The Week in Review: Sept. 6, 2024

THE WEEK IN REVIEW

Sept. 6, 2024

Al Vanderberg, County Administrator

Good afternoon Chair Stek and Commissioners,

I hope you all had a great week! For those of you with children, I trust the transition back to school is going smoothly.

As many of you have seen, we recently announced two important appointments this week: Julia Kelly as Public Defender for the Office of Public Defender, and Ryan Grams as Veterans Service Director. These announcements have been met with positive feedback from various sectors of the community, which is fantastic to see.

A quick reminder, we will be holding two informational sessions on the Sustainable Business Park 2.0 Plan next week. These will take place immediately following the LHR meeting on Tuesday and after the Board meeting on Thursday. I encourage you to attend one of these sessions to learn more about the updates in the plan.

We are also excited to be hosting our Local Units Fall Quadrant Meeting at MSU Extension on Tuesday afternoon. During the last election season, attendance at our Fall meetings was lower than usual, likely due to the campaign period. This year, we've decided to hold a single quadrant meeting for all local leaders.

Have a great weekend, and we hope to see you at one of the upcoming events!

John Ball Zoo Parking Expansion Approval

On August 26, 2024, the John Ball Zoo (JBZ) formally requested permission as required under Article 5 of the operating agreement to implement their parking lot expansion project. This expansion was part of an amendment to the JBZ Master Plan which was approved by the Board of Commissioners in January 2024. I have reviewed the request against the consent criteria listed in section 5.3 of the agreement and have determined that the zoo has satisfied each criterion. Therefore, I have sent formal approval to the JBZ. Click here to review a detailed memo on the project, rendering, criteria and corresponsing explanations.

Fiscal Services Report - Economic Development

As required by our Economic Development policy, Fiscal Services has prepared a financial analysis report which measures the "cost" of economic development activities undertaken by our local units of governments. If you have any questions about the information in the report, please contact Jeff Dood.

Coalition for Emergency Response and Critical Infrastructure

At Verizon's request, we participated in a briefing regarding the Coalition for Emergency Response and Critical Infrastructure and their concerns over a potential Federal Communications Commission (FCC) change to the 4.9 GHz communications band.

The Coalition notes: "The 4.9 GHz band was designated by the FCC more than 20 years ago to support public-safety entities in mission-critical communications, which protect life, health, and property. Currently home to more than 3,500 local licensees, the band has attracted significant investment of scarce public-safety resources, enabling a wide range of advanced, locally controlled applications. A proposal pending before the FCC would radically restructure the band by moving it to FirstNet, which has an exclusive agreement with AT&T. If adopted, local public-safety choice and control of this critical spectrum resource would be eliminated."

We are working to determine what impact (if any) there would be to Kent County. Verizon is sending us additional information.

Transition of Medical Director Dr. Bora

Dr. Nirali Bora, who has served as the Health Department's Medical Director for the past six years, is embarking on new endeavors. Her tenure, marked by unprecedented challenges in public health, showcased her unwavering dedication. A family physician by background, Dr. Bora's passion for equitable access to healthcare has been a driving force throughout her time with us. Her contributions have made a lasting impact, and we are deeply grateful for her service.

As background, the Medical Director, required by Michigan's Public Health Code, issues standing orders, oversees licensed health professionals, advises the Administrative Health Officer, and collaborates with hospitals and clinics in the region.

Foreclosure Report

Per state law, the Treasurer submitted the required report detailing any outstanding balances and contingent costs related to foreclosed properties. These costs may include title issues, environmental remediation, or other legal claims as determined by the foreclosing governmental unit.

The law mandates that Kent County, as the foreclosing governmental unit, must submit this report to the Board of Commissioners and the State Treasurer no later than September 30 of the second calendar year following the foreclosure. On August 29, our office received the Form 5840 Report from the Treasurer, which has also been forwarded to the Michigan Department of Treasury. If you have any questions regarding this report, please contact the Treasurer.

Back to School for Children's Special Health Services The Children's Special Health Care Services Team in the Health Department hosted the 3rd Annual Back to School event. This year was the largest yet with over 200 registered families. Thanks to generous partners, nearly 80 backpacks, 65 pairs of sneakers and many toys were given away.

As a reminder, today is the last day to submit any feedback on the strategic communication plan.

Major Initiatives

Click the box below to access the 2024 Major Initiatives.

You will need to log into Windows with your Kent County credentials to access the site.

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