- Directory
- Commissioners
- Engineering
- Equipment/Building
- Accounting/Purchasing
- Road Maintenance
- Planning/Human Resources
- Traffic / Safety
COUNTY BOARD OF ROAD COMMISSIONERS
The five person Board is appointed by the Kent County Board of Commissioners and provides the organizational direction and policy guidance for the Road Commission. The Board meets at 1500 Scribner Avenue NW. Grand Rapids, Michigan on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month beginning at 8 a.m. Contact form
The five person Board is appointed by the Kent County Board of Commissioners and provides the organizational direction and policy guidance for the Road Commission. The Board meets at 1500 Scribner Avenue NW. Grand Rapids, Michigan on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month beginning at 8 a.m. Contact form
| Mark E. Rambo, Chairman | Term Expires 2017 | 616-242-6960 |
| David M. Groenleer, Vice Chairman | Term Expires 2016 | 616-242-6960 |
| Patrick G. Malone, Commissioner | Term Expires 2018 | 616-242-6960 |
| William N. Stellin, Commissioner | Term Expires 2013 | 616-242-6960 |
| Fritz Wahlfield, Commissioner | Term Expires 2014 | 616-242-6960 |
| Steve Warren | Managing Director | 616-242-6960 |
| Diane Martin | Executive Secretary | 616-242-6960 |
Engineering Division
The Engineering Division is responsible for the design and construction engineering of all County road and bridge projects on the County primary system (green routes on the county map), and they assist other Divisions in providing engineering expertise and assistance. The Division is also responsible for department-wide contract administration, soil erosion control, right-of-way acquisition, subdivision control, the issuance and inspection of all permitted activities within the County road right-of-ways, commercial driveways, and the County Road Map. (616) 242-6910
The Engineering Division is responsible for the design and construction engineering of all County road and bridge projects on the County primary system (green routes on the county map), and they assist other Divisions in providing engineering expertise and assistance. The Division is also responsible for department-wide contract administration, soil erosion control, right-of-way acquisition, subdivision control, the issuance and inspection of all permitted activities within the County road right-of-ways, commercial driveways, and the County Road Map. (616) 242-6910
| Wayne Harrall, P.E | Director of Engineering | 616-242-6901 ext 6914 |
| Tom Byle, P.E. | Assistant Director of Engineering | 616-242-6901 ext 6981 |
| Jeff Kocsis, P.E | Engineer of Maintenance and Local Construction | 616-242-6901 ext 6917 |
| Karen Luneke | Administrative Assistant | 616-242-6901 ext 6910 |
| Brian Bueche, P.E. | Public Plats | 616-242-6901 ext 6911 |
| John Strunk | Commercial Drives & Private Street Approaches | 616-242-6901 ext 6913 |
| Permit Office | 616-242-6920 | |
| Right of Way Office | 616-242-6941 |
Equipment and Building Division
The responsibility of the Equipment and Building Division is to formulate specifications for purchase, rental, or lease on all equipment, buildings, and work on the grounds at all four complexes, and all maintenance of equipment, buildings, and grounds
The responsibility of the Equipment and Building Division is to formulate specifications for purchase, rental, or lease on all equipment, buildings, and work on the grounds at all four complexes, and all maintenance of equipment, buildings, and grounds
| Steve Roose | Director of Buildings and Equipment | 616-242-6901 ext 6955 |
| Duane Kaminsky | Central Complex Foreman | 616-242-6901 ext 6990 |
| Tom Johnson | North Complex Foreman | 616-242-6901 ext 6903 |
| Brian Weber | South Complex Foreman | 616-242-6901 ext 6906 |
Accounting and Finance Division
The mission of the Finance Division is to provide its customers with excellent financial services and valuable information. The Finance Division responsibilities include all day-to-day financial transactions of the Road Commission including budgeting, accounting, purchasing, financing, information systems, and financial reporting.
The mission of the Finance Division is to provide its customers with excellent financial services and valuable information. The Finance Division responsibilities include all day-to-day financial transactions of the Road Commission including budgeting, accounting, purchasing, financing, information systems, and financial reporting.
| John Strauss | Director of Finance | 616-242-6901 ext 6934 |
| Mario Guerra | Assistant Director of Finance - Accounting | 616-242-6901 ext 6986 |
| Mary Wiegerink | Assistant Director of Finance - Purchasing | 616-242-6901 ext 6928 |
Maintenance Division
The Kent County Road Commission is responsible for the maintenance of County primary roads, local roads, and the State Trunklines. Primary roads such as West River Road, Lincoln Lake Avenue, Patterson Avenue, and 84th Street, are shown in green on the County map. The type of work performed is very similar to those performed f or the Michigan Department of Transportation on the State trunklines. Reconstruction, overlay, and bridge replacement projects are handled by the Road Commission Engineering Division, normally by contract with private companies although the Maintenance Division may do smaller projects. The local road system is shown in solid black or two thin black lines in the case of gravel roads on the County map. The Road Commission and the Townships have worked cooperatively over the years to upgrade the gravel roads on the local system. In order to have a balanced workload between winter and summer, the Road Commission performs local road construction to prepare the roads for contract paving. The Kent County Road Commission Maintenance Division is also responsible for maintaining most State highways in Kent County under a contract with the Michigan Department of Transportation. These roads are shown in red on the County map. Examples of these roads include I-96, I-196, US-131, M-6, M-37, M-46, and M-50. Types of work performed include plowing snow, patching holes, mowing the roadside, ditch cleanout, sweeping, guardrail repair, and some joint repair on concrete pavement. Contact form
The Kent County Road Commission is responsible for the maintenance of County primary roads, local roads, and the State Trunklines. Primary roads such as West River Road, Lincoln Lake Avenue, Patterson Avenue, and 84th Street, are shown in green on the County map. The type of work performed is very similar to those performed f or the Michigan Department of Transportation on the State trunklines. Reconstruction, overlay, and bridge replacement projects are handled by the Road Commission Engineering Division, normally by contract with private companies although the Maintenance Division may do smaller projects. The local road system is shown in solid black or two thin black lines in the case of gravel roads on the County map. The Road Commission and the Townships have worked cooperatively over the years to upgrade the gravel roads on the local system. In order to have a balanced workload between winter and summer, the Road Commission performs local road construction to prepare the roads for contract paving. The Kent County Road Commission Maintenance Division is also responsible for maintaining most State highways in Kent County under a contract with the Michigan Department of Transportation. These roads are shown in red on the County map. Examples of these roads include I-96, I-196, US-131, M-6, M-37, M-46, and M-50. Types of work performed include plowing snow, patching holes, mowing the roadside, ditch cleanout, sweeping, guardrail repair, and some joint repair on concrete pavement. Contact form
| Jerry Byrne | Director of Maintenance and Local Construction | 616-242-6950 |
| Bruce Bitely | Assistant Director for Maintenance | 616-242-6950 |
| Kris Cassady | General Maintenance Information | 616-242-6950 |
| Mel Baird | North Complex Superintendent | 616-696-3160 or 616-242-6969 |
| Bill Byrne | Central Complex Superintendent | 616-242-6972 |
| Phil Tichelaar | South Complex Superintendent | 616-242-2987 |
Planning and Human Resources Division
In the area of Planning, this Division is responsible for evaluating the needs of the County road system and identifying major improvement priorities. In addition, Staff works in cooperation with other units of government to coordinate transportation planning activities and seeks out grant funding for major improvement projects. In the area of Human Resources, the Division is responsible for employee relations, training, recruiting, benefit administration, worker's compensation and organization improvement.
In the area of Planning, this Division is responsible for evaluating the needs of the County road system and identifying major improvement priorities. In addition, Staff works in cooperation with other units of government to coordinate transportation planning activities and seeks out grant funding for major improvement projects. In the area of Human Resources, the Division is responsible for employee relations, training, recruiting, benefit administration, worker's compensation and organization improvement.
| Michael Dennis | Human Resources Manager | 616-242-6901 ext 6937 |
| Carole Morgan | Human Resources Coordinator | 616-242-6901 ext 6979 |
| Transportation Planner | 616-242-6901 ext 6948 |
Traffic and Safety Division
The responsibilities of the Traffic and Safety Division include traffic controls and property damage claims. Traffic controls include signing, signals, and pavement markings. The Safety Division also investigates unauthorized activities and encroachments in the right-of-way. Property damage claims should be directed to the Safety Division for investigation. Contact the Traffic & Safety Department at (616) 242-6923.
Contact form
The responsibilities of the Traffic and Safety Division include traffic controls and property damage claims. Traffic controls include signing, signals, and pavement markings. The Safety Division also investigates unauthorized activities and encroachments in the right-of-way. Property damage claims should be directed to the Safety Division for investigation. Contact the Traffic & Safety Department at (616) 242-6923.
Contact form
| Tim Haagsma, P.E. | Director of Traffic and Safety | 616-242-6901 ext 6936 |
| Shirley Wollner, P.E. | Assistant Director of Traffic and Safety | 616-242-6901 ext 6922 |
| Terry Porritt | Administrative Assistant for Safety | 616-242-6901 ext 6924 |
| Dan Luyk | Sign Shop Foreman | 616-242-6901 ext 6929 |
What is a Road Commission?
County Maintained State Roads
The Kent County Road Commission under contract with MDOT maintains 1,139.11 single lane miles of State roads
Seasonal Weight and Speed Restrictions
have been be lifted as of
6 a.m. April 15, 2013
More information on weight restrictions:
* Information Line (616) 336-2019
* Truck Operators Map
* County Road Association of Michigan
County Sources of Revenue
The Michigan Transportation Fund (MTF) is the primary source of revenue for the Road Commission. The MTF is from fuel taxes and vehicle registration fees that are distributed through a formula. Additional revenue sources include grants and service contracts with other units of government. The Kent County Road Commission does not levy or collect any taxes.
County Road Classifications
Primary roads are all paved and are the main arterials in the County. Local roads are generally collectors and residential streets. Of these miles, 44 miles are Natural Beauty Roads. There are 176 County bridges.
| Primary Roads | 660.70 miles |
| Local Roads | 1,297.86 miles |
| Total Roads | 1,958.56 miles |