Governor Appoints Clay M. West to 17th Circuit Court
Governor Whitmer last week announced the appointment of Clay M. West to the 17th Circuit Court. West is currently an Assistant United States Attorney with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Michigan. He is also a Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Army Reserve, now serving as a Military Judge with the U.S. Army Trial Judiciary, 4th Judicial Circuit.
This appointment fills a partial term following the election of Judge Feeney to the 3rd District Court of Appeals. West's term will begin on April 17, 2023. If Mr. West wishes to serve the remainder of Judge Feeney's term, expiring January 1, 2027, he is required to run for reelection in November of 2024.
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Rental Assistance Now Available For Qualified Residents Living Outside of Grand Rapids and Wyoming
Rental assistance is now available for Kent County renters who live outside of Grand Rapids and Wyoming. To qualify for assistance, residents must meet the following criteria:
- Renters must currently be in arrears on their current rent,
- Provide photo ID and Social Security cards for all occupants of the residence,
- Provide proof of all household income for all occupants of the residence,
- Provide a copy of current lease or rental agreement,
- Meet income guidelines, and
- Landlord participation is also required.
Funding and time is limited; therefore, we would appreciate you sharing this information to your networks. Applications can only be accepted by appointment. To schedule an appointment, call (616) 632-7950. Callers should follow system prompts to leave a message for rental assistance. A staff member will return the call as soon as possible.
Cannonsburg Recreation and Ski Area
The Cannonsburg Recreation and Ski Area is a unique and treasured community asset that has served residents and visitors since 1965 and is the only ski operation in Kent County. Cannonsburg provides a safe place for our youth to learn a new sport, have fun, form relationships, compete, and build a lifelong passion for the outdoors. Many recognize Cannonsburg as a four seasons park that is a recreational destination for skiers, snowboarders, and tubers as well as mountain biking enthusiasts, hikers, runners, birders, and others. Kent County has been working collaboratively with the owner of the Cannonsburg Recreation and Ski Area to explore options for preserving this community treasure for future generations.
On March 31, the Kent County Parks Department submitted a grant to the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund (MNRTF) to fund the acquisition of the acreage surrounding Cannonsburg (approximately 160 acres) that consists mostly of deep woods and natural areas, with approximately 11 miles of natural surface/mountain biking trails. This acreage also contains 1,800 LF of Bear Creek and 19 acres of sensitive wetlands. Preserving these 160 acres is a priority to Kent County because of its recreational and environmental value as well as its proximity to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources’ Cannonsburg State Game Area and to other County parks, including Townsend Park, Pickerel Lake Park, and the new James and Shirley Balk Family Park. The MNRTF grant award recommendations to the Michigan Legislature will be revealed in December 2023.
Kent County has also engaged with a specialized consulting firm to provide advice and recommendations regarding the acquisition of the skiing/tubing hill and physical assets at Cannonsburg. This process will reveal options for preserving this asset to ensure it can be operated sustainably under County ownership while allowing for ongoing public enjoyment by our residents. The consultant’s recommendations will guide decision making as part of the necessary due diligence moving forward. This process will in no way impact the ongoing operation of Cannonsburg.
County Clerk Testified Before Congress
Kent County Clerk Lisa Posthumus Lyons testified last week before the U.S. Committee on House Administration’s Subcommittee on Elections.
At the hearing, entitled “2022 Midterms Look Back Series: Election Observer Access”, Clerk Lyons shared with committee members her experiences in administering elections in Kent County, and the vital role that poll challengers play in ensuring secure, transparent, fair, and accurate elections.
Community Mental Health Board (Network 180) Vacancies
There are currently four openings on the Community Mental Health Board (Network 180) for those who have experience in providing, receiving, and working with mental health services. If you or someone you know are interested in serving on this Board, please submit an online application apply by April 16. This is a great opportunity to help shape the direction of mental health services in our community.
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New Board of Commissioners Staff
Regina MacMillan recently joined the Administrator's Office in the role of Board Liaison. MacMillan comes from Ottawa County where she served as Board Liaison and Executive Assistant to the County Administrator. She previously worked as a supervisor at the Ottawa County Mental Health and Public Health Departments.
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Migrant Child Labor Bi-Lingual Resource Document
(Hollin De La Cruz, Welcome Plan Coordinator)
The Kent County Welcome Plan Steering Committee and leadership team met with community partners to discuss the recent New York Times article that highlighted unaccompanied children labor law violations in Grand Rapids and across the United States. In response, the Welcome Plan team created a communications sheet with education and resources to address these labor violations in Kent County. Click here to access the document in English and click here to access it Spanish.
Ford International Airport Ranked One of the Best Airports in North America for Guest Experience
(Heidi Groenboom, Communications and Event Associate)
Airports Council International World, the trade association of the world’s airports, announced the recipients of its 2022 Airport Service Quality awards. The Gerald R. Ford International Airport earned multiple awards in the following categories:
- Best Airport of 2 to 5 Million Passengers in North-America
- Airport with the Most Dedicated Staff in North-America
- Easiest Airport Journey in North-America
- Cleanest Airport in North-America
This year’s results recognized 75 airports across the world as the best airports for guest experience, as selected by the passengers. Compared to other programs in the aviation industry, the Airport Service Quality awards are based on live research gathered via surveys at the airport - directly from travelers – rating their satisfaction on the day of travel.
“We are honored to accept these awards in recognition of our Airport’s efforts to make the passenger journey as smooth and enjoyable as possible,” said Tory Richardson, president and CEO of the Gerald R. Ford International Airport Authority. “This is a testament to the hard work and commitment of the many employees and partners at our Airport who strive to provide travelers with a world-class experience."
Ford International Airport is currently undergoing one of the largest capital expansion programs for a small-hub airport in the country, Elevate, which will redefine the guest experience with more than $500 million in airport improvements. Included in this program is the $110 million extension of Concourse A, which will more than double the length and width of the existing concourse adding new dining options, amenities, such as an executive lounge, retail options and more. Click here to learn more about the award.
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John Ball Zoo Offers Free Admission to Kent County School Groups
John Ball Zoo offers free admission to K-12 Kent County school groups thanks to funding from the 2016 John Ball Zoo and Grand Rapids Public Museum Millage. Along with the field trips, the Zoo provides a variety of free resources to teachers to expand the learning opportunities for their students. These are designed to be utilized before, during and after the Zoo experience. School groups can also add a specialized program to their field trip for a fee, such as Wild Encounters, Penguining, Zoo Careers and Exhibit Design. In addition to the free admission for students, all teachers, bus drivers and one parent chaperone per every five students receive free admission. Registration is required at least three weeks in advance. Educators can learn more about school group opportunities with the John Ball Zoo at https://jbzoo.org/education/visit-the-zoo.
Kent County DPW Relaunches Newsletter
A new, refreshed Department of Public Works (DPW) newsletter hit inboxes in March. The newsletter includes Board of Public Works updates, tips on disposal and recycling, facility updates, and answers to the difficult questions the DPW receives about hard to dispose of materials. The DPW aims to send out this general newsletter every other month. If you would like the newsletter delivered to your inbox, please subscribe.
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