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Some key happenings the past month include:

• The County Legislative Committee decided to sponsor a letter of dissent to the state legislature’s objective of removing the requirement for motorcycle riders to wear helmets in our state.
• The new county correctional facility addition on Ball Street NE is taking shape. All of the site work and initial foundation work has been completed. Within the next month a big crane will be on-site and the structure will become visible above ground.
• I will be meeting with the Kentwood Economic Development Committee to explore possibility of creating a Tax Deferred designation for some commercial development either along Division Avenue or 52nd street corridor. This will help create local jobs and commercial activity.
• I attended the annual joint meeting of the Michigan Commission on Aging in my role as a member of the State Senior Advisory Committee to the Commission. Several members of the public made comments regarding the upcoming Michigan Senior Services Plan.
• The County Parks Department distributed 30,000 free passes to families and children again this year. These passes are given to families whose income makes the children eligible for free and reduced school lunch programs. The passes enable the participants several times free use of Millennium Park beaches.
• The Essential Needs Task Force of Kent County met on June 1 to coordinate agency work to help our community’s most vulnerable citizens with their essential needs of food, housing, etc. This multi-agency body has helped meet critical needs for the past 15 years.