authority (must be a city elected official – excluding the City of Grand Rapids – to apply)
Millennium Park Architectural Advisory Review Board (opening for business community representative)
Officers’ Compensation Commission
Remonumentation Peer Review Group (must be a professional surveyor to apply)
Kent County’s Veterans Services is focused of veterans issues.
Road Commission Board
Solid Waste Management Planning Committee (openings for general public, environmental interest groups, solid waste industry representatives, and a representative from an industrial waste generator)
Veterans Services Committee (must have served honorably on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces to apply)If you have any questions, please contact Pam VanKeuren in the Board of Commissioners’ Office at 616-632-7580 or Pam.VanKeuren@kentcountymi.gov.
Kent County and Airbnb announced on July 18 a tax agreement authorizing the company to collect hotel taxes on behalf of its Kent County hosts and remit the revenue directly to the county.
With the tax agreement in place, Kent County will fully benefit from people visiting the region and staying longer through home sharing. Effective Aug. 1, Airbnb will automatically collect and remit the Kent County Lodging Excise tax (also known as the hotel/motel tax) for taxable bookings, making the process seamless and efficient for local Airbnb hosts and the county.
“As a global platform, helping hosts meet their income tax obligations is just one of the steps we have taken to contribute to the communities our hosts and guests call home,” Airbnb states on their website. “Over the last four years, we’ve also partnered with hundreds of governments around the globe to make it easier for our hosts and guests to pay their fair share of hotel and tourist taxes. By April 15, 2018, we will have entered into tax agreements with over 370 jurisdictions globally, and collected and remitted more than $592 million in hotel and tourist taxes throughout the world.”
Kent County is the latest of those tax agreements.
“We appreciate the cooperation of Airbnb in helping us achieve this agreement,” Ken Parrish, Kent County Treasurer, said in supplied material. “The Voluntary Collection Agreement allows Airbnb hosts to operate without having to try to calculate occupancy taxes. It also simplifies collection and audit processes; we have one solo, corporate taxpayer rather than many individual business operators. This agreement provides transparency and fairness for all of our lodging partners as well.”
The county’s top administrator also praised the agreement.
“I’m pleased to see this cooperative arrangement come together, thanks to the efforts of Airbnb staff and our teams in the Treasurer’s Office, the Administrator’s Office and Corporate Counsel,” Wayman Britt, Kent County Administrator/Controller, said in supplied material. “Our hotel/lodging industry should be treated fair and equitably. The arrangement with Airbnb helps in covering the expense for increased tourism and promotes economic well-being for our region.”
Collecting and remitting hotel taxes can be incredibly complicated. The rules were designed for traditional hospitality providers and large hotel corporations with teams of lawyers and accountants.
This marks Airbnb’s third tax agreement in Michigan.
The company previously collaborated last year with the Michigan Treasury Department on a historic tax partnership to collect and remit the Michigan use tax on all taxable bookings throughout the state. More recently, Airbnb and Genesee County announced an agreement allowing Airbnb to collect their local occupancy tax.
About 22,000 Airbnb guests experienced Kent County in 2017, which reflected 76 percent year-over-year growth.
For more information on Airbnb, visit airbnb.com .
You can help create the change you want to see by holding your local and state officials accountable — but to do that, you must first be registered to vote; then, you must actually vote. The deadline for registering to vote in Michigan’s Aug. 7th primary election is Monday,July 9th.
Not sure you’re registered? There’s an easy way to find out. According to Robert J. Macomber, Chief Deputy County Clerk, residents can visit www.Michigan.gov/vote to check their registration, find the address of their local clerk or obtain the mail-in voter registration application. It will also tell you your polling location.
Fun fact: Women suffragettes were jailed and force fed for 3 weeks for the right to vote.
“First-time voters who register by mail must vote in person in their first election, unless they hand-deliver the application to their local clerk, are 60 years old or older, are disabled or are eligible to vote under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act,” says Macomber.
Click on Kent County’s Elections page https://www.accesskent.com/Departments/Elections/ to learn more about the August Primary here in Kent County, view your sample ballot, or find your polling location.
Stay informed… and be involved. Don’t miss your chance to have a say in how your state government represents you.
Information on how to sign up for MiChildSupport is one of the services of the Kent County Friend of the Court (Kent County Website)
By Kent County
The Kent County Friend of the Court recently announced the opening of the Responsible Parent Program Center, located on the second floor at 82 Ionia Avenue NW, Grand Rapids. This new center makes it easier for participants in the program to meet with their case manager, see updated job postings, and apply for jobs on-line.
Launched in 2016, the Responsible Parent Program has established partnerships with over 30 agencies and employers to assist those who are having difficulties paying their court-ordered child support. Once in the program, a Friend of the Court case manager will meet with the participant to identify any barriers the person may be facing, make appropriate referrals for job placements and searches, determine whether a case qualifies for a support review to ensure the current order is based on ability to pay, and provide information about parenting time issues and services.
The goal of the Responsible Parent Program is to place 75 percent of those who complete the program into jobs. The Responsible Parent Program started in 2016 with 10 partner agencies and employers and has grown to 34 current partners. In its first two years, 53 percent of those accepted into the program reported employment following their initial appointment with the case manager; 41percent met their court-ordered obligation and 67.5 percent made some payment.
“These are cases where little to no payment was being made. Our primary goal is to make sure the children of Kent County are receiving court-ordered support,” said Friend of the Court Director Dan Fojtik. “We are here to help anyone who is sincerely interested in improving their financial position and getting their Friend of the Court case back on track.”
To qualify for the program, a participant must have a Friend of the Court case, no gainful employment, be able to work, have no pending child support related felony warrant, and be interested in participating. Enforcement actions such as show-cause hearings, bench warrants, and license suspensions will be deferred while the participant is in the program. The Responsible Parent Program Center has three designated computer terminals where payers can search for jobs, and the Center holds drop-in times when no appointment is needed on Tuesday mornings and Thursday afternoons.
Anyone who is interested in this special 90-day program may contact the Friend of the Court for more information at 616-632-6888. Case managers are also available to meet in person without an appointment at Michigan Works, Urban Family Ministries, Strong Fathers, Hispanic Center, and Guiding Light Mission; call 616-632-6825 for days and times.
When Pamela Alderman created “Let Go” for ArtPrize in 2017, she was looking to impact the audience with a large interactive piece. Alderman‘s work, an ArtPrize Top 25 finalist, is a beautiful seascape on five large wood panels that includes three Plexiglas figures that transform as you move around the artwork.
The creation includes an opportunity to write a note, crinkle it, then throw it “into the sea” – in essence, Let Go. Recently she found a way to continue the impact of “Let Go” – she donated the piece to the Kent County Courthouse, where it has a new life.
During her nine years of ArtPrize experience, Pamela’s interactive pieces included works on cancer, bullying, and autism. But it was her work on human trafficking that drew the attention of Judge Patricia Gardner.
“I first met Pamela when she presented her 2014 piece “The Scarlet Cord” to the Manasseh Advisory Group at Wedgwood two years ago,” Judge Gardner said. “Following that meeting, Pamela allowed her film about human trafficking to be used by probation staff when working with girls who endured sexual exploitation. She and I discussed my interest in working with delinquent girls and the formation of Girls Court and girl-specific group counseling experience called Girls Truth Group.”
In September 2017, just months after the formation of Girls Court (a multi-disciplinary approach to serving female youth offenders), Judge Gardner took graduates of the program to the Amway Grand Plaza for a celebration dinner followed by a meet-and-greet with Pamela.
That meeting helped several participants, as they each wrote notes of what they wanted to let go — then threw the notes into the work. Some of the girls cried as they let go of something that hurt them in the past.
“All of the girls were moved by the power of the moment in listening to the artist and letting go of negative behavior and moving on from an intensive counseling experience to successful completion of probation,” Judge Gardner recalled. “It was honestly one of those moments that I thought would be a good educational experience, but it was far more meaningful than I could have imagined.”
The work was installed this month on the fifth floor of the Kent County Courthouse.
“The work we do in this Courthouse often addresses personal struggles or difficult circumstances faced by good people, families and children,” said Judge T.J. Ackert of the 17th Circuit Court Family Division.
Judge Ackert, who has known Pamela Alderman for many years, added, “Pamela’s work expresses a theme of healing and restoration, and this painting symbolizes the challenging work to restore their lives people engage in every day in this Court.
“Artistically, the placement of the painting outside our community room looking west over the city appropriately reflects the waves of the Grand River and the undulating architectural roof-line of DeVos Place — accentuating the peaceful movement from difficult times to a thriving existence!”
During ArtPrize, 70,000 visitors wrote their own “Let Go”notes and added them to the work.
“Artists create pieces for ArtPrize in hopes of speaking to a lot of people,” Pamela says. “This work is emotional. As an artist, my soul is rendered into that work. I hope people connect with the work because it’s relevant. It gives voice to people’s struggles and encourages healing.”
Wyman Britt, Kent County Administrator/Controller began the Excellence in Action Award program. (WKTV)
By Kent County
The Board of Commissioners recently announced the 2018 Excellence in Action Award winners. Award criteria is set through performance measures every department develops annually to promote a culture of excellence.
The week of May 6-12 was designated by Congress as Public Service Recognition Week (PSRW), gave the Kent County Board of Commissioners the perfect opportunity to say thank you to those programs that have gone above and beyond. This is the second year of the Awards and Ceremony.
“When people know that their leadership cares about them and supports them, they are more likely to take ownership of their actions and hold themselves accountable to achieve amazing results,” said Wayman Britt, Kent County Administrator/Controller, who introduced the idea for the awards in 2017. “Achieving excellence is a hallmark of Kent County, our Board of Commissioners and our elected officials. The Excellence in Action Awards are an extension of the Board’s vision that Kent County be the absolute best place to live and work. The awards are only a small reflection of the outstanding efforts that take place every day in the County to help make this possible.”
Videos of the award winners can be found at accessKent.com/performancemgt. This year, the Board celebrated with five Excellence in Action Awards:
Excellence in Collaboration:
Kent County Community Action (KCCA) (formerly the Kent County Housing Commission)
Kent County’s Veterans Services is focused of veterans issues.
The United States Veterans Administration (VA) continued its partnership with the Kent County Housing Commission and provided 21 additional Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH) vouchers, which helped continue the community goal of eliminating veterans’ homelessness. The VA provides necessary case management services for the veteran, while the Housing Commission provides the Housing Choice Voucher and works with the veteran to secure housing. Our collaborative efforts have also been recognized nationally as a best practice model due to our recruitment strategies (beyond orientation), dual case management efforts, number of employed VASH clients and positive transitions from voucher recipient into self-sufficiency.
Excellence in Community Impact:
Kent County Health Department
In April of 2017, the Kent County Health Department (KCHD) became aware of an investigation by the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) regarding contaminated groundwater in the Belmont area. In the months that have followed, the wells of more than 1000 homes have been tested for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances or PFAS. The Kent County Health Department has been on the front lines of informing residents about their individual test results. Working in cooperation with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) KCHD has worked to advise residents about the known health consequences of PFAS and ways to limit exposure. KCHD has organized and conducted two town hall meetings, bringing MDHHS, MDEQ and Wolverine World Wide to the table to answer residents’ questions. KCHD has established a website and a regular newsletter that is emailed to more than 1000 subscribers. KCHD and MDHHS are devising methodology to conduct the agency’s largest-ever health impact survey in the area. KCHD’s commitment to acting as an advocate for residents led the agency to seek federal help from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Excellence in Innovation:
17th Circuit Court
The 17th Circuit Court established a Girls’ Court. In collaboration with Community Family Partnership and Wedgwood, the Court secured program funding and trauma therapy for the girls and their families. Girls’ Court serves girl offenders by providing intensive treatment, incentives, community-based support while strengthening family relationships.
Excellence in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (new for 2018):
Kent County Prosecutor’s Office
The Prosecutor’s Office established a program with the Hispanic Center to send a victim witness advocate to the Hispanic Center once a month, to provide an open and non-threatening space to meet and discuss issues their clients may be having in the court system. The advocates meet with victims of domestic violence who may be afraid to file a report, witnesses who may be afraid to go to the courthouse, or any other person at the Hispanic Center who may have questions regarding anything pertaining to the criminal justice system.
The Chairman’s Award (For Grit and Determination)
This year The Chairman’s Award recognized two teams: the A360 Implementation Team (staff from Fiscal Services, Human Resources and Information Technology) that worked diligently over the past three years to implement an integrated Financial Management System; and those who completed the Kent County Community Action (KCCA) merger (employees from KCCA, Information Technology, Fiscal Services, Human Resources and Facilities Management) to deliver more effective and efficient community services.
People who live in the City of Grand Rapids — particularly those who live in homes built before 1978 — probably have lead in the paint inside and outside their homes. Lead is bad — especially for kids, babies and pregnant women. It causes brain damage and learning disabilities.
Some key points:
Lead poisons people — especially kids — and can cause lifelong problems.
Grand Rapids zip code 49507 continues to lead state for most lead-poisoned kids.
Prevention is key.
Lead poisoning can be prevented. There’s HUD funding to remove lead paint SAFELY through a program known locally as Get the Lead Out!The program is led by the city of Grand Rapids in collaboration with the Healthy Homes Coalition of West Michigan, the Kent County Health Department and the Rental Property Owners Association.
Recently, the program was simplified, making participation free for eligible homeowners. The program is available to renters, homeowners and landlords who meet certain eligibility requirements. Repairs typically include new windows and siding.
“This is a great opportunity to improve your home and make it healthier,” says Doug Stek, housing rehabilitation supervisor with the City of Grand Rapids. “Sometimes people will attempt to remove lead paint by themselves – scraping and removing the paint – but that can be dangerous and make a bad situation worse. Highly trained contractors work to make homes lead-safe through the Get the Lead Out! program. Think about it: just a week or two to improve your home and, most important, to help the people who live in it.”
“I would encourage the community to take advantage of these funds for the sake of our children,” says Kent County Commissioner Robert S. Womack. “When I ran for office, this was my No. 1 issue. Keeping our kids healthy is crucial — they are our future.”
It doesn’t take much lead to create a toxic situation. One gram of lead dust is enough to make 25,000 square feet of flooring hazardous for young children, according to research jointly conducted by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (US-EPA).
“We’re talking an amount as small as the equivalent of a packet of Sweet’N Low — just that small amount is enough to contaminate the floors of a dozen homes in Grand Rapids,” says Paul Haan, executive director of the Healthy Homes Coalition of West Michigan.
“More and more people are learning that lead is bad, but a lot of people still don’t know what lurks in their home and how it can harm children. And many don’t know that there’s funding to help safely remove lead paint. That’s why we are relentless about spreading the word about this critical issue,” Haan said.
The Healthy Homes Coalition of West Michigan has a five-point plan that spans discussions at state, county and local levels. Healthy Homes recommends that
All children under age 6 must be tested, especially at ages 1 and 2. When a child is lead poisoned, the source of poisoning needs to be discovered.
Homes must be tested before more children are poisoned.
Homes must be fixed before more children are poisoned.
Contractors must work lead-safe.
The community must be engaged and listened to every step of the way.
RENTERS, HOMEOWNERS, LANDLORDS: If you live in and / or own a home in the city of Grand Rapids, contact the Healthy Homes Coalition of West Michigan at (616) 241-3300 or go to gettheleadoutgr.org to learn more. Or, contact the city of Grand Rapids Community Development Department at 616-456-3030. The HUD funding, and the time frame to participate, is limited.
Kent County’s Board of Commissioners, Administrator’s Office and Cultural Insight Council are proud to host an event in memory of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on the 50th Anniversary of his assassination.
“Honoring the Dream” will bring the community together to demonstrate the unity and inclusion Kent County embraces. The event will be open to the public and held on Calder Plaza, April 4, starting at noon.
“For some of us, the terrible, tragic images of April 4, 1968 are forever etched into our minds,” said Wayman Britt, Kent County Administrator/Controller. “We — as a society — have grown over the past fifty years. Unfortunately, we still see racism, divisiveness, and prejudice today. The goal of this special event is to bring awareness of the life and work of Dr. King and to reflect on how we all can strive to eliminate hatred and bigotry.”
The event was the idea of the Cultural Insight Council (CIC), a self-directed workgroup of more than two dozen individuals from County departments.
“We wanted to gather as a community and spend a few minutes reflecting on the lessons of Dr. King’s life and death,” said Darius Quinn, Human Resources Manager and Chair of the CIC, which was formed in 2001. “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.”
The Board of Commissioners have voiced support for the King legacy and will present a Proclamation during the event.
“Kent County is ethnically and racially diverse,” said Jim Saalfeld, Kent County Board Chair. “Therefore, our ability to serve the public in a culturally-competent manner is critical to what we are called to do. I am proud of the work of the CIC and how the employees of Kent County are willing to address this important aspect of public service.”
For crowd planning purposes, the county asks for RSVPs at cic@kentcountymi.gov .
On the latest episode of WKTV Journal: In Focus is Kent County Administrator Wayman Britt, who has been serving as Interim County Administrator/Controller starting in July 2017 before being named to the county’s top management position in January.
While Britt’s impressive resume includes positions at Steelcase, Inc. and Michigan National Bank before joining the county — and management oversight for the Health Department, the Community Development and Housing Department, and Veterans Services with the county — he also played basketball for the University of Michigan, and was part of the school’s National Championship runner-up in 1976.
Given this week’s Wolverine return visit to the Final Four, In Focus host Ken Norris just had to ask Britt about the lessons he learned on the basketball court and how that impacts his management style today.
Also on the episode, Christine Mwangi, founder and president of the Grand Rapids based Be A Rose non-profit, which advocates for and educates on women’s health issues. She was born in Kenya, immigrated to American when she was 11, gained a bachelors degree in the United States and a masters in the United Kingdom. Now, while she is now firmly rooted in West Michigan, Be A Rose’s name and inspiration returns, again, to Africa and to Mwangi’s paternal grandmother.
The entire episode of “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.
The episode will debuted on WKTV cable channels on Tuesday, March 27, and will again air on Thursday, March 29, also at 6:30 p.m., and will continue on the same days and times the week of March 19. But all interviews included in episodes of WKTV Journal: In Focus are also available on YouTube at WKTVVideos.
The Kent County Board of Commissioners voted this morning to approve the addition of two full-time Public Health Epidemiologist positions in the Health Department; one to assist with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), vapor intrusion and other environmental issues, and the other to address the opioid epidemic.
In 2017, the Health Department became aware of an investigation by the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) regarding contaminated groundwater in the Belmont area. Water in a number of homes in that area is contaminated with PFAS. “The staff at the Health Department have been on the front lines of informing and educating residents regarding test results, the known health consequences of PFAS, and ways to limit exposure,” said Jim Saalfeld, Chair of the Kent County Board of Commissioners. “As more areas of contamination are discovered, it is clear we need to adjust staffing levels to meet the needs of our residents.”
The person hired for this Epidemiologist position will be expected to provide subject matter expertise, conduct health surveillance, coordinate specimen collection, exercise legal authorities when applicable under direction of the Health Officer, communicate with residents and health providers, and be the primary intermediary with other agencies. In addition to PFAS, this role is also necessary to assist in the investigation and response of other environmental public health threats such as vapor intrusion.
The second position will provide leadership and administration of the Kent County Opioid Task Force (KCOTF). This Task Force convened three years ago under the coordination of the Red Project. “In Kent County, the rate of overdose deaths has increased four-fold since 2000, with 70 opioid-related deaths and over 680 opioid overdose-related Emergency Department visits in 2016,” said Adam London, Administrative Health Officer for Kent County. “In 2017, Kent County reported 93 opioid-related deaths with an average age of 39 years old, and we still are awaiting toxicology reports on a number of suspicious deaths. The staff of the Health Department are in a unique position to provide leadership in efforts to address education, prevention and access to recovery services.” The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently called the opioid issue “the largest man-made epidemic in the history of the world.”
The cost of both full-time positions will be funded by General Funds previously appropriated to the 2017-18 Health Fund budget for Emerging Issues. The Board is continuing to work with State lawmakers to make additional funding for these issues a priority in the 2019 Michigan budget.
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) recently advised the Kent County Health Department of contamination of fish from Freska and Versluis lakes, both of which are located in Plainfield Township. MDHHS caught and tested fish in the lakes last year for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and mercury. Staff set “Eat Safe Fish” guidelines for fish caught in these lakes to protect everyone, including children, pregnant and breastfeeding women, and people with existing health problems such as cancer or diabetes.
Eat Safe Fish recommendations are provided as “MI Servings.” Think of the Michigan mitten shape: one MI Serving for adults is 6-8 ounces of fish (about the size of an adult’s hand). For children, one MI Serving is 2-4 ounces of fish (about the size of an adult’s palm).
FRESKA LAKE: Bluegill, sunfish, largemouth bass, and smallmouth bass filets were collected from Freska Lake in 2017 and tested for PFAS and mercury. PFAS and mercury was found in all the fish species. MDHHS issued the following recommendations for eating fish from Freska Lake:
Versluis Lake
VERSLUIS LAKE: Northern Pike were tested from Versluis Lake in 2017; PFAS and mercury were detected.
MDHHS issued the following recommendations for eating fish from Versluis Lake:
An advisory has been added on the Kent County PFAS information pages at www.accesskent.com/PFAS.
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.
The Middleville dam has failed, releasing additional water downstream. The river will continue to rise through tonight.
Early this morning the Kent County Sheriff’s Marine Division assisted Plainfield Township in rescuing a resident on Willow Drive NE. The resident was rescued safely. More than 100 residents in Kent County have evacuated their homes this week due to rising floodwaters. Don’t wait until it’s too late to leave a dangerous situation. The staff from Kent County Emergency Management is asking residents facing safety issues over floodwaters to determine if there is a safety issue in your home, and if so, to self-evacuate and call for help if you need it.
“Use good sense and be ready to evacuate at a moment’s notice,” said Kent County Emergency Management Coordinator Jack Stewart. “If you feel you are in a dangerous situation, evacuate immediately. If you need assistance leaving, call 911. Do not try to ‘ride it out’ if there is a potential for injury.” Stewart adds that if you live in a flood-prone area, have an evacuation plan. Be sure you have a preparedness kit with a flashlight, batteries, first aid supplies and cash. Put all medications and important documents where they are easily accessible if you need to leave immediately. Make sure you communicate your whereabouts with loved ones.
This morning Barry County informed Kent County officials that the spillway of the Middleville dam on the Thornapple River has failed and released additional water downstream. Caledonia Fire Department will be monitoring the Thornapple and reporting changes to staff at Emergency Management. Residents throughout Kent County can obtain updates about flooding along with information and fact sheets atwww.accesskent.com/News/flood.
Grand Rapids Fire Chief John Lehman is reminding the community to stay away from the water’s edge.
“The river is moving at a dangerous clip,” Chief Lehman said. “We are asking the community to keep a safe distance from the river to ensure everyone’s safety.” For updates on river conditions and the City’s response, visit www.grandrapidsmi.gov/Home/Emergency-Announcements/Important-Weather-Update. Grand Rapids residents with concerns about the water levels and questions may call the City’s 311 Customer Service at 311 or 616-456-3000.
Kent County Road Commission (KCRC) reminds residents and motorists experiencing an emergency situation on roadways to call 911. KCRC will respond as directed by law enforcement. KCRC will update road closures twice a day: after 9:00 a.m. and after 3:30 p.m. on their website at www.kentcountyroads.net/news/entry/flooding-information, as well as the KCRC Facebook and Twitter pages. Please slow down and heed road warnings and closures.
KCRC Roads Closed Due to Water over Road (February 23, 2018 at 9:15 a.m., subject to change)
Ashley (5 Mile Rd to 6 Mile Rd)
Summit (12 Mile Rd to 13 Mile Rd)
Friske (12 Mile Rd to Rector)
Whipple (Shaner to Myers Lake)
Ashley Ave (7 Mile Rd to M-44)
Reeds Lake Blvd (East Beltline Ave to Manhattan)
Division Ave (7 Mile Rd to 8 Mile Rd)
Konkle (east of Jupiter)
Indian (off West River)
River Point (off Indian)
Abrigador Trail (off West River)
Abrigador Trail (off West River Center)
Willow (off 4 Mile Rd)
Willow (off Canright)
Willow (off Bailey Park)
Walnut Park (off Northland Dr)
Shady Dr (off Knapp St)
Forest Ridge (off Coit Ave)
Michigan St (Twin Lakes Ave to Crahen)
60th St (Bancroft to M-50)
60th St (Pratt Lake Ave to Montcalm Ave)
64th St (East of Pratt Lake Ave)
Wingeier Ave (64th St to 68th St)
Pratt Lake Ave (64th St to 68th St)
Montcalm Ave (Flat River Dr to Covered Bridge Rd)
68th St (Wingeier to Pratt)
Jackson St (M-21 to Oberley Dr)
Grand River Dr (Jackson St to Montcalm Ave)
Riverbend between Butterworth and Veterans Dr (City of Walker)
White Street west of Franklin Avenue and Division Avenue (City of Grandville)
National Weather Service River Warnings
(February 23, 2018 at 8 a.m.; subject to change)
Thornapple River Near Caledonia: through Monday morning. Thursday the stage was 10.8 feet. Flood stage is 10.0 feet. The river will continue rising to near 12.0 feet by after midnight tonight. The river will fall below flood stage Tuesday.
Grand River in Ada: through Tuesday night. Thursday the stage was 20.2 feet. Flood stage is 20.0 feet. Moderate flooding expected, with levels to rise above flood stage by this evening and continue to rise to near 22.5 feet Saturday. The river will fall below flood stage Tuesday afternoon.
Grand River at Grand Rapids: through Wednesday afternoon. Thursday the stage was 16.7 feet (flood stage is 18.0 feet). The forecast calls for the river to rise above flood stage after midnight tonight and continue to rise to near 21.5 feet Sunday morning. The river will fall below flood stage by Wednesday morning.
Grand River at Comstock Park: until further notice. Thursday the stage was 14.6 feet (flood stage is 12.0 feet). The river is expected to rise to 17.8 feet by early Saturday afternoon with additional rising possible thereafter. Approximately 100 homes in Comstock Park and Plainfield Township are impacted at this time.
Grand River at Lowell: through Wednesday afternoon. Thursday the stage was 15.9 feet; flood stage is 15.0 feet. Moderate flooding is expected as the river will continue rising to near 18.4 feet by tonight. The river will fall below flood stage Tuesday.
With the amount of rain that has happened over the last couple of days, flooding has become a concern in most of Kent County.
Kent County Emergency Management, along with numerous agencies, continues to monitor and respond to flooding emergencies being seen throughout the area. Floodwaters are having a dramatic impact on transit and housing. The waters will likely continue to rise through Saturday, causing many additional concerns for businesses and residents.
“The Sheriff’s Office and I are working closely with the National Weather Service, State and County agencies, the City of Grand Rapids, other impacted communities, as well as American Red Cross and Salvation Army,” said Kent County Emergency Management Coordinator Jack Stewart. “Our primary goal is the safety and well-being of our residents and first responders. While the levels are not expected to be as high as they were in 2013, we still need to be as diligent in our response.”
In the cities of Wyoming and Kentwood, flooding has been reported on Patterson Avenue (28th Street to Burton Avenue) along eat right lane in both directions; the northbound US-131 off ramp to 54th Street and the northbound US-131 off ramp to 28th Street. For a current list of flooded roads, check the bottom of this story or visit the Kent Count Road Commission’s Facebook page.
The City of Grand Rapids is working closely with Kent County Emergency Management and the National Weather Service on monitoring water levels and is prepared to activate its flood plan, Fire Chief John Lehman said.
“We are working to communicate to all parties directly impacted if flooding occurs and who have flood protection measures in place,” Lehman said. “We are well-prepared to respond if flooding occurs.” The City’s upgraded flood wall system provides protection up to 25 feet of river crest. Grand Rapids residents with concerns about the water levels and questions may call the City’s 311 Customer Service at 311 or 616-456-3000.
The Kent County Road Commission (KCRC) is updating information on road closures regularly on its website as well as social media accounts. “KCRC crews continue to investigate standing water and flooded areas and are placing barricades and flashers where necessary. We are assessing roads and are closing/opening them as conditions warrant. Motorists are asked to slow down and heed warnings and closures,” said Kent County Road Commission Managing Director Steve Warren. “Today, our crews will continue clearing catch basins, cleaning spillways, repairing washouts and patching potholes. In these conditions, heavy grading equipment would worsen conditions on gravel roads. Therefore, crews will grade gravel roads when dryer conditions allow.”
Again, reminders regarding flooding:
Turn Around, Don’t Drown. This National Weather Service motto reminds us of the danger of floodwaters. Just two feet of floodwaters can sweep away a car. If you see flood water in the road, or barricades/signs posted on roads, for your safety and that of first responders, please turn around and take a different route.
Do not try to walk or swim through flood waters. River and creek waters can move fast and carry debris that can be dangerous. Six inches of fast-moving flood water can knock people off their feet.
If you have water in your home/basement, it could be contaminated with pollutants. Handle items that come in contact with flood waters with care, either by disposing of wet items or when possible, cleaning wet items with a disinfectant.
Keep pets away from flood waters.
If you live in an area prone to flooding, make sure personal identification items (i.e. passports and birth certificates) are protected. Back up computer files and keep them in a safe place or store them in a cloud-based service.
Stay tuned to alerts via TV, radio or weather apps for your phone.
If you are in need of shelter, contact American Red Cross at 616.456.8661.
KCRC Roads Closed Due to Water over Road (February 21, 2018 at 8 a.m., subject to change)
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.
