Administrator's
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A Note from the Administrator 

It was a huge honor and also very humbling to recently been given the John M. Patriarche Distinguished Service Award by the Michigan Municipal Executives Association at the Michigan Municipal League Convention. The award is named for John Patriarche, longtime East Lansing City Manager of East Lansing, who modeled service impact and was appreciated on a statewide and even nationwide basis.

The World Affairs Council of Western Michigan hosted a delegation of elected Japanese officials on October 20. I served on a panel of community leaders to discuss the success in West Michigan and our ability to do public private partnerships. The panel included Tim Mroz of The Right Place, Kara Wood of Grand Action 2.0, and GVSU Professor Paul Isely. The group was invited by Tim Mroz who is also depicted in the photo below of the presenters and Japanese delegation.

As typical, your ideas for Digest articles, submissions, and comments for improvement are welcomed and encouraged. 

-Al Vanderberg 

KCSO Legacy Night Awards

(Katie Bosley, KCSO)

On Wednesday, October 19, around 200 Kent County Sheriff’s Office employees and their families came to Legacy Night to celebrate the accomplishments that our civilians and deputies have done in 2021 to protect and serve the community.

Awards were given out for Public Service Awards, Distinguished Police Awards, Life-Saving Awards, and Combat Stars. We also celebrated our “Of the Year” Awards. To see our award winners and summaries of their achievements, click here.

Congratulations to all our award winners, your exemplary service makes all the difference in our community!

DPW Hosting Free Tire Collection (Steve Faber, DPW)  Community members can safely recycle up to 10 passenger tires for free during an event hosted by the Kent County Department of Public Works (DPW). Kent County residents can drop off their old tires from 8:30-11 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2022 at the Grand Rapids SafeChem location, 1045 Wealthy St. SW. DPW’s Resource Recovery Specialists will be on hand to help unload vehicles and safely dispose of the tires for recycling. It is preferred that tires be off the rim. Tires are often found in illegal dumping sites because they are difficult and costly to get rid of. Old tires also serve as breeding grounds for mosquitos and pose fire hazards. All the tires collected on Nov. 12 will be sent to a facility that will process and recycle them into new products, such as playground resurfacing material. The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) recently launched a new state program to award grants for entrepreneurs looking to expand ways to reuse old tires. Information about the new Scrap Tire Market Development Grant can be found online.

Invest in Ability

(Teresa Branson, Chief Inclusion Officer) 

Kent County is proud to engage in the 2022 Invest in Ability event and to celebrate the new home of Disability Advocates of Kent County (DAKC) on October 20. Invest in Ability celebrates the accomplishments of community members, donors, volunteers, and staff.  With the help of the community, DAKC can remove barriers to independence and empower people with disabilities to lead self-directed lives. For more information on Invest in Ability and DAKC, visit www.dakc.us.

Kent County Probate Court Chief Judge Elected to the Judicial Section of the State Bar of Michigan  Judge David M. Murkowski, Chief Judge of the Kent County Probate Court, was recently elected by his peers as chair of the Judicial Section of the State Bar of Michigan. The Judicial Section of the State Bar of Michigan provides education, information, and analysis about issues of concern through meetings, seminars, and public service programs. “It is an honor and privilege to be elected to this position and represent all Michigan judges," Judge Murkowski said. "I look forward to providing a strong voice for my colleagues.”  Judge Murkowski assumed his responsibilities October 1, 2022.

Adoptions at the Kent County Animal Shelter 

(Angela Hollinshead, KCAS)

October is generally the month with the highest animal intake of the year. This year is no exception. Since October 1, the Kent County Animal Shelter has taken in 288 animals. We have 110 animals in our care today; 70 of those animals are dogs and puppies. Thank you to the Bissell Pet Foundation for helping us through the busiest time of the year by sponsoring adoption fees for our dogs!

We have so many awesome dogs who are ready to go home with you today - they are spayed/neutered, microchipped, heartworm tested and will be licensed at time of adoption. Our animal shelter techs are always able and willing to help you find the best match for you and your family. These little pumpkin heads can’t wait to meet you.

Visit www.kcanimalshelter.petfinder.com to view all of our adoptable pets!

Kent County Community Board Opening

The following board is accepting applications:

Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GRFIA) Authority Board - Member 3 

Endless Opportunities Youth Etiquette Dinner (Teresa Branson, Chief Inclusion Officer)  On October 19, Kent County staff engaged in Endless Opportunities Annual Youth Etiquette Dinner for middle and high school students. The event provides a plated meal for local students to learn professional dinner etiquette, while networking with local professionals. A formal dining experience can be confusing, uncomfortable, and intimidating for first time students. Thoughts of “What fork to grab?” or “Is that my cup?” can cause an overwhelming experience for first time diners. That’s why Endless Opportunities provide this energetic, organic, and memorable training and mentoring event to orientate students to the experience of professional dining. Kent County professionals were seated with students to connect, interact, and build opportunities beneficial to their futures. For more information on Endless Opportunities, visit www.endlessopportunties.org or watch the video overview of the event.

NAACP Grand Rapids Freedom Fund Gala & Awards

(Teresa Branson, Chief Inclusion Officer) 

Kent County had the opportunity to attend and celebrate The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) – Grand Rapids 56^th Freedom Fund Gala and Awards event on Friday, October 21 at the JW Marriott. The theme for the evening was “Imagine” with keynote speaker, Karen Boykin-Towns, Vice-Chair, National NAACP Board of Directors. The Gala helps to support the work of Greater GR NAACP as they strive to build a better system in which all residents have equal access to political, economic, educational, and social resources. For more information, visit www.naacpgr.com.

Kent County by the Numbers 

Kent County Parks was established in 1924 and is one of the oldest and largest county parks departments in the state of Michigan. We concentrate on managing land rich in natural resources, and providing outstanding recreational opportunities.

Over the years, our parks system has grown to include 43 parks, greenspaces and regional trails totaling 7,448 acres as of January 1, 2022. Our system’s four regional connector trails and additional trails span over 100 miles, and maintained within park borders.

Join Our Team! 

Impacting the Community Starts with You. Click here to see current career opportunities.