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Kent County commissioners approve package of resolutions including park expansion, millage levy and multiple grants
Summary
The Kent County Board of Commissioners on Sept. 11 approved a slate of resolutions including funding for park improvements and staffing, a winter 2025 dedicated millage levy, regional grant acceptance and opioid-settlement funding allocations; most measures passed unanimously or with one dissenting vote.
The Kent County Board of Commissioners adopted resolutions Sept. 11 approving a series of funding and policy actions, including appropriations for county operations and parks, acceptance of state and foundation grants, approval of a tax sharing agreement and allocations from opioid settlement proceeds.
The bulk of the work was handled by voice or roll-call vote during a meeting that opened with a county commemoration of the Sept. 11 attacks. Commissioners voted to adopt a consent agenda and then moved through Resolutions 66–76; most passed unanimously, while several opioid- and grant-related items recorded one dissenting vote.
Highlights of actions taken include an appropriation of $50,000 to the Registered Deeds Automation Fund (Resolution 66); approval of a tax sharing agreement between Kent County and Byron Township (Resolution 67); acceptance of funding for senior-center staffing through the Area Agency on Aging (Resolution 68); acceptance of a donation from the Kent County Parks Foundation for a Millennium Park entry sign and landscaping (Resolution 69); purchase of a residential parcel within Millennium Park to expand the park (Resolution 70); acceptance of donated funds for the West Michigan Welcome Plan (Resolution 71); acceptance of the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity Regional Community Collaborative Grant (Resolution 72); adoption of the winter 2025 dedicated millage property tax levy (Resolution 73); allocations for FY26 unmet-needs funding recommended by the local DHHS board (Resolution 74); and acceptance and allocation of multiple opioid settlement payments (Resolutions 75 and 76).
Where roll-call tallies were recorded, the clerk announced the results at the meeting. Most roll calls showed 19 yeas and 0 nays; the Regional Community Collaborative Grant (Resolution 72) passed 18–1; the two opioid-settlement resolutions each passed with an 18–1 margin. Several other items were approved by voice vote.
The board scheduled a brief work session after the meeting and recessed shortly before proceeding.
Votes at a glance (selected): - Resolution 66 — Appropriation to Registered Deeds Automation Fund (motion moved by Commissioner Steck). Outcome: adopted (voice vote). - Resolution 67 — Tax-sharing agreement between Kent County and Byron Township (moved by Commissioner Steck). Outcome: adopted (voice vote). Discussion raised governance and eligible uses for corridor improvement/CIA funds. - Resolution 68 — Area Agency on Aging staffing appropriation (moved by Minority Vice Chair MacLeod). Outcome: adopted (voice vote). - Resolution 69 — Kent County Parks Foundation donation for Millennium Park entry sign and landscaping. Outcome: adopted (roll call: 19–0). - Resolution 70 — Purchase of residential parcel for Millennium Park expansion. Outcome: adopted (roll call: 19–0). - Resolution 71 — West Michigan Welcome Plan donations acceptance. Outcome: adopted (voice vote). Some commissioners questioned whether county government should run or support welcome-plan activities. - Resolution 72 — State LEO Regional Community Collaborative Grant acceptance (moved by Minority Vice Chair MacLeod). Outcome: adopted (roll call: 18–1). Commissioners asked for more detail on the economic development plan the grant will support and about translation services funding. - Resolution 73 — Winter 2025 dedicated millage property tax levy (moved by Minority Vice Chair MacLeod). Outcome: adopted (roll call: 19–0). Commissioners discussed the discretionary county operating millage within the package and the fact that some levies are voter-approved and not at the board's discretion. - Resolution 74 — FY26 unmet-needs funding allocations from the DHHS board. Outcome: adopted (roll call: 19–0). - Resolution 75 — Opioid settlement (Purdue/Sackler). Outcome: adopted (roll call: 18–1). One commissioner registered a firm no vote and voiced skepticism about whether settlements are adequate redress. - Resolution 76 — Opioid settlement (manufacturer/distributor defendants). Outcome: adopted (roll call: 18–1). Commissioners discussed oversight and multi-year allocation planning for settlement proceeds.
The board also approved a number of routine consent-agenda items by a 19–0 roll call earlier in the meeting.
Ending: Several commissioners used the general-comment period and deliberations to call for fiscal prudence, clearer policy guidance on tax-sharing and tax-increment arrangements, and continued oversight of opioid-settlement spending; the board directed staff to provide supporting documents and to continue policy review work on several items.
