Kent County committee approves $700,000 easement transfer, drainage bond pledge and multiple community‑service appropriations

The Kent County Board of Commissioners Finance & Infrastructure Committee on the morning of its meeting approved a package of budget and funding items, including transferring $700,000 from a cell‑tower easement payment into the county’s FY2026 strategic capital projects fund, authorizing county credit as backup security for Sierra Estates drain bonds, and accepting new grant and gift funding for community services.

An administrator’s office presentation said American Tower Asset Sub LLC agreed to pay $700,000 for easements on county property; committee members agreed to move the payment into the FY2026 strategic capital project in the capital improvement program. Commissioner Womack moved the item, Commissioner Coleman supported it, and the committee approved the recommendation by voice vote.

On drainage financing, staff presented a proposed resolution to authorize pledging the county’s limited‑tax full faith and credit as backup security for Sierra Estates Drain Drainage District bonds (Series 2026), which will finance specified intra‑county drain improvements. Staff said bond proceeds will pay for improvements and that the bonds are expected to close in February 2026. The presentation cited Act 40, Public Acts of Michigan, 1956, as the enabling statute. Commissioner Halstead moved the resolution, Vice Chair Hildebrand supported it, and the committee approved the authorization after staff explained that the county uses internal financing for shorter terms (generally six years or under and amounts under $1,000,000) and issues bonds for longer terms to avoid tying up county funds.

The committee also approved a transfer and appropriation of $215,703 to the FY2026 general fund drains county at‑large budget to cover assessments for two drainage districts: Sierra Estates ($119,003.41) and Hidden Hills ($96,003.62). In questions, a commissioner asked how the county’s share is calculated; the drain commissioner explained the county portion ties to county roads and a historical, flexible agreement with the road commission under which the road commission covers certain paving and related costs.

Kent County Community Action (KCCA) brought three items the committee approved: an additional allocation for the diaper bank TANF program, an appropriation of $351,899.46 in combined rebates from Consumers Energy and DTE for energy‑efficiency measures, and acceptance of a $356,000 gift from Consumers Energy to assist vulnerable electricity customers. KCCA staff said the diaper bank program served 381 children in FY25 and that, with the new funds, the program estimates serving about 400 children. The TANF action text and the summary contained a discrepancy in the additional amount (action text stated $112,684 while the written summary listed $112,006.84); KCCA staff said the grant is multi‑year and not currently at risk and offered to provide statewide totals on request. The rebate item description noted average rebate ranges and said Kent County ranks among the top submitters to Consumers Energy; staff described plans to expand multifamily work that could raise annual rebate volume toward a $250,000–$500,000 range.

All items on the agenda were approved by voice votes during the meeting. Committee members closed the session with brief commissioner comments and adjourned.

Notes: amounts and program details are taken from staff presentations and the agenda text provided to the committee; where the transcript showed inconsistent figures (see the diaper bank amount), the article reports both values and notes the discrepancy.