The Zeeland Board of Education recently heard a presentation by parent Jennifer Kroll on Z CataLIST, a community-driven effort that collects unused, gently-used and surplus items and redistributes them to schools, giving students hands-on, creative learning opportunities. Pictured from left are school board members Tom DenHerder, Rick Dernberger and Betsy Kikstra, Z CataList organizer Jennifer Kroll, board members Heidi Geerlings and Chad Creevy, and ZPS superintendent Rod Hetherton.
By Brandy Navetta
Zeeland Public Schools
Zeeland Public Schools has introduced a new community partnership that reflects the generosity and resourcefulness of our community.
Z CataLIST is a community-driven effort that collects unused, gently-used, and surplus items from families, businesses, and organizations and redistributes them to schools so students can benefit from hands-on, creative learning opportunities.
The purpose of this initiative is to support teachers, extend the life of valuable materials, and give students meaningful opportunities to explore, problem solve, design, and create in ways that enrich learning.
Z CataLIST is led by ZPS parent Jennifer Kroll, whose dedication to students, appreciation for Zeeland Public Schools, and incredible organizational skills helped turn a simple idea into a powerful community resource. What began with the question, “What if we used what our community already has?” has grown into a coordinated effort that serves students and supports classrooms across the district.
Jennifer recently presented Z CataLIST to the ZPS Board of Education and was recognized for her work to further develop Z Catalist to benefit all students at ZPS.
“Our community is full of people who want to help, and Z CataLIST makes it easy to do that,” Kroll said. “By taking items that might otherwise go unused and putting them in the hands of teachers and students, we reduce waste, support learning, and remind our kids that their community believes in them.”
Anyone can donate items at several Zeeland Public Schools locations, including Adams Elementary, Roosevelt Elementary/ ZQuest, Lincoln Elementary, Woodbridge Elementary, New Groningen Elementary, Quincy Elementary, and the Early Childhood Center. Additional drop-off sites and opportunities to participate will be added as the program continues to grow.
Community members who would like to donate, learn more, or get involved can visit the Z CataLIST website at zcatalist.weebly. com.
Zeeland Public Schools
Zeeland Public Schools has introduced a new community partnership that reflects the generosity and resourcefulness of our community.
Z CataLIST is a community-driven effort that collects unused, gently-used, and surplus items from families, businesses, and organizations and redistributes them to schools so students can benefit from hands-on, creative learning opportunities.
The purpose of this initiative is to support teachers, extend the life of valuable materials, and give students meaningful opportunities to explore, problem solve, design, and create in ways that enrich learning.
Z CataLIST is led by ZPS parent Jennifer Kroll, whose dedication to students, appreciation for Zeeland Public Schools, and incredible organizational skills helped turn a simple idea into a powerful community resource. What began with the question, “What if we used what our community already has?” has grown into a coordinated effort that serves students and supports classrooms across the district.
Jennifer recently presented Z CataLIST to the ZPS Board of Education and was recognized for her work to further develop Z Catalist to benefit all students at ZPS.
“Our community is full of people who want to help, and Z CataLIST makes it easy to do that,” Kroll said. “By taking items that might otherwise go unused and putting them in the hands of teachers and students, we reduce waste, support learning, and remind our kids that their community believes in them.”
Anyone can donate items at several Zeeland Public Schools locations, including Adams Elementary, Roosevelt Elementary/ ZQuest, Lincoln Elementary, Woodbridge Elementary, New Groningen Elementary, Quincy Elementary, and the Early Childhood Center. Additional drop-off sites and opportunities to participate will be added as the program continues to grow.
Community members who would like to donate, learn more, or get involved can visit the Z CataLIST website at zcatalist.weebly. com.
Board Approves Township Manager Salary Hike
By Greg Chandler
Zeeland Record
Zeeland Township Manager Josh Eggleston is getting a significant pay hike in the new year after a positive performance review from the Township Board.
The board Dec. 30 unanimously approved raising Eggleston’s salary from $119,025 to $133,350. Eggleston became the township’s first manager in August 2024, coming from the city of Wayland, where he served as city manager for six-and-a-half years.
Eggleston had a performance review with the Township Board behind closed doors on Dec. 16. He scored a 3.95 on a 5-point scale in the board’s review, indicating satisfactory job performance during the past year.
Eggleston shared with the board current salary figures of township and city managers of more than 30 municipalities, mostly in West Michigan, in making his case for the increase. They included the city of Zeeland, Holland Township, the city of Hudsonville, Park Township and Saugatuck Township, according to township documents.
The average salary of those municipalities came in at $141,436. Eggleston asked for 93 percent of that amount, following the current wage model for other township jobs after one year of service.
“We tend to start those positions at about 86-88 percent of the market average, and then after six months it goes to 90 percent, and after a year it goes to 91-95 percent, depending on the position. That’s why I picked the midpoint of that – that’s where the 93 (percent) came from,” Eggleston said.
Eggleston began his tenure in Zeeland Township at a salary of $115,000, and received a raise last year to $119,025.
Township Treasurer Melissa Veldheer pointed out that in neighboring Blendon Township, the township manager’s salary is rising as of April 1 from $93,000 to $120,000.
“It’s a little smaller size than us, but they’ve had a manager for a couple of years now. If it seems unpalatable, our neighbors are having to make some of those same adjustments,” Veldheer said.
“I’m okay with the 135 ask. I think through his favorable review – there’s recommendations and goals and such (for improvement this year) – but I think if we’re making a decision on the fire chief and all the other admins, on a very similar ask, I can’t think of a reason why we would do something different for this position,” Veldheer added.
Trustee Dave Barry called the new salary “fair and reasonable.”
“We understand the difficulty of finding high-quality, high-performing individuals in any organization in any industry,” Barry said. “I certainly think that as a township, we want to make sure that we’re competitive in recruiting the very best talent.”
Barry had a suggestion for consideration of increases in the manager’s salary going forward.
“What I would like to see, as a board, (is that) rather than hashing this out every year and looking at the minutiae, (let’s) come up with some type of policy that it’s just automatic in terms of ‘hey, this is the standard, here’s how it’s met, and here’s what we have to do,’ so we don’t have to continue every year, reviewing this salary, just like the salaries last meeting with the individual board members,” he said.
Zeeland Man Injured in Crash
A 68-year-old Zeeland man was seriously injured in a two-car crash Dec. 31 at the border of Zeeland and Jamestown townships.
The crash occurred at 9:18 a.m. at the intersection of 48th Avenue and Byron Road. An investigation by the Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office showed a 26-year-old Allegan woman was driving a 2002 Dodge Durango northbound on 48th when she stopped at the stop sign, then pulled out into the path of a 2025 Toyota Camry driven by the Zeeland man, and struck the Camry.
The impact of the crash forced the Camry off the roadway into the ditch of Byron Road, striking a power pole. The driver of the Camry was pinned in the vehicle and had to be extricated by fire crews from Zeeland and Jamestown townships, Sgt. Michael Tamminga of the sheriff’s office said.
The Zeeland man was taken to a local hospital by AMR ambulance in serious condition. The Allegan woman was not hurt, Tamminga said.
The crash occurred at 9:18 a.m. at the intersection of 48th Avenue and Byron Road. An investigation by the Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office showed a 26-year-old Allegan woman was driving a 2002 Dodge Durango northbound on 48th when she stopped at the stop sign, then pulled out into the path of a 2025 Toyota Camry driven by the Zeeland man, and struck the Camry.
The impact of the crash forced the Camry off the roadway into the ditch of Byron Road, striking a power pole. The driver of the Camry was pinned in the vehicle and had to be extricated by fire crews from Zeeland and Jamestown townships, Sgt. Michael Tamminga of the sheriff’s office said.
The Zeeland man was taken to a local hospital by AMR ambulance in serious condition. The Allegan woman was not hurt, Tamminga said.
City Fills Commission Opening
The Zeeland City Council Monday filled an opening on the city’s Planning Commission, appointing C.J. Otteman to a four-year term as a commissioner.
A lifelong Zeeland resident, Otteman is an employee benefits administrator for BHS Insurance.
He is a graduate of Zeeland East High School and Hope College. He is also a graduate of the city’s Citizens Academy.
In his application, Otteman wrote that he was “passionate about the continued growth and improvement of our community, and want to find a way to become more involved in that.”
Otteman fills an opening on the Planning Commission that came up when incumbent Commissioner Rebecca Perkins was appointed to be the City Council’s representative on the commission, replacing former Councilman Glenn Kass. His term expires Jan. 1, 2029.
A lifelong Zeeland resident, Otteman is an employee benefits administrator for BHS Insurance.
He is a graduate of Zeeland East High School and Hope College. He is also a graduate of the city’s Citizens Academy.
In his application, Otteman wrote that he was “passionate about the continued growth and improvement of our community, and want to find a way to become more involved in that.”
Otteman fills an opening on the Planning Commission that came up when incumbent Commissioner Rebecca Perkins was appointed to be the City Council’s representative on the commission, replacing former Councilman Glenn Kass. His term expires Jan. 1, 2029.
Three Appointed to Twp. Planning Commission
By Greg Chandler
Zeeland Record
The Zeeland Township Planning Commission is back to its full roster of nine members after three new commissioners were appointed late last month.
The Township Board at its special meeting Dec. 30 approved the appointment of Christian Glupker to a three-year term on the Planning Commission, and signed off on the addition of Claire Kryger and Linda Walker to the commission to serve one-year terms.
Glupker replaces Bob Brower, who did not seek reappointment to the commission. Kryger and Walker will serve out the final year of the terms of Don Steenwyk and Randy Jarzembowski, who both resigned. Kryger and Walker’s terms expire Dec. 31 of this year.
Former Township Supervisor Tom Oonk interviewed the three new members and brought the recommendation for appointment. Under state law, the township supervisor appoints new members to the Planning Commission, subject to a majority vote of the Township Board.
“I feel it’s important that we have a full Planning Commission with all the stuff that’s on their plate, and that any new members we would appoint would have as much time as possible to (get) up to speed,” Oonk said.
The appointments come as the Planning Commission continues to wrestle over development of an ordinance regulating solar and other renewable energy projects in the township. The new commissioners are expected at some point this year to address whether a proposed $300 million solar facility should be built in the township.
RWE, a German-based company with U.S. operations based in Texas, is proposing to build the 200-megawatt Silver Maple project in the eastern half of the township and the western half of Jamestown Township. The proposal has drawn heated opposition from residents.
Glupker is a senior economics professor at Grand Valley State University, where he has taught since 2008. He is a former vice president and senior commercial lender at Fifth Third Bank in Holland.
Kryger is lead property manager at BVW Property Management, formerly ESSTEE Real Estate Management, a position she has held for 20 years.
Walker is a retired engineer who worked for 34 years for the defense contractor Northrop Grumman. She is also president of the Ottawa Executive Estates homeowners association and a licensed pilot.
The Planning Commission will hold its next meeting next Tuesday at 7 p.m. at the Township Hall, 6582 Byron Rd.
Zeeland Record
The Zeeland Township Planning Commission is back to its full roster of nine members after three new commissioners were appointed late last month.
The Township Board at its special meeting Dec. 30 approved the appointment of Christian Glupker to a three-year term on the Planning Commission, and signed off on the addition of Claire Kryger and Linda Walker to the commission to serve one-year terms.
Glupker replaces Bob Brower, who did not seek reappointment to the commission. Kryger and Walker will serve out the final year of the terms of Don Steenwyk and Randy Jarzembowski, who both resigned. Kryger and Walker’s terms expire Dec. 31 of this year.
Former Township Supervisor Tom Oonk interviewed the three new members and brought the recommendation for appointment. Under state law, the township supervisor appoints new members to the Planning Commission, subject to a majority vote of the Township Board.
“I feel it’s important that we have a full Planning Commission with all the stuff that’s on their plate, and that any new members we would appoint would have as much time as possible to (get) up to speed,” Oonk said.
The appointments come as the Planning Commission continues to wrestle over development of an ordinance regulating solar and other renewable energy projects in the township. The new commissioners are expected at some point this year to address whether a proposed $300 million solar facility should be built in the township.
RWE, a German-based company with U.S. operations based in Texas, is proposing to build the 200-megawatt Silver Maple project in the eastern half of the township and the western half of Jamestown Township. The proposal has drawn heated opposition from residents.
Glupker is a senior economics professor at Grand Valley State University, where he has taught since 2008. He is a former vice president and senior commercial lender at Fifth Third Bank in Holland.
Kryger is lead property manager at BVW Property Management, formerly ESSTEE Real Estate Management, a position she has held for 20 years.
Walker is a retired engineer who worked for 34 years for the defense contractor Northrop Grumman. She is also president of the Ottawa Executive Estates homeowners association and a licensed pilot.
The Planning Commission will hold its next meeting next Tuesday at 7 p.m. at the Township Hall, 6582 Byron Rd.
ZPS Board OKs Natatorium Roof Replacement
By Greg Chandler
Zeeland Record
Nearly two decades after the natatorium at Zeeland West High School opened for swim meets, the facility is getting a new roof.
The Zeeland Board of Education recently approved bids for the roofing project, with a total budget of $1,610,350. The primary contract was awarded to Summit Point Roofing of Ada. Funding for replacing the roof will come from uncommitted funds from the district’s 2021 bond issue.
In an email to the Zeeland Record, Zeeland Public Schools Chief Financial Officer Lynn Van Kampen wrote that while the roof on the natatorium that opened in August 2006 wasn’t leaking, there were other issues that warranted replacement.
“We had some wind damage roughly two years ago, and that was not the first time the wind had been an issue with this roof,” Van Kampen wrote. “It was repaired at that time but we feel that may be the start of some issues with the panels, soffits and fascia because of the curve of the roof.”
Van Kampen noted that the district met with “many experts” regarding the condition of the roof for about a year before determining it needed to be replaced and an additional vapor barrier added.
“We are making structural changes also under the roof to help with the wind we get on the west side,” Van Kampen wrote. “I think it is very important to relay that the roof is secure and safe.”
The project will involve a new metal roof, painting the shade structure on the west side, replacement of the fascia and soffits, spray foam insultation to protect existing structures, and a new vapor barrier under the roof. The roof structure will be galvanized, according to district documents.
The roof replacement is slated to begin in April, with completion expected in August before the start of the girls swimming season, weather permitting.
Zeeland Record
Nearly two decades after the natatorium at Zeeland West High School opened for swim meets, the facility is getting a new roof.
The Zeeland Board of Education recently approved bids for the roofing project, with a total budget of $1,610,350. The primary contract was awarded to Summit Point Roofing of Ada. Funding for replacing the roof will come from uncommitted funds from the district’s 2021 bond issue.
In an email to the Zeeland Record, Zeeland Public Schools Chief Financial Officer Lynn Van Kampen wrote that while the roof on the natatorium that opened in August 2006 wasn’t leaking, there were other issues that warranted replacement.
“We had some wind damage roughly two years ago, and that was not the first time the wind had been an issue with this roof,” Van Kampen wrote. “It was repaired at that time but we feel that may be the start of some issues with the panels, soffits and fascia because of the curve of the roof.”
Van Kampen noted that the district met with “many experts” regarding the condition of the roof for about a year before determining it needed to be replaced and an additional vapor barrier added.
“We are making structural changes also under the roof to help with the wind we get on the west side,” Van Kampen wrote. “I think it is very important to relay that the roof is secure and safe.”
The project will involve a new metal roof, painting the shade structure on the west side, replacement of the fascia and soffits, spray foam insultation to protect existing structures, and a new vapor barrier under the roof. The roof structure will be galvanized, according to district documents.
The roof replacement is slated to begin in April, with completion expected in August before the start of the girls swimming season, weather permitting.
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