Mayor· 2025-11-01 – 2029-11-01 (month-level start: November 2025 per Kent County Clerk results for the Nov 4, 2025 election, sworn in the Monday after the election per the city's 2021 press release; month-level end: November 2029 per city page 'All Kentwood elected officials serve a term of four years')
Stephen Kepley
Kentwood
No biography on file yet.
Voice
- Meetings spoken in
- 13
- Total speaking time
- 1:42:42
- Avg per meeting
- 7:54
- Segments
- 2761
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Top issues during term (19)(Public Safety)
Police Department 2025 performance
The fire operating budget runs about $9.5 million, roughly 84% of it in staffing.
Police department promotions
Winter equipment for DPW
Up to $142,500 from the FY27 DPW Equipment Fund.
New Deputy Fire Chief sworn in
Up to $20,000 for the recruitment firm, not previously budgeted this fiscal year.
Pedestrian lighting on Eastern Avenue and 52nd Street
Cost of lighting improvements not yet known; study to be conducted by Consumers Energy.
Princeton Estates neighborhood maintenance
Code enforcement and neighborhood blight
Resident alleges false information in police records
Unknown; an independent review could carry costs if the Commission orders one.
FOIA policy amendment and appeals committee
Fire hydrant repainting program
Up to $84,000 per year from the Water Fund.
New Grand Rapids apartment complex may strain mutual aid
Rising fraud and scam complaints targeting residents
Residents have lost sums as large as $15,000 in a single scam, and many cases can't be recovered or prosecuted.
Vintage fire truck refurbishment
Up to $34,658 from the FY 2026 Fire Equipment Fund.
Kentwood Police state accreditation
police staffing shortage
Staffing is supported by the police millage, with officer pay and equipment funded from the police budget.
DPW laundry equipment purchase
About $22,117 from the Property & Building fund, with a 15-year-plus expected equipment lifespan.
Repeated false alarms ordinance fix
Enforcement of short-term rental ordinance
Unknown, though unpaid fines and ongoing enforcement costs are in question.
Rising domestic-related aggravated assaults
Decisions during term (0)
Recorded while Kepley was in office — not necessarily decisions they moved, spoke to, or voted on.
No decisions found matching Public Safety.
Voting record (0)(Public Safety)
No votes found matching Public Safety.