By Greg Chandler
Zeeland Record
The Zeeland Historical Society is asking for a significant boost in the city’s contribution to the nonprofit organization.
However, a City Council member is pushing back on the request.
The historical society asked the council Feb. 17 for a $20,000 contribution out of the public relations line item in the city budget for the 2025-26 fiscal year – a 67 percent increase from the $12,000 it received in the current fiscal year.
The historical society says there was a decline in both visits to the Dekker Huis Museum and donations to the organization last year, which it attributed to the road construction project and installation of snowmelt on Main Avenue from State Street to Maple Street. The museum closed down for more than a month because it did not have a back entrance, the society wrote in a
letter to the city.
“We’re having a hard time making ends meet, with all the things that need to be done,” society board member Ken Bing told the council. “All of our work is volunteer. We only have two staff members, the curator (Audrey Rojo) and the director (Katelyn VerMerris) … We’ve been in the red for quite awhile, and our treasurer says that we will not be sustainable five years from now.”
Bing and board president Ken Kolk also floated the idea of a millage to generate revenue for the historical society. Bing said that in addition to the city, the society receives funding from Holland Township, and was expected to ask for support from Zeeland Township.
Mayor Pro Tem Sally Gruppen took exception to the request.
“I wonder if your board ever talked about how much they get from this community already, and from the city of Zeeland,” Gruppen said. “(Last) year, we had a road project (and) sidewalks built in front (of the museum) … new steps, new everything. Did that cost you a penny? No.”
“You didn’t pay a dime. Everybody else (along Main) had to pay maintenance fees, everybody had to continue on, and we didn’t hear a complaint from any one of them. I thought to myself, I wonder if that new board … really understands how many years and years this city has bailed you out,” Gruppen added.
“It wasn’t meant as a complaint. It was meant to explain why we were having financial issues,” Kolk responded.
The historical society was the largest recipient of funds in the public relations line item of the city budget for the 2024-25 fiscal year. The $12,000 contribution represented 20 percent of the city’s overall $60,000 allocation to local nonprofits and area-wide events, such as Pumpkinfest and Tulip Time. The next largest recipient was the Project Clarity watershed restoration effort, which received $10,000, according to city documents.
In addition to funding challenges, the historical society is also running into a drop in volunteerism, Kolk said.
“Most of our volunteers are aging out. The current generation of the 50-to-60-year-olds which tended to volunteer for us are … working and are not available for us,” Kolk said.
Some of the activities planned at the Dekker Huis Museum this year include an exhibit titled “Foundations: A Journey Through Our Built Environment” that will begin in June. The museum continues to host field trips for local schools, with more than 500 students expected to visit this year. In addition, the society is reviving its house plaque program to recognize historic buildings in the city, with the program now expanding to Holland and Zeeland townships, according to the letter submitted to the city.
The City Council is expected to consider the historical society’s funding request when it discusses the 2025-26 budget on March 31 and April 1.
Zeeland Record
The Zeeland Historical Society is asking for a significant boost in the city’s contribution to the nonprofit organization.
However, a City Council member is pushing back on the request.
The historical society asked the council Feb. 17 for a $20,000 contribution out of the public relations line item in the city budget for the 2025-26 fiscal year – a 67 percent increase from the $12,000 it received in the current fiscal year.
The historical society says there was a decline in both visits to the Dekker Huis Museum and donations to the organization last year, which it attributed to the road construction project and installation of snowmelt on Main Avenue from State Street to Maple Street. The museum closed down for more than a month because it did not have a back entrance, the society wrote in a
letter to the city.
“We’re having a hard time making ends meet, with all the things that need to be done,” society board member Ken Bing told the council. “All of our work is volunteer. We only have two staff members, the curator (Audrey Rojo) and the director (Katelyn VerMerris) … We’ve been in the red for quite awhile, and our treasurer says that we will not be sustainable five years from now.”
Bing and board president Ken Kolk also floated the idea of a millage to generate revenue for the historical society. Bing said that in addition to the city, the society receives funding from Holland Township, and was expected to ask for support from Zeeland Township.
Mayor Pro Tem Sally Gruppen took exception to the request.
“I wonder if your board ever talked about how much they get from this community already, and from the city of Zeeland,” Gruppen said. “(Last) year, we had a road project (and) sidewalks built in front (of the museum) … new steps, new everything. Did that cost you a penny? No.”
“You didn’t pay a dime. Everybody else (along Main) had to pay maintenance fees, everybody had to continue on, and we didn’t hear a complaint from any one of them. I thought to myself, I wonder if that new board … really understands how many years and years this city has bailed you out,” Gruppen added.
“It wasn’t meant as a complaint. It was meant to explain why we were having financial issues,” Kolk responded.
The historical society was the largest recipient of funds in the public relations line item of the city budget for the 2024-25 fiscal year. The $12,000 contribution represented 20 percent of the city’s overall $60,000 allocation to local nonprofits and area-wide events, such as Pumpkinfest and Tulip Time. The next largest recipient was the Project Clarity watershed restoration effort, which received $10,000, according to city documents.
In addition to funding challenges, the historical society is also running into a drop in volunteerism, Kolk said.
“Most of our volunteers are aging out. The current generation of the 50-to-60-year-olds which tended to volunteer for us are … working and are not available for us,” Kolk said.
Some of the activities planned at the Dekker Huis Museum this year include an exhibit titled “Foundations: A Journey Through Our Built Environment” that will begin in June. The museum continues to host field trips for local schools, with more than 500 students expected to visit this year. In addition, the society is reviving its house plaque program to recognize historic buildings in the city, with the program now expanding to Holland and Zeeland townships, according to the letter submitted to the city.
The City Council is expected to consider the historical society’s funding request when it discusses the 2025-26 budget on March 31 and April 1.
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