Kent County board adopts multiple resolutions including parks grants, water affordability and policy updates

At the meeting, the Kent County Board of Commissioners approved a series of resolutions and appointments covering public-health personnel, park improvements, water affordability, policy updates and the county's equalization report.

The board adopted resolutions by voice vote or unanimous consent for routine and grant-related items. The consent agenda was approved by roll call (20 ayes, 0 nays). Several items drew brief discussion from commissioners and staff before approval; two items (the DNR Inflation Reduction Act grant and the Johnson Park/Grand River Greenway appropriation) included substantive clarifications about funding and reimbursement timing.

Highlights of approved actions

- Resolution 21: Nurse-Family Partnership program personnel request (moved by Commissioner Oliver King; supported by Commissioner Pacla). The board adopted the resolution by voice vote.

- Resolution 22: Michigan Department of Natural Resources urban and forestry Inflation Reduction Act grant (moved by Commissioner Oliver King; supported by Commissioner Morales). Parks Director Ben Swayze told the board the grant was originally awarded in late 2024, was paused, and has restarted; it is a reimbursement grant and staff will file reimbursements promptly rather than waiting until the end of the project. Staff indicated reimbursements are submitted quarterly.

- Resolution 23: KCCA water affordability grant (moved by Commissioner Oliver King; supported by Commissioner LeGrand). The resolution was adopted by voice vote; commissioners noted the countywide need for water and wastewater assistance.

- Resolution 24: Grand River Greenway (Johnson Park improvements) — additional appropriation from DGRI funds (moved by Commissioner Oliver King; supported by Commissioner Bujak). Staff said the $55,000,000 DGRI allocation has yielded roughly $20,000,000 for Kent County greenway work so far; this action expands the project's scope and uses additional DGRI funds, county ARPA contributions and pending DNR trust fund applications to fill remaining gaps.

- Resolution 25: Older Americans Act outreach and assistance GRAMA (moved by Commissioner McLeod; supported by Commissioner LeGrand). Adopted by voice vote.

- Resolution 26: Consumer's Energy assessment at 2228 Butterworth Street SW (moved by Commissioner McLeod; supported by Commissioner Womack). Adopted by voice vote.

- Resolution 27: Updates to the grants, contracts and donations policy (moved by Commissioner Coleman; supported by Commissioner Pacla). Staff said the changes are primarily to align policy language with the county's three-committee system and contain only minor clarifications.

- Resolution 28: Updates to the capital improvement program (CIP) policy (moved by Commissioner Coleman; supported by Commissioner Pacla). Commissioners discussed whether the longstanding $25,000 CIP threshold should be adjusted for inflation (one estimate cited: $25,000 in 1996 would be about $51,600 today). Staff said the figure may relate to auditing requirements and suggested further review.

- Resolution 29: Updates to the annual budget policy (moved by Commissioner Coleman; supported by Commissioner Pacla). Jeff Doad (fiscal services) explained removal of an item (4.c) because state law prohibits post–fiscal-year-end budget amendments; corporate counsel concurred.

- Resolution 31: 2025 equalization report (moved by Vice Chair Burrell; supported by Commissioner Coleman). Staff emphasized the statutory timeline: the apportionment report must be completed by May 1 so taxing units may levy taxes; the report was adopted.

Appointments and other items: The board also approved appointments (voice vote) and created a zoo and museum millage review subcommittee (motion carried).

Votes and procedures: Most resolutions were approved by voice vote with "motion carries" recorded in the transcript. The consent agenda passed on roll call with the clerk reporting 20 ayes and 0 nays. Where the transcript records only a voice vote, no roll-call tallies are available.