By Greg Chandler
Zeeland Record
Some Zeeland Township board members are expressing concerns about the residential planned unit development proposed at the northeast corner of Woodbridge Street and 96th Avenue.
The proposal to rezone the 13.4-acre property at 9501 Woodbridge from R-1 rural residential to R-2 medium-density residential PUD went through a first reading at the board’s June 3 meeting – and got a lot of questions from both board members and neighboring residents. A final decision on the rezoning is expected next month.
The township Planning Commission on May 13 recommended the board approve rezoning the parcel, located about a half-mile west of Woodbridge Elementary School, despite objections from neighbors who say the development will add more traffic to already-busy nearby streets and reduce their property values.
The township’s future land use map shows the parcel eventually being rezoned as medium-density residential, which could be met with either an R-1 or R-2 zoning designation.
Project civil engineer Jacob Melton of Kalamazoo-based Hurley & Stewart, representing property owner Woodbridge Estates LLC, presented a preliminary plan to the board, calling for 41 housing units on the site – 29 single-family homes and six attached two-unit condominiums. The development would set aside four acres of land as open space and include a walking trail on its perimeter.
“Woodbridge aims to fill the need for housing that serves young families and young professionals purchasing their first home, as well as empty nesters, by providing housing and amenities meant to serve a community of growing families,” Melton said.
Melton said that the proposed development has a density of 3.3 units per acre, which he says meets the township standard of medium-density development being no more than four units per acre.
Zeeland Township’s ordinance requires that residential PUDs be at least five acres in size, that each lot be a minimum of 6,500 square feet (except for an R-1 PUD, where a minimum lot size must be at least 7,500 square feet), that at least 30 percent of the property be set aside as open space, that at least 70 percent of the development consist of single-family homes and that no building may contain more than four dwelling units.
Proposed lot sizes for the Woodbridge development range from the minimum PUD requirement of 6,500 square feet to more than 13,000 square feet. Nineteen lots would be at that 6,500-square-foot minimum. By comparison, the minimum required lot size for a conventional R-1 residential zoning is 15,000 square feet, while a conventional R-2 zoning would have a minimum lot size of 10,000 square feet, according to the township ordinance.
Several board members are concerned that the developer hasn’t presented any renderings of what the housing units might look like, even though a developer isn’t required to do so when making a rezoning request.
“We’ve seen the site plans, but what are the homes (going to look like)?” Township Trustee Dave Barry asked. “I haven’t seen any examples of the homes (that might be built).”
“We are the site engineers. We’re not the architects. We don’t have (renderings of) houses, specifically,” Melton responded.
Township Trustee Melissa Veldheer questioned the compatibility of the proposed development with nearby neighborhoods such as Bluff Lakes and Highland View, which were built with larger lot footprints.
“If you’re trying to make compatibility (with the surrounding neighborhoods), but you won’t tell us what you’re building, then the only thing we have to compare is lot sizes,” Veldheer said. “None of the development in the area has been developed with a 6,500-square-foot footprint.”
Township Zoning Administrator Lori Castello said that questions about infrastructure and drainage would be addressed at a later time, if the rezoning is approved, when more detailed engineering plans are presented.
“The process is that a conceptual review and approval, if that’s granted, then the developer goes and spends the money on the engineers,” Castello said. “If the engineering doesn’t flush out, so it can’t happen, they’re going to be dead in the water. They will have to meet those requirements and they will have to document that they meet those standards. So that’s when we involve Ottawa County Road Commission, Drain Commission, Water Resources – all of those outside agencies, EGLE gets involved for the underground (work).”
Quite a few nearby residents are worried that approval of the development will add more traffic onto 96th Avenue, which is already one of the busier roads in Ottawa County. A traffic study conducted by the Ottawa County Road Commission last year found 12,981 vehicles used 96th, north of Adams Street, during a 24-hour period, a 14.4 percent increase from a 2023 study that found 11,340 vehicles using that same stretch of road over a 24-hour day.
The rezoning request is the fourth different one that has been presented to the township in the last 14 months. The most recent rezoning request, presented in July of last year, called for 53 two-story single-family homes, with 30 percent of the land set aside for greenspace and amenities that included walking trails and pickleball courts.
In that instance, the township Planning Commission provided recommendations to the developer to have a traffic study done, input from Woodbridge School administrators and a conservation easement requirement be included in the draft master deed. The Township Board never voted on that proposal, according to township minutes.
Township Trustee Kerri Bosma wondered out loud why the recommendations from the previous plan weren’t part of the new rezoning proposal.
“My question is, these things haven’t changed,” Bosma said. “Why wouldn’t they bring that to us?”
“I’m not saying no, I’m not saying yes. I’m saying there’s a lot to discuss here and I want to make sure that we’re doing it in a manner, in a way that is appropriate for the developer (and) the landowner. They have property rights. I don’t want to deny anyone in this room their property rights, and I also want to make sure if we’re doing something in our community that we are having the proper discussion to move forward,” Bosma added.
Barry said that if a motion was to have been made at the June 3 meeting, he would have voted to recommend denial of the rezoning.
“I’m all for development. I’m all for residential (development) and growth for the community,” he said. “However, there’s a transportation (and) logistics issues that’s been unaddressed, there’s a water table issue that’s been unaddressed.”
The 9501 Woodbridge property was acquired in October of last year by Woodbridge Estates LLC from the Staat Trust at a cost of $1,050,000, according to county property records.
Zeeland Record
Some Zeeland Township board members are expressing concerns about the residential planned unit development proposed at the northeast corner of Woodbridge Street and 96th Avenue.
The proposal to rezone the 13.4-acre property at 9501 Woodbridge from R-1 rural residential to R-2 medium-density residential PUD went through a first reading at the board’s June 3 meeting – and got a lot of questions from both board members and neighboring residents. A final decision on the rezoning is expected next month.
The township Planning Commission on May 13 recommended the board approve rezoning the parcel, located about a half-mile west of Woodbridge Elementary School, despite objections from neighbors who say the development will add more traffic to already-busy nearby streets and reduce their property values.
The township’s future land use map shows the parcel eventually being rezoned as medium-density residential, which could be met with either an R-1 or R-2 zoning designation.
Project civil engineer Jacob Melton of Kalamazoo-based Hurley & Stewart, representing property owner Woodbridge Estates LLC, presented a preliminary plan to the board, calling for 41 housing units on the site – 29 single-family homes and six attached two-unit condominiums. The development would set aside four acres of land as open space and include a walking trail on its perimeter.
“Woodbridge aims to fill the need for housing that serves young families and young professionals purchasing their first home, as well as empty nesters, by providing housing and amenities meant to serve a community of growing families,” Melton said.
Melton said that the proposed development has a density of 3.3 units per acre, which he says meets the township standard of medium-density development being no more than four units per acre.
Zeeland Township’s ordinance requires that residential PUDs be at least five acres in size, that each lot be a minimum of 6,500 square feet (except for an R-1 PUD, where a minimum lot size must be at least 7,500 square feet), that at least 30 percent of the property be set aside as open space, that at least 70 percent of the development consist of single-family homes and that no building may contain more than four dwelling units.
Proposed lot sizes for the Woodbridge development range from the minimum PUD requirement of 6,500 square feet to more than 13,000 square feet. Nineteen lots would be at that 6,500-square-foot minimum. By comparison, the minimum required lot size for a conventional R-1 residential zoning is 15,000 square feet, while a conventional R-2 zoning would have a minimum lot size of 10,000 square feet, according to the township ordinance.
Several board members are concerned that the developer hasn’t presented any renderings of what the housing units might look like, even though a developer isn’t required to do so when making a rezoning request.
“We’ve seen the site plans, but what are the homes (going to look like)?” Township Trustee Dave Barry asked. “I haven’t seen any examples of the homes (that might be built).”
“We are the site engineers. We’re not the architects. We don’t have (renderings of) houses, specifically,” Melton responded.
Township Trustee Melissa Veldheer questioned the compatibility of the proposed development with nearby neighborhoods such as Bluff Lakes and Highland View, which were built with larger lot footprints.
“If you’re trying to make compatibility (with the surrounding neighborhoods), but you won’t tell us what you’re building, then the only thing we have to compare is lot sizes,” Veldheer said. “None of the development in the area has been developed with a 6,500-square-foot footprint.”
Township Zoning Administrator Lori Castello said that questions about infrastructure and drainage would be addressed at a later time, if the rezoning is approved, when more detailed engineering plans are presented.
“The process is that a conceptual review and approval, if that’s granted, then the developer goes and spends the money on the engineers,” Castello said. “If the engineering doesn’t flush out, so it can’t happen, they’re going to be dead in the water. They will have to meet those requirements and they will have to document that they meet those standards. So that’s when we involve Ottawa County Road Commission, Drain Commission, Water Resources – all of those outside agencies, EGLE gets involved for the underground (work).”
Quite a few nearby residents are worried that approval of the development will add more traffic onto 96th Avenue, which is already one of the busier roads in Ottawa County. A traffic study conducted by the Ottawa County Road Commission last year found 12,981 vehicles used 96th, north of Adams Street, during a 24-hour period, a 14.4 percent increase from a 2023 study that found 11,340 vehicles using that same stretch of road over a 24-hour day.
The rezoning request is the fourth different one that has been presented to the township in the last 14 months. The most recent rezoning request, presented in July of last year, called for 53 two-story single-family homes, with 30 percent of the land set aside for greenspace and amenities that included walking trails and pickleball courts.
In that instance, the township Planning Commission provided recommendations to the developer to have a traffic study done, input from Woodbridge School administrators and a conservation easement requirement be included in the draft master deed. The Township Board never voted on that proposal, according to township minutes.
Township Trustee Kerri Bosma wondered out loud why the recommendations from the previous plan weren’t part of the new rezoning proposal.
“My question is, these things haven’t changed,” Bosma said. “Why wouldn’t they bring that to us?”
“I’m not saying no, I’m not saying yes. I’m saying there’s a lot to discuss here and I want to make sure that we’re doing it in a manner, in a way that is appropriate for the developer (and) the landowner. They have property rights. I don’t want to deny anyone in this room their property rights, and I also want to make sure if we’re doing something in our community that we are having the proper discussion to move forward,” Bosma added.
Barry said that if a motion was to have been made at the June 3 meeting, he would have voted to recommend denial of the rezoning.
“I’m all for development. I’m all for residential (development) and growth for the community,” he said. “However, there’s a transportation (and) logistics issues that’s been unaddressed, there’s a water table issue that’s been unaddressed.”
The 9501 Woodbridge property was acquired in October of last year by Woodbridge Estates LLC from the Staat Trust at a cost of $1,050,000, according to county property records.
ZPS, Teachers Union Reach Contract Agreement
By Greg Chandler
Zeeland Record
The Zeeland Board of Education has ratified a new two-year contract with the union representing the district’s teachers.
The school board last Thursday approved the new pact with the Zeeland Education Association, which will run through the end of 2026-27 school year.
The contract calls for a step and 5 percent raise for Zeeland teachers in the 2025-26 school year, followed by a step and 4 percent raise the following school year.
The new contract also offers more affordable medical plans, clarifies language that supports both teachers and students, and provides additional opportunities for staff who work as teacher leaders and staff who work with students in performing arts, athletics and student clubs.
Calendars for both 2025-26 and 2026-27 are very similar to the 2024-25 calendar. The 2025-26 calendar has been posted online, with the first day of classes set for Wednesday, Aug. 27. The complete 2026-27 calendar will be posted later this summer.
The contract covers nearly 450 teachers in the Zeeland Public Schools, district spokeswoman Brandy Navetta said.
Zeeland Record
The Zeeland Board of Education has ratified a new two-year contract with the union representing the district’s teachers.
The school board last Thursday approved the new pact with the Zeeland Education Association, which will run through the end of 2026-27 school year.
The contract calls for a step and 5 percent raise for Zeeland teachers in the 2025-26 school year, followed by a step and 4 percent raise the following school year.
The new contract also offers more affordable medical plans, clarifies language that supports both teachers and students, and provides additional opportunities for staff who work as teacher leaders and staff who work with students in performing arts, athletics and student clubs.
Calendars for both 2025-26 and 2026-27 are very similar to the 2024-25 calendar. The 2025-26 calendar has been posted online, with the first day of classes set for Wednesday, Aug. 27. The complete 2026-27 calendar will be posted later this summer.
The contract covers nearly 450 teachers in the Zeeland Public Schools, district spokeswoman Brandy Navetta said.
Contract Awarded for Downtown Parking Lot Resurfacing
By Greg Chandler
Zeeland Record
The south parking lot in Zeeland’s downtown will be repaved later this year.
The City Council on June 2 approved awarding the contract for milling and resurfacing the south parking lot to Reith-Riley Construction, which submitted the low bid of $185,150 late last month.
The council set a project budget of $205,000, well below the $250,000 the city had initially allocated to repave the lot in its 2025-26 budget.
“The surface of the parking lot is quite deteriorated,” Assistant City Manager and Finance Director Kevin Plockmeyer wrote in a memo to the council.
City officials consulted with the Shopping Area Redevelopment Board (SARB) to discuss the best timing for the resurfacing work, and agreed on a September project date.
“There is no great time to take that parking lot out of commission, but we felt that after Fall Peddlers Market and before Pumpkinfest (was the best time to complete the project),” Plockmeyer told council members.
The project is expected to take 2-3 weeks to complete. There are no plans to make any changes in reconfiguring the lot to add more parking spaces.
“We are simply removing the (old) asphalt and putting new asphalt down,” Plockmeyer said.
Zeeland Record
The south parking lot in Zeeland’s downtown will be repaved later this year.
The City Council on June 2 approved awarding the contract for milling and resurfacing the south parking lot to Reith-Riley Construction, which submitted the low bid of $185,150 late last month.
The council set a project budget of $205,000, well below the $250,000 the city had initially allocated to repave the lot in its 2025-26 budget.
“The surface of the parking lot is quite deteriorated,” Assistant City Manager and Finance Director Kevin Plockmeyer wrote in a memo to the council.
City officials consulted with the Shopping Area Redevelopment Board (SARB) to discuss the best timing for the resurfacing work, and agreed on a September project date.
“There is no great time to take that parking lot out of commission, but we felt that after Fall Peddlers Market and before Pumpkinfest (was the best time to complete the project),” Plockmeyer told council members.
The project is expected to take 2-3 weeks to complete. There are no plans to make any changes in reconfiguring the lot to add more parking spaces.
“We are simply removing the (old) asphalt and putting new asphalt down,” Plockmeyer said.
City to Pursue Downtown Clock Repairs
The clock in downtown Zeeland has not been working for a long time. City officials have found an electrical contractor who is willing to repair the clock at the corner of Main Avenue and Elm Street.
Photo by Greg Chandler
By Greg Chandler
Zeeland Record
It wasn’t struck by lightning like the courthouse clock in the movie “Back To The Future,” but the clock in downtown Zeeland has been stuck at just past 3:30 for a long, long time.
Finding someone to get the clock working again has proved to be challenging for the city.
However, after more than a year of searching by city Facilities Maintenance Supervisor Ben Kiewiet, the city has found an electrical contractor who is willing to repair the clock. And while those repairs are taking place, Assistant City Manager and Finance Director Kevin Plockmeyer is recommending other improvements to the clock.
“We see this as a great compliment to the downtown district. It’s like a staple of our downtown. Now (that) everything else is done around it, we’d like the clock to be functioning and working,” Plockmeyer said at a June 2 City Council meeting.
City officials searched high and low for a contractor, even going to the point of contacting Howard Miller Company, which had donated the clock to the city. They found no takers for a long time.
“There’s a lot of unknowns. I think the companies are very nervous about getting into the thing and tackling it,” Plockmeyer said.
The main issue with the clock is that there are broken motors inside the unit that keep it from operating properly. While new motors would be installed inside the clock, Plockmeyer also proposed upgrading the lenses on the clock face to make it more readable, upgrading the backlighting to LED and repainting the clock tower structure.
“Essentially, we’d like to get it to almost a ‘brand-new’ clock. But that comes at a cost,” Plockmeyer said.
Plockmeyer is estimating the cost of the clock repairs and upgrades at between $16,000 and $18,000. The city did not include clock repairs as part of the 2025-26 budget, so Plockmeyer is expected to ask for a budget adjustment to make the project happen.
The council agreed by consensus to have Plockmeyer continue to negotiate with contractors for the project, rather than formally bid the project out.
“I’m glad to hear that we found someone, because I had kind of resigned myself to the fact that we’re going to be (like) Hill Valley (referring to the “Back To the Future” clock location),” Councilman Glenn Kass said.
The clock has been at the corner of Main Avenue and Elm Street since November 2003, when the city completed a $2.35 million upgrade to Main that included reconfiguring the block between Elm and Church Street to add more parking spaces and removal of the canopies that had been part of downtown for many years.
By Greg Chandler
Zeeland Record
It wasn’t struck by lightning like the courthouse clock in the movie “Back To The Future,” but the clock in downtown Zeeland has been stuck at just past 3:30 for a long, long time.
Finding someone to get the clock working again has proved to be challenging for the city.
However, after more than a year of searching by city Facilities Maintenance Supervisor Ben Kiewiet, the city has found an electrical contractor who is willing to repair the clock. And while those repairs are taking place, Assistant City Manager and Finance Director Kevin Plockmeyer is recommending other improvements to the clock.
“We see this as a great compliment to the downtown district. It’s like a staple of our downtown. Now (that) everything else is done around it, we’d like the clock to be functioning and working,” Plockmeyer said at a June 2 City Council meeting.
City officials searched high and low for a contractor, even going to the point of contacting Howard Miller Company, which had donated the clock to the city. They found no takers for a long time.
“There’s a lot of unknowns. I think the companies are very nervous about getting into the thing and tackling it,” Plockmeyer said.
The main issue with the clock is that there are broken motors inside the unit that keep it from operating properly. While new motors would be installed inside the clock, Plockmeyer also proposed upgrading the lenses on the clock face to make it more readable, upgrading the backlighting to LED and repainting the clock tower structure.
“Essentially, we’d like to get it to almost a ‘brand-new’ clock. But that comes at a cost,” Plockmeyer said.
Plockmeyer is estimating the cost of the clock repairs and upgrades at between $16,000 and $18,000. The city did not include clock repairs as part of the 2025-26 budget, so Plockmeyer is expected to ask for a budget adjustment to make the project happen.
The council agreed by consensus to have Plockmeyer continue to negotiate with contractors for the project, rather than formally bid the project out.
“I’m glad to hear that we found someone, because I had kind of resigned myself to the fact that we’re going to be (like) Hill Valley (referring to the “Back To the Future” clock location),” Councilman Glenn Kass said.
The clock has been at the corner of Main Avenue and Elm Street since November 2003, when the city completed a $2.35 million upgrade to Main that included reconfiguring the block between Elm and Church Street to add more parking spaces and removal of the canopies that had been part of downtown for many years.
Two Hurt in Rear-End Pileup
Two women, including one from Zeeland, were injured last Friday in a rear-end crash involving three vehicles near Zeeland Stadium.
The crash occurred at 11:42 a.m. on Riley Street near 100th Avenue. According to the Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office, a 44-year-old Holland Township woman was driving eastbound on Riley approaching 100th when her Jeep rear-ended two vehicles that were stopped for the traffic signal at 100th.
After rear-ending the stopped vehicles, the Jeep left the roadway, went through a privacy fence, and came to a stop in the backyard of a house on Gray Fox Court.
The driver of the Jeep was taken to a local hospital by AMR Ambulance with non-life-threatening injuries, while a 39-year-old Zeeland woman who was driving one of the other two vehicles suffered minor injuries.
The crash occurred at 11:42 a.m. on Riley Street near 100th Avenue. According to the Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office, a 44-year-old Holland Township woman was driving eastbound on Riley approaching 100th when her Jeep rear-ended two vehicles that were stopped for the traffic signal at 100th.
After rear-ending the stopped vehicles, the Jeep left the roadway, went through a privacy fence, and came to a stop in the backyard of a house on Gray Fox Court.
The driver of the Jeep was taken to a local hospital by AMR Ambulance with non-life-threatening injuries, while a 39-year-old Zeeland woman who was driving one of the other two vehicles suffered minor injuries.
Searching for Tire Slasher
The Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office is searching for an individual or individuals in connection with a tire-slashing spree in Holland Township.
Deputies from the sheriff's office were dispatched in the early-morning hours of June 7 to multiple reports of vehicles with slashed tires.
The incidents occurred between the hours of midnight and 7 a.m. More than 45 vehicles had their tires slashed, Sgt. Brad Bennett of the sheriff’s office said.
The majority of the vehicles that had their tires slashed were parked overnight on Millpond Drive, with a few other vehicles damaged at businesses on Felch Street, Bennett said.
This is an ongoing investigation and anyone with information is asked to contact the Sheriff's Office or Silent Observer at 1-877-88-SILENT (745368) or moso tips.com.
Deputies from the sheriff's office were dispatched in the early-morning hours of June 7 to multiple reports of vehicles with slashed tires.
The incidents occurred between the hours of midnight and 7 a.m. More than 45 vehicles had their tires slashed, Sgt. Brad Bennett of the sheriff’s office said.
The majority of the vehicles that had their tires slashed were parked overnight on Millpond Drive, with a few other vehicles damaged at businesses on Felch Street, Bennett said.
This is an ongoing investigation and anyone with information is asked to contact the Sheriff's Office or Silent Observer at 1-877-88-SILENT (745368) or moso tips.com.
Momentum Center Moves to New Location Inside Church
The Momentum Center in Holland has recently moved to a new location inside Central Park Reformed Church.
Sharing a home with Central Park at 614 Myrtle Ave., the Holland Momentum Center supports the church’s ongoing mission of “Loving, Serving, Learning” as they reach out to all people of the greater Holland community.
“I am excited about this collaboration and already see members enjoying and dreaming of what we might do with the additions this space provides,” Holland Momentum Center coordinator Amber Morris said.
The Momentum Center opened in Grand Haven in 2017 and expanded to Holland in 2022. At both locations, they offer social and recreational opportunities for people with mental illness, addictions, and disabilities.
Membership is just $1 per year and no clinical diagnosis or referral is required. Members find a community of hope and belonging while engaging in activities as varied as line dancing, Bingo, “Name That Tune,” poetry and karaoke.
With its enlarged activity spaces, warm fellowship area, and spacious kitchen for classes and meals, the Holland Momentum Center calendar includes cardio drumming, chair yoga, messy art, coping skills, cooking classes, movies, and more. The center also takes members on outings to John Ball Park, Fell-in-Love Farm, Windmill Island, the Farmers’ Market and Herrick District Library, to name just a few. The center’s calendar can be accessed at hello@momentumcentergh. org.
Interested community members may stop at the center using Entrance D for a tour and to learn more Monday through Friday between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. There is also an open house being planned for Monday, July 21 from 3 to 6 p.m.
For more information on the Open House, the ongoing activities, or membership, call Morris at (616) 294-3992 or visit momentumcentergh.org/holland.
Sharing a home with Central Park at 614 Myrtle Ave., the Holland Momentum Center supports the church’s ongoing mission of “Loving, Serving, Learning” as they reach out to all people of the greater Holland community.
“I am excited about this collaboration and already see members enjoying and dreaming of what we might do with the additions this space provides,” Holland Momentum Center coordinator Amber Morris said.
The Momentum Center opened in Grand Haven in 2017 and expanded to Holland in 2022. At both locations, they offer social and recreational opportunities for people with mental illness, addictions, and disabilities.
Membership is just $1 per year and no clinical diagnosis or referral is required. Members find a community of hope and belonging while engaging in activities as varied as line dancing, Bingo, “Name That Tune,” poetry and karaoke.
With its enlarged activity spaces, warm fellowship area, and spacious kitchen for classes and meals, the Holland Momentum Center calendar includes cardio drumming, chair yoga, messy art, coping skills, cooking classes, movies, and more. The center also takes members on outings to John Ball Park, Fell-in-Love Farm, Windmill Island, the Farmers’ Market and Herrick District Library, to name just a few. The center’s calendar can be accessed at hello@momentumcentergh. org.
Interested community members may stop at the center using Entrance D for a tour and to learn more Monday through Friday between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. There is also an open house being planned for Monday, July 21 from 3 to 6 p.m.
For more information on the Open House, the ongoing activities, or membership, call Morris at (616) 294-3992 or visit momentumcentergh.org/holland.
College Notes . . .
Trine Students Earn Honors
Rylee Smith of Zeeland was named to the president’s list for the spring 2025 term at Trine (Ind.) University, while Hannah Lewis of Zeeland was named to the school’s dean’s list for the spring semester.
Smith, an exercise science/ pre-physical therapy major, earned president’s list honors by maintaining a grade point average of 3.750-4.000 while completing a minimum of 12 hours. Lewis, a civil engineering major, was named to the dean’s list for maintaining a GPA of 3.500 to 3.749 while completing 12 hours during the term.
Trine University, an internationally recognized, private, co-educational, residential institution, offers associate's, bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees in the Allen School of Engineering & Computing, Ketner School of Business, College of Graduate and Professional Studies, Brooks College of Health Professions, Franks School of Education, Jannen School of Arts & Sciences and Rinker-Ross School of Health Sciences. The university operates a 450-acre campus in Angola, Ind.
Brands Makes Dean’s List at Wisconsin Lutheran
Emily Brands of Zeeland, a senior at Wisconsin Lutheran College, has been named to the college's dean's list for the spring 2025 semester.
Brands is a graduate of Pentecostal Christian Academy. To be eligible for dean's list, a student must carry a semester grade point average of 3.6 or higher.
Wisconsin Lutheran College is an independent, nationally-ranked Christian college located in Milwaukee, Wis.
Three Students Honored at Cedarville
Dylan Killilea and Tyler Smeyers of Zeeland, students at Cedarville (Ohio) University, have been named to the dean's honor list for the spring 2025 semester. This recognition requires the student to obtain a 3.75 grade point average or higher for the semester and carry a minimum of 12 credit hours.
Meanwhile, Nathan Steenwyk of Zeeland was named to Cedarville’s dean’s list for the spring semester for maintaining at least a 3.5 GPA while carrying a minimum of 12 credit hours.
Cedarville University, an evangelical Christian institution in southwest Ohio, offers undergraduate and graduate programs across arts, sciences, and professional fields. With 6,384 students, it ranks among Ohio's largest private universities and is recognized by the Wall Street Journal as being among the nation's top three evangelical universities.
Meyer Named to Dean’s List at Jacksonville State
Caden Meyer of Zeeland has been named to the dean's list at Jacksonville State (Ala.) University for their outstanding academic performance over the spring 2025 semester. To be named to the dean's list, students must earn a 3.5-3.99 grade point average for the semester while completing at least 12 hours of course credit.
Located in the Appalachian foothills midway between Birmingham and Atlanta, Jax State offers more than 150 courses of study, including over 40 online programs, at the undergraduate and graduate levels.
Rylee Smith of Zeeland was named to the president’s list for the spring 2025 term at Trine (Ind.) University, while Hannah Lewis of Zeeland was named to the school’s dean’s list for the spring semester.
Smith, an exercise science/ pre-physical therapy major, earned president’s list honors by maintaining a grade point average of 3.750-4.000 while completing a minimum of 12 hours. Lewis, a civil engineering major, was named to the dean’s list for maintaining a GPA of 3.500 to 3.749 while completing 12 hours during the term.
Trine University, an internationally recognized, private, co-educational, residential institution, offers associate's, bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees in the Allen School of Engineering & Computing, Ketner School of Business, College of Graduate and Professional Studies, Brooks College of Health Professions, Franks School of Education, Jannen School of Arts & Sciences and Rinker-Ross School of Health Sciences. The university operates a 450-acre campus in Angola, Ind.
Brands Makes Dean’s List at Wisconsin Lutheran
Emily Brands of Zeeland, a senior at Wisconsin Lutheran College, has been named to the college's dean's list for the spring 2025 semester.
Brands is a graduate of Pentecostal Christian Academy. To be eligible for dean's list, a student must carry a semester grade point average of 3.6 or higher.
Wisconsin Lutheran College is an independent, nationally-ranked Christian college located in Milwaukee, Wis.
Three Students Honored at Cedarville
Dylan Killilea and Tyler Smeyers of Zeeland, students at Cedarville (Ohio) University, have been named to the dean's honor list for the spring 2025 semester. This recognition requires the student to obtain a 3.75 grade point average or higher for the semester and carry a minimum of 12 credit hours.
Meanwhile, Nathan Steenwyk of Zeeland was named to Cedarville’s dean’s list for the spring semester for maintaining at least a 3.5 GPA while carrying a minimum of 12 credit hours.
Cedarville University, an evangelical Christian institution in southwest Ohio, offers undergraduate and graduate programs across arts, sciences, and professional fields. With 6,384 students, it ranks among Ohio's largest private universities and is recognized by the Wall Street Journal as being among the nation's top three evangelical universities.
Meyer Named to Dean’s List at Jacksonville State
Caden Meyer of Zeeland has been named to the dean's list at Jacksonville State (Ala.) University for their outstanding academic performance over the spring 2025 semester. To be named to the dean's list, students must earn a 3.5-3.99 grade point average for the semester while completing at least 12 hours of course credit.
Located in the Appalachian foothills midway between Birmingham and Atlanta, Jax State offers more than 150 courses of study, including over 40 online programs, at the undergraduate and graduate levels.
County Board Interviewing Administrator Finalists Today
By Greg Chandler
Zeeland Record
The Ottawa County Board of Commissioners is interviewing two finalists for the position of county administrator today.
The in-person interviews were to begin at 9 a.m. in the board room of the county Administrative Offices, 12220 Fillmore St.
“These finalists reflect a diversity of backgrounds and leadership styles,” County Board Chairman John Teeples of Georgetown Township said. “We’re committed to finding a leader who can build relationships across our organization and community, support our staff, and help guide Ottawa County into its next chapter of service.”
The finalists are Muskegon County Administrator Mark Eisenbarth and Michael Tremblay, a retiring U.S. Army officer and two-time brigade commander with more than 20 years of executive leadership experience. A third finalist, Lee County (Fla.) Deputy County Administrator Glen Salyer, withdrew his name from consideration Tuesday morning, county spokeswoman Shannon Felgner told the Zeeland Record.
Eisenbarth has been Muskegon County administrator since 2014, and has nearly two decades of public service experience under his belt. His leadership has focused on financial stewardships, strategic planning and public-private partnerships.
During his tenure as administrator, Muskegon County’s unassigned fund balance increased from 14 percent to 27 percent. He has also helped secure more than $85 million in competitive grant funding, including collaborations with Ottawa County. He also oversaw initiatives that resulted in more than $1 billion in community investment.
Tremblay served as city manager (garrison commander) of USAG Humphreys in South Korea, overseeing a $1.1 billion capital improvement budget and leading one of the largest infrastructure transformations in the region. He has extensive experience in workforce development, municipal operations, crisis response and strategic planning. His background also includes managing a $214 million operating budget and leading a team of more than 2,400 employees across 280 locations.
The finalists were to meet with the public at a meet-and-greet Wednesday night at the Fillmore complex. Before the meet-and-greet, the candidates were to have interviewed with a group of municipal leaders and community partners who regularly interact with the county.
Friday has been reserved as a carryover day, if additional time is needed for deliberations or follow-up conversations.
Once a final candidate is identified, Double Haul Solutions, the firm that has worked with the board on the administrator search process, will coordinate a comprehensive background check and assist the board with contract negotiations and onboarding support, if requested.
“This next phase is about learning more about each finalist as a person—not just a resume,” Teeples said. “We’re looking for someone who can lead with steadiness, communicate with intention, and navigate complexity with professionalism and care.”
Former Ottawa County Sheriff Gary Rosema has been serving as interim county administrator since January. Previous interim administrator Ben Wetmore was released from his duties in early December, only a month after he had been appointed to the job.
Zeeland Record
The Ottawa County Board of Commissioners is interviewing two finalists for the position of county administrator today.
The in-person interviews were to begin at 9 a.m. in the board room of the county Administrative Offices, 12220 Fillmore St.
“These finalists reflect a diversity of backgrounds and leadership styles,” County Board Chairman John Teeples of Georgetown Township said. “We’re committed to finding a leader who can build relationships across our organization and community, support our staff, and help guide Ottawa County into its next chapter of service.”
The finalists are Muskegon County Administrator Mark Eisenbarth and Michael Tremblay, a retiring U.S. Army officer and two-time brigade commander with more than 20 years of executive leadership experience. A third finalist, Lee County (Fla.) Deputy County Administrator Glen Salyer, withdrew his name from consideration Tuesday morning, county spokeswoman Shannon Felgner told the Zeeland Record.
Eisenbarth has been Muskegon County administrator since 2014, and has nearly two decades of public service experience under his belt. His leadership has focused on financial stewardships, strategic planning and public-private partnerships.
During his tenure as administrator, Muskegon County’s unassigned fund balance increased from 14 percent to 27 percent. He has also helped secure more than $85 million in competitive grant funding, including collaborations with Ottawa County. He also oversaw initiatives that resulted in more than $1 billion in community investment.
Tremblay served as city manager (garrison commander) of USAG Humphreys in South Korea, overseeing a $1.1 billion capital improvement budget and leading one of the largest infrastructure transformations in the region. He has extensive experience in workforce development, municipal operations, crisis response and strategic planning. His background also includes managing a $214 million operating budget and leading a team of more than 2,400 employees across 280 locations.
The finalists were to meet with the public at a meet-and-greet Wednesday night at the Fillmore complex. Before the meet-and-greet, the candidates were to have interviewed with a group of municipal leaders and community partners who regularly interact with the county.
Friday has been reserved as a carryover day, if additional time is needed for deliberations or follow-up conversations.
Once a final candidate is identified, Double Haul Solutions, the firm that has worked with the board on the administrator search process, will coordinate a comprehensive background check and assist the board with contract negotiations and onboarding support, if requested.
“This next phase is about learning more about each finalist as a person—not just a resume,” Teeples said. “We’re looking for someone who can lead with steadiness, communicate with intention, and navigate complexity with professionalism and care.”
Former Ottawa County Sheriff Gary Rosema has been serving as interim county administrator since January. Previous interim administrator Ben Wetmore was released from his duties in early December, only a month after he had been appointed to the job.
Dernberger Re-Elected to OAISD Board
By Greg Chandler
Zeeland Record
Zeeland Board of Education President Rick Dernberger was re-elected to serve another six-year term on the Ottawa Area Intermediate School District Board of Education last week.
Dernberger was chosen by delegates from 10 of the 11 public school district boards of education within the OAISD to serve a term that will expire June 30, 2031. He recently became president of the Zeeland school board after April DeWitt resigned her office.
Jenison resident Jennifer Cymbola was also elected to a full six-year term on the OAISD board, while John Siemion of Grand Haven was elected to a partial term that expires June 30, 2027. Siemion will fill the seat that had been held by former Zeeland school board member Carol Slagh, who resigned from the OAISD board at the end of March.
“The new board members bring a wealth of experience, passion, and strong commitment to education that will contribute to our educational community's continued growth and success,” OAISD Board President Randy Schipper said.
Dernberger and Siemion received votes from all 10 representing local district boards of education. Seven local districts voted for Cymbola, and three districts voted for Amanda Price of West Ottawa.
Zeeland Record
Zeeland Board of Education President Rick Dernberger was re-elected to serve another six-year term on the Ottawa Area Intermediate School District Board of Education last week.
Dernberger was chosen by delegates from 10 of the 11 public school district boards of education within the OAISD to serve a term that will expire June 30, 2031. He recently became president of the Zeeland school board after April DeWitt resigned her office.
Jenison resident Jennifer Cymbola was also elected to a full six-year term on the OAISD board, while John Siemion of Grand Haven was elected to a partial term that expires June 30, 2027. Siemion will fill the seat that had been held by former Zeeland school board member Carol Slagh, who resigned from the OAISD board at the end of March.
“The new board members bring a wealth of experience, passion, and strong commitment to education that will contribute to our educational community's continued growth and success,” OAISD Board President Randy Schipper said.
Dernberger and Siemion received votes from all 10 representing local district boards of education. Seven local districts voted for Cymbola, and three districts voted for Amanda Price of West Ottawa.
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