Boards, Commissions & Committees - Citizen Appointments
An Opportunity for Citizen Involvement
The Kent County Board of Commissioners annually seeks (typically in September) Citizens interested in serving the community through appointment to its boards, commissions and committees. Interested citizens may apply for servie by submitting the required Resume Form or by contacting the Board of Commissioners' office at 616-632-7580.
Aeronautics Board
The principal responsibility of the Director of Aeronautics, the Aeronautics Department, and the Aeronautics Board is the operation, financing, maintenance, and development of the Gerald R. Ford International Airport to provide safe and adequate air transportation facilities for the citizens of Kent County, and to develop sufficient revenue to meet operating expenses, capital improvements, and contractual bond obligations. The Aeronautics Board meets the last Wednesday of each month at 8:30 a.m. in the International Room (meeting day/time is subject to change each calendar year). There are three citizen members.
- Dean Agee - Commissioner
- Ted Vonk – Commissioner
- Dick Vander Molen - Commissioner
- Thomas O'Hare
- Joseph Tomaselli
- John VanLaar
Agricultural Preservation Board
The Board of Commissioners adopted a Purchase of Development Rights Ordinance on November 26, 2002, which included the establishment of a County Agricultural Preservation Board. Per statutory/ordinance guidelines, the Board shall consist of one County Commissioner, three representatives with agricultural interests, one representative from township government, one individual with real estate or development interests, and one individual representing local conservation interests. The Board shall oversee the County's farmland preservation program and shall be responsible for, among other things, establishing selection criteria for the ranking and prioritization of application to the program, reviewing and providing oversight in scoring all applications according to the adopted selection criteria, and establishing the price to be offered to the property owner and authorize negotiations for the purchase of development rights and agricultural conservation easement, subject to approval of the Board of Commissioners. The Agricultural Preservation Board usually meets at 11:30 a.m. on the first Wednesday of each month at the Kent/MSU Extension Office, 775 Ball Avenue. For more information, contact Kent/MSU Extension at (616) 336-3265.
- Suzie Reinbold
- Don Hilton
- Gabe Hudson
- Chip Hurley
- Mari Stone
- Dennis Heffron
- Gary Rolls - Commissioner
Area Agency on Aging of Region VIII - Advisory Council
The Advisory Council is an advocacy group that focuses on legislative issues of importance to older adults. The Council meets the first Monday of the month at 9:30 a.m. at the American Red Cross, 1050 Fuller NE. There is one citizen member who must be 60 years old or older.
- Frederick Deane
- Marvin Hiddema - Commissioner
Area Agency on Aging of Region VIII - Board of Directors
The Board makes policy decisions for Area Agency on Aging of Western Michigan which is a non-profit planning, funding, and advocacy organization for older adult programs. The Board of Directors meets nine times a year on the fourth Monday of the month at 1:30 p.m. at the American Red Cross, 1050 Fuller NE. There is one citizen member who must be 60 years old or older.
- Harold Mast - Commissioner
- Albert Page
City/County Building Authority
The charge of the City/County Building Authority is to construct and monitor facilities to completion as contracted jointly by the City of Grand Rapids and Kent County. There are two citizen members.
- Daryl Delabbio
- Carl Eschels
Community Corrections Advisory Board
The Community Corrections Advisory Board (CCAB) was established in 1988 under Public Act 511 and was given the power to adopt a comprehensive corrections plan in order to reduce the number of admissions to prison and the prison commitment rate of non-violent felony offenders. This Board advises the Office of Community Corrections. The CCAB meets during the following months at 7:30 a.m. in the County Administration Building - Room 310: January, March, April, May, July, September, and November. There are two citizen members, one of whom is from the business community.
- Denise Allsberry
- Paul Sullivan
- Benjamin Logan
- Randy Demory
- William Forsyth
- Patrick Hillary
- Richard Mattice
- Rusty Merchant
- Alecia Lewis
- Gary Rolls - Commissioner
- Kristen Gietzen
Community Health Advisory Committee
The Community Health Advisory Committee (CHAC) was established by the Kent Board of Commissioners on April 3, 2001 in order to expand community participation in public health issues, to function as Health Department ambassadors in the community and to be the Health Department's "eyes and ears" in the community. CHAC operates in an advisory capacity and provides input targeted towards specific health issues identified by the Health Department. Committee members include two members of the Board of Commissioners, one member of the Healthy Kent 2010 Board, one member from a faith-based organization, two members from community-based organizations, three members from health care providers, and one member each from the Kent Intermediate School District and the Kent County Department of Human Services. The Committee shall meet at least four (4) times per year. Annually, CHAC will evaluate its effectiveness with the submission of a performance self-assessment related to CHAC's purpose, and the level of member support lent to Health Department initiatives. It will also be asked to provide input to the County Administrator/Controller regarding the effectiveness of the Health Officer and the Medical Director.
- Jack Boelema - Commissioner
- Harold Mast - Commissioner
- Sharice Purman
- Suzan Couzens
- Candace Cowling
- Lori Pearl-Krause
- Dr. Joseph Moore
- Dr. Sharon Handy
- Ron Koehler
- Savator Seldon-Johnson
Community Mental Health Authority Board (CMH)
The Community Mental Health Authority Board has the responsibility and authority to enhance the quality of life for individuals and families of all ages and residents of Kent County whom require mental health services. The Board manages state and county funds to provide services to mentally ill and persons with developmental disabilities. The Board meets the first Monday of the month at 5:15 p.m. at Network 180, 728 Fuller NE. There are nine citizen members.
- Jack Boelema - Commissioner
- Jay Roberts-Eveland
- Harold Voorhees - Commissioner
- Ralph Honderd
- Deborah Parker
- Nadine Klein - Commissioner
- Barbara Koetsier
- Roselyn Letzmann
- William Ver Hulst
- Charles Brown
- Felicia Shabazz
- John Walker
Concealed Weapons Licensing Board
Per State statute, the Board of Commissioners shall appoint a Concealed Weapons Licensing Board consisting of the County Prosecuting Attorney (or a certified arms instructor), the County Sheriff, the Director of the Department of State Police, and the County Clerk who shall serve as the clerk of the Concealed Weapons Licensing Board. Except as otherwise provided in the enabling act, the Concealed Weapons Licensing Board has exclusive authority to issue, deny, revoke, or suspend a license to carry a concealed pistol. They meet the first Thursday of every month at 9:00 a.m. in the County Administration Building.
- Wallace Duffin
County Building Authority
The charge of the County Building Authority is to construct and monitor facilities to completion as assigned by the Kent County Board of Commissioners. Projects are usually financed by an appropriation from the Board of Commissioners through the sale of bonds. The Building Authority meets the first Wednesday of the month at 8:30 a.m. in the County Administration Building. There are five citizen members.
- Daniel Koorndyk
- Sean Fitzgerald
- Dennis Mosson
- Richard Rankin
- David Simmonds
Department of Human Services (formerly FIA)
The Department of Human Services Board and the Department of Human Services (DHS) are responsible for the administration of social service programs and the distribution of funds as appropriated by the State Legislature for public assistance grants. The DHS Board is also responsible for discretionary fund allocations to community-based human service agencies. This Board meets on Friday's of each month at 9:00 a.m. at the Department of Human Services, 415 Franklin SE. There are two citizen members.
- Jerry Kooiman
- Julia Guevara
- Bruce McCoy
Fire Commission
Operating under MCLA 45.3 and MCLA 124.1, the Fire Commission provides a means for the participating units of government to purchase fire apparatus. It also provides a centralized bidding system for various supply items and insurance. All seventeen participating departments are staffed by volunteer fire fighters. The Fire Commission meets at the Kent County Road Commission Offices, 1500 Scribner NW, on the second Friday of each month at 9:00 a.m. The Fire Commission also holds two evening meetings during the year. Members are from the units of government that participate in the financing and support of fire departments.
- Don Hilton
- James McIntyre
- Jean Wahlfield
- Art Tanis - Commissioner
- Dennis Hoemke
- Fritz Wahlfield - Commissioner
- John Weiss
Foreign Trade Zone Board
A foreign trade zone is a site within the United States where foreign and domestic merchandise are considered by the U.S. Government as not being within the U.S. customs territory but in international commerce. The Foreign Trade Zone Board was created with the sole purpose of applying for and obtaining the privileges of establishing, operating, and maintaining foreign trade zones in Kent, Muskegon, and Ottawa Counties. This board consists of representatives from the three counties (four from each county) and meets on a quarterly basis. The meeting place is determined at the beginning of each year. There are three citizen members.
- Ray De Winkle
- Daryl Delabbio
- Harold Voorhees - Commissioner
Friend of the Court Citizens Advisory Committee
This Committee advises the Court and the County Board of Commissioners regarding the Office of the Friend of the Court, its duties and performance, and on the community's needs relative to the services provided by the Friend of the Court. This Advisory Committee also reviews randomly selected grievances from the Office of the Friend of the Court. The Advisory Committee meets the first Monday of every other month, beginning in January, at 12:00 noon in Room 310 of the County Administration Building. There are four citizen members: an advocate for children; a representative of custodial parents; a representative of non-custodial parents; and a member of the general public. (More information can be found at Friend of the Court).
- Bruce McCoy
- Kathryn Den Houter - Mental Health Representative
- Jack Imhoff
- Sandy Harmon
- Karen Jones
- Judy Ostrander
- Lt. AnnMarie Smith
- Christina Tilney - Christina Tilney
Grand Rapids-Kent County Convention Arena Authority
Kent County and the City of Grand Rapids established the Grand Rapids-Kent County Convention/Arena Authority in March 2002 pursuant to Act 203 of the Public Acts of Michigan of 1999, MCL 141.1401. By taking such action, the County agreed to assist in the development, construction, and operation of a new convention center in downtown Grand Rapids, and oversee the operation of the VanAndel Arena.
- Steven Heacock
- Joseph Tomaselli
Grand Valley Metropolitan Council
The mission of the Grand Valley Metropolitan Council is to advance the current and future well-being of the people of the Grand Rapids metropolitan community by bringing together public and private sectors to cooperatively advocate, plan for, and coordinate the provision of services and investments which have environmental, economic, and social impact. The Metropolitan Council meets the first Thursday of each month at 8:30 a.m. in the County Administration Building - Room 310.
- Daryl Delabbio
- Roger Morgan - Commissioner
- David Morren - Commissioner
Housing Commission
The Housing Commission obtains federal (HUD) funds to assist low-income families living in Kent County find and pay for affordable rental housing. Meetings are held at 9:00 a.m. on the second Wednesday of each month. Staff is located at 741 East Beltline Avenue NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49525, and may be reached at (616) 336-4200.
- Daryl Domke
- Thomas James
- Thomas Dann
- Terri Weekly
- Raymond Dewey
John Ball Zoo Advisory Board
The charge of the Zoo Advisory Board is to review and make recommendations with respect to the John Ball Zoological Garden, to the Board of Commissioners on the annual Zoo budget; the Zoo's long range plan; annual capital outlay budget; Zoo staffing plan as it relates to the annual budgeting process; major programs and service contracts; and the fee structures for the Zoo. The Zoo Advisory Board meets quarterly (beginning in January) on the second Monday at 12:00 noon in the Administration Board Room at the Zoo, 1300 West Fulton. There are seven citizen members.
- Dean Pacific
- Nadine Klein - Commissioner
- Audrey Nevins
- Jon Nunn
- Tom Postmus
- Sandi Parrish - Commissioner
- Chris Brown
- James Burr
Jury Commission
The Jury Commission consists of three qualified electors of the County appointed by the Board of Commissioners on recommendation of the Kent County Circuit Court Judges. Board members serve six-year terms. The Jury Commission selects the names of prospective jurors from current driver's licenses and state identification cards. The meet quarterly, beginning in February on the second Wednesday of the month at 1:00 p.m. in the Kent County Courthouse – Jury Assembly Room.
- Wayne Bentley
- John Strauss
- Roosevelt Tillman
Kent County Family & Children's Coordinating Council
This Council serves as a forum for service providers to work together to coordinate and improve services for children, youth, and families in Kent County. The Council is made up of the directors of the County and State departments that provide services to families in Kent County and representatives from businesses, private agencies, private funding organizations, consumers, and advocates. The Council meets seven times per year and its committees meet monthly. For more information, go to the Family & Children's Coordinating Council home page.
- Carol Paine-McGovern, Chair
- Savator Selden-Johnson, Vice Chair, Kent County Department of Human Services
- Susan Broman, Steelcase Foundation
- Candace Cowling, Child & Family Resource Council
- Tom Czerwinski, Area Agency on Aging
- Beverly A. Drake, Area Community Services & Employment Training
- Lynnette Ferrell, Frey Foundation
- William A. Forsyth, Kent County Prosecutor
- Robert Haight, Heart of West Michigan United Way
- Lynn Heemstra, Consumer/Advocate
- Judge Patrick Hillary, 17th Circuit Court Family Division
- Debra Holmes-Garrison, Consumer Advocate
- Paul Ippel, network180
- Ronald Jimmerson, Cascade Engineering
- Sharon Loughridge, DA Blodgett
- Cathy Raevsky, Kent County Health Department
- Diana Sieger, Grand Rapids Community Foundation
- Patti Warmington, Life Guidance Services
- Kevin Konarska, Kent Intermediate School District
- Andrew Zylstra, Kent County Department of Human Services
Kent District Library Board
The Kent District Library Board consists of eight members with each member representing a certain region of the County. The district identifies its participating municipalities as 26 units of government which have approved the District Library Agreement.The following areas are outside the KDL district: The City of Grand Rapids, City of Cedar Springs, Solon Township, Sparta Township, the Village of Sparta, and the portion of Bowne and Caledonia Townships within the Thornapple Kellogg school district. The Board meets the third Thursday of each month. Six meetings per year are held at the KDL Service Center, 814 West River Center - Comstock Park. Six times a year meetings rotate among its branch libraries. Meetings are held at 4:30pm or 7:00pm.
- Shirley Bruursema
- Vickie Hoekstra
- Joel Hondorp
- C. Francis Gilcrest
- Charles Fry
- Charles Myers
- Carol Simpson
- Sandra Wisniewski
Kent Hospital Finance Authority
The Kent Hospital Finance Authority was created and incorporated by the City of Grand Rapids and the County of Kent to provide certain private, nonprofit hospitals with the ability to finance, refinance, and refund indebtedness related to hospital facilities. The Authority meets annually and at such additional times as required by such hospitals. Meetings are held at the offices of legal counsel for the Authority, Rhoades McKee, 600 Waters Building, 161 Ottawa Avenue, N.W., Grand Rapids, Michigan, which meetings are open to the public.
- Harry Baxter
- Richard Fabiano
- Robert White
- C. David Mohan
- Hattie Patterson
- H. Edward Paul
- James Saalfeld
- Scott Buhrer
Millennium Park Architectural Advisory Review Board
Millennium Park Architectural Advisory Board acts to ensure Millennium Park's architectural/design remains consistent with its Master Plan and as a clearinghouse for the numerous ideas regarding the Park development. Membership includes representation from the "Design Community" and the "Business Community" as well as County Commissioners.
- David Custer - Design Community
- Roger Morgan - Commissioner
- Richard Vander Molen - Commissioner
- Vern Ohlman - Design Community
- Peter Secchia - Business Community
- Art Tanis - Commissioner
- Francisco Vega - Business Community
Millennium Park Community Committee
Millennium Park Community Committee provides a forum for citizen input into the development of Millennium Park and facilitates the flow of information from the County to the community about the Park. Membership includes representation from residents from each of the four cities that touch the park (Grand Rapids, Wyoming, Walker and Grandville), two at-large appointees from outside of the four cities, as well as County Commissioners.
- Joeann Franklin
- Renee Hill
- Margaret Kaminski
- Debora Kiekover
- Nadine Klein - Commissioner
- Roger Morgan - Commissioner
- Dennis Murphy
- Patrick Murphy
- Phillip Nguyen
- Lorraine Nyenhuis
- Susan Burton
- Steve Chambers
- Harold Voorhees - Commissioner
Officers' Compensation Commission
Pursuant to Public Act 485 of 1978, the Kent County Board of Commissioners established an Officers' Compensation Commission to determine the compensation of non-judicial elected officials of the County (i.e., County Commissioners, Sheriff, Prosecutor, Clerk/Register of Deeds, Drain Commission, and Treasurer). The statute authorizes the Commission to meet every even year to determine the compensation for the following two (2) calendar years. There are seven citizen members on the Commission.
- John Buchan
- Leland Mellendorf
- Susan Molhoek
- Dan Pfeiffer
- Dave Powers
- James Saalfeld
- Amy Freeburg
Pension Board
The Pension Board is charged with overseeing the investments of the Kent County Employees' Retirement System and hiring investment managers. The Board consists of two citizen members, three County employees, and two County Commissioners. The Pension Board meets at 8:00 a.m. on the third Wednesday of each quarter. The specific dates are set at the first Pension Board meeting of the year, which is in February.
- Michael Dubay
- John Linabury
- Dave Morren - Commissioner
- Mark VanderMolen
- Fritz Wahlfield - Commissioner
- David Kok
- David Reglin
Public Works Board
The Department of Public Works is a county service agency authorized under Act 185 of the Public Acts of 1957 as amended. The department has the ability, based on contractual arrangements with a municipality (or municipalities), to design, construct, inspect, and finance public improvements in the areas of water supply and treatment, sanitary sewage collection and treatment, storm sewers and industrial waste collection and treatment. The Department of Public Works also manages the Waste-to-Energy Incinerator, the North and South Kent Landfill, and the Residential Recycling Materials Recovery Facility. The Public Works Board oversees the various duties of the Department of Public Works. The Public Works Board meets the first Thursday of each month at 8:00 a.m. at the Kent County Road Commission Offices, 1500 Scribner NW. There are no citizen members on the Public Works Board.
- Gary Rolls - Commissioner
- Sandi Parrish - Commissioner
- Dave Groenleer
- Art Tanis - Commissioner
- Nadine Klein - Commissioner
- Ted Vonk - Commissioner
Road Commission Board
The Board of Road Commissioners is a three person board (all citizens) which is responsible, along with the Managing Director, for overseeing road planning, design, construction, and maintenance of the 2000 mile network of County primary and local roads. The Board meets biweekly on Tuesday at 8:00 a.m., beginning the second Tuesday in January.
- Patrick Malone
- Dave Groenleer
- John Weiss
Veterans’ Affairs Committee
The Veterans’ Affairs Committee is required by state law to review and approve requests from veterans for emergency assistance, to disburse funds from the County’s veterans’ emergency fund to support indigent veterans and their families, and to oversee the activities of the County’s Veterans’ Affairs Department. The Committee appoints a veterans’ counselor to staff the Veterans’ Affairs Department and ensures that services funded by the County to assist veterans are provided appropriately and equitably. The Committee, comprised of five honorably discharged veterans who have served in wartime, is appointed by the County Board of Commissioners for staggered four-year terms.
