[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-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",[32,75],{"_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":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6477633,"mediaKeyId","5711494-915bcebfde62b0f75cccfaf680083d84","parentId",5711494,"title","Kent County finance committee approves grants, park land purchase and tax agreements; authorizes winter millage levy","audioSeconds",2613,"startMs",2618000,"endMs",4214,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5711494-915bcebfde62b0f75cccfaf680083d84&start=2618&end=4","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5711494-915bcebfde62b0f75cccfaf680083d84/thumbnail_2618000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6477633/Kent-County/Michigan/Kent-County-finance-committee-approves-grants-park-land-purchase-and-tax-agreements-authorizes-winter-millage-levy","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6477633-72c1cae0ca3e6b2dd29132ee55418c62/orig.mp4?Expires=1771202786&Signature=Q6a2rjDLUiNGqHeH59Ek6j6tu9VFYIzn0yFcbsigx8EkAa9d2GIvqeo2aQlSv214ur6ph4q7cmVgwG0pGaKqjxPN2tZUqULLTDBnutxgDyscBUo8IU4sUbR83NCNiFOVpSljIUAioC2WNT025gHsmgiinOICx9IH~pzbttBhteC1b6SMpRfS~G-2bQ2E37sBhYWc0pffIn10jWPY5TvtGAk68jEE27HTrEdSu4DJoyMspK6ucrCp~Ro6aL9nwl2mCp155oX7AMkfXaPbcINi5MrIeTjwNGkoXnPGNe2IaFHDu1FkROx2~GHHjj~BDb6pELhKsikdhCLuCCosgIyR-Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Kent County","date","2025-09-03T02:21:05.503Z","article","At its finance committee meeting, Kent County commissioners approved a package of grants, park projects, a tax-sharing extension with Byron Township and authorized a winter 2025 millage levy to fund several dedicated county services.

The actions affect a range of county programs and partnerships. Highlights include acceptance of a $255,000 Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO) Regional Community Collaborative (RCC) grant to fund the county’s Welcome Plan coordinator, part-time staff for an economic development effort and contractual services; authorization to accept $29,250 from the Area Agency on Aging of Western Michigan to support senior center staffing for FY 2026 (contingent on contract execution); an additional $50,000 appropriation to the Register of Deeds automation fund to replace scanning equipment and support software updates; and the acceptance of $32,225 in donations to support the West Michigan Welcome Plan and related events.

Parks and land actions approved by the committee include accepting up to $150,000 from the Kent County Parks Foundation for a Millennium Park gateway sign and landscaping (the project budget is capped at $200,000) and approving the purchase of a 0.85-acre residential parcel at 1184 Maynard as a Millennium Park expansion site. The negotiated purchase price for the parcel is $550,000; the county has $400,000 set aside from ARPA for land acquisition and the Parks Foundation committed up to $200,000 to cover remaining costs.

The committee approved an extension of the tax-sharing agreement with Byron Township and the 80 Fourth Street Corridor Improvement Authority (the district containing the Tanger Outlet Mall). The proposed agreement extends capture of county millage increment through May 19, 2034, and includes a one-time execution payment of $24,587 to account for the final year of capture under the prior agreement. Under the arrangement the authority may capture incremental county millage only to the extent Byron Township contributes an equal increment; county staff said they expect incremental amounts will be modest going forward.

Commissioners also authorized the winter 2025 levy of dedicated county millages supporting corrections and detention (0.7417 mills for operating and debt service), senior services (0.4914 mills), veteran services (0.0491 mills), zoo and museum operations (0.4134 mills), and Ready by Five programming (0.2476 mills), for a combined levy of 1.9432 mills to fund FY 2026 budgeted operations.

All motions on the reported items passed on voice votes. Movers and supporters recorded in the transcript include Commissioner Steck, Commissioner Halstead, Vice Chair McLeod, Commissioner Green and others as indicated at each agenda item.

Why it matters: the approvals allocate county and partner funds to seniors, parks, immigrant and refugee welcome services, and capital work that will affect county operations and local development over coming years.

Selected details of approved items:
- Register of Deeds automation fund: additional appropriation of $50,000 to FY 2025 budget; purpose: unbudgeted scanner replacement and vendor payments.
- Area Agency on Aging / Kent County Community Action: $29,250 in senior millage funds for one part-time staff position to support congregate meals and senior center programming (FY 10/01/2025–09/30/2026), contingent on contract.
- Millennium Park gateway sign: accept up to $150,000 from Kent County Parks Foundation; project budget capped at $200,000; demolition of prior structures occurred in 2024; construction anticipated in 2025–2026.
- Millennium Park land purchase: 0.85-acre parcel at 1184 Maynard, negotiated price $550,000; county ARPA allocation $400,000; Parks Foundation committed up to $200,000 to complete acquisition.
- West Michigan Welcome Plan donations: accept and appropriate $32,225 to support a global gathering (09/13/2025), an economic summit (08/08/2025) and related outreach; CoreWell Health pledged $10,000.
- LEO RCC grant: accept and appropriate $255,000 to FY 2026 special projects fund; $180,000 to welcome plan implementation and expansion (Kent and Ottawa counties), $75,000 to RCC economic development activities; grant term 10/01/2025–09/30/2026.
- Tax-sharing agreement (Byron Township / 80 Fourth St. Corridor Improvement Authority): extension to 05/19/2034; one-time payment $24,587; capture limited to county increment matching Byron Township’s contribution.
- Winter 2025 dedicated millage levy: authorization to levy 1.9432 mills (detailed breakdown above) to support FY 2026 budgets for corrections and detention, senior services, veteran services, zoo museum operations and Ready by Five programming.

Meeting context and next steps: staff will execute grant agreements and contracts as authorized (several approvals were contingent on form review and contract execution). The Parks Department plans to bid the Millennium Park sign project in 2025 with construction in 2026; property acquisition requires standard closing documentation. For the RCC grant, staff noted pending receipt of the state grant agreement and a standard corporate counsel review prior to signature.

Ending: commissioners voiced support for the package of appropriations and partnerships, and the committee moved on after approving the final millage levy.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Kent County Board of Commissioners Finance Committee Meeting 09/02/25","oneSentenceSummary","At its finance committee meeting, Kent County commissioners approved a package of grants, park projects, a tax-sharing extension with Byron Township and authorized a winter 2025 millage levy to fund several dedicated county services.","taxTitle","Kent County, Michigan","taxId",2830,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6477638,"Gerald R. Ford Airport details terminal upgrades, parking shortfall and says FAA funding is needed for control tower",2045,586000,2631000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5711494-915bcebfde62b0f75cccfaf680083d84&start=586&end=2631","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5711494-915bcebfde62b0f75cccfaf680083d84/thumbnail_586000.jpg","/articles/6477638/Kent-County/Michigan/Gerald-R-Ford-Airport-details-terminal-upgrades-parking-shortfall-and-says-FAA-funding-is-needed-for-control-tower","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6477638-422932b719277eedc7f686b5991ad6bd/orig.mp4?Expires=1771202786&Signature=SY2BzCA-UCJu7UbAQ8O30-ic8QuJkOccpGPWIWI5X1I~31ybyL0OaLBtDkC6x~mBP4gmeB1jaxmpEoQEFp4dQBlrPSaLYAxjYKfncvbYXl4js3NFEnINehUGZJYpWCExXanjdlsga40b1~q-x8bqqjApMTf7RweROFyNFS5wHlJIR5zzIz2gOfnw6UdSYPzlGWc7PIn040BtBNcsi9kicytXgGyMA5SHWzB-OFF4Lb-kQufOE69VVRGrktSXhmB1143-b0HO0l6zeyRVU9dd-wfwZUa4PqFrMPyfQuK-MvdAGFbmX7c1Hx4r04PBeIY887HXQt~lnlujwBmDacfHHw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Tory Richardson, representing the Gerald R. Ford International Airport Authority, told the Kent County Finance Committee that the airport is on track with multiple terminal and airfield projects but still needs federal funding to replace its aging air traffic control tower.

Richardson said the airport is recording record passenger activity, supports about 40,000 jobs across a 13-county West Michigan region and contributes about $7.7 billion in regional economic output. He outlined recent and planned projects including the opening of Concourse A and the Club GRR lounge, a consolidated rental car facility with an elevated skyway, a new aircraft rescue and firefighting (ARFF) facility, a cell-phone waiting lot, an economy-lot expansion that added roughly 1,700 surface parking spaces and ongoing terminal enhancements that relocate ticketing and add basement-level baggage screening and explosive detection equipment.

Why it matters: the airport is a major regional economic engine and the projects are intended to serve rising demand and preserve air service options. Richardson said the most consequential unresolved issue for further development is funding for a new Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) air traffic control tower.

Richardson described the tower project as advanced in design and environmental review but stalled on federal funding: \"The last remaining item is making sure that we've got federal funding from the FAA to move the tower forward,\" he said. He explained the FAA faces a multiyear funding shortfall and is competing internally to prioritize roughly 60 towers nationwide that need replacement.

The airport is doing preparatory work without full federal dollars: Richardson said the authority plans about $5,000,000 in enabling site work this year to keep the project moving while seeking FAA construction funding. He also gave an estimate of relative costs: if the FAA builds the replacement tower and installs its equipment, the project is roughly a $70,000,000 FAA facility; if the airport were to procure and own all equipment itself the cost could approach $110,000,000.

Commissioners pressed Richardson on timing and alternatives. Richardson said the FAA does not publish a stable priority list, and that federal funding uncertainty means the project likely remains two to three years away even after funding is allocated, plus about two years for construction. He described a limited set of partnership options (for example, leaseback or local funding for site work) but cautioned that use and eligibility rules limit what airport-generated funds can be commingled with federal funds.

Parking and guest experience were central topics. Richardson said the airport is currently short roughly 1,100 covered parking spaces and that the proposed six-level North Parking Garage cannot be built in full until the tower is relocated because of height/siting restrictions. He described parking revenue as the airport's largest non-airline revenue source and said parking funds are used to support capital projects.

Richardson also discussed service and operations: Grand Rapids (Gerald R. Ford) serves eight passenger carriers (Allegiant, Avelo, American, Delta, Frontier, Sun Country, United and Southwest) and a cargo carrier (FedEx). He noted the market-average domestic round-trip fare used in his slides ($374 for the period cited) and said balanced carrier share supports competition.

On sustainability, Richardson said the airport has begun a formal sustainability master-plan process with consultants (Mead & Hunt and Progressive A/E). He said the airport is documenting baseline metrics (starting from 2021), pursuing waste-diversion and energy-reduction targets, and recently received a $379,000 partnership check from Consumers Energy tied to coordinated power-management work. He summarized early sustainability goals discussed with the board, such as diverting solid waste and reducing carbon footprint on multi-year timelines.

Commissioners and Richardson discussed passenger disruption attribution and irregular operations: Richardson said passengers often hear \"the airport\" when problems are airline-specific (for example, airline staffing shortages or airline-run deicing), and that the authority works with local airline station managers on mitigation plans for irregular operations.

What happens next: the airport intends to continue enabling site work while lobbying the FAA and federal legislators for construction funding; the authority will also continue terminal and parking projects that do not depend on tower relocation. County commissioners voiced support for continued collaboration on financing and board appointments that Richardson described as helpful to the airport's development plans.

Ending: Richardson and commissioners left the presentation with the airport continuing design and limited construction work while awaiting FAA capital allocation. The airport framed the control tower as the critical dependency that will unlock the North Parking Garage and other airfield-adjacent projects.","Tory Richardson of the Gerald R. Ford International Airport Authority told the Kent County Finance Committee the airport is expanding terminal and parking capacity and advancing a long-delayed air traffic control tower project, but federal FAA funding remains the main barrier to replacing the existing tower.","actionData","errors"]

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Kent County finance committee approves grants, park land purchase and tax agreements; authorizes winter millage levy

Gerald R. Ford Airport details terminal upgrades, parking shortfall and says FAA funding is needed for control tower