Kent County Board of Commissioners’ Chair Dan Koorndyk served at his last meeting as Chair this month. He was selected to serve as Chair after former Commissioner Sandi Frost Steensma relinquished the position in 2013. Commissioner Koorndyk’s last meeting as Chair was busy, with 11 resolutions passed. The Board passed a total of 121 resolutions in 2015, compared to 115 in 2014 and 101 in 2013. Koorndyk continues to serve as District 18 Commissioner. Chair Koorndyk reflected on some of the highlights of his tenure in the Chair. After five decades of County governance, the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) is close to transitioning Gerald R. Ford International Airport to its own Authority. The application required collaboration from the County and State lawmakers. “We had legislation adopted and signed by the Governor,” Chair Koorndyk said. “That was quite a day and it has allowed us to move where we are with the Airport.” The FAA decision is expected in June 2016. Several Commissioners shared their appreciation during the Board meeting on December 17. “Thank you for your last three years of leadership, Mr. Chairman,” said Commissioner Roger Morgan, Chair of the Gerald R. Ford Airport Authority Board and a previous Kent County Board of Commissioners’ Chair. “I hope when you reflect on the legacy of this Airport you know that it is a huge accomplishment and I want to commend you for your leadership.”
Koorndyk has a long history of civic involvement, including serving as President of Michigan-Oaks Neighborhood Association, Chair of the ACSET Board, and on the boards of the West Michigan Sports Commission and the Fair Housing Center of West Michigan. He served on the Kent County Board of Commissioners from 2001 through 2006, and again from 2011 to the present. “You’ve been steady, you’ve been fair, you’ve been a great leader for this County,” said Commissioner Jim Talen. “You’ve always kept Kent County residents as your priority. Thank you for that.” Koorndyk said he was proud to see Kent County maintain its Triple A bond ratings from Standard and Poor’s and Moody’s Investment Services. He also presided over a Disaster Declaration. “In 2013, I declared a State of Emergency for flooding in April,” Koorndyk recalled. “The positive from that is it has allowed us to apply for the HUD [National Disaster Resiliency] Grant. We could possibly get $200 million to help protect the Kent County area against flooding.” The awards will be announced in early 2016.
The Chair works with the Kent County Administrator’s Office regarding budgets, facilities and human resources issues. “Chair Koorndyk takes all factors into consideration and is deliberate in his decision-making,” said Daryl Delabbio, Kent County Administrator/
Controller. “His collaborative nature makes him extremely well-respected by his fellow Commissioners and by County staff.”
The new Chair and Vice-Chairs will be selected during the first Board of Commissioners’ meeting of 2016, to be held on January 5 at 8:30 a.m. The new Chair will select the Chair and Vice-Chairs of two committees: Legislative and Human Resources Committee, and Finance and Physical Resources Committee. Information about the December 17, 2015 Board meeting can be found at https://archive.org/details/12172015KCCBOC
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