Graduates of the Zeeland Citizen’s Academy are pictured with Mayor Rick Van Dorp at Monday’s City Council meeting. Fifteen residents completed the six-week course where they learned about how the city operates.
By Greg Chandler
Zeeland Record
Abby Van Beek moved to Zeeland six years ago from the east side of the state, and wanted to learn more about the city and how it functioned.
“I’m always curious about how things work, and I’m a little bit nosy,” she said.
So the substitute teacher and mother of two signed up for the Zeeland Citizen’s Academy – a six-week course where participants learn about everything from how utilities are provided in the city to law enforcement and fire services.
Van Beek said she asked a lot of questions, and was happy with what she learned about the city.
“I think my favorite was the marketing and the downtown Zeeland week, because it was kind of cool to hear the plans the city has, and how they’ve been planning for decades to make things come about,” she said. “I appreciated learning about water infrastructure … and the sewer plants. The parks and cemeteries, I was curious about how they replace trees that they’ve taken down.”
Van Beek was one of 15 people recognized at Monday night’s City Council meeting for completing the Citizen’s Academy. Each received a certificate for finishing the course and enjoyed cake as they mingled with council members.
This year marked the third year of the academy, which was held for three hours every Wednesday night from April 15 to May 20. Participants ranged from new members of the community to lifelong residents.
Sessions offer an in-depth look at the fundamentals of the city’s administration and library, finance, information technology, streets, parks, cemeteries, utilities, public safety, community development, downtown and marketing. Additional topics included the basics of local government, elections, local history and more.
“I really liked the last session. We talked to (Community Development Director) Tim Maday (and city Marketing Director) Abby deRoo, and heard about the master plan for the city, the vision not only for short-term projects, but also long-term, decades out,” said Phil Dirkse, a father of three who has lived in the city for 10 years and works in town for Disher Engineering.
City Manager Tim Klunder praised the graduates as well as city leaders who gave presentations, calling this year’s Academy “another tremendous success.”
“(Our team leaders) said the group was interactive, attentive – just greatly appreciated, quite honestly,” Klunder said. “An informed citizenry is a good thing for the city of Zeeland.”
Mayor Rick Van Dorp, who handed out certificates and shook hands with each graduate, used a quote commonly attributed to Thomas Jefferson: “An informed citizenry is the best defense against tyranny.”
Others completing the Academy were Sue Bult, Tyler Cook, Bill Elhart, Mary Elhart, Julianna Grucz, Ericka Humbert, Nate Koster, Mike Moldenhauer, Beth Parker, Becky Purnell, Rob Richardson, Katelyn Sommers and Shannon Zoerhof. Bult received her certificate – and a hug – from her son, Councilman Andrew Bult.
Anyone interested in being part of the next Citizen’s Academy should be a city resident, a utility customer of the Zeeland Board of Public Works or work at a business within the city. Applicants must be at least 18 years old and able to pass a background check.
Zeeland Record
Abby Van Beek moved to Zeeland six years ago from the east side of the state, and wanted to learn more about the city and how it functioned.
“I’m always curious about how things work, and I’m a little bit nosy,” she said.
So the substitute teacher and mother of two signed up for the Zeeland Citizen’s Academy – a six-week course where participants learn about everything from how utilities are provided in the city to law enforcement and fire services.
Van Beek said she asked a lot of questions, and was happy with what she learned about the city.
“I think my favorite was the marketing and the downtown Zeeland week, because it was kind of cool to hear the plans the city has, and how they’ve been planning for decades to make things come about,” she said. “I appreciated learning about water infrastructure … and the sewer plants. The parks and cemeteries, I was curious about how they replace trees that they’ve taken down.”
Van Beek was one of 15 people recognized at Monday night’s City Council meeting for completing the Citizen’s Academy. Each received a certificate for finishing the course and enjoyed cake as they mingled with council members.
This year marked the third year of the academy, which was held for three hours every Wednesday night from April 15 to May 20. Participants ranged from new members of the community to lifelong residents.
Sessions offer an in-depth look at the fundamentals of the city’s administration and library, finance, information technology, streets, parks, cemeteries, utilities, public safety, community development, downtown and marketing. Additional topics included the basics of local government, elections, local history and more.
“I really liked the last session. We talked to (Community Development Director) Tim Maday (and city Marketing Director) Abby deRoo, and heard about the master plan for the city, the vision not only for short-term projects, but also long-term, decades out,” said Phil Dirkse, a father of three who has lived in the city for 10 years and works in town for Disher Engineering.
City Manager Tim Klunder praised the graduates as well as city leaders who gave presentations, calling this year’s Academy “another tremendous success.”
“(Our team leaders) said the group was interactive, attentive – just greatly appreciated, quite honestly,” Klunder said. “An informed citizenry is a good thing for the city of Zeeland.”
Mayor Rick Van Dorp, who handed out certificates and shook hands with each graduate, used a quote commonly attributed to Thomas Jefferson: “An informed citizenry is the best defense against tyranny.”
Others completing the Academy were Sue Bult, Tyler Cook, Bill Elhart, Mary Elhart, Julianna Grucz, Ericka Humbert, Nate Koster, Mike Moldenhauer, Beth Parker, Becky Purnell, Rob Richardson, Katelyn Sommers and Shannon Zoerhof. Bult received her certificate – and a hug – from her son, Councilman Andrew Bult.
Anyone interested in being part of the next Citizen’s Academy should be a city resident, a utility customer of the Zeeland Board of Public Works or work at a business within the city. Applicants must be at least 18 years old and able to pass a background check.
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