Agricultural Preservation Board

The Agricultural Preservation 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 tax owner and authorizing negotiations for the purchase of development rights and agricultural conservation easement, subject to approval of the Board of Commissioners. The board meets once a month on Wednesday at 11:30 a.m. at the Kent/MSU Extension Office. Three-year terms. For more information visit www.accesskent.com/Departments/BOC/PDR or contact Kent/MSU Extension at (616) 632-7865.

Area Agency on Aging of Western Michigan - Advisory Council

The Advisory Council is an advocacy group that focuses on legislative issues of importance to older adults. One citizen member must be age 60 or older. The Council meets the first Monday of the month at 1:00 p.m. For meeting locations and specific dates, visit www.aaawm.org. There is no meeting in January or May. 3 year terms.

Area Agency on Aging of Western Michigan - Board of Directors

The Board of Directors makes policy decisions for the Area Agency on Aging of Western Michigan which is a nonprofit planning, funding, and advocacy organization for older adult programs. There is one citizen member who must be 60 years old or older. The Board of Directors meets eight times a year on the fourth Monday of the month at 1:30 p.m. For meeting location and specific dates visit www.aaawm.org. Two year terms.

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 three citizen members; one appointed by the Board of Commissioners, one by the Grand Rapids City Commission, and one jointly by the City and the County Commissions. The City/County Building Authority typically meets on an as-needed basis. Four year term.

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 months of February, April, September, and December at 7:30 a.m. in the Kent County Courthouse, 180 Ottawa Avenue NW. Four year term.

Community Health Advisory Committee

The Community Health Advisory Committee (CHAC) was established by the Kent County 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 at large, 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 Health and Human Services. 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. The Committee meets five times per year on Thursday's at Noon at the Kent County Health Department. Two year term.

Community Mental Health Authority Board (network180)

The Community Mental Health Authority Board (Network180) 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 developmentally disabled persons. The Board meets the first Monday of each month at 5:15 pm, with the exception of holiday, at Network180, 790 Fuller Avenue NE. Three year terms.

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 County Building Authority meets the first Wednesday of the month at 8:30 a.m. in the County Administration Building, 300 Monroe Avenue NW. Three year term.

Department of Health and Human Services Board

The Department of Health and Human Services Board and the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) 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 DHHS Board is also responsible for discretionary fund allocations to community based human service agencies. This Board generally meets once a month on Wednesday at 7:30 a.m. at the Department of Health and Human Services, 121 Franklin SE. Contact the Department of Health and Human Services at (616) 248-1000 for specific dates. Three year term.

Experience Grand Rapids Board of Directors

Appointed by the Chair of the Board of Commissioners. One year term.

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. Three year term.

Friend of the Court Citizens' Advisory Committee

The Friend of the Court Citizens Advisory Committee advises the Circuit Court and the Kent County Board of Commissioners regarding the Office of the Friend of the Court, its duties and performance, and needs of the community relative to the services provided by the Friend of the Court. This Committee also reviews randomly selected grievances from the Office of the Friend of the Court. The Committee meets the first Monday of every odd numbered month (excluding holidays) at noon in the County Administration Building, 300 Monroe Avenue NW. There are six citizen members: a representative of custodial parents, a representative of non-custodial parents, a family law attorney, a mental health professional, and two members of the general public. Three year terms. More information can be found at www.accesskent.com/Courts/FOC/advisory.htm.

Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GRFIA) Authority Board

The principal responsibility of the Executive Director, the Aeronautics Department, and the Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GRFIA) Authority 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 GRFIA Authority Board meets at 8:30 a.m. on the last Wednesday of the month in the Airport Board Room, 5550 44th Street SE. The board consists of seven members. No more than three members may be elected officials and at least one shall be an individual living outside Kent County (Allegan, Barry, Ionia, Mecosta, Montcalm, Muskegon, or Ottawa) and shall represent private sector businesses. Three year term.

Grand Valley Metro Council

Housing Commission

The Housing Commission obtains Federal Housing and Urban Development (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. Five year term.

Jury Commission

The Jury Commission consists of three qualified electors of the County appointed by the Kent County Board of Commissioners on recommendation of the Kent County Circuit Court Judges. Board members serve six-year terms. The Jury Clerk selects the names of prospective jurors from current driver's licenses and state identification cards. They meet annually in May in the Jury Assembly Room in the Kent County Courthouse, 180 Ottawa Avenue NW. Call (616) 632-5045 for specific meeting times, or check the meeting calendar at www.accesskent.com.

Kent County Community Action Advisory Governing Board

The Kent County Community Action Agency Advisory Governing Board is a tripartite board with representation from the public, private and consumer sectors equally. Most importantly, the advisory board oversees the provision of services to persons with low incomes in Kent County to assist in the alleviation of poverty. The advisory board is charged with providing recommendations regarding organizational, fiscal, and program policies. The advisory board is also responsible for accepting the annual, programmatic and fiscal reports throughout the year. The advisory board meets every other month at Noon on the third Thursday of the month starting in January. Three year term.

Kent County Family & Children's Coordinating Council

The Kent County Family & Childrens Coordinating 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 six times per year at noon in the County Administration Building, 300 Monroe Avenue NW. Three year terms.

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 27 units of government (excluding City of Grand Rapids and Cedar Springs) which have approved the District Library Agreement. The Board meets monthly on Thursdays at 4:30 p.m. at various branch locations. Four year term. For more information on meeting times and locations visit www.kdl.org.

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 nonprofit hospitals and nonprofit health care providers with the ability to finance, refinance, and refund indebtedness related to hospital facilities, all in accordance with the Michigan Hospital Finance Authority Act, MCL 331.31 et seq. The Authority meets annually and at such additional times as required by any such hospital or health care provider. Meetings are held at the offices of Rhoades McKee, 55 Campau Avenue NW, Suite 300, Grand Rapids and are open to the public. There are eight citizen members of the Authority, four of whom are appointed by the City of Grand Rapids and four of whom are appointed by Kent County Board of Commissioners. Three year term.

Lakeshore Regional Entity Substance Abuse Oversight Policy Board

The Lakeshore Regional Entity Substance Abuse Oversight Policy Board shall provide advice and consultation to the Board of Directors of the Lakeshore Regional Entity in order that it may carry out its responsibilities as outlined in the Mental Health Code, assuring the development and maintenance of a comprehensive regional network of effective substance abuse prevention and substance use disorder treatment and recovery support services. The advice and consultation shall concentrate on matters relating to the planning, funding, and implementation of the comprehensive regional network. The Oversight Policy Board shall meet four times per year, but not less than two times per year on Wednesdays at 4:00 p.m. Three year term.

Local Development Financing Authority

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 Commissioner, and Treasurer). The statute authorizes the Commission to meet every even year in March to determine the compensation for the following two calendar years. 4 year term.

Pension Board

The Pension Board is charged with fiduciary responsibility for the assets of the Kent County Employees Retirement System including but not limited to the hiring and monitoring of professionals such as investment managers, attorneys, consultants and accountants. 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 February, April, May, August, October, and November in the Learning and Development Center on the second floor of the County Administration Building, 300 Monroe Avenue NW. Three year term.

Remonumentation Peer Review Group

Remonumentation Peer Review Group members review corners present before Kent County accepts them for filing. Peer Review Group members will also be called upon to update the County Remonumentation Plan as required by the amended Public Act 345 of 1990. Members must be Professional Surveyors. The Peer Review Group meets on an as-needed basis. Two year term.

Road Commission Board

The Board of the County Road Commissioners is a five-member board which is responsible, along with the Managing Director, for overseeing the planning, design, construction and maintenance of the 1,958 mile network of County primary and local roads which includes 172 bridges. In addition, the Kent County Road Commission maintains 1,139 lane miles of interstate freeways and state highways under contract with the Michigan Department of Transportation. The Board meets twice a month beginning in January on Tuesday at 8:00 a.m. at the Kent County Road Commission Offices, 1500 Scribner NW. Six year term. Visit www.kentcountyroads.net for specific dates and times.

VEBA Trust Board

Kent County allows retirees to participate in its medical insurance coverage at specified rates and it assumes the liability for any premium in excess of the employee payment. The VEBA Trust Board facilitates compliance with the pre-funding standards of Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) which allows Kent County to invest trust funds in the same manner as pension funds thereby helping to mitigate its cost of providing post-retirement health care.

Veterans Services Committee

The Veterans Services Committee will ensure that County funded veterans assistance is provided appropriately and equitably. This committee is comprised of seven honorably discharged veterans who served active duty in the United States Armed Forces. At least one member must represent a congressionally chartered veterans organization and be recommended by the posts of each chartered organization with the County. The Chair of the Committee shall be appointed by the Chair of the Board of Commissioners. Each member will be appointed to a four year term. Committee meetings are held once a month in the Veterans Services Office, 836 Fuller Avenue NE. Four year terms. For additional information visit www.accesskent.com/Departments/VeteransServices.