A Note From The Administrator
I hope you and your family had a lovely Christmas and New Year. The holidays are a special time to gather, reflect, and celebrate the many good things that have happened throughout the year and with loved ones.
As we turn the page on a new year, we’re also looking ahead with optimism and purpose. In the months ahead, Kent County will continue advancing efforts that strengthen our community - ranging from health and human services, behavioral health, and veteran support to courts and justice programs, and public safety. We’re grateful for the partnerships, engagement, and trust of our residents, and we look forward to building on that progress together in the year ahead.
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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Two County Leaders Announce Their Retirements
We are marking the retirement of two long-serving leaders whose dedication, expertise, and commitment to public service have made a lasting impact on our organization and the community.
Linda Howell has decided to retire from her role as Corporation Counsel, effective January 23, 2026. Linda has served Kent County for nearly 20 years, providing trusted legal guidance that helped shape nearly every major County initiative during her tenure. Her thoughtful counsel, steady leadership, and collaborative approach have been invaluable.
Darius Quinn will also be retiring after more than 25 years of service to Kent County, effective January 23, 2026. Darius held several leadership roles within the Human Resources Department, most recently serving as Human Resources Manager for Employee Relations and Labor Relations. Throughout his career, he played a key role in strengthening workplace culture and advancing effective employee and labor relations practices. He also built meaningful, collaborative relationships across the organization and throughout the broader community.
I have had the privilege of working with both Linda and Darius during an earlier tenure and again upon returning to Kent County. I will greatly miss Linda’s insight, professionalism, and friendship, and I have always been impressed by Darius’s expertise and ability to drive positive change. Their leadership, dedication, and commitment to public service have left a meaningful and enduring legacy for our organization and the community.
We are extremely grateful for the many contributions Linda Howell and Darius Quinn have made over the years and wish them both the very best in their retirements.
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Reinvesting in Communities Through Our Revolving Loan Fund
We are happy to share Kent County’s 2025 Revolving Loan Fund Annual Report, which highlights the meaningful progress we’re making to expand affordable housing across West Michigan. This report reflects our commitment to using public resources thoughtfully and strategically to address one of the most pressing challenges facing our community.
Through a revolving investment model, the fund has leveraged more than $114 million to support 503 housing units, including 428 affordable homes for seniors, working families, and first-time homebuyers. The projects featured in this report demonstrate how reinvesting public dollars can strengthen neighborhoods, support economic stability, and deliver lasting, community-centered impact.
You can explore the full report to learn more about the partnerships, projects, and outcomes driving this work forward here. Additional details are also available in our accompanying press release.
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Post-Holiday Reminder: Recycle Your Broken Christmas Lights
Our Public Works department wants residents to know that they shouldn't throw away your broken holiday string lights! Cords, bulbs, and electronics like tablets contain valuable materials, such as copper, that are lost forever in a landfill.
As you pack away your holiday decorations, check every bulb and gather any broken or unwanted lights. Bring them, along with your small electronics, to one of the locations listed here. By recycling, you’re helping recover materials that can be reused, protecting our environment, and keeping our community green.
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Emergency Management Exercise To Strengthen Regional Readiness
In December, we were proud to participate in a full-scale emergency preparedness exercise led by our Emergency Management team, testing the County’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC), Joint Information Center (JIC), and Multi-Area Coordination Center (MACC).
More than 125 staff and partner agencies from across Kent County worked together to navigate real-world challenges, including coordinating multi-jurisdictional response efforts, managing limited resources, making high-level policy decisions, and delivering timely, accurate information to the public. The exercise simulated a region-wide flooding event - an emergency scenario that underscores the importance of preparation and coordination before disaster strikes.
These exercises are critical to ensuring Kent County is ready to respond quickly, effectively, and collaboratively to protect our residents, infrastructure, and communities. By investing time in preparedness today, we strengthen our resilience and our ability to serve residents when it matters most.
Health Department Releases First Childhood Obesity Surveillance Report
Our Health Department has released its first ever Childhood Obesity Surveillance Report to help our community better understand trends in childhood overweight and obesity and inform future action.
Developed in partnership with the Kent County Healthy Eating Active Living (HEAL) Taskforce, the report analyzes data from Corewell Health well-child visits conducted between 2017 and 2022. Findings show that 4 in 10 Kent County children ages 4 to 17 were identified as overweight or obese, with 2 in 10 classified as obese. The report also highlights geographic and demographic disparities, often linked to differences in access to nutritious food, preventive health care, and safe opportunities for physical activity. This is the first report of its kind produced by the Health Department, and future reports will be released every three years to monitor changes in childhood obesity rates over time.
The HEAL Taskforce is committed to reducing obesity and chronic disease among Kent County residents by bringing together health agencies, community organizations, and parks and recreation partners to promote healthy eating and active living through evidence-based, culturally responsive strategies. The Taskforce meets monthly on the third Tuesday, and agencies interested in supporting this work are encouraged to contact us here.
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The Numbers Are In: Animal Shelter Year in Review
We’re excited to share another Wrapped, highlighting the incredible impact our Animal Shelter has had this year! From happy adoptions to dedicated volunteer efforts, 2025 has been full of tail wags and purrs. This year, 1,500+ furry friends found their forever homes, with Luna topping the charts of our animal names. Our amazing volunteers contributed over 6,800 hours of love, care, and support, and 6,337 pets were licensed, helping keep our community safe and connected. Other highlights include most common species and most common dog names in Kent County.
Every adoption, every volunteer hour, and every pet license issued helps us continue our mission of finding loving homes, promoting responsible pet ownership, and caring for animals in need. Thank you to everyone - adopters, volunteers, and supporters - who made 2025 a year to remember. To see all of our available pets, and become a new pet owner in the new year, visit here.
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Breathtaking Views, Hiking, Cross-Country Skiing, And More
Winter adventures await at Kent County Parks! Fisk Knob, just one of our amazing 43 parks, features our highest point at 1,070+ feet, offering breathtaking views up to 20 miles on a clear day.
Many parks also offer off-season adventures like cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and trails for hiking or dog-walking. Some amenities may be limited, so plan ahead and enjoy the beauty of the season!
Note: Photos taken by Quan Nguyen
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Welcome Plan Receives Community Collaboration Excellence Award
Congratulations to our Welcome Plan team on receiving the Community Collaboration Excellence Award from the Coalition of African Organizations in West Michigan and the African Collaborative Network (ACN). The award was presented at the African Visioning Party in December and accepted on behalf of our Welcome Plan Coordinator Hollin De La Cruz.
This recognition from the newcomer community is especially meaningful. It reflects the power of collaboration and reinforces our shared commitment to working alongside organizations and communities across West Michigan to ensure new residents feel welcomed, supported, and valued - and that everyone has the opportunity to thrive.
John Ball Zoo Wraps Up First Season of Collaborative Spotted Turtle Work with Calvin University
John Ball Zoo has concluded its first season of collaborative spotted turtle work with Calvin University, advancing efforts to support this threatened Michigan species.
As part of a new head starting study, 11 hatchlings are being raised at Calvin with the help of students and faculty. The effort aims to reduce risk to predators before the turtles are released next spring. Teams also collected data on 234 wild spotted turtles, providing important insight into remaining populations.
“While a combination of threats has led to their population declines, a couple of the major issues are habitat loss and a lack of knowledge regarding the status and distribution of remaining populations,” said Faith Kuzma, Field Conservation Coordinator for John Ball Zoo. “Our work aims to update our understanding of where spotted turtles can be found in Michigan, so we can help land managers and state agencies design targeted conservation and management plans to maintain wild populations.”
Researchers will continue monitoring and fieldwork in 2026.
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List Of Assistance Resources Available For Veterans
Emergencies don’t always happen at convenient times, and we know that they can create added stress for veterans and their families. To help, our team at Veterans Services has compiled a comprehensive list of Emergency Assistance Resources available to veterans in Kent County. These resources are designed to provide support when you need it most, whether it’s financial help, housing guidance, or other urgent needs.
If you or someone you know could benefit, our team of Accredited Veterans Services Officers is ready to assist. You can call 616-632-5722 to speak with a team member or schedule an appointment. Additional information and resources are available online here.
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County Offices Closed in Observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day
All Kent County offices and Health Department clinics will be closed on Monday, January 19, in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Regular business hours will resume on the next business day.
This day honors the life and legacy of Dr. King and his enduring commitment to justice and service to others. We join the community in observing this important day of service.
For more information about County services, visit www.kentcountymi.gov.
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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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