Driven to excellence, KCCDA committees ensure we’re delivering on our mission.
Working toward the fulfillment of our organization’s goals, the KCCDA Committees assist the Board of Directors and Executive Director with financial and personnel policies, and county-wide operational dispatch procedures. They work together to distribute resources, develop standards, manage personnel, and coordinate dispatch operations. KCCDA’s Committees meet at different times throughout the year to ensure KCCDA is delivering on its mission to provide the community with cost effective and efficient responses to public safety emergency services.
Executive Committee
The five member Executive Committee is designated in the organization’s bylaws and consist of the four elected officers of the Board of Directors (Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, Treasurer, and Clerk) and the Chairperson of the Personnel Committee. The Committee serves as the primary consult for the Executive Director regarding integral matters effecting the Dispatch Authority (legal, public relations, partnerships, etc.). Furthermore, the Committee is responsible for reviewing meeting agendas and scheduling presentations for the Board.
Board of Directors Chairperson – Jan VanDerKley
Board of Directors Vice-Chairperson – Jim Ritsema
Board of Directors Treasurer – Don Martin
Board of Directors Clerk – Richard Fuller
Personnel Committee Chairperson – Pat McGinnis
| 2024 Meeting Packets | 2024 Meeting Minutes | 2023 Meeting Packets | 2023 Meeting Minutes | 2022 Meeting Packets | 2022 Meeting Minutes | 2021 Meeting Minutes |
Finance Committee
Advising the Board with respect to fiscal policy, the Finance Committee provides recommendations on appropriations, reviews all operational and capital budgets, and reviews matters pertaining to the annual financial audit. In furtherance of the KCCDA’s overarching goals, it also assesses and recommends actions on claims submitted to KCCDA for payment and oversees grants submitted for approval by the Board.
| APPOINTING BODY or ENTITY | PRIMARY REP. | ALTERNATE REP. | NOTE |
| Board of Directors (according to Bylaws) | Don Martin (Chair) | Board Treasurer | |
| City of Portage | Vic Ledbetter | UNDESIGNATED | |
| Kalamazoo County Fire Chiefs Association | Jeff VanderWiere | Matt Beauchamp | |
| City of Kalamazoo | Jim Ritsema | Jeff Chamberlain | |
| Kalamazoo County | Kevin Catlin | John Taylor | |
| Kalamazoo Township | Bryan Ergang | ||
| Kalamazoo County Township Supervisors | Randy Thompson | Don Ulsh |
| 2024 Meeting Packets | 2024 Meeting Minutes | 2023 Meeting Packets | 2023 Meeting Minutes | 2022 Meeting Packets | 2022 Meeting Minutes | 2021 Meeting Minutes |
Personnel Committee
It is the duty of this committee to work closely with the KCCDA’s Executive Director to analyze and advise the Board on personnel policies, benefits, and contracts that may directly or indirectly impact the organization’s employees. Each led by their own representative, KCCDA’s committees meet at different times throughout the year to ensure KCCDA is delivering on its mission to provide the community with a cost effective and efficient response to public safety emergency services.
| APPOINTING BODY or ENTITY | PRIMARY REP. | ALTERNATE REP. | NOTE |
| Board of Directors | Pat McGinnis | Chairperson | |
| KCSO | Richard Fuller | ||
| WMU | Scott Merlo | ||
| Kalamazoo Township | Bryan Ergang | ||
| City of Kalamazoo | Jeff Chamberlain | Jim Ritsema | |
| Kalamazoo County | Jeff Heppler | Dale Deleeuw | |
| Kalamazoo Township | Tracie Moored |
| 2024 Meeting Packets | 2024 Meeting Minutes | 2023 Meeting Packets | 2023 Meeting Minutes | 2022 Meeting Packets | 2022 Meeting Minutes | 2021 Meeting Minutes |
Technical Advisory Committee
Authorized in the organization’s Bylaws and the Interlocal Agreement, KCCDA’s Technical Advisory Committee fulfills a range of essential duties, including serving as the E9-1-1 Board (as required by statute), assisting with operating procedures, resolving agency disputes, developing standards, and recommendation system/equipment acquisitions. The group meets the first Wednesday of every other month at 10:00 a.m. in the Chief Switalski Meeting Room.
| APPOINTING BODY or ENTITY | PRIMARY REP. | ALTERNATE REP. |
| Kalamazoo Dept. of Public Safety | Matt Huber | Chris Franks |
| Portage Dept. of Public Safety | Nicholas Armold | Jeff VanderWiere |
| Kalamazoo County Fire Chiefs Association | Gerry Luedecking | Chip Everett |
| Kalamazoo County Medical Control Authority | William Fales | Undesignated |
| Kalamazoo County Sheriff’s Office | Richard Fuller | James VanDyken |
| Township of Kalamazoo Police Dept. | Bryan Ergang | Scott Jackson |
| Michigan State Police – Paw Paw Post | Scott Ernstes (Vice-Chairperson) | Dale Hinz |
| Western Michigan University Public Safety | Scott Merlo (Chairperson) | Ryan McGregor |
| 2024 Meeting Packets | 2024 Meeting Minutes | 2023 Meeting Packets | 2023 Meeting Minutes | 2022 Meeting Packets | 2022 Meeting Minutes | 2021 Meeting Minutes |
| 01/10/24 | 1/10/24 | 01/04/23 | 01/04/23 | 01/05/22 | 01/05/22 | 01/06/21 |
| 03/06/24 | 03/06/24 | 03/02/22 | 03/02/22 | 02/03/21 | ||
| 05/01/24 | 05/01/24 | 03/01/23 | 03/01/23 | 5/4/22 | 5/4/22 | 03/03/21 |
| 07/10/24 | 07/10/24 | 05/03/2023 | 05/03/23 | 7/6/22 | 7/6/22 | 05/05/21 |
| 09/04/24 | 09/04/24 | 09/07/22 | 09/07/22 | 07/07/21 | ||
| 11/06/24 | 11/06/24 | 07/12/23 | 07/12/23 | 11/02/22 | 11/02/22 | 09/01/21 |
| 09/06/23 | 09/06/23 | 11/03/21 |