That woman's got it

   

   November -- and the final week before the midterm elections -- got off to a rollicking start this morning at the Kent County Democratic Headquarters. Governor Gretchen Whitmer rallied the troops in an early morning event before the office was even normally open. Practically every candidate in the county from Congressional hopeful Hillary Scholten to state house and senate candidates were there with their staffs to proclaim the final effort to Get Out The Vote.

    Tuesday is my normal morning to volunteer in the office so I was surprised when I turned the corner a  few minutes after the 10 a.m. opening time and found Whitmer's bus blocking the entrance to the parking lot.  I parked a block away but even then security directed me away from the front door. I peeked in the window and saw "that woman," as our former president called Whitmer, doing an interview with Wood-TV 8's Rick Albin. They had created an interview setting right behind the volunteer ambassador desk where I normally sit.  Putting out the flags was usually my first duty in the morning, but that would have to wait. The "closed" sign that I normally turn to say  "open" was still posted in the window. 

     But in a way Gov. Whitmer is the top ambassador for Kent County Dems, and all the other counties as well. There was a contagious enthusiasm spreading through all the candidates and their workers as they posed for photographs this morning. Whitmer is a winner and we are all in this together.

What's in a name?

     

Carol Glanville, Winnie Brinks,Gretchen Whitmer, Rachel Hood.

As a woman I have been delighted to see more and more females running for office.  Thanks to redistricting, I'll be able to vote for a whole slate of female candidates on Nov. 8 from the statewide trifecta (Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Attorney General Dana Nessel and Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson) to Hillary Scholten for Congress, Winnie Brinks for State Senate and Carol Glanville for State House. And, of course, myself for County Commissioner.

      But I have noticed a trend that concerns me. We tend to refer to women officials by their first names and men by their last names. It's Biden and Kamala. Gretchen and Gilchrist. Today at the Democratic office I received a request for three yard signs : " Hillary, Winnie and Rachel."

      I don't think this is intended to be demeaning...but it is. I like to think it is because women are more approachable, friendlier,  so people feel at ease calling them by their first names. But we'd be foolish to not realize it's a not-so-subtle jab at female authority. You might get elected, you might even be able to do the job well. But don't expect to be treated with respect. 

      So, ladies, what are we going to do about it? Since the beginning of time women have been the fixers, the ones who know how to smooth over an awkward situation. Can we defang this insult and turn it to our advantage?

      I'd love to hear what female voters and candidates think.

 

 

Mystery of the reluctant candidate

   Why is Sue Merrell running for Kent County Commissioner?  Doesn't she have enough to do traveling the world, writing mysteries and spoiling cats? 

     I get that question all the time so I try to answer in this We The People spot currently running on WKTV. You may want to pour yourself a drink before you click on the play button, however.  It runs a full five minutes which can feel like forever in today's world of 15-second sound bites.

Million Dollar ideas

         

  When  Kent County had a problem, its citizens stepped up to the plate -- in droves. The problem was choosing the best way to allocate $127 million in federal funds from the American Rescue Plan Act. The county held six community forums and met with 33 organizations over the summer. 

             An online survey received 3,337 responses with community health the top priority.  More than 1,500 ideas were submitted including affordable housing, community policing and renewable energy. Community organizations and county departments submitted a total of 333 proposals, adding up to more than $2 billion dollars. 

             Now the county has a new problem -- a too many ideas. An external consultant and an internal review committee are looking over the proposals and gathering additional information if needed. The goal is for the county commissioners to allocate the funds by the end of the year. 

              If you want to follow the process, visit KentCountyARPA.com.

 

Pick one

    

     In 2004 I moved from a house in Kentwood to a condo on a little lake in Grandville. I loved Grandville's atmosphere. The carillon at noon. The multi-generational family of Grandville United Methodist Church. Huge baskets of flowers lining the sidewalk downtown. A bakery, coffee shop, library, bank and city offices all within walking distance of each other. 

     But what surprised me about my new home was the elections. It was not uncommon for candidates to be running unopposed. That was a rarity  in other communities where I had voted. The unopposed candidates made me feel like the election was a sham. I didn't have a choice.  

      I had never been a political person and was too busy to become one. But over the 18 years I lived in Grandville,  the demands on my time lessened and my interest in politics increased. This year, I realized an unopposed election was about to happen again. No one had registered to run against Stan Ponstein who is seeking reelection as Kent County Commissioner. I decided I couldn't sit on the sidelines complaining any more. I needed to step up and be the change I wanted to see. 

     Every voter deserves a choice. 

Got my vote

    

Working the polls for elections can be a long, long day. But it has its rewards.

      Yesterday, for instance, was fairly slow. Primaries don't attract as many voters. But we got an early surprise. We arrived at 6 a.m. as usual to set up. A poll challenger showed up at 6:30, his credentials in hand.  A second poll challenger showed up a few minutes later. Evidently they thought set up began at 6:30 and were  sorry to have missed the first steps.  

     We had been warned that more volunteers were applying for poll challenger credentials so we had been expecting one to stop by during the day, but two before the polls opened was overkill. We had plenty of room so we set aside a table and two chairs for them and got to work.  One of the poll watchers asked if I felt  intimidated to have him looking over my shoulder as I compared voter applications to the drivers' licenses. 

       "No," I said, "but I'm afraid you are going to get bored."

         And the poll watchers probably did get bored. One left about 10 a.m. and the other at 1:30. But I was entertained by the voters. Like the elderly woman who had trouble filling out the application to vote and was really overwhelmed by the ballot. She asked for help a couple of times, but seemed determined to wade through all that small type and figure it out. Her husband sat nearby and watched.

        We worried that she would make the mistake of cross voting, a common error in primaries where voters are instructed to vote for only one party, Republican or Democrat, not both.  When she finally finished her ballot and placed it into the tabulator, everyone held their breath. We were so afraid she had made a mistake and it would be rejected. We almost wanted to applaud when it was accepted as a successfully cast ballot. 

          And then there was the 30-year-old from Venezuela. He was voting in his first election. He had become a citizen a year earlier. "I have researched all the candidates and I am ready to vote," he announce excitedly. Then we explained that since this was a primary he could only vote for one party. That wasn't part of his research. But he too voted successfully and received the coveted "I voted" sticker.

       More than a dozen people didn't vote successfully on the first try.  "But the Democrats don't have a candidate for that office so I voted for the Republican." Sorry, you can't do that. Another had his ballot rejected because he marked his choice with big check marks instead of blacking in the circle. 

        As the day wore on the pace picked up. From 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. we had a steady stream of young couples getting off work, some still dressed in "scrubs" from a hospital shift. Young and old, black and white and several shades between. They came to vote. They came to exercise the privilege of living in a democracy. 

        I was sorry the poll challengers didn't stay longer., until we counted down the last minutes to 8 p.m. Until we closed out the tabulator and everyone signed all three copies of the final tape. Until we went through the write in bin and found two votes for James Craig. Until we packed it all up to take to the clerk's office.  Election Days are long, but a capsule of America. I love them.

    

A new wrinkle

     

      When you are over 70 you avoid mirrors and bright lights. And taking a selfie in the glaring sun -- or so I discovered recently when vacationing in Budapest. I thought I would get a shot of the Pest side of the Danube with me in the foreground, but what I snapped was a face full of wrinkles.

      The lesson here is that we are all getting older and sometimes old is closer than you think. 

      Perhaps that's why I look at Kent County's Senior Millage a little differently this year. I always thought it was something nice for other people. The little old ladies who don't have anyone to take care of them, who might need meals delivered or transportation to the doctor. Somebody to build a wheelchair ramp or take over mowing the lawn just so they can stay in their home. 

      I know it's a benefit to the whole community for seniors to stay in their homes. They are much happier and it is less expensive for the taxpayer than providing nursing homes for everyone. But I never imagined that someday I might be that little old lady in need. 

      Yes, when the time comes I hope to count on my son and my savings for most of the services I will need, but what about respite care when my caregiver needs time off? And who do we call for information? 

       The Kent County Senior Millage, which is up for renewal on the Aug. 2 ballot, helps fund more than 50 services we have come to take for granted.  Like RideLink, getting people to doctor's appointments and grocery stores after they are no longer able to drive. Senior Centers for social activities and adult day care when a little more supervision is needed. Not to mention Meals on Wheels, recreational therapy and mobility equipment. 

        This year the senior millage will provide about $13 million for services to 22,000 clients. The Area Agency on Aging coordinates with dozens of community partners like Elders Helpers, Alzheimers' Association and Senior Neighbors to make sure the most critical needs are covered without wasteful redundancy.  

      The millage request remains the same as it was in 2014: half a mil. That translates to a tax of about $100 a year for a $200,000 home. 

       I voted for the millage on my absentee ballot, not because I am wrinkling up faster than a wad of foil but because it's the smart thing to do.

  

Revolutionary Relative

           

 Maybe I am destined to be elected Kent County Commissioner. 

            When Randolph County, North Carolina, was formed on March 8, 1779, my ancestor William Merrell was sworn in as one of the 14 original justices -- or county commissioners. The next day he was named coroner -- kind of like the committee assignment I will receive after I am elected in November. 

            Until the first Randolph County Courthouse was built, commissioners met a few days every quarter in a private home. According to the minutes of the Pleas and Quarterly Sessions, routine business included approving the indenture of a five-year-old orphan girl to her guardian, licensing a tavern and approving a grist mill. By March 13, 1780, Gramps qualified as Justice of the Peace and signed for the purchase of two election boxes.

            Unfortunately, William's government career was not long-lived.   Although Cornwallis surrendered at Yorktown on October 19, 1781, marking the end of the war, loyalists continued to attack representatives of the new republic. Several of the original 14 commissioners -- including William -- were attacked at their homes and killed. 

             Our forefathers never promised that self-government would be easy. Happy Fourth.

Don't forget the "other" virus

     

Covid and covid testing have been getting everyone's attention the past few years. But Monday is a day to remember the "other " virus -- AIDS.    

      Back in the '80s, AIDS was the big news maker. But thanks to testing and treatments people with AIDS can expect much better outcomes today. In honor of National HIV Testing Day on Monday, the Kent County Health Department has scheduled walk-up free testing at three Grand Rapids parks this week.

• 1-4 p.m. Monday at Martin Luther King Jr. Park, 1200 Franklin St. SE
• 1-4 p.m. Wednesday at Heartside Park, 301 Ionia Ave. SW
• 1-4 p.m. Thursday at Garfield Park,  250 Burton St. SE

       Testing is important for self-care because many people don't have symptoms and don't realize they have AIDS. Once someone is diagnosed they can take medications that can bring the blood level of the virus down to "undetectable"  so they no longer spread the virus to others.

    This testing is part of Wellness in the Park events that include outdoor games, activities, snacks and drinks. Residents can also schedule free testing at the Health Department's Fuller Clinic. 616-632-7171.

Land of Lakes

       Life in Michigan is all about the lakes. From a sunrise on Lake Huron to a sunset on Lake Michigan, our days literally begin and end at the water's edge. 

   Stretching from a corner of Lake Erie in the south to the broad expanse of Lake Superior in the U.P., the state touches four of the five Great Lakes missing only Lake Ontario.

     The lakes are featured in all our best memories...summer camp, fishing trips, a walk on a pier, a beach wedding. 

   But Michigan's coastal communities are on the front lines of climate change. The record low water levels in 2013 and record high in 2020 have impacted the shoreline. Additional impacts come from the more intense and frequent storm events and unseasonable temperatures.

      This summer, the Michigan Coastal Management Program in the Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) is partnering with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on a series of eight community Beach Walks. Led by Corps hydrolics engineer Jim Selegea, the walks will help community members understand coastal hazards, storm dynamics and the impact of erosion and flooding. 

       I can't think of a better classroom than the actual sands of our lakeshore where these processes play out," said MCMP program manager Rhonda Wuycheck.

     The first walk will meet at 6 p.m. tonight at Luna Pier Lighthouse on Lake Erie. Future walks are planned for June 27, Port Austin; June 28, Alpena: July 27,  Houghton; July 28, Escanaba; Aug. 16, South Haven; Aug 17, Ludington.

County restructures animal control

   

     Beginning July 1 the Kent County Sheriff's Office will take a more prominent role in animal control.          

    The Kent County Animal Shelter will cease to be part of the Health Department  and become its own  department reporting to the county administrator. Animal control operations will be handled by a specially trained team at the sheriff's department. 

      "Best practices in animal welfare and animal control are Kent County's top priority in restructuring these operations," said county administrator Al Vandenberg. He said the change was based on extensive research and nationwide data. 

     At last week's meeting, county commissioners approved adding one lieutenant and two sergeant positions to the sheriff's department to supervise and train the civilian animal control officers. They also approved the addition of two patrol vehicles. The six vehicles currently being used for animal control operations will be moved to the sheriff's department as well. 

     Kent County Sheriff Michelle LaJoye-Young said the sheriff's department has cooperated with animal control officers for years. 

     "With these changes, animal control operations will be led by sworn law enforcement officers trained to provide oversight and protect due process in rapidly unfolding legal and civil rights matters," she said. 

      While the animal control officers will remain civilian positions and will not have arresting authority, the certified Sheriff's deputies in the animal control unit will have authority to make arests when there is cause to believe a crime has been committed. 

    The animal shelter at 740 Fuller Ave. NE will continue to provide the care, shelter and feeding of lost and abandoned animals in Kent County. 

     "Our mission hasn't changed," said shelter director Angela Hollingshead. "We remain keenly focused on reuniting pets with their families and finding safe and loving new homes for animals when needed."

     If you have an animal emergency in Kent County -- such as an animal attacking a person or a pet in immediate danger -- call 911. Otherwise, residents should call the Kent County Sheriff's Department dispatch at (616) 632-7310 to report a stray dog, a dog bite or a suspected case of animal cruelty.

Tackling Transformation

         

$127 million is a lot of money, but can it be transformational? 

    That's what Kent County administrator Al Vanderberg is hoping to accomplish with the county's share of the American Rescue Plan. 

     "This is not a one off. We want to invest the money in projects with future impacts. We want to do something that reverberates into the future," Vanderberg said Thursday night at the first of three community meetings to discuss ideas. He said the county commission is seeking community input because it is the right thing to do. "We don't have all the answers. We value your input tremendously."

         Two major priorities emerged from Thursday's conversation -- affordable housing and mental health. Several people mentioned the current housing crisis where even people with a good income cannot afford a home. Some attendees brought up mental health as a top priority and County Commission Chair Stan Stek said mental health is his pet project. He suggested a new crisis stabilization unit to provide behavior health response when people are in crisis. 

          "Not jails, not emergency rooms," Stek said. 

            A variety of other ideas were discussed from yoga and preserving a tennis club to public transportation and immigrant services. The remaining community forums will be 6 p.m. June 6 at Rockford High School and 6 p.m. June 8 at Gaines Charter Township. Residents can complete a survey on the website until June 24. Proposals will be accepted until July 15. Then the county commission plans to approve plans in August and September. 

Decisions, decisions, decisions

       

     It's really not too hard to imagine what $127 million can buy. You could get a pair of Space-X tickets to the International Space Station and have enough left over for in-flight pretzels. Or you could buy La Datcha, the ice-breaking yacht of Russian billionaire Oleg Tinkov. That's also about the value of Xanadu 2.0, the 66,000-square-foot estate where Bill and Melinda Gates lived before their divorce last year. And that's about how much money soccer star Lionel Messi grossed last year to make the top spot in Forbes list of highest paid athletes. 

          To express the figure in terms the ordinary shopper would understand: that's enough money for everyone in Michigan to get two rotisserie chickens from Sam's Club and a liter of coke.  

         No matter how you think of it, $127 million is a lot of money. That's the amount Kent County has received in American Rescue Plan funds.  The county is allocating money to infrastructure projects in drainage and broadband internet. They also are waiving restaurant licensing fees to help these businesses get back on their feet after Covid. 

        In addition, county commissioners are seeking input from residents on how the remaining funds should be spent. Public forums are scheduled June 2-8.   A special website gives details about the meetings and a survey to make suggestions and list priorities.

          Looking at the categories offered, I think my top priority is community health, especially programs that address mental health. So what do you think Kent County needs?

          

The Orange-Stripe Parade

   

   Road construction season is in full swing, especially along Chicago Drive in Grandville. 

        The normal four-lane route has been reduced to two lanes from the center of town, Wilson Street, to LaMar Park, just beyond the Grandville/Wyoming border. Resurfacing Chicago Drive, as well as curb and sidewalk improvements, are being done as part of a Michigan Department of Transportation parallel project on I-196. MDOT will be adding a third lane on I-196 between the left-lane exit ramp at Wilson and the left lane, west-bound entrance ramp near LaMar Park. Hopefully the extra lane will make those left lane entrances and exits a little safer. 

          If we want to fix the dang roads -- and we do-- we have to be patient with all the orange cones and striped barricades. So thanks to all the construction workers. Stay safe.

        

Promote the Vote

              I spent my Saturday morning at the Grandville Public Library tasting grassroots democracy.  I was pleased to discover that the anger and divisions we hear so much about can't hold a candle to the eager voters making the system work. 

             I was one of many volunteers collecting signatures at libraries across the state Saturday to get the Promote the Vote proposal on the November ballot.

      You may remember a Promote the Vote petition in 2018 offering No-Excuse-Absentee voting as well as early voting, day-of-election registration, and a whole package of measures to make it easier for people to vote.  That proposal was approved by the voters long before any of us knew a pandemic would make absentee voting a necessity. 

      The 2022 Promote the Vote is sort of a continuation of the popular 2018 initiative. This one is an amendment to the constitution to finetune absentee voting with state-funded postage, more drop boxes and important protections to assure military votes mailed before election day will be counted. 

              One gentleman, who biked to the library and signed my petition before riding off again with a library book, thanked me for my service like I was a soldier. "Petitions can be a thankless task," he said. It's true. Some petitions are hard to sell. But not Promote the Vote. Most of the people I met Saturday believe in the system. They are eager to support measures to make voting easier. They want everyone to participate in our democracy and they aren't misled by shaky claims of fraud.  

                "Save your words for someone else," one lady said as she grabbed the clipboard to sign. "I'm all for this."
 

Special Election Tuesday

     

       In Grandville, today's special election will choose a new state rep for House District 74 -- hopefully Walker commissioner Carol Glanville.  In Wyoming the special election considers two city proposals and a school bond issue.

       But for me, the special election means a long day from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. working in a Wyoming polling place. I've been working as an election inspector in Grandville and Wyoming precincts since 2016.  Working at the polls, I have learned a new respect for our election process. Anyone who fears that our elections have been compromised only needs to spend a day or two working the polls to be convinced of how secure they are. 

       When we arrive we unpack and inspect the tabulator. We confirm the serial number that this is the machine listed for our precinct. We unlock it and inspect every nook and cranny to be sure no errant ballots have been stashed in there. We run a zero tape to be sure that no votes are in the machine's memory and inspect the seals on the tabulator to assure nothing has been tampered with. 

         As the voters arrive we check photo IDs, filtering out those who invariably show up at the wrong polling place and direct them to the right location. They fill out an application to vote, which we compare to our log of registered voters in the electronic poll book. The poll book alerts us if the person received a ballot by mail so we can be sure they don't vote twice.

          Most voters present their driver's license which can be scanned right into our pollbook speeding up the process. Michigan law allows a person who does not have the appropriate photo ID to vote by signing an affidavit, but in all the elections I have worked this is fairly rare, maybe an elderly lady who doesn't drive any more or someone who left their license in the car.  We seldom have more than a couple people at each precinct who opt to fill out the affidavit rather than show ID. 

            We try to be accommodating so everyone gets their constitutional right to vote. Every precinct has an assisted terminal with computer screen and headset so blind voters, as well as those with limited mobility, can make their choice. But at the same time we have layer after layer of safety precautions to make sure no one "stuffs the ballot box."

            As the day goes on we double check frequently the ballot numbers and voter numbers so we are sure our records and the tabulator agree. We want everything to balance when the polls close. We run another tape tabulating all the votes at the end of the day so we have a paper copy of the votes tabulated by the machine as well as an electronic tally.  All the paper ballots are in a sealed pouch in case a recount becomes necessary. 

            Voting is the cornerstone of our country. So you can go to the polls, or request an absentee ballot, with complete confidence. 

Leading with Action

            What better way to kick off my campaign for Kent County Commissioner than with a Big Party?  I mean a fantastic, pack-the-Eberhard-Center party. We'll have Michigan Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist as the keynote speaker and Congressional candidate Hillary Scholten as the mistress of ceremonies. 

      Okay, the 2022 KentDem Gala wasn't exactly a party for ME.

       Saturday's bash was a major local fundraiser and a cheering session for all the Democratic candidates across the state. "A movement," Gilchrist said. And when Dems are on the move, Dems Win. 

 So ignore all those polls that say Dems are losing in the midterms. It may be  traditional for the party that won the presidential election to lose the midterms. We're not bound by tradition. And we have not begun to fight. 

              

             The Gala was a great time to catch up with lots of candidates and representatives like State Senator Winnie Brinks and State Rep (running for Senate) David LaGrand. It was also a chance to touch base with Carol Glanville who is the one-to-watch in Tuesday's special election for the 74th House District. Can she flip a district that has been redder than Santa Claus? We say she can. Good Luck Carol.

Carol Glanville and Sue Merrell.

Kent County reimagines trash

             A  front-end loader scoops a most-scrappy mound of trash and dumps the motley mixture into a machine. Soon, before my eyes, that mound and many more are gobbled up and spit out onto conveyor belts at the Kent County Recycling and Education Center. 

          In one tower  paddles suck up the light-weight paper and send it one direction while the heavy glass falls to the bottom and is crushed into sparking sand.  The mid-weight items come out in the middle. Magnets separate the metals until only plastics remain. Then a beam of light, like a giant grocery scanner,  sorts the various plastics by number. 

        The machines miss a few things. Operators snatch errant cardboard from the plastic parade, which also includes a few oddities like a black shoe, a tennis ball and a broken flowerpot. But eventually the jumbled mess from the front-end loader is sorted into huge, homogenous bundles.

         

    A car-size brick of flattened, translucent milk jugs looks vaguely like a cluster of big balloons. It certainly doesn't look like trash. In another corner bales of flattened cans are lined up like cartons of groceries. The sorted bundles will be sent in different directions to processing centers that deal solely with glass or plastic or metal in such places as Canada, Chicago and Indiana. 

           The Recycling and Education Center, 1045 Wealthy St. SW, is open for tours 1-5 on Monday afternoons. Associate Ally Beshouri was my enthusiastic guide on a recent Monday. 

        I've been dropping off my recycling at the center for several years but this is the first time I went in for a tour. Tours can be scheduled for groups including children who can learn to make toys from trash. There's also an interesting historic timeline on recycling going back to the Greeks. So if you haven't visited Kent County's Recycling and Education Center I strongly recommend it.