Kalamazoo County - November 18, 2025 Committee of the Whole Meeting

Updated about 4 hours ago

The Kalamazoo County Commissioners Meeting on November 1, 2023, features discussions on setting the Kalamazoo County Fair dates to avoid conflicts with other events, the draft housing framework aimed at addressing homelessness, and community-led initiatives to support housing and child care. The meeting highlights community feedback and the county's role in facilitating these processes.

Chapters

Public Comment on 4-H Horse Project (00:00:00)
Residents address the board urging for early setting of fair dates to avoid conflicts with summer camps and state competitions, emphasizing the importance for 4-H horse project members.

Multiple residents, including Kim Kimmy, Rebecca Coburn, and Pam van Dogan, spoke during the public comment period. They emphasized the importance of setting fair dates early to avoid conflicts with summer camps and the state horse show, which affects the eligibility and participation of 4-H horse project members. They highlighted the community support for 4-H and the educational and social value it provides to children. The speakers requested that the board consider the proposed fair dates of August 2-9 to allow sufficient time for organizing and hiring judges.
Public Comment on Childcare Coalition (00:12:08)
Beth Bergland discusses the challenges in the childcare industry, advocating for better support for workers and highlighting the importance of childcare as a public good.

Beth Bergland, director of policy and strategy at the Michigan Transformation Collective, addressed the board, discussing the systemic challenges faced by the childcare industry. She emphasized the low wages of childcare workers, which lead to high turnover and instability in the sector. Bergland argued that childcare should be treated as a public good, as it is crucial to the economy and workforce. She urged the board to consider supporting initiatives that improve childcare access and worker compensation.
Review of Accounts Payable and Payroll Disbursements (00:15:41)
Finance director presents the accounts payable and payroll disbursements for review, inviting questions from the board.

The finance director, Ryan Posto, presented the accounts payable and payroll disbursements to the board for review. The presentation included a summary of claims totaling significant amounts. Board members were invited to ask questions regarding the financial reports presented.
Monthly Financial Report (00:17:00)
Monthly financial report is presented, highlighting expenditure trends and budget comparisons, with board members commenting on financial transparency.

The monthly financial report was presented, showing comparisons of current expenditures to previous years and budgeted amounts. Vice Chair commented on the usefulness of including previous years' data for context. The report highlighted that expenditures are down compared to last year, and discussions included the importance of fiscal responsibility and planning for community benefit.
Monthly Investment Report (00:19:40)
Chief deputy treasurer presents the investment report, detailing the county's investment strategy and portfolio performance.

Chief Deputy Treasurer Tyler White presented the monthly investment report. He discussed the current market value of the county's investment portfolio and the strategy of holding assets to maturity to avoid losses. The report noted improvements in market value and effective rate of return. White also mentioned the absence of current inflation data due to a government shutdown but provided context with available data.
Draft Housing Framework Presentation (00:24:01)
Housing department presents draft housing framework, outlining strategies for addressing housing needs across the continuum, seeking feedback from stakeholders.

Mary Balcom, housing director, presented the draft housing framework to the board. The presentation outlined a strategic approach to addressing housing needs from homelessness to home ownership, emphasizing data-driven decision-making and collaboration with partners like the land bank and continuum of care. The framework aims to shift from reactive to proactive housing solutions and encourages an abundance mindset. Balcom invited feedback from stakeholders to refine the framework further.
Discussion on Housing Development Framework (00:35:12)
The board discussed a framework for housing development focusing on equity, inclusion, sustainability, and community engagement as guiding principles.

The board discussed the need for an accelerator fund for housing development, a county voucher program, and partnerships to support affordable housing. The framework includes strategies for direct housing assistance, emergency rental assistance, and down payment assistance. The guiding principles are equity, inclusion, sustainability, data-driven decision-making, accountability, and transparency. The board aims to secure funding, create a strategic plan with measurable outcomes, and engage the community in the process.
Public and Private Partnerships in Housing (00:36:00)
Public and private partnerships were highlighted as essential for the housing development framework, including non-profit and quasi-governmental collaborations.

The framework emphasizes the importance of partnerships with non-profits and quasi-governmental organizations. The county board recognized a gap in service delivery and purchased a building for renovation, partnering with a service organization for direct service delivery. The partnership model aims to provide stability and prevent non-profits from focusing solely on fundraising.
Next Steps and Strategic Planning (00:40:00)
Next steps include securing funding, creating a strategic and implementation plan, and engaging the community for input and feedback.

The board outlined the next steps, including securing funding for the initiatives in the framework, developing a strategic and implementation plan with measurable outcomes, and engaging the community for feedback. The plan aims to be data-driven and granular, with the goal of achieving widespread community engagement and aligning funding sources.
Commissioner and Community Feedback (00:52:00)
Commissioners provided feedback on the framework, emphasizing the need for racial equity benchmarks and preventing displacement in redeveloped neighborhoods.

Commissioners discussed the importance of inclusivity and racial equity in the framework, highlighting concerns about displacement in historically black neighborhoods due to redevelopment. There was a call for specific benchmarks and metrics to ensure accountability and success of the initiatives. The need for a local voucher program was emphasized to address gaps in state and federal programs.
Kalamazoo County Fair and Expo Center Update (00:54:00)
An update on the Kalamazoo County Fair and Expo Center was provided, including the recommendation for the parks department to take the lead in organizing the fair.

The board received an update on the Kalamazoo County Fair and Expo Center. The recommendation from the Fair Council and Parks Commission is for the county parks and expo center department to lead the organization of the fair. This would involve hiring a fair coordinator and part-time staff. The option remains open for discussions with community partners regarding future organizational structures for the fair.