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A Note From the Administrator
The days are getting shorter and there is a chill in the air ... Halloween has arrived. Our various teams are celebrating tomorrow with a group Halloween costume competition and the winning team/department will be selected by Judges Ackert, Hillary and Gardner, so that should be a lot of fun.
Last Monday, we had a busy day of hosting both Governor Gretchen Whitmer, discussing veteran affairs legislation, at our Administration Building and Attorney General Dana Nessel, discussing the use of Opioid settlement funds, at our Health Department. We were happy to have them and to show the important work we are doing in Kent County.
I also had the pleasure of recently attending the NAACP Freedom Fund Gala. There was great entertainment, food, fellowship, and provided an opportunity to celebrate the successes of the NAACP over the last year. I thoroughly enjoyed the keynote presentation by Sonja Forte, Executive Director of Baxter Community Center, which focused on the night's theme of "Freedom."
Please let us know if you have articles, topics, or ideas that you would like to include in future newsletters.
- Al Vanderberg
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Governor Whitmer Visits To Speak About Legislation Supporting Disabled Veterans and Their Families
We were proud to host Governor Gretchen Whitmer, Stan Stek, Chair of the Kent County Board of Commissioners, Todd Butler from Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency, and a military spouse, at the Kent County Administration Building to talk about recently-signed legislation that supports disabled veterans and their families. Several Kent County Commissioners, area veterans, and representatives of Kent County Veterans Services also attended this special event.
The legislation that was passed amends the General Property Tax Act, ensuring the spouses of disabled veterans keep their property tax exemptions after their spouse passes away which removes barriers to this financial relief.
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Damage to Millennium Park Due to Spartan Race
Millennium Park hosted the Spartan Race the weekend of October 21-22 which was sponsored by the West Michigan Sports Commission and Experience Grand Rapids. Spartan races, which are hosted all over the United States and in 30 other countries, feature a series of obstacles varying difficulties and vary in distance from three miles to ultra-marathon distance. The Millennium Park event featured both a sprint (5k) and super (10k) race and brought in nearly 10,000 racers and spectators from all over the country.
While the event was a success, the intensive use coupled with prolonged precipitation led to greater then anticipated damage to the park. The good news is that none of the damage is considered long-term or unfixable, and the Spartan race is contractually obligated to any repairs and restoration required as a result of the event. Parks staff has been meeting with the race staff daily to coordinate the repair and restoration efforts, but the continued rain has delayed some of the efforts, particularly in regards to turf restoration. Ultimately, our Parks staff is confident Millennium Park will make a full recovery.
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Health Department Discusses Use Of Opioid Settlement Funds with Attorney General Dana Nessel
Attorney General Dana Nessel visited the Kent County Health Department (KCHD) last week to listen to ideas and plans for the use of Kent County's opioid settlement dollars, which have been designated to combat the opioid epidemic. Along with KCHD staff, attendees included members of the County Board of Commissioners, the Kent County Opioid Task Force, the Sheriff’s Office, treatment providers, healthcare providers, prevention experts, and other interested stakeholders, whose ideas will help form the backbone of the plan.
Currently, the state of Michigan is slated to receive nearly $800 million over 18 years, with Kent County expected to receive approximately $12 million. Members of the Kent County Opioid Task Force and County staff are formulating a spending plan prioritizing: expanded distribution of naloxone and fentanyl test strips, an investment in community-based recovery coaching, growth in the correctional facility's medication-assisted treatment program, and an increase in educational resources. Another key part of the plan is data collection, program monitoring, and evaluation to ensure positive outcomes from the investments.
The proposed spending plan is projected to be reviewed and approved by the Kent County Board of Commissioners in the months ahead.
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Sieracki Family Celebrates Preservation of 67 Acre Farm
County Commissioners Stan Ponstein (District 7), Walter Bujak (District 21), Jennifer Merchant (District 3), Carol Hennessy (District 14), and Lisa Oliver-King (District 15) along with Agricultural Preservation Board Members, neighbors and fellow farmers had the opportunity to celebrate the "Preserved Farmland" sign dedication for Sieracki Farm, which the County recently purchased the development rights for their land in Grattan Township. Along with the sign dedication, guests also participated in the 2023 Michigan Apple Crunch (pictured above), a synchronized effort to crunch into a local Michigan apple on October 12, promoting National Farm to School Month.
The Purchase of Development Rights Program is voluntary and compensates owners of agricultural property for their willingness to accept a permanent deed restriction on their land. Our Agricultural Preservation Board reviews applications and selects farms based on a variety of factors, such as its abundance of prime and unique soils, diversity of agricultural production, proximity to other protected parcels, and more. The Agricultural Preservation Board then makes a recommendation to the Board of Commissioners for approval of the top applications and then staff applies to grants for purchasing the development rights.
Farmland protection and preservation is important because residents value the agricultural heritage of our region - the ready access to fresh farm products, environmental benefits of the land, as well as the protection of the rural lifestyle that characterizes much of Kent County. As one of the most agriculturally productive counties in the state (with a market value of over $231 million annually), it is also an important sector of our economy and provides many jobs.
Over 900 Teddy Bears Donated to Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital In Memory of Yogi, Brown Bear at John Ball Zoo
John Ball Zoo delivered more than 900 teddy bears and stuffed animals to Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital to bring comfort to children throughout their stay in the hospital. The stuffed animals were collected throughout the month of October to honor the life of Yogi, a longtime brown bear at John Ball Zoo.
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New 17th Circuit Court Deputy Circuit Court Administrator
Welcome Sandra Vanderhyde, our new 17th Circuit Court’s Deputy Circuit Court Administrator. Vanderhyde comes from the Circuit Court in Muskegon County where she has worked since 2012, first as Deputy Court Administrator and then as Circuit Court Administrator, a position she took in 2017. In that role, she oversaw the Civil/Criminal and Family Divisions of Circuit Court (including the Muskegon County Juvenile Detention Center and the Friend of the Court Office).
Vanderhyde is a certified court manager through the Institute for Court Management and she serves as a member of several statewide boards and committees. Earlier this year, she was appointed to be on the Justice For All Committee by the Michigan Supreme Court. She holds a Law Degree from Michigan State University.
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Department of Public Works' Fall Recycling Guide
 The Department of Public Works has developed their annual Fall Recycling Guide, an initiative that helps educate residents and works to ensure recyclable and hard to dispose of materials don’t end up in a landfill. To view the Fall Recycling Guide, visit here.
“The fall season and fall holidays can bring about a lot of waste, from food containers to costumes to decorations, so it’s important residents are knowledgeable about what can be recycled and put to better use than sitting in a landfill,” said Micah Herrboldt, waste reduction educator at the DPW. “We’re proud of our community’s commitment to recycling and reducing waste all year round.”
Support for Kent County Animal Shelter and Its Services
This month, the Kent County Animal Shelter (KCAS) received support from Kellogg Community Credit Union, who gave a basket of goodies for the KCAS pets and raised $500. If you or your business are interested in supporting the Animal Shelter, you can visit our website here or contact KCAS@kentcountymi.gov.
To learn more about the services the Kent County Animal Shelter provides, you can download this flyer. And there are always dogs and cats looking for forever homes! To view a full list of animals available for adoption, visit our Petfinder here.
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Are you signed up for the Community Action newsletter?
Our new Kent County Community Action quarterly newsletter is packed with information. By subscribing, you'll be able to stay up-to-date with everything going on within their programs, volunteer opportunities, employee spotlights, and more.
It's easy to sign up for our newsletters. Simply visit our website and click on the "Newsletter Sign-up" button. From there, you can choose your subscription preferences, including which topics you'd like to receive updates on. There are various subscription options available from our County Administrator or Health Department; our news releases and more.
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Looking for a rewarding career? Consider Kent County!
Working for the County, you will have the opportunity to serve the public and contribute to your community. We have employment opportunities in general government, health, public safety, judicial, recreational, and much more. To view our open positions and apply, please visit accesskent.com/jobs.
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