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A Note From the Administrator
I hope everyone had a lovely Thanksgiving with family and friends—I had a quieter day with extended family and, of course, watched the Detroit Lions in action. They do have a way of keeping us on the edge of our seats, don't they? Here's hoping for brighter days ahead in their season!
As we near the end of the year, there are quite a few pressing matters on the horizon. I encourage you to stay tuned to our Board proceedings for updates on crucial issues facing our County.
I'll be presenting a State of the Community update to business, school and community leaders in Rockford next Monday. It's an opportunity to highlight our progress and plans for the future.
Also, I will be attending the annual Road Commission dinner this week. It's always a great chance to connect and collaborate with our local leaders. On a snowy day like today, a heartfelt thank you to the Road Commission team for their dedication in clearing our roads.
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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Deborah L. McNabb Appointed Chief Judge of 17th Circuit Court
On November 15, the Supreme Court issued an order appointing Judge Deborah L. McNabb as the Chief Judge of the 17th Circuit Court (Kent County) for a two-year period.
Judge McNabb was first elected in 2016 and began serving as Judge on January 1, 2017. Prior to being elected, she served as a referee with the 17th Circuit Court.
Judge McNabb is currently the Presiding Judge of the Family Division, a position she has held since 2019. The other 13 Judges of the 17th Circuit Court unanimously recommended her for Chief Judge, which begins on January 1, 2024.
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2023 Kent County Tax Report
The 2023 Tax Report is now available. This report provides a detailed overview of the County’s operations, emphasizing the significant role the County property tax levy plays in funding essential services.
Within the report, you’ll discover data on Kent County’s population, a breakdown of the property tax levy, total tax collections, and a summary delineating how these taxes contribute to the County’s general fund.
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Employee Quality Service Awards
One of Kent County’s core values is to provide high-quality service to internal and external customers, and we acknowledge staff who showcase exemplary customer service with Quality Service Awards each quarter. It is with great pleasure that we acknowledge the Facilities Management Team at the Kent County Health Department (Alan Brunges, Daniel Kroll, Tom Paepke and Connell Traxler). The individual who nominated the team wrote:
“Alan, Dan, Connell and Tom have been working hard to update our Health Department with new paint and carpet. They even continue to balance other priorities and respond to other requests throughout the building. We are truly lucky to have such a talented team!”
Deputy Natashia Smith also received the Quality Service Award for providing high-quality service that has made a meaningful impact. The individual who nominated Natashia wrote:
"Natashia has truly made a difference within Algoma. Her 'coffee with a cop' has been warmly received; evidenced by persons coming back month after month. Her efforts to stay in touch with local businesses is a contact they value - offering suggestions and listening to concerns. She was always available to homeowner groups. These listed efforts are in addition to her completing the regular duties of Kent County Sheriff Deputy. During my tenure as a Trustee on the Algoma Board, I could count on Natashia to provide concise reports of her efforts and concerns within the township. Upon query of those concerns, she always provided calm detailed explanations. She thoroughly engaged with all members of township staff by providing vigilant consistency."
Thank you for your hard work and dedication!
Dogs and Cats Waiting For A Forever Home!
The Kent County Animal Shelter (KCAS) has so many amazing animals available for adoption. If you are looking for a companion, now is the time to adopt! Stop by today to find your new best friend and offer them a forever home. See a full list of our adoptable pets here.
Many of the dogs and cats in KCAS' care are stray animals just waiting for their families to find them. If you are missing a pet or know someone who is, please have them call KCAS or stop in. Also, we encourage anyone who has lost or found a pet to upload a photo to Petco Love Lost. Petco uses pet facial recognition to send you alerts for similar looking animals. Follow the link here: https://lost.petcolove.org/
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Deputy Julie Brown Receives Outstanding School Officer Award
Deputy Julie Brown, School Resource Officer for Comstock Park Public Schools, was awarded the Outstanding School Officer Award for 2023 by the Crime Prevention Association of Michigan.
Deputy Brown exceeds her duties as a school resource officer by constantly developing unique programs and seeking ways to engage in community outreach. Congratulations Deputy Brown!
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Committee to Honor Cesar E. Chavez Hispanic Excellence Scholarship and Community Awards
A group of Kent County staff and elected officials attended the Committee to Honor Cesar E. Chavez Hispanic Excellence Scholarship and Community Awards event on October 17, 2023. The event kicked off with a VIP Celebratory Procession that highlighted key leaders and past award recipients all while listening to the beats of the Karizma Band.
Next, Paul F. Chavez, President of the Cesar Chavez Foundation, shared words of encouragement and motivation. Guests then had the honor of celebrating the most recent scholarship and award winners from Aquinas College, Davenport University, Grand Rapids Community College and Grand Valley Statue University as well as community award honorees. Attendees appreciated the opportunity to celebrate the award winners and honor Cesar E. Chavez.
Proper Disposal of Lithium-Ion Batteries
There have been several fires caused by batteries at our Department of Public Works' (DPW) waste disposal sites in recent months. To prevent any more, our DPW staff is working hard to educate the public about how to properly dispose of their batteries.
"When lithium batteries or other lead acid batteries aren't disposed of correctly, it can cause a lot of issues," says Catelyn Kikstra, waste reduction educator, Kent County Department of Public Works. "If they enter here at the recycling center, you have a lot of fuel that could contribute to a fire from that battery."
Lithium-ion batteries can be disposed of at five SafeChem sites around Kent County, located in Rockford, Kentwood, Wyoming, Byron Center, and Grand Rapids. Lithium-ion batteries can be found in devices like cell phones, electric toothbrushes, vapes or other similar items. Lithium-ion batteries do not include your standard AA or AAA batteries, which are still safe to be disposed of like you normally would.
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Traffic Study Of US-131's South Grand Rapids Corridor
The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) has identified the segment of US-131 between M-11 (28th Street) and Wealthy Street in downtown Grand Rapids as a priority zone to be analyzed in a Planning and Environment Linkages (PEL) study. This segment has the highest traffic volumes in the area, aging pavement and bridges, closely spaced interchanges, and safety concerns. The study area incorporates portions of the cities of Grand Rapids and Wyoming. To keep updated on the findings of this project and view their materials, you can visit michigan.gov/us-131pel.
To help MDOT further understand the preferences of residents, businesses, and commuters, you can participate in a survey about the study area here.
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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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