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Some key happenings the past month include:

• It was an honor to participate in the Kentwood 4th of July Parade by marching with the Amvets Post 23 Color Guard at the front of the parade this year. I am a member of this veteran’s Post on 52nd St.
• I was pleased to have breakfast with Rep Tom Hooker in early July. We discussed several legislative issues. I secured his willingness to support me in my next re-election bid for county commission.
• I was able to celebrate 40 years of successful operation of the Brann’s Sizzling Steak House and Sports Bar with Tommy Brann on July 5. Tommy has been a tireless advocate for local business interests and is the founder and chief leader of the Division Avenue Business Association.
  
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• The County Veteran’s Affairs Advisory Committee met to review the unmet needs of indigent veterans in our county. We are recommending the county commission comply with the state mandate to levy a small one-time property tax of 1/100th mill on county citizens to add to our funds for personal assistance.
• The county commission continues to seek ways to collaborate with local units of government. Although we have elected to suspend participation in the “fixed agenda” of the One Kent group, the Board Chair will soon appoint a committee made up of commissioners and other local officials to develop an alternate consolidation approach that will be a more realistic fit of existing government functions and take into account existing government mandates and resources. These are not within the One Kent proposal.
• A constituent has complained about pit bulls in our communities and requests we institute a “ban” on pit bulls. I am working with our Public Health Department to evaluate whether this is the direction we should go. It is difficult to enforce a “ban”. There may be other ways to handle this potentially volatile situation.