By Greg Chandler
Zeeland Record
Editor note: In our June 12 issue, The Zeeland Record reported that two finalists were to interview that day for the position of Ottawa County administrator. We learned several hours after that edition went to press that one of the finalists had withdrawn his name from consideration, leaving only one candidate to be interviewed. Our original reporting was correct as of press time, but changed shortly afterward.
—————
The Ottawa County Board of Commissioners is taking a deep breath before deciding on its next move in searching for a new county administrator.
Commissioners last Thursday interviewed the one finalist that remained from their original list of five finalists they had invited for interviews two weeks ago. After the interview, the board agreed not to make a decision until it had some time to think it over, and possibly consider additional candidates. The board’s next scheduled meeting is next Tuesday.
Col. Michael Tremblay, a Michigan native with more than 30 years of military experience, was interviewed by the board for nearly 90 minutes at the June 12 meeting in the board room of the county administrative offices in West Olive.
Tremblay served as garrison commander of U.S. Army Garrison (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.
Currently based in Maryland, Tremblay told commissioners that he was looking to return to Michigan. Deployed in the past as part of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom, he grew up in the small southwest Michigan community of Schoolcraft and graduated in 1995 from Western Michigan University, where he attended on an ROTC scholarship.
Tremblay spoke of the importance of being directed by the board in his decision-making process.
“You surround yourself with great people, you build an organization that doesn’t know how to fail, that comes up with creative solutions, that finds a way through a tough path with limited resources,” he said. “The building blocks start with building a team inside of the county that is accountable, is trustworthy and does what they say they’re going to do.”
“The priorities of the county are certainly set by the board, and what’s important as elected officials, how we’re going to move forward – I take that information and then provide the board with options of how to best move forward, based on the resources that I have,” Tremblay added.
The administrator candidate went on to speak about the importance of people wanting to be led, not just managed. He also spoke of how important is was to listen to a diverse range of perspectives.
“If you want to do something unique, that’s great, you’ve got to have great leadership. I think that starts with empathy, that starts with team-building, that starts with humility,” Tremblay said.
“People are coming from all walks of life, all different backgrounds, different experiences. I feel that if you empower people, you empower teams, you get the best results. When people have buy-in, when they’re part of the solution, when you’re open and transparent with people, it produces the best results,” he added.
In addition to Tremblay’s ROTC education at WMU, he holds two master’s degrees – a master of science in leadership from Central Michigan University and a master of science in national security strategy from the National War College.
The board had originally been scheduled to interview three candidates last Thursday, but two of them – Muskegon County Administrator Mark Eisenbarth and Lee County (Fla.) Deputy County Administrator Glen Salyer – pulled their names from consideration two days before the interviews. Two other finalists who were invited to interview dropped out earlier.
Because of the withdrawals, commissioners Allison Miedema and Sylvia Rhodea asked the board to consider postponing the Tremblay interview until additional candidates could be brought in, so that all interviews would occur at once.
“Going back to the drawing board and opening it back up would be wise,” Miedema said. “I don’t personally think we think we can just have one person go through by default and limit our choices … I’d really like to see the board interview more than one person at a time. I think we should interview them all in one day. I don’t think it’s fair to have one person interview weeks before others.”
But County Board Chairman John Teeples said that since Tremblay already made arrangements to be in Ottawa County, his time should be respected.
Mitch Nelson of the consulting firm Double Haul Solutions, who has worked with the county throughout the search process, said he would communicate with other applicants to inform them of where the county is in its search. He said there were 19 candidates that had met all the qualifications of what the county was seeking, and would ask if those who had not been previously selected for interviews if they were still interested in the job.
In his final comments before the meeting adjourned, Teeples said that board has a responsibility as the “face of the county.”
“We all believe that Ottawa County is the plum county of the state of Michigan. But people coming from the outside, they may not see that in us, because of how we as a commission act,” Teeples said. “That’s in our rhetoric to each other, that’s in our tone, that’s in our social media as we go out of here, pointing fingers instead of just talking about issues.
“I think our community needs to see us start to get along, so that we can heal this county and be less divisive. We have a major role to play … Me too, absolutely me too. Let’s just look at ourselves and maybe come back the next time a little nicer,” Teeples added.
Zeeland Record
Editor note: In our June 12 issue, The Zeeland Record reported that two finalists were to interview that day for the position of Ottawa County administrator. We learned several hours after that edition went to press that one of the finalists had withdrawn his name from consideration, leaving only one candidate to be interviewed. Our original reporting was correct as of press time, but changed shortly afterward.
—————
The Ottawa County Board of Commissioners is taking a deep breath before deciding on its next move in searching for a new county administrator.
Commissioners last Thursday interviewed the one finalist that remained from their original list of five finalists they had invited for interviews two weeks ago. After the interview, the board agreed not to make a decision until it had some time to think it over, and possibly consider additional candidates. The board’s next scheduled meeting is next Tuesday.
Col. Michael Tremblay, a Michigan native with more than 30 years of military experience, was interviewed by the board for nearly 90 minutes at the June 12 meeting in the board room of the county administrative offices in West Olive.
Tremblay served as garrison commander of U.S. Army Garrison (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.
Currently based in Maryland, Tremblay told commissioners that he was looking to return to Michigan. Deployed in the past as part of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom, he grew up in the small southwest Michigan community of Schoolcraft and graduated in 1995 from Western Michigan University, where he attended on an ROTC scholarship.
Tremblay spoke of the importance of being directed by the board in his decision-making process.
“You surround yourself with great people, you build an organization that doesn’t know how to fail, that comes up with creative solutions, that finds a way through a tough path with limited resources,” he said. “The building blocks start with building a team inside of the county that is accountable, is trustworthy and does what they say they’re going to do.”
“The priorities of the county are certainly set by the board, and what’s important as elected officials, how we’re going to move forward – I take that information and then provide the board with options of how to best move forward, based on the resources that I have,” Tremblay added.
The administrator candidate went on to speak about the importance of people wanting to be led, not just managed. He also spoke of how important is was to listen to a diverse range of perspectives.
“If you want to do something unique, that’s great, you’ve got to have great leadership. I think that starts with empathy, that starts with team-building, that starts with humility,” Tremblay said.
“People are coming from all walks of life, all different backgrounds, different experiences. I feel that if you empower people, you empower teams, you get the best results. When people have buy-in, when they’re part of the solution, when you’re open and transparent with people, it produces the best results,” he added.
In addition to Tremblay’s ROTC education at WMU, he holds two master’s degrees – a master of science in leadership from Central Michigan University and a master of science in national security strategy from the National War College.
The board had originally been scheduled to interview three candidates last Thursday, but two of them – Muskegon County Administrator Mark Eisenbarth and Lee County (Fla.) Deputy County Administrator Glen Salyer – pulled their names from consideration two days before the interviews. Two other finalists who were invited to interview dropped out earlier.
Because of the withdrawals, commissioners Allison Miedema and Sylvia Rhodea asked the board to consider postponing the Tremblay interview until additional candidates could be brought in, so that all interviews would occur at once.
“Going back to the drawing board and opening it back up would be wise,” Miedema said. “I don’t personally think we think we can just have one person go through by default and limit our choices … I’d really like to see the board interview more than one person at a time. I think we should interview them all in one day. I don’t think it’s fair to have one person interview weeks before others.”
But County Board Chairman John Teeples said that since Tremblay already made arrangements to be in Ottawa County, his time should be respected.
Mitch Nelson of the consulting firm Double Haul Solutions, who has worked with the county throughout the search process, said he would communicate with other applicants to inform them of where the county is in its search. He said there were 19 candidates that had met all the qualifications of what the county was seeking, and would ask if those who had not been previously selected for interviews if they were still interested in the job.
In his final comments before the meeting adjourned, Teeples said that board has a responsibility as the “face of the county.”
“We all believe that Ottawa County is the plum county of the state of Michigan. But people coming from the outside, they may not see that in us, because of how we as a commission act,” Teeples said. “That’s in our rhetoric to each other, that’s in our tone, that’s in our social media as we go out of here, pointing fingers instead of just talking about issues.
“I think our community needs to see us start to get along, so that we can heal this county and be less divisive. We have a major role to play … Me too, absolutely me too. Let’s just look at ourselves and maybe come back the next time a little nicer,” Teeples added.
Zeeland Public Schools District Budget Tops $100M
By Greg Chandler
Zeeland Record
For the first time in the district’s history, the annual budget for Zeeland Public Schools will top the $100 million mark in the 2025-26 school year.
The ZPS Board of Education on June 9 approved the district’s spending plan for the fiscal year that begins July 1, with general fund budgeted expenditures planned for $100,817,007, a 2.3 percent increase from the current fiscal year, and revenues of $95,602,566.
“When I started here 30 years ago, our budget was $26 million. It’s like, wow … We have grown immensely in 30 years,” ZPS chief financial officer Lynn Van Kampen told the board.
The new budget will use more than $5 million of the district’s general fund reserves, but school officials say that rainy-day fund will still be in good shape at the end of the 25-26 fiscal year. The district is expected to end the next fiscal year with a general fund balance of more than $13.1 million, representing about 13.7 percent of its spending, Van Kampen said.
“We typically need about 8-12 percent of fund balance or cash flow, to meet payrolls,” Van Kampen said.
The budget document projects the district’s enrollment will decline by 100 to 5,917 students, based on the number of students expected to enter kindergarten and Young Fives in the fall versus the number of students who graduated from high school last month. It would be the fourth consecutive annual enrollment decline for ZPS, according to district enrollment statistics.
Van Kampen expects the state’s per-pupil funding will increase to $10,000, an increase of $392 from the 2024-25 fiscal year. That would bring in more than $2.3 million of additional revenue to the district. However, that funding formula has yet to be determined by the state Legislature.
About 87-89 percent of the district’s expenditures will go toward salaries and benefits for staff, with the remaining funds going to classroom supplies, utility costs, capital outlay and maintenance of ZPS’ 13 buildings, Van Kampen said.
More than $18.3 million in the 25-26 budget has been allocated for elementary instruction, nearly $14 million has been earmarked for the high schools, and another $10.1 million for middle school instruction, according to the budget document.
ZPS plans to spend more than $8.57 million on administration in the new fiscal year, another $8.4 million on operations and maintenance. Pupil services spending is expected to be more than $7.48 million, while curriculum and library is to receive more than $4.65 million. The district plans to spend more than $3.77 million on transportation, according to the budget document.
The district’s debt retirement budget, which is separate from the general fund, is expected to receive nearly $17.4 million in tax revenue while spending slightly more than $18 million. That would leave the debt fund balance at the end of next fiscal year to a little more than $1.61 million, Van Kampen said.
The school board in April approved the sale of the third series of construction bonds from the $75 million bond issue that voters passed in May 2021, as well as the refinancing of bonds from an earlier proposal.
The district will continue to levy the maximum-allowable 18 mills on non-homestead properties. Because of the Headlee amendment, the voted millage for Zeeland Recreation has been rolled back to 0.4965 mills and the building and site levy has been rolled back to 0.9931 mills. ZPS will levy 7.45 mills for debt retirement, Van Kampen said.
Zeeland Record
For the first time in the district’s history, the annual budget for Zeeland Public Schools will top the $100 million mark in the 2025-26 school year.
The ZPS Board of Education on June 9 approved the district’s spending plan for the fiscal year that begins July 1, with general fund budgeted expenditures planned for $100,817,007, a 2.3 percent increase from the current fiscal year, and revenues of $95,602,566.
“When I started here 30 years ago, our budget was $26 million. It’s like, wow … We have grown immensely in 30 years,” ZPS chief financial officer Lynn Van Kampen told the board.
The new budget will use more than $5 million of the district’s general fund reserves, but school officials say that rainy-day fund will still be in good shape at the end of the 25-26 fiscal year. The district is expected to end the next fiscal year with a general fund balance of more than $13.1 million, representing about 13.7 percent of its spending, Van Kampen said.
“We typically need about 8-12 percent of fund balance or cash flow, to meet payrolls,” Van Kampen said.
The budget document projects the district’s enrollment will decline by 100 to 5,917 students, based on the number of students expected to enter kindergarten and Young Fives in the fall versus the number of students who graduated from high school last month. It would be the fourth consecutive annual enrollment decline for ZPS, according to district enrollment statistics.
Van Kampen expects the state’s per-pupil funding will increase to $10,000, an increase of $392 from the 2024-25 fiscal year. That would bring in more than $2.3 million of additional revenue to the district. However, that funding formula has yet to be determined by the state Legislature.
About 87-89 percent of the district’s expenditures will go toward salaries and benefits for staff, with the remaining funds going to classroom supplies, utility costs, capital outlay and maintenance of ZPS’ 13 buildings, Van Kampen said.
More than $18.3 million in the 25-26 budget has been allocated for elementary instruction, nearly $14 million has been earmarked for the high schools, and another $10.1 million for middle school instruction, according to the budget document.
ZPS plans to spend more than $8.57 million on administration in the new fiscal year, another $8.4 million on operations and maintenance. Pupil services spending is expected to be more than $7.48 million, while curriculum and library is to receive more than $4.65 million. The district plans to spend more than $3.77 million on transportation, according to the budget document.
The district’s debt retirement budget, which is separate from the general fund, is expected to receive nearly $17.4 million in tax revenue while spending slightly more than $18 million. That would leave the debt fund balance at the end of next fiscal year to a little more than $1.61 million, Van Kampen said.
The school board in April approved the sale of the third series of construction bonds from the $75 million bond issue that voters passed in May 2021, as well as the refinancing of bonds from an earlier proposal.
The district will continue to levy the maximum-allowable 18 mills on non-homestead properties. Because of the Headlee amendment, the voted millage for Zeeland Recreation has been rolled back to 0.4965 mills and the building and site levy has been rolled back to 0.9931 mills. ZPS will levy 7.45 mills for debt retirement, Van Kampen said.
Nelson Named ZQuest Director
By Greg Chandler
Zeeland Record
The Zeeland Public Schools have named Allison Nelson the new director of their ZQuest program.
Nelson has held a variety of roles within ZPS since 2010, including teaching Young Fives, first grade and K-5 technology. She has also held leadership positions as a department chair and active member of numerous district committees.
Most recently, Nelson served as the ZPS trauma and resilience coach, providing professional development, staff coaching and student support across the district. District officials say she is known for her empathy, empowerment, and tenacity.
“Allison’s wide range of experiences, combined with her heart for students and staff, make her a strong fit for this next chapter at ZQuest,” ZPS assistant superintendent of administrative services Jon Voss said. “We’re excited to see her leadership continue to grow in this new role.”
ZQuest is a program for students from kindergarten through eighth grade that emphasizes project-based and multi-age learning. It also offers opportunities for outdoor education in a partnership with the Outdoor Discovery Center.
Nelson holds a bachelor’s degree from Hope College and a master’s degree in educational administration from the University of Michigan. In addition to her work for Zeeland schools, she has served as an adjunct professor at Grand Valley State University and as an educational consultant for school districts across the state.
Zeeland Record
The Zeeland Public Schools have named Allison Nelson the new director of their ZQuest program.
Nelson has held a variety of roles within ZPS since 2010, including teaching Young Fives, first grade and K-5 technology. She has also held leadership positions as a department chair and active member of numerous district committees.
Most recently, Nelson served as the ZPS trauma and resilience coach, providing professional development, staff coaching and student support across the district. District officials say she is known for her empathy, empowerment, and tenacity.
“Allison’s wide range of experiences, combined with her heart for students and staff, make her a strong fit for this next chapter at ZQuest,” ZPS assistant superintendent of administrative services Jon Voss said. “We’re excited to see her leadership continue to grow in this new role.”
ZQuest is a program for students from kindergarten through eighth grade that emphasizes project-based and multi-age learning. It also offers opportunities for outdoor education in a partnership with the Outdoor Discovery Center.
Nelson holds a bachelor’s degree from Hope College and a master’s degree in educational administration from the University of Michigan. In addition to her work for Zeeland schools, she has served as an adjunct professor at Grand Valley State University and as an educational consultant for school districts across the state.
‘Our Built Environment’ Exhibit Opens at Dekker Huis Museum
By Greg Chandler
Zeeland Record
A new immersive exhibit at the Zeeland Historical Society’s Dekker Huis Museum focuses on how the community’s homes, businesses, roads and public spaces have evolved.
“Foundations: A Journey Through Our Built Environment” opened earlier this month and will remain on display through December. A special open house to “Sip, Savor and Discover” the exhibit, featuring a presentation by exhibit curator Audrey Rojo, will take place June 27 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the museum, 37 E. Main Ave.
From the first log cabins built by Zeeland’s Dutch immigrant founders in 1847 to the mid-century modern designs of the 20th century, Zeeland’s architecture reflects its unique heritage and growth. The exhibit highlights key moments in the town’s development, including the transition from early corduroy roads to modern highways, the rise of local industries like furniture manufacturing, and the adaptive reuse of historic buildings that continue to define Zeeland’s identity today.
“This exhibit tells the story of Zeeland through the structures that surround us every day,” Rojo said. “It’s about more than just architecture — it’s about the people who built this community, the industries that shaped it, and the efforts to preserve its character while embracing the future.”
Visitors to the new exhibit will journey through Zeeland’s history — from its Dutch roots to its industrial rise and architectural transformation. Explore how early settlers built a community grounded in faith and commerce, trace the town’s growth through transportation and innovation, and see how homes and buildings evolved over time. Engaging hands-on activities invite guests to test their architectural knowledge and create their own designs, while stories of preservation highlight the ongoing effort to honor Zeeland’s past amid modern change.
At the June 27 open house, guests will enjoy a delicious spread of heavy hors d’oeuvres, desserts, and local wine while they explore the new exhibit. Rojo will share behind-the-scenes insights into the stories, research, and local heritage that shaped the exhibit. Curator remarks will begin shortly after 6 p.m.
The open house is free and open to the public. Guests will be able to support the exhibit through a small silent auction or by contributing to the museum.
RSVPs are not required for the open house but are appreciated. You can RSVP by calling (616) 772-4079 x2, emailing info@zeelandhistory.org, or visiting zeelandhistory.org/events-exhibits.
Sponsors that have made the exhibit possible include Beam Sponsor, Moore and Bruggink; Pillar Sponsor, Town and Country Group; and Foundation Sponsors, Zeeland Ace Hardware, Lucid Architecture and Huntington Bank. Their generous support helps us preserve and share Zeeland’s architectural and cultural heritage.
Admission for the exhibit is donation-based. For more information, please visit www.zeelandhistory.org or contact info@zeelandhistory.org.
Zeeland Record
A new immersive exhibit at the Zeeland Historical Society’s Dekker Huis Museum focuses on how the community’s homes, businesses, roads and public spaces have evolved.
“Foundations: A Journey Through Our Built Environment” opened earlier this month and will remain on display through December. A special open house to “Sip, Savor and Discover” the exhibit, featuring a presentation by exhibit curator Audrey Rojo, will take place June 27 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the museum, 37 E. Main Ave.
From the first log cabins built by Zeeland’s Dutch immigrant founders in 1847 to the mid-century modern designs of the 20th century, Zeeland’s architecture reflects its unique heritage and growth. The exhibit highlights key moments in the town’s development, including the transition from early corduroy roads to modern highways, the rise of local industries like furniture manufacturing, and the adaptive reuse of historic buildings that continue to define Zeeland’s identity today.
“This exhibit tells the story of Zeeland through the structures that surround us every day,” Rojo said. “It’s about more than just architecture — it’s about the people who built this community, the industries that shaped it, and the efforts to preserve its character while embracing the future.”
Visitors to the new exhibit will journey through Zeeland’s history — from its Dutch roots to its industrial rise and architectural transformation. Explore how early settlers built a community grounded in faith and commerce, trace the town’s growth through transportation and innovation, and see how homes and buildings evolved over time. Engaging hands-on activities invite guests to test their architectural knowledge and create their own designs, while stories of preservation highlight the ongoing effort to honor Zeeland’s past amid modern change.
At the June 27 open house, guests will enjoy a delicious spread of heavy hors d’oeuvres, desserts, and local wine while they explore the new exhibit. Rojo will share behind-the-scenes insights into the stories, research, and local heritage that shaped the exhibit. Curator remarks will begin shortly after 6 p.m.
The open house is free and open to the public. Guests will be able to support the exhibit through a small silent auction or by contributing to the museum.
RSVPs are not required for the open house but are appreciated. You can RSVP by calling (616) 772-4079 x2, emailing info@zeelandhistory.org, or visiting zeelandhistory.org/events-exhibits.
Sponsors that have made the exhibit possible include Beam Sponsor, Moore and Bruggink; Pillar Sponsor, Town and Country Group; and Foundation Sponsors, Zeeland Ace Hardware, Lucid Architecture and Huntington Bank. Their generous support helps us preserve and share Zeeland’s architectural and cultural heritage.
Admission for the exhibit is donation-based. For more information, please visit www.zeelandhistory.org or contact info@zeelandhistory.org.
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