Ribbon Cutting for Jaycee Park Renovations in Kentwood
On February 17, Kent County Community Action (KCCA) and the City of Kentwood celebrated the renovation of Jaycee Park (1088 Gentian Dr. SE) made possible by a $1M Community Development Block Grant through KCCA and a $1M city investment. The park renovation included construction of a new restroom/programing building, stream restoration, new landscaping, and improvements to the disc golf course, parking lot, basketball court, playground, paved walking trail and lighting. County staff worked with 43 contractors who involved over 200 workers during the 3 year renovation project.
Kentwood’s Mayor Kepley and Commissioner Coughlin and KCCA’s Director Gustavo Perez and Project Manager Chad Coffman were joined by other staff and supporters for a ribbon cutting followed by a special Winter Disc Golf Tournament. This is another example of a productive partnership that will benefit the community for years to come.
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KCSO Reserve Deputy Runs 40 Miles for Folds of Honor Charity
Kent County Sheriff's Office Reserve Deputy Matt Garbarino ran 40 miles on February 23 to raise awareness for Folds of Honor Michigan. His route started at American Dunes Golf Club and ended at Noto's Restaurant.
“The reason for the whole run is to support Folds of Honor and to really help people understand what that charity is about, which is raising scholarship money for family’s who’ve lost someone in the line of duty or had been disabled in the military or first responders,” said Deputy Garbarino.
Congratulations to Matt for completing your 40 mile-run and for supporting such a great cause!
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Courts Announce New Amnesty Program
For the months of March and April, the 61st District Court in Grand Rapids, the 62-B District Court in Kentwood, and the 63rd District Court are encouraging individuals with outstanding issues to resolve them without additional penalties. This new amnesty program includes waivers of late fees, bench warrant fees, and show cause fees for those who qualify.
To read the full press release, detailing the terms of the amnesty program, visit here.
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63rd District Court's Recovery Court Graduation
Congratulations to Gabe, Michael and Paul on successfully completing and graduating from the 63rd District Court's Recovery Court program!
Recovery Court is a rigorous two-year supervision program that provides substance use disorder treatment as an alternative to conventional criminal justice case processing. It consists of five phases during which participants undergo regular drug testing, home visits, review hearings, engage in recovery support activities, develop relapse prevention plans, fulfill work or school requirements, perform community service, and more.
We are so proud of Gabe, Michael and Paul for their unwavering dedication to the program, their steadfast commitment to recovery, and their embodiment of Hon. Jeffrey J. O'Hara's sentiment to "be honest, try, and never give up."
Improper Disposal of Lithium-Ion Batteries Likely Cause of Fire at Recycling & Education Center
Our Department of Public Works (DPW) recently experienced a fire at the Recycling & Education Center, likely caused by a lithium-ion battery improperly placed in a recycling cart. The facility was evacuated and trained staff and the Grand Rapids Fire Department responded to assist with extinguishing the fire that had started in the recycling pile on the tip floor.
There were no injuries or damage to equipment or the building but some recyclable material to process was destroyed and there was some water damage at the Waste To Energy facility.
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. To prevent dangerous fires, please remember to dispose of lithium-ion batteries at one of our five SafeChem sites around Kent County, located in Rockford, Kentwood, Wyoming, Byron Center, and Grand Rapids.
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Adjusted Fees Implemented at the Kent County Animal Shelter
The Kent County Board of Commissioners recently approved a new fee schedule for the Kent County Animal Shelter (KCAS) that was effective March 1, 2024. The KCAS are increasing fees to better align with operating costs.
“Many of these fees have not been adjusted in over a decade,” said KCAS Director Angela Hollinshead. “In that time, the costs for food, veterinary care and staff wages have all increased.”
A complete list of fee charges can be viewed here:https://bit.ly/48ttNaH. For more information, call 616-632-7300.
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Materials Management Planning Committee Openings
- Elected City/Village Representative
- Elected Township Representative
Qualified Kent County residents may apply by completing an online account and submitting an application. Resumes and cover letters are encouraged. To apply for one of these positions, visit here.
To learn more about the Materials Management Planning Committee, click here.
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Kent County at the 2024 GIANT Awards and Banquet
 Several Kent County employees and elected officials attended the 41st GIANT Awards held at DeVos Place in early February. According to the annual GIANT Awards website, “Dr. Patricia Pulliam and Cedric Ward in 1983 created this event to recognize African Americans who are exceptional leaders who have shaped the history, quality of life and the culture of our West Michigan communities.
This year the event was hosted by Emily Scarlett, anchor and reporter, and Jamal Spencer, former sports director, both from WZZM 13 On Your Side. Twelve community members were recognized, including educators, healthcare leaders and business owners.
In the past, several current Kent County employees/elected officials were recipients of GIANT Awards, including:
- Kevin Clemens, Circuit Court – Family Division
- Nikeidra Battle-DeBarge, Circuit Court – Family Division
- Judge Christina Elmore, 17thJudicial Circuit Court
- Darius Quinn, Human Resources
- Micheal Remo, Circuit Court – Family Division
- Huemartin Robinson, Juvenile Detention
- Michelle Smith, Prosecutor’s Office
A video of the 2024 GIANT Awards ceremony can be found here.
Newly Designed Driver's Licenses and State IDs
Michigan started to roll out its newly designed driver's licenses and IDs this month. The new card is designed to confound the counterfeiters.
Residents will receive the new license or ID if applying for their first card or when renewing or replacing their current card, the Michigan Secretary of State announced. There is no additional cost for the new card. All valid features, designations and endorsement on a current license or ID will transfer to the new one.
Michigan's old driver's license design featuring the Mackinac Bridge is valid until expiration and will phase out over five years. Driver’s licenses and IDs must be renewed every four years. Michigan residents can renew their licenses and IDs up to six months ahead of the expiration date.
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Important Update: Enhancements to Kent County's Communication Platform
Our e-mail communication system is undergoing updates on the backend to improve efficiency and functionality. While we do not anticipate any disruptions, we want to ensure that you remain informed and continue to receive newsletters and bulletins from Kent County.
To guarantee that you continue to receive all of our correspondences, we ask that you mark all emails originating from "Kent County, MI" with addresses ending in "@govdelivery.com" and "@public.govdelivery.com" as safe in your email system. This simple step will help prevent communications from going to your junk email.
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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