MACC Seeks Comments on Active Transportation Plan

By Greg Chandler
Zeeland Record

The Macatawa Area Coordinating Council is seeking comments on its updated non-motorized transportation plan.

The MACC held an open house March 5 at the Howard Miller Library and Community Center to give local residents a chance to see its Active Transportation Plan. Public comments on the plan are being accepted through the end of this month, said Eric Dykstra, a transportation planner and geographic information system specialist for MACC.

The new plan is the first time the Holland-Zeeland area’s regional bicycle and pedestrian network has been addressed since 2014. It identifies key gaps in that network and outlines a strategic approach for addressing those gaps and improving safety for its users.

“The primary focus is on addressing deficiencies in sidepath, bicycle lane, wide-paved shoulder and sidewalk networks, while prioritizing the widening, gap filling and improvement of existing infrastructure,” a portion of the plan’s executive summary reads.

One of the potential projects being addressed in the plan is construction of a pedestrian bridge over Business Loop I-196. The pedestrian bridge has been identified as a top goal by Zeeland city leaders, and MACC officials agree.

“I think crossing the business loop would be the number one priority (in the Zeeland area),” MACC Executive Director Jason Latham said.

The most likely location for the pedestrian bridge would be Maple Street and 92nd Avenue, with the 92nd Avenue portion connecting to the Maple Valley Estates mobile home park to the east. Making the project happen would have to involve a coordinated effort involving multiple entities, including the city, Zeeland Township, MACC and the Michigan Department of Transportation, Dykstra said.

“MDOT has to be involved with everything because they own the business loop,” Dykstra said.

MACC has applied for a $300,000 safety action plan grant that would further outline the need for the pedestrian bridge as well as other projects to address the needs of bicyclists and pedestrians in the Holland-Zeeland area.

“After that’s adopted, then the road-funding agencies can apply for federal funds for construction money for safety projects,” Dykstra said.

Another gap the plan seeks to address is connecting users of the Fred Meijer Kenowa Trail along Byron Road in the township to the city by going under the I-196 interchange.

“None of these people can get downtown. It’s a pain in the (butt),” Dykstra said.

The plan also assesses the condition of current paths and sidewalks, giving them a rating similar to the PASER ratings that are done to determine the condition of local streets and roads. The city of Zeeland has 34 miles of sidewalks and 7.5 miles of sidepaths. Many of the sidewalks have been rated in poor or below average condition, according to the plan document.

One area where the city could potentially benefit and be moved up the list for potential federal funding is that nearly the entire city qualifies as “an environmental justice area” because there is a greater concentration of poverty in Zeeland than in the overall MACC area, Dykstra said.

A second open house to take comments on the MACC Active Transportation Plan will be held next Wednesday from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Herrick District Library main branch, 300 S. River Ave. in Holland. Written comments may be sent via e-mail to Dykstra at edykstra@the-macc.org or by traditional mail at the Macatawa Area Coordinating Council, 301 Douglas Ave., Holland, MI, 49424.

You can find the full Active Transportation Plan online at the-macc.org/active-transportation-plan.

County Water Quality Forum Set for March 21


Water truly is the elixir of life. Considering humans are approximately 70 percent H20, its importance cannot be understated.

With water quality and quantity issues continuing to make headlines locally and nationally, ­Ottawa County is keeping the facts flowing at the 2025 Water Quality Forum.

Set for 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Friday, March 21 at the Pinnacle Center in Hudsonville, this forum will provide critical updates on the joint Ottawa County-Ottawa Conservation District Water Quality Monitoring Project, groundwater protection, stormwater infrastructure, aquatic invasive species, and provide updates on county drain management. Registration is free, but space is limited.

“Ottawa County is committed to enhancing water quality and setting standards for excellence in water management,” County Water Resources Commissioner Joe Bush said. “In that spirit, we’ve expanded the scope of the Forum to include a broader range of water quality and environmental stewardship topics. For instance, we’ve combined with the Green Infrastructure Seminar, bringing a larger focus on sustainable practices and solutions, which can directly improve water quality and stormwater management.”

Bush, the Ottawa County ­Department of Strategic Impact (DSI) and the Ottawa Conservation District are especially excited to share updates on the burgeoning Water Quality Monitoring Initiative.

Less than a year ago, the ­Ottawa County Board of Commissioners awarded the Ottawa Conservation District a $995,465 contract for a five-year collaborative project. With support from both the ODC Network, DSI, and the Water Resources Commissioner, the Conservation District is conducting water quality sampling, habitat surveys, and land surveys throughout all County watersheds through 2029.

Important updates on Ottawa County’s Groundwater Sustainability Initiative will also be shared during the event. Bush will be joined by DSI Land Use Coordinator Matt Chappuies in presenting facts and steps being taken to address the County’s groundwater quality and quantity challenges.

“We’re always pleased to have the public’s ear and inform on the very real groundwater issues the county is facing,” Chappuies said. “Events like this are invaluable to the mission of the initiative.”

Other guests presenting on an array of environmental water quality issues include representatives from Republic Services and Waste Management, the Ottawa Conservation District, Ottawa County Parks, Careerline Tech Center, Michigan Sea Grant, Tetra Tech, Grand Valley Metropolitan Council, the Annis Water Resources Institute at Grand Valley State University and Port Sheldon Township. In addition to the presentations, attendees will have the opportunity to check out interactive displays and chat with local vendors and organizations.

 Light breakfast will be provided, as well as a catered lunch. To view a full agenda and register for the event, visit miottawa.org/wrc and click on the “register now” button. If you have questions, please contact Megan Boos at mboos@miottawa.org or call (616) 994-4526.

Zeeland Twp. Board Approves Dust Control Contract


By Greg Chandler
Zeeland Record

The Zeeland Township Board on March 4 approved allocating $30,000 for dust control on the township’s gravel roads for this year.

The township will contract with Grand Haven-based Great Lakes Chloride, which has treated the township’s approximately 14 miles of gravel roads since 2021.

Great Lakes Chloride typically applies 2,500 gallons of a calcium chloride mixture per mile, or about 35,750 gallons per application, company representative Ashley Frantz Paulsell wrote in an email to Township Manager Josh Eggleston.

“Calcium chloride is highly effective due to its residual moisture-attracting properties, which help to keep the road surface damp and significantly reduce dust,” Paulsell wrote in her email. “However, it’s important to note that the amount of moisture in the air plays a critical role in the overall effectiveness, and each year may vary based on weather conditions.”

The company typically performs two applications a year, ­”although in wetter seasons, a single application may suffice,” Paulsell wrote.

Eggleston estimated the cost of a single application at about $27,500, but asked for $30,000 just in case. He also left the door open for the township to consider additional funding should a second application be needed this year.

“If we need to do another application, I’ll come back to the board (at) mid-summer and say ‘the weather’s been dry, so we (need another application),’” Eggleston said.

Township Trustee Kerri Bosma said that residents have been pleased with the condition of gravel roads since Great Lakes Chloride began its applications.

“We found that people in our township really liked this control,” Bosma said. “It seems the other (company) that we were using (previously), we had to have multiple applications. People have been happy with (Great Lakes). It seems to also (result in) less wear and tear on those that drive on the roads often, compared to some of the other brine products available.”

Zeeland IT Firm Honored in Annual ‘Companies to Watch’ List




Matt Veldhoff started Envizion IT, a Zeeland-based information technology company, in 2019 after 17 years at Innotec. The company has been named one of Michigan’s 50 Companies to Watch for this year.


Photo by Greg Chandler

By Greg Chandler
Zeeland Record
 
A Zeeland-based information technology company has been named one of Michigan’s 50 Companies To Watch for this year by a statewide organization.

 Envizion IT, located in the strip mall at 59 W. Washington Ave., is one of 50 small businesses across the state to receive the honor from Michigan Celebrates Small Business, an awards program of the Small Business Association of Michigan. The company will be honored at an awards gala April 22 in Lansing.

 Envizion IT was launched in 2019 by founder and chief executive officer Mark Veldhoff as part of the InnoGroup Companies, a Zeeland-based group of businesses covering a range of sectors that include manufacturing and design.

 Veldhoff had been the IT director at Innotec, a manufacturer of LED lighting, metal tubing for headrests and counterweights. He saw an opportunity to take his expertise and use it to serve other businesses and organizations with their IT needs and save them money.

“It was something that we felt we were good at, and that there was a market for, and that we could do something different,” Veldhoff said. “We came to the market with a different model than other IT companies.”

 While many IT companies provide services on a subscription basis, Veldhoff developed a business model based on “pay only for what you need.”

 “We do 100 percent (of our business on) time and materials. We still put our proactive software on there, we’re still getting in all the alerts and everything,” he said. “Then, when we track things by the hour, we can share that information with our customers and we can help support (return on investment) for projects and improve their environment and drive down their costs.”

 How does it all work? Veldhoff explains.

“From the moment we onboard new customers, we collect data on their support tickets and time usage,” he said. “This data enables us to identify and implement permanent corrective actions to recurring issues or problem areas. These savings are passed back to our customers, allowing them to invest more in their organization’s growth.”

Veldhoff notes that 70 percent of Envizion IT’s customers require 30 minutes or less of tech support per user monthly. Last year, the company eliminated 1,580 hours of support across 15 customers compared to the previous year, saving those customers more than $181,000 in IT costs, Veldhoff said.

While Envizion IT works primarily with manufacturing firms, it has also branched off into other sectors, including nonprofits. To meet the needs of a growing diversity of customers, the company has brought in IT professionals from other fields, including logistics and mental health care, Veldhoff said.

 Envizion IT describes itself as a business that draws its guiding values from biblical principles. One way the company demonstrates those values is that its employees typically do not work Sundays.

“Emergencies come up, things happen with our customers, but we proactively try not to do work on Sunday,” Veldhoff said. “Whether you believe it because you’re a faith-based person yourself, or not, everybody can get aligned with the fact that having a day off from work, where you don’t have to worry about the boss calling you, you get time with your family, that’s what’s important, right?”

As part of its values, Envizion IT and its employees give back to the community. Two years ago, the company started awarding technology grants to West Michigan nonprofits. The company provided grants and volunteer IT support to the Outdoor Discovery Center in the first year and to Community Action House in the second year, Veldhoff said.

Last year, the company partnered with the Lakeshore Nonprofit Alliance, which has more than 200 member organizations, to create the Lakeshore Technology Assistance Program, which provides IT support to underserved small nonprofits, Veldhoff said.

In addition, the company takes three days off from work each year through its Days of Stewardship program, where employees volunteer at local nonprofits. Last year, employees volunteered at Kids Food Basket in Holland, New Growth Project in Rockford and Kent County Technical Center in Grand Rapids, Veldhoff said.

The 50 Companies To Watch award isn’t the first time Envizion IT has been honored. In 2023, the company was ranked 30th on Channel Futures NextGen 101 list of the world’s top 101 innovative managed service providers. Last year, the company made Inc. 5000’s list of America’s fastest-growing privately-owned firms, coming in at No. 3318.

 Envizion IT, which has 15 employees, opened a second office in Grand Rapids in January 2024, and is looking into the possibility of a third location, although no decision has been made as to where it will be.

“We want to keep the locations close to our customers. We’re looking at trying to break into smaller teams, so that we can be even closer to our customers,” Veldhoff said.

To find out more about Envizion IT, visit envizionit.com.

Tulip Time Celebrates National Quilting Day

In celebration of National Quilting Month during March and specifically National Quilting Day on Saturday, March 15, the Tulip Time Festival is announcing the annual Tulip Time Quilt Raffle.
This year’s raffle quilt is on display at the Tulip Time Festival Office, 42 W. 8th St., Holland, until Wednesday, April 30. Beginning May 2, the raffle quilt will be hung at the Tulip Time Quilt Show through May 10.
The Tulip Time Quilt Show will be held at Midtown Center, 96 W. 15th St. in Holland. The quilt show is a unique display of 100 beautiful, hand-made bed and wall quilts.
Visitors are encouraged to vote for their favorites as part of the Viewer’s Choice competition. First through 10th places will be announced on Saturday, May 10th. The winners will be posted after May 12 on the festival website at tuliptime.com/ quilt.
Artists interested in submitting quilts can do so through Tuesday, April 1. Entry forms are available at the Tulip Time office or can be downloaded at tuliptime.com/events/quilt-show.
Each year the Quilt Show Committee members create a raffle quilt. This year, the approximately 76-inch-by-76-inch quilt was designed and sewn by Sally Leep and Cheryl Zylman. It is a medallion quilt with a center windmill surrounded by four rounds. The first round consists of stars followed by a round of half-square triangles, an appliquéd round with four corners of pinwheels and a final round of flying geese. A floral border completes the quilt. The vibrant colors of the quilt reflect the colors of the Dutch countryside in the spring. The machine quilting was done by Living Threads.
Raffle tickets are available for purchase at the Tulip Time Office, 42 W. 8th St. They will also be available during the quilt show at Midtown Center May 2-10.

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