By Greg Chandler
Zeeland Record
The city of Zeeland is looking for a new leader for its fire and rescue department.
Ross Tibbets, who was hired as the city’s first full-time fire chief in 2019, has submitted his resignation to the city, effective Dec. 12. Tibbets has accepted the job of fire chief in neighboring Holland Township.
“After careful consideration, I believe this is the right step for my professional growth and career,” Tibbets wrote in his resignation letter to outgoing Mayor Kevin Klynstra. “This decision was not easy, as serving the city of Zeeland and leading this outstanding department has been a rewarding experience.”
Tibbets was hired in March 2019, five months after the City Council voted to make the chief’s position full-time. He came to Zeeland from the city of Kentwood, where he had been a lieutenant in the fire department there.
In his resignation letter, Tibbets wrote that he was “committed to ensuring a smooth transition and will assist in every way possible over the coming weeks to support continuity of operations and provide any necessary information to departmental leadership.”
Klunder praised Tibbets’ work during his six-and-a-half years as fire chief and implementing the department’s transition toward full-time status, hiring two full-time firefighters during his time with the city.
“We were able to have more of a focus on planning reviews in the fire department,” Klunder said.
Mayor Rick Van Dorp, who was part of the hiring team that interviewed Tibbets in 2019, said the city will not wait long to find the chief’s replacement.
“That’s something that’s gonna have to happen pretty quickly, because that’s an appointment from the mayor,” Van Dorp said. “Ross has done a great job here, that’s for sure.”
The City Council Monday appointed Mitch Harsevoort, who has been the department’s deputy chief, to serve as interim chief while the search for a permanent replacement proceeds.
For Harsevoort, a 25-year department veteran, it’ll be his second time serving as interim chief, as he served in that capacity for one year before Tibbets was hired.
The council also appointed a five-member committee to conduct the search for a new chief. Van Dorp, Klunder and Harsevoort will serve on the committee, along with Police Chief Tim Jungel and human resources specialist Melanie Hellenthal.
Klunder noted that the previous search process that led to Tibbets’ hiring took about four months, and he expects a similar timeframe for the new process.
In Holland Township, Tibbets will be taking over a department that transitioned to becoming a full-time, 24-hour, seven-day-a-week department a little more than a year ago. The department has four full-time firefighters on each of its three shifts, with firefighters also having cross-trained to be either a paramedic or emergency medical technician, Township Manager Steve Bulthuis said.
“We’re very excited that Ross is bringing his gifts and talents to the township, to lead our fire department … We’re continuing to improve on our fire services, and we have every confidence that Ross is going to be able to step right into that fire chief position, having already been a fire chief and has that experience,” Bulthuis said.
Tibbets will begin his new duties in Holland Township Dec. 15, Bulthuis said.
Tibbets concluded his letter with a note of thanks to the city.
“I want to express my sincere gratitude for the support you and the community have shown during my tenure,” he wrote. “It has been a privilege to work alongside the dedicated men
and women of the Zeeland Fire Rescue, and I remain proud of all that we have accomplished together.”
Zeeland Record
The city of Zeeland is looking for a new leader for its fire and rescue department.
Ross Tibbets, who was hired as the city’s first full-time fire chief in 2019, has submitted his resignation to the city, effective Dec. 12. Tibbets has accepted the job of fire chief in neighboring Holland Township.
“After careful consideration, I believe this is the right step for my professional growth and career,” Tibbets wrote in his resignation letter to outgoing Mayor Kevin Klynstra. “This decision was not easy, as serving the city of Zeeland and leading this outstanding department has been a rewarding experience.”
Tibbets was hired in March 2019, five months after the City Council voted to make the chief’s position full-time. He came to Zeeland from the city of Kentwood, where he had been a lieutenant in the fire department there.
In his resignation letter, Tibbets wrote that he was “committed to ensuring a smooth transition and will assist in every way possible over the coming weeks to support continuity of operations and provide any necessary information to departmental leadership.”
Klunder praised Tibbets’ work during his six-and-a-half years as fire chief and implementing the department’s transition toward full-time status, hiring two full-time firefighters during his time with the city.
“We were able to have more of a focus on planning reviews in the fire department,” Klunder said.
Mayor Rick Van Dorp, who was part of the hiring team that interviewed Tibbets in 2019, said the city will not wait long to find the chief’s replacement.
“That’s something that’s gonna have to happen pretty quickly, because that’s an appointment from the mayor,” Van Dorp said. “Ross has done a great job here, that’s for sure.”
The City Council Monday appointed Mitch Harsevoort, who has been the department’s deputy chief, to serve as interim chief while the search for a permanent replacement proceeds.
For Harsevoort, a 25-year department veteran, it’ll be his second time serving as interim chief, as he served in that capacity for one year before Tibbets was hired.
The council also appointed a five-member committee to conduct the search for a new chief. Van Dorp, Klunder and Harsevoort will serve on the committee, along with Police Chief Tim Jungel and human resources specialist Melanie Hellenthal.
Klunder noted that the previous search process that led to Tibbets’ hiring took about four months, and he expects a similar timeframe for the new process.
In Holland Township, Tibbets will be taking over a department that transitioned to becoming a full-time, 24-hour, seven-day-a-week department a little more than a year ago. The department has four full-time firefighters on each of its three shifts, with firefighters also having cross-trained to be either a paramedic or emergency medical technician, Township Manager Steve Bulthuis said.
“We’re very excited that Ross is bringing his gifts and talents to the township, to lead our fire department … We’re continuing to improve on our fire services, and we have every confidence that Ross is going to be able to step right into that fire chief position, having already been a fire chief and has that experience,” Bulthuis said.
Tibbets will begin his new duties in Holland Township Dec. 15, Bulthuis said.
Tibbets concluded his letter with a note of thanks to the city.
“I want to express my sincere gratitude for the support you and the community have shown during my tenure,” he wrote. “It has been a privilege to work alongside the dedicated men
and women of the Zeeland Fire Rescue, and I remain proud of all that we have accomplished together.”
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