MARRIAGE PROTECTION RESOLUTION
After spending much time in Lansing working with State Legislators, Senators and Representatives, and several statewide organizations concerned with protecting marriage, a Senate Joint Resolution (SJR E) and a House Joint Resolution (HJR U) have been introduced calling for a public vote to amend the Michigan Constitution to define marriage as being between “one man and one woman.”
On September 25, 2003 I introduced a resolution to the Kent County Board of Commissioners “supporting legislative action placing a proposed amendment before the vote of the people of the State of Michigan.”
On November 13, 2003 the board voted to Postpone Indefinitely the resolution. At that point, only Commissioner Jack Horton was in support of the resolution, so we voted to postpone with my hopes of then being able to bring it to a vote at an appropriate time.
It appears that some commissioners are more concerned about the supposed tradition that the county body not take a position on such issues than they are about the definition of marriage being between one man and one women.
Michigan and US voters must take constitutional action to protect marriage against activist, tyrannical courts.
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WILDLIFE PARK AND ZOO
The Kent County Board of Commissioners will be considering which date is best to present the question to the voters regarding a millage designated for a new Wild Life Park and Zoo in Grand Rapids Township on land donated by Mr. Fred Meijer. The two dates available would be the Primary Election of August 3, 2004 or the General Election of November 2, 2004
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ROADS
Roads, roads, roads, are there any roads in our neighborhoods that are not under construction or being used as a detour for a road under reconstruction? I hope you are finding a way to accomplish your daily travels. What’s that old saying, “no pain no gain?”
Our hard hats are off to those busy construction people. The questions I hear are more like,” Why are they doing a project on this road at the same time that a parallel road or an intersecting road is closed? Why don’t they do all the proposed reconstruction at the same time in the same area? What is taking so long? Why is it when we get a new asphalt surface on a road a few weeks later along comes someone and digs it up and it’s never smooth again.
May I offer some insight on the issue! In the new 9th County Commission district there are three governmental entities processing road and/or utility upgrades. Add to that the railroads, the new construction projects and the complexity get even more interesting. We must realize that at times the finances for projects can be on a long term projection plan and not readily available to coincide with other agencies plans.
With all these road issues affecting our every day commute, it is important that your new Kent County Commissioner has the ability to express your concerns with any and all of these entities. If you have questions or concerns regarding roads, please contact us and we will get solutions or answers for you.
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COMMUNITY SAFETY
“The purpose of government is the protection of life and property.” September 11, 2001 showed us once again the unselfish dedication our police and fire personnel have toward protecting life and property. That same dedication to service is prevalent in our local safety providing entities as well.
The City of Wyoming, with its contingent of fire fighters stationed at Byron Center Road and 56th St., our Byron Township and Gaines Township firefighters are dedicated to protecting life and property in the 9th County Commission district. As a former Wyoming Mayor I know the value of the long standing reciprocal agreements signed between our neighboring governments, this should give each of us a greater measure of peace.
Local law enforcement for all of Byron Township is provided by the Kent County Sheriff’s Department. As Byron Township has grown over the past six years so have the calls for police service. In 1995 there were 5,415 calls, by 2000 it had grown to 6,078 and by 2001 the service calls had grown to 6,539. That’s a 600+ call growth in 5 years and then a 500+ growth in just one year. Law enforcement needs are on the increase as the district grows.
The Kent County Officers serving our community are primarily shared and intertwined with four southern Kent County townships, they being Byron, Gaines, Bowne and Caledonia. There are a total of 25 officers and clerical staff assigned to work these townships.
Our community officers, of whom there are only two for the four townships, start their day out of the Sheriff’s office on Ball St. in Grand Rapids. It would be my goal to see Byron Township having a community officer working exclusively out of our community, much like the work of the school resource officer assigned to Byron Center Public High School. Crime prevention needs to be a greater emphasis in our district. Community policing is that necessary prevention arm of the law. As your new Kent County Commissioner I will work with our County Sheriff’s Department for enhanced services.
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ADDENDUM TO LAW-ENFORCEMENT DIALOGUE
Have you ever come up with a good idea and then find out that others felt the same way and were already working on the issue. This is the case regarding my idea of requesting a community officer from the Kent County Sheriffs Office for Byron Center.
Congratulations to Superintendent Howard Naap and Byron Center Public Schools, to Larry Silvernail and Byron Township Board on their successful negotiations with the Kent County Sheriffs Department, regarding the services of an officer dedicated to community policing in Byron Township.
Thanks also goes out to the Kent County Board of Commissioners. At the Board of Commissioners meeting of May 23, 2002, approval was given for the agreement worked out by the above entities. Following is the official overview of the program and the Mission Statement for its purpose and goal.
COMMUNITY POLICING SCHOOL RESOURCE PROGRAM OVERVIEW
It is the intent of the Kent County Sheriff Department, Byron Township and the Byron Center School District to enter into a three-year contractual agreement providing community policing liaison officer services. The financial obligations including salary,. Benefit package and transportation will be divided between Byron Township and Byron Center Public Schools with Byron Township’s obligation being one-third and Byron Center Public Schools being two-thirds. Kent County Sheriffs Department will provide a trained officer and support services; the officer will report jointly to Byron Center Public School Superintendent, Byron Township Supervisor and Kent County Sheriffs Department.
The program will be designed for the needs of the students of Byron Township, Byron Center Public and Parochial Schools in Byron Center Public Schools district boundaries. This process began three years ago between the Kent County Sheriffs Department and Byron Center Public School, it will be expanded to include all students within the Byron Township boundaries and specific services of Byron Township during the non-school year. The officer assigned to the program will be skilled in community/school policing techniques.
MISSION STATEMENT
The community Policing School Resource Program’s mission is to focus on developing positive relationships between students, staff, law enforcement officers, and community members by forming a partnership between the Kent County Sheriff Department, Byron Township and Byron Center Public Schools. This partnership will enhance the knowledge and responsibilities of all students in our community regarding the importance of good citizenship.
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GROWTH
I strongly support local control for zoning and land use planning. At a recent Byron Township Planning Board meeting the township planner spoke of revisions that may be needed on the north township boundary line. Many times in the discussion the statement of working with the City of Wyoming regarding contiguous property zoning, was mentioned. This area is close to the place of our family home and a neighboring municipality with which I have a long term very good working relationship. This knowledge, experience and relationship can effectively serve the citizens of both Byron Township and Wyoming.
Working in “cooperation without coercion,” neighboring communities should, can and have come together and planned to the best resolution of everyone involved. Zoning, land use restrictions and planning must be decisions worked out between contiguous municipalities and not by some powerful, intervening governmental agency in Grand Rapids, Lansing or Washington.
Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, are defined and experienced in property rights. When government acts restricting a person from the free use of their property without compensation it is considered a takings. The due process of law for the protection of property rights must always be considered and upheld.
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