A Note From The Administrator
It looks like we've moved past the extreme heat for the time being! With that in mind, I hope you can join us next week, Thursday, for a fun, free afternoon at the Kent County North Community Fest, held on our North Campus in Cedar Springs. It will be a great opportunity to socialize with community members, and we’ll have lots of exciting activities, including food trucks, ice cream, kids’ games, big trucks, our mounted and K-9 units, plus over a dozen community and County departments with interactive "meet-and-greet" tables. Be sure to mark your calendar - we'd love to see you there!
Last week, I had the opportunity to visit the newly expanded offices of the West Michigan Sports Commission right across the street from our County building. They have done an excellent job of extending the open space concept and have created excellent board room space. I also attended the GRABB (Grand Rapids Area Black Business) SANKOFA Mixer & Pop-up Marketplace, where President and CEO Jamiel Robinson had another successful event underway.
As always, 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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Apply For Kent County Boards, Commissions, and Committees
Are you looking for ways to get involved in your community?
Our Board of Commissioners is seeking residents interested in serving through appointment to its boards, commissions, and committees. We are happy to highlight over 40 open seats across boards, commissions, and committees - providing opportunities for residents to shape local priorities in areas such as aging services, health policy, transportation, public infrastructure, and more! These important roles offer meaningful opportunities for residents to help shape county policies and make a real impact.
Qualified residents may learn more and apply by completing an online account and submitting an application here. The application deadline is 11:59 p.m. on September 30, 2025.
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Free Hearing and Vision Screenings For Kids
Our Health Department is offering free hearing and vision screenings for children sages 3 and up. Screenings are available in schools, preschools, day cares, or by appointment - just call 616‑632‑7047 to schedule.
Michigan law requires that all children present documentation of a hearing and vision screening, or an approved exemption, before their first day of kindergarten.
Early detection is essential: even mild, diagnosed sensory issues can impact a child’s ability to learn, follow directions, socialize, or participate fully in school. Identifying and addressing these concerns early can help prevent long-term challenges and support academic success.
We’re proud to offer this no-cost program to our community. Early screening truly can change the trajectory for kids by helping them start school with clarity, comfort, and confidence.
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Commissioners and Kent County Team Attend the Youth Fair
Our County Administrator, Al Vanderberg, and team members attended the Kent County Youth Fair in Lowell, soaking in the animal shows, exhibits, carnival rides, and vibrant community spirit.
We especially enjoyed catching up with Commissioners Liz Morse and Dave Hildenbrand, as well as County Clerk Lisa Posthumus Lyons, whose children were proudly showing animals at the Fair.
Veterans Services' Theresa Ergang Appointed Legislative Officer for Michigan Veterans
Congratulations to Theresa Ergang, one of our Accredited Veterans Services Officers, on the appointment as Legislative Officer for the Michigan Association of County Veteran Counselors (MACVC). In this role, she’ll work with MACVC leadership to help shape legislation that supports veterans across Michigan.
Ergang is a U.S. Air Force veteran and holds degrees in paralegal studies, criminal justice administration, and management. Her proven dedication to serving veterans, and her legal and advocacy experience, make this achievement well deserved.
We can't wait to see the continued impact she'll make, both here in Kent County and across the entire state!
Need Support from Veterans Services?
We are proud to have so many veterans call Kent County home and we know veterans and their families have needs that the County can support. If you or someone you know needs information about Veteran benefits, burial assistance, food assistance or other needs, reach out to our office at 616-632-5722 or visit our website. You can also find us at these community events and locations.
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Kent County Parks & Blandford Nature Center Partner For "Nature Neighbors" Program
Our successful partnership between Blandford Nature Center and our Parks Department continues to flourish this summer with the new "Nature Neighbors" program, which has been warmly received by residents and is growing significantly in popularity. This August, a series of engaging outdoor education and engagement events are scheduled throughout Kent County Parks.
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August 5 - 9 at Caledonia Lakeside Park: Programs like "Scientists in Training," "Curious about Colors," and "Introduction to Birding."
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August 12 - 16 at Long Lake Park & Caledonia Lakeside Park: Join us for "Paint in the Park," "Budding Storytellers," and "Breath and Birds."
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August 19 - 23 at Fallasburg Park: Discover "Bumblebee Nature Walk," "Water Waddlers," and "Flower Pounding."
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August 26 - 28 at Wabasis Lake Park: Try "Introductory Kayaking," "Nature Storytime," and "Kayak Paddle & Stroll."
To learn more and sign up, please visit here.
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 Next Week! Join Us For The Kent County North Community Fest!
Come out for a free, family-friendly celebration at the Kent County North Campus in Cedar Springs on Thursday, Aug. 14, from 3 - 7 p.m.
Enjoy food trucks, free ice cream, kids’ activities (face painting, balloon animals, and more), and big trucks on display. Free backpacks for K–12 students will be available while supplies last.
Meet more than 15 County departments, explore local services, and catch live demos from the Sheriff’s Office K-9 and Mounted Units.
RSVP on Facebook and join us for an afternoon of fun, connection, and community!
Partnership in Action: Tackling Housing Insecurity in Kent County
Protecting Our Community: Use SafeChem For Hazardous Waste
Our Public Works' Waste To Energy (WTE) team is working hard for residents. This facility helps to divert almost 300,000 tons of trash from the landfill every year and, as you can see in the video, the WTE facility works hard to gobble up a large variety of waste. However, it's still very important to keep dangerous items out of our trash.
Last weekend, a large propane tank made it into one of our boilers causing an explosion. Thakfully, no one was hurt and our team worked to get the boiler back up quickly.
This is a good reminder to keep all hazardous waste including propane tanks out of the trash and dispose of them properly. Residents are free to utilize the county's SafeChem program for any of those materials.
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Explore Rewarding Careers At Kent County Today
Working for the County, you will have the opportunity to serve the public and your community. We have employment opportunities in general government, health, public safety, judicial, recreational, and much more. To view our open positions and apply, visit kentcountymi.gov/jobs. To learn more about our employee value proposition, visit here.
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