By Greg Chandler
Zeeland Record
The Zeeland Board of Public Works is seeking public input in developing its planning process for addressing the city’s future utility needs.
The utility held a stakeholder engagement meeting last Thursday at the Howard Miller Community Center to unveil the public portion of its Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) process. BPW has contracted with nFront Consulting in developing the IRP, which is intended to ensure Zeeland’s electric supply remains reliable, affordable, and sustainable in the future.
“This will serve as a living roadmap for guiding Zeeland’s energy future. We’re making decisions here that will be impactful for the next 20-30 years,” BPW General Manager Andrew Boatright said.
BPW last went through a full IRP process in 2012. The new plan seeks to reassess and modernize the utility’s resource portfolio in response to changes in demand, technology and energy policy.
Robert Mulder, BPW’s electric power supply and market operations manager, said that the energy capacity market is “constrained and expected to tighten,” not only locally but throughout the Midwest regional grid.
He said one of the main reasons is the phasing out of large baseload resources, such as Consumers Energy’s J.H. Campbell plant in Port Sheldon Township. Campbell had been scheduled to be decommissioned this year, but has remained open under an order from the Trump administration.
“We’re not involved in that project, but it’s part of the regional grid, it does affect us from a reliability perspective, even though we don’t receive our energy directly from that or have any association with it,” Mulder said. “But that’s putting constraints on the market, as an example. There’s more of those happening and will continue to happen.”
While the capacity for energy is expected to tighten, there’s increased demand for energy, with data centers and artificial intelligence driving the increase. Mulder anticipates that Zeeland will need additional energy capacity around 2030.
“That’s something we’re trying to head off, we recognize (the problem). We’re trying to make the right decisions to address that,” he said.
BPW currently has 22.2 megawatts of on-system generating capacity, produced by its three generating facilities – two on Washington Avenue and one on Riley Street. It also owns a share of two large plants through its involvement with the Michigan Public Power Agency, a statewide organization that represents municipal-owned utilities – an 11.58 MW share of DTE Energy’s Belle River plant near St. Clair and a 7.06 MW share of an energy plant in Fremont, Ohio. However, most of BPW’s power is purchased on the open market.
BPW has scheduled a series of meetings over the next three months with interested stakeholders to develop the IRP. Dates for the meetings are tentative and could be changed depending on availability of stakeholders.
Nov. 18: Discussion of major assumptions
Dec. 18: Structure of IRP analysis, including power supply portfolios. Evaluation criteria also to be discussed.
Jan. 15: Review of shareholder feedback, final assumptions and IRP results
Anyone who is interested in being part of the Stakeholder Working Group can contact can email BPW at irp@zeelandbpw .com. The video of last Thursday’s session and information about the IRP process can be found at zeelandbpw.com/power-plan.
Zeeland Record
The Zeeland Board of Public Works is seeking public input in developing its planning process for addressing the city’s future utility needs.
The utility held a stakeholder engagement meeting last Thursday at the Howard Miller Community Center to unveil the public portion of its Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) process. BPW has contracted with nFront Consulting in developing the IRP, which is intended to ensure Zeeland’s electric supply remains reliable, affordable, and sustainable in the future.
“This will serve as a living roadmap for guiding Zeeland’s energy future. We’re making decisions here that will be impactful for the next 20-30 years,” BPW General Manager Andrew Boatright said.
BPW last went through a full IRP process in 2012. The new plan seeks to reassess and modernize the utility’s resource portfolio in response to changes in demand, technology and energy policy.
Robert Mulder, BPW’s electric power supply and market operations manager, said that the energy capacity market is “constrained and expected to tighten,” not only locally but throughout the Midwest regional grid.
He said one of the main reasons is the phasing out of large baseload resources, such as Consumers Energy’s J.H. Campbell plant in Port Sheldon Township. Campbell had been scheduled to be decommissioned this year, but has remained open under an order from the Trump administration.
“We’re not involved in that project, but it’s part of the regional grid, it does affect us from a reliability perspective, even though we don’t receive our energy directly from that or have any association with it,” Mulder said. “But that’s putting constraints on the market, as an example. There’s more of those happening and will continue to happen.”
While the capacity for energy is expected to tighten, there’s increased demand for energy, with data centers and artificial intelligence driving the increase. Mulder anticipates that Zeeland will need additional energy capacity around 2030.
“That’s something we’re trying to head off, we recognize (the problem). We’re trying to make the right decisions to address that,” he said.
BPW currently has 22.2 megawatts of on-system generating capacity, produced by its three generating facilities – two on Washington Avenue and one on Riley Street. It also owns a share of two large plants through its involvement with the Michigan Public Power Agency, a statewide organization that represents municipal-owned utilities – an 11.58 MW share of DTE Energy’s Belle River plant near St. Clair and a 7.06 MW share of an energy plant in Fremont, Ohio. However, most of BPW’s power is purchased on the open market.
BPW has scheduled a series of meetings over the next three months with interested stakeholders to develop the IRP. Dates for the meetings are tentative and could be changed depending on availability of stakeholders.
Nov. 18: Discussion of major assumptions
Dec. 18: Structure of IRP analysis, including power supply portfolios. Evaluation criteria also to be discussed.
Jan. 15: Review of shareholder feedback, final assumptions and IRP results
Anyone who is interested in being part of the Stakeholder Working Group can contact can email BPW at irp@zeelandbpw .com. The video of last Thursday’s session and information about the IRP process can be found at zeelandbpw.com/power-plan.
Deputy Honored for Exemplary Service in Medical Emergency
Deputy Ben Norris
By Greg Chandler
Zeeland Record
An Ottawa County sheriff’s deputy who serves Zeeland Township is being recognized for his service above and beyond the call of duty during a medical emergency last month at the rest area on eastbound Interstate 196.
Deputy Ben Norris was dispatched to the emergency on Sept. 15, along with Zeeland Township fire crews. The call came 10 minutes before the end of Norris’ scheduled shift.
David Duritsa, a 75-year-old Uniontown, Pa. man, was traveling with his wife, Bonnie, and their two dogs in a large pickup truck that was pulling a fifth wheel camper when he began to experience severe chest pains.
“I knew I had a good chance of being the first to the scene, so I was already preparing myself mentally for what to do and what turn this call could take,” Norris wrote in an email to the Zeeland Record. “An elderly male having chest pains is never a good call because it can turn so bad so fast.”
Norris and the township fire crews arrived at about the same time, and they quickly determined Duritsa was suffering a major heart attack. Fire crews were able to stabilize him, and AMR Ambulance took him to University of Michigan Health-West in Wyoming – where he then went into cardiac arrest several times before he was revived.
While David Duritsa was undergoing treatment to save his life, a distraught Bonnie Duritsa was trying to figure out what to do next. Norris stepped in.
“I advised Bonnie to follow me in her vehicle with the trailer, and we'll figure out more from the hospital,” he wrote. “We arrived at the hospital, and after some tight-fitting turns, got the vehicle with trailer to a spot that it could sit in the parking lot.”
The temperature was close to 90 degrees that day. Bonnie Duritsa was torn between wanting to be near her husband at the hospital and leaving their dogs, Charlie and Heidi, in the trailer. Norris offered to take the dogs to his home for his family to care for them while David remained in the hospital, Township Fire Chief Brock Bruce wrote in a letter to Ottawa County Sheriff Eric DeBoer.
Bonnie Duritsa agreed. Norris then called his wife, Emily, to explain the situation.
“Without even a second of doubt in her voice, she was onboard and ready to take this on with me,” Norris wrote. “Mind you, I had an all-day training the next day. That meant everything was going to fall on her shoulders. Getting the boys up and ready for school, taking care of our pets, taking care of the new dogs Charlie and Heidi, while also doing her job.”
Norris and his family welcomed the dogs as if it was their own.
“I got home and introduce the family to Charlie and Heidi, and immediately my family showered those pooches in love and affection,” Norris wrote. “My eldest son brought out one of his favorite blankets for them to relax on and sleep on. They got along great with my dog, much to the surprise of Bonnie later on when I was able to text her pictures, so she knew their babies were in good hands.”
Three days after going into cardiac arrest, on Sept. 18, David Duritsa was released from the hospital.
“The couple insisted on meeting Deputy Norris, his wife, and our responding fire crew to personally thank everyone involved,” Bruce wrote in his letter to the sheriff. “As a longtime medic himself, the patient was deeply moved by the emergency care provided, but the compassion and humanity shown to them during and afterward of his medical emergency.”
“Many hugs and laughs were shared, and Bonnie and Dave got to see exactly what makes living in Zeeland so great,” Norris wrote. “I assisted the couple with setting up camp for the night at the Dutch Treat campground, and ensured the following morning they were able to pack up and start their journey home.”
When the Duritsmas arrived back home, they texted Norris to let them know. They have kept in contact since then – the couple sent videos of themselves singing Frank Sinatra songs at a karaoke night, and Norris sent videos of his sons, ages 6 and 3, telling David and Bonnie how much they miss Charlie and Heidi.
Norris credits his wife for her support through the situation.
“People talk about what an amazing thing it was to do for Bonnie and Dave, but I know this does not happen without Emily and her support,” he wrote.
Bruce wrote that in his 18 years with the fire department, he has worked alongside many outstanding deputies. He called Norris “a true asset to both Ottawa County and Zeeland Township.”
“His actions reflect the very best of law enforcement and demonstrate the strong partnership between both of our agencies,” Bruce wrote in his letter to the sheriff. “He turned what could have been an isolating, frightening experience for two travelers into a story of community care and kindness they will carry home to Pennsylvania.”
Norris said that he and his family usually fly to Maine for their vacation, but that the next family vacation may involve a trip to visit a couple who have become their friends.
“This event, which will have a lasting affect for more than one family, may just push us to drive next time stopping in for a visit in Pennsylvania,” he wrote.
Zeeland Record
An Ottawa County sheriff’s deputy who serves Zeeland Township is being recognized for his service above and beyond the call of duty during a medical emergency last month at the rest area on eastbound Interstate 196.
Deputy Ben Norris was dispatched to the emergency on Sept. 15, along with Zeeland Township fire crews. The call came 10 minutes before the end of Norris’ scheduled shift.
David Duritsa, a 75-year-old Uniontown, Pa. man, was traveling with his wife, Bonnie, and their two dogs in a large pickup truck that was pulling a fifth wheel camper when he began to experience severe chest pains.
“I knew I had a good chance of being the first to the scene, so I was already preparing myself mentally for what to do and what turn this call could take,” Norris wrote in an email to the Zeeland Record. “An elderly male having chest pains is never a good call because it can turn so bad so fast.”
Norris and the township fire crews arrived at about the same time, and they quickly determined Duritsa was suffering a major heart attack. Fire crews were able to stabilize him, and AMR Ambulance took him to University of Michigan Health-West in Wyoming – where he then went into cardiac arrest several times before he was revived.
While David Duritsa was undergoing treatment to save his life, a distraught Bonnie Duritsa was trying to figure out what to do next. Norris stepped in.
“I advised Bonnie to follow me in her vehicle with the trailer, and we'll figure out more from the hospital,” he wrote. “We arrived at the hospital, and after some tight-fitting turns, got the vehicle with trailer to a spot that it could sit in the parking lot.”
The temperature was close to 90 degrees that day. Bonnie Duritsa was torn between wanting to be near her husband at the hospital and leaving their dogs, Charlie and Heidi, in the trailer. Norris offered to take the dogs to his home for his family to care for them while David remained in the hospital, Township Fire Chief Brock Bruce wrote in a letter to Ottawa County Sheriff Eric DeBoer.
Bonnie Duritsa agreed. Norris then called his wife, Emily, to explain the situation.
“Without even a second of doubt in her voice, she was onboard and ready to take this on with me,” Norris wrote. “Mind you, I had an all-day training the next day. That meant everything was going to fall on her shoulders. Getting the boys up and ready for school, taking care of our pets, taking care of the new dogs Charlie and Heidi, while also doing her job.”
Norris and his family welcomed the dogs as if it was their own.
“I got home and introduce the family to Charlie and Heidi, and immediately my family showered those pooches in love and affection,” Norris wrote. “My eldest son brought out one of his favorite blankets for them to relax on and sleep on. They got along great with my dog, much to the surprise of Bonnie later on when I was able to text her pictures, so she knew their babies were in good hands.”
Three days after going into cardiac arrest, on Sept. 18, David Duritsa was released from the hospital.
“The couple insisted on meeting Deputy Norris, his wife, and our responding fire crew to personally thank everyone involved,” Bruce wrote in his letter to the sheriff. “As a longtime medic himself, the patient was deeply moved by the emergency care provided, but the compassion and humanity shown to them during and afterward of his medical emergency.”
“Many hugs and laughs were shared, and Bonnie and Dave got to see exactly what makes living in Zeeland so great,” Norris wrote. “I assisted the couple with setting up camp for the night at the Dutch Treat campground, and ensured the following morning they were able to pack up and start their journey home.”
When the Duritsmas arrived back home, they texted Norris to let them know. They have kept in contact since then – the couple sent videos of themselves singing Frank Sinatra songs at a karaoke night, and Norris sent videos of his sons, ages 6 and 3, telling David and Bonnie how much they miss Charlie and Heidi.
Norris credits his wife for her support through the situation.
“People talk about what an amazing thing it was to do for Bonnie and Dave, but I know this does not happen without Emily and her support,” he wrote.
Bruce wrote that in his 18 years with the fire department, he has worked alongside many outstanding deputies. He called Norris “a true asset to both Ottawa County and Zeeland Township.”
“His actions reflect the very best of law enforcement and demonstrate the strong partnership between both of our agencies,” Bruce wrote in his letter to the sheriff. “He turned what could have been an isolating, frightening experience for two travelers into a story of community care and kindness they will carry home to Pennsylvania.”
Norris said that he and his family usually fly to Maine for their vacation, but that the next family vacation may involve a trip to visit a couple who have become their friends.
“This event, which will have a lasting affect for more than one family, may just push us to drive next time stopping in for a visit in Pennsylvania,” he wrote.
Medication Takeback Event at Corewell Saturday
Ottawa County Community Mental Health will hold a Medication Takeback event in conjunction with Corewell Health Zeeland Hospital and Holland Hospital on Saturday.
Unused, unwanted and expired medications will be accepted from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Corewell Zeeland, 8333 Felch St., and at Holland Hospital, 602 Michigan Ave.
Anyone with questions on the takeback can contact Daniel Gardner at 616-416-0860 or by email at dgardner@miottawa.org.
Unused, unwanted and expired medications will be accepted from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Corewell Zeeland, 8333 Felch St., and at Holland Hospital, 602 Michigan Ave.
Anyone with questions on the takeback can contact Daniel Gardner at 616-416-0860 or by email at dgardner@miottawa.org.
New Holland Hospital Medical Building OK’d
By Greg Chandler
Zeeland Record
Holland Hospital will soon break ground on a second medical office building in Zeeland Township, just to the east of its current building on Westpark Way.
The township Planning Commission on Oct. 14 unanimously approved a site plan for the two-story, 62,700-square-foot medical office at 8300 Westpark Way.
The hospital has owned the 13.8-acre Westpark Way property since 2008, and built the first medical office building on the site in 2010, said Josh Bauman, the hospital’s facility director.
The new building will house specialty services and outpatient services from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, Bauman said.
“Some of the services that you’ll see there would be infusion therapy, pharmacy, lab draw services, procedure space, X-ray, CT (scans), MRI, ultrasound,” Bauman said.
MRI services would be moved from a mobile trailer to the new building, while PET scans would continue to be done in the mobile trailer, Bauman said.
An additional 135 parking spaces will be built to serve the new medical office building, which is below the township standard of 156 spaces, based on square footage of the building. However, the adjacent parking lot that serves the first office building exceeded township regulations by 40 spaces, creating “a net gain sufficient to meet support requirements for both buildings,” Township Zoning Administrator Lori Castello wrote in a memo to commissioners.
Zeeland Record
Holland Hospital will soon break ground on a second medical office building in Zeeland Township, just to the east of its current building on Westpark Way.
The township Planning Commission on Oct. 14 unanimously approved a site plan for the two-story, 62,700-square-foot medical office at 8300 Westpark Way.
The hospital has owned the 13.8-acre Westpark Way property since 2008, and built the first medical office building on the site in 2010, said Josh Bauman, the hospital’s facility director.
The new building will house specialty services and outpatient services from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, Bauman said.
“Some of the services that you’ll see there would be infusion therapy, pharmacy, lab draw services, procedure space, X-ray, CT (scans), MRI, ultrasound,” Bauman said.
MRI services would be moved from a mobile trailer to the new building, while PET scans would continue to be done in the mobile trailer, Bauman said.
An additional 135 parking spaces will be built to serve the new medical office building, which is below the township standard of 156 spaces, based on square footage of the building. However, the adjacent parking lot that serves the first office building exceeded township regulations by 40 spaces, creating “a net gain sufficient to meet support requirements for both buildings,” Township Zoning Administrator Lori Castello wrote in a memo to commissioners.
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