GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — Kent County commissioners have voted to hire two public health epidemiologists to address two public health concerns.
The Kent County Health Department will hire one person to assist with the PFAS contamination and another to address the opioid epidemic.
The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality began investigating groundwater contaminated with PFAS in the Belmont area, which has spread to other parts of Kent County. As other areas of contamination have been discovered, the department realized it needed to address staffing to assist its residents.
Once the person is hired, they will provide expertise, coordinate specimen collection, communicate with residents and health providers and assist in the investigation of other public health threats.
The person hired to address the opioid epidemic will be a part of the leadership and administration of the Kent County Opioid Task Force.