The Kent County Commissioner speaks about her run for elected office and hopes for the Heartside Neighborhood
As a thirty-year resident of Grand Rapids, Melissa LaGrand decided to bring her perspective to the Kent County Commission. LaGrand is an entrepreneur, who founded Four Friends Coffeehouse, Wealthy Street Bakery, and Hall Street Bakery with her husband, David. In addition to focusing on small business ownership, LaGrand has served on the City of Grand Rapids’ Mobile GR and the Vital Street Commission as well as the Board of Directors of Cherry Health.
How did you become interested in running for elected office?
It’s something I thought about for a while. I like to chew on a problem. I come with a background working in community health, having spent eight years on the board of Cherry Health. Health is an area where the county plays an outsize role. I was also involved with renovating old properties. I bring a broad range of interests and experience.
What made you interested in running for Kent County Commission specifically?
The County administers the court system and the County jail. There’s a whole realm for improvement in our justice system. Court and jail impacts everyone who lives in Kent County. How can we improve our courts? Could we add more courts? We can get away from the discipline and punish model and move towards a rehabilitation model.
The pandemic has made clear that the public health department also has a huge role to play. We need to be more proactive. We can get out in the community in a more accessible manner. We can help people who don’t have good transportation. Service delivery can be better.
What issues affecting the Heartside Neighborhood would you like to see the County Commission address?
There is a mental health crisis, and the county is starting to get involved. A lot of homeless people end up in the Heartside Neighborhood. There is a question of how best to serve the people who live and congregate there. There is talk of a crisis center.
Potential redevelopment along the Grand River will affect downtown neighborhoods a lot. There is talk of developing green spaces and potentially an amphitheater. Entities doing the planning should be contacting neighborhood associations about the potential impact of life in Heartside.
I would like to see the County step up in the areas of green space and park space. We could try to get some park space for city dwellers to have access. There is potentially an affordable housing component, too. We want to make sure we’re doing the best we can for the most people.”
What advice would you have for Heartside residents who want to make their voice heard?
Contacting and reaching out to commissioners is highly effective. I really appreciate it when people write to me. We can bring that feedback back to the commission. Speaking up is the single biggest thing. During public comment, hardly anyone comes. Come virtually or in person and say what you want to the County Commission.
We would like to hear from residents about how we’re going to spend money and on potential development downtown. An interest that the Commission has is broadband. As often as I can, I point out that this is usually thought of as people in rural areas. People need the Internet for finding work and going to school. People in the municipal heart of the county need better access to the Internet.
What do you like to do in your free time?
During the rise of COVID-19, I spent a lot more time with my kids. A couple of my adult children ended up at home during the pandemic. I also raised plants from seed for the first time; I like to garden.
