[{"_1":2,"_110":-5,"_111":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86,98],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},"mediaId",6521192,"mediaKeyId","5112380-993ebd2ceda74da46fa273b3d88cf7d3","parentId",5112380,"title","Votes at a glance: finance committee advances bond recommendations, approves parks CIP transfer and out‑of‑country travel","audioSeconds",3424,"startMs",382000,"endMs",3806000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5112380-993ebd2ceda74da46fa273b3d88cf7d3&start=382&end=3806","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5112380-993ebd2ceda74da46fa273b3d88cf7d3/thumbnail_382000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6521192/Kent-County/Michigan/Votes-at-a-glance-finance-committee-advances-bond-recommendations-approves-parks-CIP-transfer-and-outofcountry-travel","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6521192-ae7151d829c9160fd345b7ff7a529777/orig.mp4?Expires=1771114796&Signature=lts7TzZrVM33azsQotw8gIr56vJ0PTTyoOl-AY7ayF3~px5BXWZjoNtjSZiLHSsEmWTMqMd3i6s5Txsns~MY8npPhJg8xapq1XkoxlTUw7jsLsMu37n2LcWAeVUDPrCquGfJku1sEVJvv8NkjzIInBIEmjEbTgMkOwblaJorTYpFs85dOQSm-3Xb0Ef5P3q~nIyy-fHFalHkiAmRg4DC1R-gB80xP88RSyDRx1~4F1bvLgWyT9Bl9Fl3WfSZmpwdW7goUNKjJn4RSQ9ttZTBWOzStW3mfFcEExvvb-nVhogWyq0LJfAGi-YpVm5isEDbY91yZWSzgtNOiegeuhw4Wg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-07-01T12:08:22Z","article","The Kent County Board of Commissioners Finance Committee approved the following motions by voice vote during the meeting:

- Consent agenda: Motion to approve the consent agenda was moved by Commissioner Oliver King and supported by Commissioner Green; committee voice vote recorded as “aye” and the motion passed.

- Parks and Recreation CIP transfer (Agenda item 5d): The committee approved transferring $582,031.67 from completed parks CIP projects to the Wallfield Park North development capital improvement project; the transfer was required to come before the Finance Committee because it exceeded the $100,000 policy threshold.

- 63rd District Court travel (Agenda item 5f): The committee approved a conference‑related out‑of‑country travel request under the employee business expense policy for 63rd District Court Judge Jeffrey J. O’Hara to attend a routine conference in Canada. The committee’s action followed a recent policy revision requiring out‑of‑continental‑U.S. travel to be reviewed by the Finance Committee.

Where recorded in the transcript, items passed by unanimous voice vote with the committee responding “aye.” The meeting transcript does not record roll‑call tallies for these votes; where vote tallies were not read into the record the article lists outcomes as recorded at the committee.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Kent County Board of Commissioners - Finance Committee Meeting 07/01/25","oneSentenceSummary","The Kent County Finance Committee approved consent and several budget and travel items by voice vote, including a parks CIP transfer of $582,031.67 to Wallfield Park North development and an out‑of‑country travel request for a district court judge.","taxTitle","Kent County, Michigan","taxId",2830,"location","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6521197,"Finance committee backs Nash Creek drainage bond; county share about $130,000",594,3040000,3634000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5112380-993ebd2ceda74da46fa273b3d88cf7d3&start=3040&end=3634","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5112380-993ebd2ceda74da46fa273b3d88cf7d3/thumbnail_3040000.jpg","/articles/6521197/Kent-County/Michigan/Finance-committee-backs-Nash-Creek-drainage-bond-county-share-about-130000","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6521197-bf7a36c28247fab4c3775a8bda573665/orig.mp4?Expires=1771114796&Signature=Lfep256J3IAQbhRX7wW-TttMyTNfA3RKL7-QFr3l~wSF-3VJ6l7kis2b6zvTJ1FQ9JduXGe2ubqGY36DNkhdYhK453k4m-Y1X6FCy7ef5M0ubH0XMhXccSyQbLnBSDxU5kwL1uCkFr1rmBg6xFLU6iMVaZcpzHKadjLMtBGe1rhuVufQtDIVdxpu1yXBQunZZZimyh2Sjz-UUcRXPmdY8STnpwFT444xgbbvWzCrn~V-Q87HrSgfbJYstk8gj1eLWfhYJzc0TDtjcyleXffqjPg1ChZJGAqthxrBVjZ0Br1CI5AgEU3FvQ94ZsdWcsO5lqIso6nOzn5RFOEqzW0GJw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Kent County Board of Commissioners Finance Committee approved a recommendation to pledge the county’s full faith and credit for the issuance of Nash Creek Intercounty Drain District Bond Series 2025 to fund a multi‑year stream stabilization and restoration project. The project cost was presented not to exceed $4,100,000; the county’s at‑large share was reported as roughly $130,000 and the committee approved a related transfer and appropriation of up to $130,255 to the FY 2025 General Fund Drains county at‑large budget.

Drain Commissioner Yonker described the project’s history and scope. “This is a project that we started 4 years ago. It was petitioned by the township board,” Yonker said, and he explained the work responds to widespread erosion caused by dead ash, changes in field tiling that accelerate runoff, sedimentation of a deep pond that has filled with silt, and chronic high‑water flooding that has inundated village Main Street buildings during major events.

Yonker said engineers initially estimated an $8 million project but that the county secured $2 million from the state budget and additional assistance from the conservation district for tree planting. The planned work includes about a mile and a half of two‑stage ditching (to slow flows and reduce channel erosion), riparian tree plantings to shade and stabilize banks, invasive grass removal and construction of a deeper wetland area to detain flood water. The Commissioner said the design will remove barriers to fish passage and aims to restore trout habitat where feasible; the wetland work will be monitored under EGLE oversight for five years.

Yonker also described extensive easement work to rebuild rights‑of‑way lost to erosion; he said roughly 43–45 easements were re‑signed with property owners and that the Commissioner did not charge personal time to the district, saving about $1 million in project costs.

Committee members asked about timing and cumulative county obligations. Yonker said additional large at‑large projects are pending and that combined county responsibility across the petitioned projects is currently estimated near $7.8 million; commissioners were told some funding and bids will extend into the next fiscal year. The committee approved the bond pledge recommendation and the at‑large appropriation transfer by voice vote.","The Finance Committee authorized pledging Kent County’s full faith and credit for Nash Creek Intercounty Drain District bonds up to $4.1 million to fund erosion control and stream restoration, and approved a $130,255 county at‑large appropriation to the drains budget.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6521202,"Finance committee approves recommendation for bond reimbursement to cover landfill PFAS work",248,2782000,3030000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5112380-993ebd2ceda74da46fa273b3d88cf7d3&start=2782&end=3030","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5112380-993ebd2ceda74da46fa273b3d88cf7d3/thumbnail_2782000.jpg","/articles/6521202/Kent-County/Michigan/Finance-committee-approves-recommendation-for-bond-reimbursement-to-cover-landfill-PFAS-work","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6521202-03924faebb6638b2dc1e842209d78d87/orig.mp4?Expires=1771114796&Signature=Fn88JbQ8CQ8nRwmW0mN1j3pfModjdrgAESHrHvlcIDgQnbuDfNMzo1bvFYGZ8UGltcxtvwmMnymZdP8Rv0pTyN12IJMEus5VgQQOBK4k9d9ew0IgDSP-~SpQli5hzFKqjYljoCPuj2izeuAOKneGRz0nfYZ97DYNJjTiB6E7YgyITRjxqHGkCT2usrnClRpnN-oR5h5FuJ4OmpeSi1iiUPp6aQDkPxlzzsFGMy4HzTF7p7uKcl13HfcYfch~vDrUVdwiSFIDUKEcusdsueK~UVAqLhGt8jWuPuh4ayp6IBQynl14SPAl1JrhFbt0Fn09uTnxk8u2mEsP4KwwASaEAw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Kent County Board of Commissioners Finance Committee voted to recommend that the full Board approve a resolution allowing the county and the Department of Public Works to reimburse expenses paid before issuance of a refuse disposal system bond (as read at the meeting). The resolution covers work at three county landfills — Kentwood, North Kent and South Kent — with a stated not‑to‑exceed amount of $11,000,000 in bond proceeds identified during the committee discussion.

Dar, a Department of Public Works staff member who responded to questions from commissioners, told the committee the project will treat PFAS in leachate and groundwater at several sites and that the design‑build contract is structured in phases. “Phase 1 is about $1,200,000 to do the design of the treatment facilities and equipment,” Dar said. He said a 75% design will allow staff to develop a guaranteed maximum price (GMP) and return with a final recommendation to the Board of Public Works and then to the Board of Commissioners for financing approval.

Committee members sought clarity on costs and schedule. Dar said the $1.2 million estimate is an upfront design cost; once the 75% design is complete, staff will know a GMP and decide whether to proceed. He noted the county’s usual capital spending context: “our budget going into 2026 is $70,000,000” for various equipment and projects, and that this PFAS work represents a scale and type of infrastructure the county has not previously built.

The motion to recommend the bond reimbursement resolution passed at the Finance Committee with the committee's recorded voice vote of “aye” and no named dissents in the transcript. The Board of Commissioners will consider the formal bond resolution and financing later in the process.","Kent County Finance Committee approved a recommendation that would allow the county to reimburse prior expenses from proceeds of a refuse disposal system bond for work at three county landfills, and staff said design for PFAS treatment will cost about $1.2 million to reach a 75% design and establish a guaranteed maximum price.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6521206,"Convention and Arena Authority reports strong rebound, updates amphitheater and soccer stadium plans",2122,642000,2764000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5112380-993ebd2ceda74da46fa273b3d88cf7d3&start=642&end=2764","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5112380-993ebd2ceda74da46fa273b3d88cf7d3/thumbnail_642000.jpg","/articles/6521206/Kent-County/Michigan/Convention-and-Arena-Authority-reports-strong-rebound-updates-amphitheater-and-soccer-stadium-plans","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6521206-4973a7d686bdf24dcf976e1c4adb1248/orig.mp4?Expires=1771114796&Signature=Q8cH1zrzovkmGLHYs6vVTJpHvGM6q6bhGfWxWLlpJQnNESnow3vFzn3qtPeny24PTJHh7jqNjH5qLq-vTJbClQ-mBo-5GVgIAmmoT3iaZeCsmO-5tt2InNn7dPl2g79dmYdOeqoNyKQl~O5aONnugAOiGg0iMRhg-GQMwfpXDZDF5aVujlumHjQpm0ko16MIsUzm~jOv9fgNpvWdrTH54yMfJttdc7rrQGNqA7jiDIejJpA6AFd1iv6cgxseZ17-1mULe-tA68G6k~2lsiuEBDj62fglWzROmh-zO-yeRGCuAke51B41RVOGY7IIWu87ZV0y0t5CPNZDOMxKozZ6ww__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Rich McKeon, a county appointee to the Grand Rapids Kent County Convention and Arena Authority, and Rick Wynn presented a year-end review to the Kent County Board of Commissioners Finance Committee, reporting that the Authority’s three facilities — the Van Andel Arena (the Rink), DeVos Performance Hall and the DeVos Place convention center — have largely rebounded from the COVID downturn and are approaching their best years financially.

The presentation emphasized community and economic benefits from events and venue operations. “The Rink continues to be one of the busiest little buildings in North America,” McKeon said, and he noted that the arena hosts three tenants: the Griffins, a G League team (referred to in the presentation as G League Gold) and the RISE professional volleyball team. The Authority highlighted headline acts including Alan Jackson and two sold‑out nights of Billy Strings.

McKeon told the committee the Authority’s volunteer concession program produced more than $1.5 million in cash for local nonprofits in the last fiscal year and was approaching $800,000 as of May. He said the venues aim to secure touring shows that treat Grand Rapids as a top‑tier stop on national tours and that artist partnerships sometimes include charitable donations in the artist’s name.

The presenters said DeVos Performance Hall remains busy with its four arts tenants — opera, ballet, symphony and Broadway Grand Rapids — and that the convention center has largely recovered, though convention bookings require longer lead times. McKeon said the three buildings are operationally and capital self‑sufficient, a status he described as rare for venues of this type.

On new projects, the Authority said an outdoor amphitheater with roughly 12,000 capacity is taking shape; McKeon said the site already has about “half a dozen to 10 shows” booked for its early seasons. The soccer stadium project has announced an MLS Next Pro franchise to play there; presenters said team name, logo and colors are expected in the coming months.

Commissioners asked about waste and sustainability at the larger campus of venues. McLeod asked for details on recycling and composting; McKeon and Wynn said the Authority is separating cardboard, cans and garbage (they noted county waste currently goes to an energy‑from‑waste facility), recycling cooking oil and piloting composting at the arena and amphitheater. They acknowledged front‑of‑house contamination in recycling streams as a practical challenge and said they will provide more detail in future presentations.

On parking and access, the Authority said much downtown parking is complementary to venue needs because weekday office use differs from evening and weekend event demand, and that future developments adjacent to the amphitheater and stadium are expected to include parking. Presenters also described plans to use Grand Valley State University (GVSU) lots, add a pedestrian bridge to the amphitheater site and build a skywalk over train tracks to improve access to the soccer stadium.

Staffing and operations were discussed: presenters said ASM Global‑managed operations currently employ about 80 full‑time equivalent staff and expect to grow to roughly 90–95 FTEs as new venues come online, while continuing to rely heavily on part‑time and event staff. The Authority said accessibility audits and consultations with disability advocates informed design work for the amphitheater and stadium, and that sound consultants engaged by Grand Action and the city have been part of the design and permitting processes.

Commissioners also asked about trends in the consumer‑show business after the recent announcement that the West Michigan Golf Show would not return; presenters said consumer shows overall did well this year but that some sectors — like golf exhibitions — face exhibitor consolidation and viability challenges.

The presentation closed with commissioners thanking the Authority for the update. The Finance Committee received the report and had no formal vote tied to the presentation.","The Grand Rapids Kent County Convention and Arena Authority told the Kent County Finance Committee it posted near-record results this fiscal year, highlighted a volunteer concession program that funneled more than $1.5 million to local nonprofits, and previewed a 12,000‑capacity amphitheater and an MLS Next Pro team at a new soccer stadium.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: finance committee advances bond recommendations, approves parks CIP transfer and out‑of‑country travel

Finance committee backs Nash Creek drainage bond; county share about $130,000

Finance committee approves recommendation for bond reimbursement to cover landfill PFAS work

Convention and Arena Authority reports strong rebound, updates amphitheater and soccer stadium plans