By Greg Chandler
Zeeland Record
The Drenthe Grove Park in Zeeland Township will be getting new playground equipment, possibly as soon as this fall.
The Township Board Sept. 1 unanimously approved the purchase of equipment from Holland Township-based Sinclair Recreation, in the amount of $222,807. Adding in the cost of installation, the final cost of the playground is expected to add up to about $507,000, well below the $585,000 the township had budgeted for the project, Interim Township Manager Howard Fink said.
“One of the components that we were asked to (place) emphasis on was accessibility,” said Collin Manns, a landscape architect from Prein & Newhof, who worked with the township on the playground project.
One of the key parts of the new playground will be a poured-in-place rubber surface that will aid in accessibility for children who face mobility challenges, Manns said.
Supervisor Kerri Bosma said that the township had received comments from mothers asking for improved accessibility to the playground at Drenthe Grove.
“We’ve got multiple individuals in our township that have children in wheelchairs – they can be at a park, in our township, that they can play with their children. The whole family can be in the same playground,” Bosma said.
A portion of the playground will have wood chips instead of the poured-in-place surface because of drainage issues, Fink said.
“There was a conversation that was had … could the whole thing be poured-in-place surfacing,” Fink said. “Unfortunately, because of the elevation and because of the drainage related to the elevation, it was not possible to do that.”
Sinclair Recreation aided the township in lining up a $46,000 state grant that will help cover a portion of the project cost, Bosma said.
Treasurer Melissa Veldheer praised the progress the township has made in the area of playground accessibility with this project.
“I love that at least we’re making a step forward. It’s not the whole thing, but we’re getting inclusive pieces, which is fantastic,” Veldheer said.
The new equipment could be installed this fall, weather permitting, Bosma said.
Zeeland Record
The Drenthe Grove Park in Zeeland Township will be getting new playground equipment, possibly as soon as this fall.
The Township Board Sept. 1 unanimously approved the purchase of equipment from Holland Township-based Sinclair Recreation, in the amount of $222,807. Adding in the cost of installation, the final cost of the playground is expected to add up to about $507,000, well below the $585,000 the township had budgeted for the project, Interim Township Manager Howard Fink said.
“One of the components that we were asked to (place) emphasis on was accessibility,” said Collin Manns, a landscape architect from Prein & Newhof, who worked with the township on the playground project.
One of the key parts of the new playground will be a poured-in-place rubber surface that will aid in accessibility for children who face mobility challenges, Manns said.
Supervisor Kerri Bosma said that the township had received comments from mothers asking for improved accessibility to the playground at Drenthe Grove.
“We’ve got multiple individuals in our township that have children in wheelchairs – they can be at a park, in our township, that they can play with their children. The whole family can be in the same playground,” Bosma said.
A portion of the playground will have wood chips instead of the poured-in-place surface because of drainage issues, Fink said.
“There was a conversation that was had … could the whole thing be poured-in-place surfacing,” Fink said. “Unfortunately, because of the elevation and because of the drainage related to the elevation, it was not possible to do that.”
Sinclair Recreation aided the township in lining up a $46,000 state grant that will help cover a portion of the project cost, Bosma said.
Treasurer Melissa Veldheer praised the progress the township has made in the area of playground accessibility with this project.
“I love that at least we’re making a step forward. It’s not the whole thing, but we’re getting inclusive pieces, which is fantastic,” Veldheer said.
The new equipment could be installed this fall, weather permitting, Bosma said.
Fall Peddlers Market This Saturday Downtown
The city of Zeeland will host its 12th Fall Peddlers’ Market and fifth annual Little Peddlers’ event, an artfully curious faire, this Saturday downtown on Main Avenue, between Church and Centennial streets.
The event begins at 9 a.m. and runs until 3 p.m.
The Peddlers’ Market will house a number of different curiosities, including but not limited to, locally handmade children’s clothing and accessories, screen printed clothing, art prints, flowers and botanicals.
You can also find handmade women’s jewelry, household gifts and goods, vintage furniture and décor, architectural salvage, and handmade specialties, including fresh bread, handcrafted outdoor furniture, live music, food trucks, antiques and repurposed finds.
“This event has attracted a variety of vendors. From brand-new businesses to well-established ones – even young entrepreneurs. The Little Peddlers’ Market is where little kids with big ideas can peddle their items. It’s a fresh open-air lifestyle market for all your favorite things in one setting,” City Events Coordinator Kerri VanDorp said.
This event has attracted more than 100 different vendors from around the area, offering a large variety of items available for purchase, as well as special order. This event is sponsored by Mead Johnson Nutrition.
Contact Kerri VanDorp at kvandorp@cityofzeeland.com or visit feelthezeel.com for more information.
The event begins at 9 a.m. and runs until 3 p.m.
The Peddlers’ Market will house a number of different curiosities, including but not limited to, locally handmade children’s clothing and accessories, screen printed clothing, art prints, flowers and botanicals.
You can also find handmade women’s jewelry, household gifts and goods, vintage furniture and décor, architectural salvage, and handmade specialties, including fresh bread, handcrafted outdoor furniture, live music, food trucks, antiques and repurposed finds.
“This event has attracted a variety of vendors. From brand-new businesses to well-established ones – even young entrepreneurs. The Little Peddlers’ Market is where little kids with big ideas can peddle their items. It’s a fresh open-air lifestyle market for all your favorite things in one setting,” City Events Coordinator Kerri VanDorp said.
This event has attracted more than 100 different vendors from around the area, offering a large variety of items available for purchase, as well as special order. This event is sponsored by Mead Johnson Nutrition.
Contact Kerri VanDorp at kvandorp@cityofzeeland.com or visit feelthezeel.com for more information.
Township Board Grants Treasurer Pay Increase
By Greg Chandler
Zeeland Record
Zeeland Township Treasurer Melissa Veldheer will receive a $4,000 pay raise, effective at the start of next year, for assisting the township manager with preparing the annual budget.
The Township Board voted 6-0 Sept. 1 to grant the raise, boosting Veldheer’s salary for the position to $63,750, effective Jan. 1, 2027.
The discussion was a lot less heated than last December, when the board on a 4-3 vote approved raising Veldheer’s salary as treasurer from to $59,750. At the time, she was being paid out of two different pots of money - one for her statutory duties as treasurer and the other for work that was not specifically part of the treasurer’s responsibility, such as helping prepare the budget.
Veldheer agreed to drop the non-statutory duties – and the payment for performing them – in exchange for the salary increase and increased statutory responsibilities. In 2025, she was paid $42,000 for the treasurer’s duties and $19,665 for her finance department responsibilities, according to township documents.
Interim Township Manager Howard Fink proposed the increase, as the township is working on the 2027 budget. Fink says while the township manager or superintendent bears responsibility for submitting a budget to the board, he says the treasurer or finance director does a lot of the legwork in its preparation and administration.
“I don’t know of a manager in the state of Michigan who does not look to a finance director or look to a treasurer for many, many elements related to budgeting throughout the year, related to reconciling accounts, related to understanding what all the line items are, where accounts payables go,” Fink said.
“The treasurer is involved in that document, both preparation and administration, throughout the entire year. You cannot separate this issue, relatively to what’s a statutory duty and what’s not. The reality is that individual is part of that team that is doing the work,” he added.
Veldheer began doing work as a contract employee in finance for Zeeland Township in 2012. In 2019, she was appointed to the treasurer’s office after previous Treasurer Tim Barkel resigned. She ran unopposed for her position in 2020 and was re-elected in 2024.
“I did (the budget) for 12 years. This is the first year I did not participate. If this is reinstated, then I will review what Josh (former Township Manager Eggleston) started and then we will present a complete and revised budget in another month,” Veldheer said.
Veldheer abstained from the vote out of conflict-of-interest concerns.
Zeeland Record
Zeeland Township Treasurer Melissa Veldheer will receive a $4,000 pay raise, effective at the start of next year, for assisting the township manager with preparing the annual budget.
The Township Board voted 6-0 Sept. 1 to grant the raise, boosting Veldheer’s salary for the position to $63,750, effective Jan. 1, 2027.
The discussion was a lot less heated than last December, when the board on a 4-3 vote approved raising Veldheer’s salary as treasurer from to $59,750. At the time, she was being paid out of two different pots of money - one for her statutory duties as treasurer and the other for work that was not specifically part of the treasurer’s responsibility, such as helping prepare the budget.
Veldheer agreed to drop the non-statutory duties – and the payment for performing them – in exchange for the salary increase and increased statutory responsibilities. In 2025, she was paid $42,000 for the treasurer’s duties and $19,665 for her finance department responsibilities, according to township documents.
Interim Township Manager Howard Fink proposed the increase, as the township is working on the 2027 budget. Fink says while the township manager or superintendent bears responsibility for submitting a budget to the board, he says the treasurer or finance director does a lot of the legwork in its preparation and administration.
“I don’t know of a manager in the state of Michigan who does not look to a finance director or look to a treasurer for many, many elements related to budgeting throughout the year, related to reconciling accounts, related to understanding what all the line items are, where accounts payables go,” Fink said.
“The treasurer is involved in that document, both preparation and administration, throughout the entire year. You cannot separate this issue, relatively to what’s a statutory duty and what’s not. The reality is that individual is part of that team that is doing the work,” he added.
Veldheer began doing work as a contract employee in finance for Zeeland Township in 2012. In 2019, she was appointed to the treasurer’s office after previous Treasurer Tim Barkel resigned. She ran unopposed for her position in 2020 and was re-elected in 2024.
“I did (the budget) for 12 years. This is the first year I did not participate. If this is reinstated, then I will review what Josh (former Township Manager Eggleston) started and then we will present a complete and revised budget in another month,” Veldheer said.
Veldheer abstained from the vote out of conflict-of-interest concerns.
Fire Damages Mobile Home
A Sept. 2 fire caused significant damage to a mobile home in the Maple Valley Mobile Home Park.
Firefighters were called to the blaze in the 9100 block of Hillcrest Drive at 8:17 p.m. An off-duty Ottawa County sheriff’s deputy had seen heavy smoke in the area and reported it to Ottawa County Dispatch, Zeeland Township Fire Chief Brock Bruce wrote in an e-mail to the Zeeland Record.
“Upon arrival, Zeeland Township fire crews encountered heavy smoke coming from the residence, with visible fire conditions inside the home,” Bruce wrote. “Crews made entry into the residence and were able to extinguish the fire while working to limit further fire damage and protect as much of the occupants’ property as possible.”
No one was hurt in the fire. The full extent of the damage was still being confirmed. The cause of the fire remains undetermined at this time, Bruce wrote.
Zeeland Township was assisted at the scene by an automatic-aid Rapid Intervention Team (RIT) from Jamestown Township Fire and an engine crew from Zeeland city.
Firefighters were called to the blaze in the 9100 block of Hillcrest Drive at 8:17 p.m. An off-duty Ottawa County sheriff’s deputy had seen heavy smoke in the area and reported it to Ottawa County Dispatch, Zeeland Township Fire Chief Brock Bruce wrote in an e-mail to the Zeeland Record.
“Upon arrival, Zeeland Township fire crews encountered heavy smoke coming from the residence, with visible fire conditions inside the home,” Bruce wrote. “Crews made entry into the residence and were able to extinguish the fire while working to limit further fire damage and protect as much of the occupants’ property as possible.”
No one was hurt in the fire. The full extent of the damage was still being confirmed. The cause of the fire remains undetermined at this time, Bruce wrote.
Zeeland Township was assisted at the scene by an automatic-aid Rapid Intervention Team (RIT) from Jamestown Township Fire and an engine crew from Zeeland city.
CMH Awarded Five-Year Grant to Expand Services
Community Mental Health of Ottawa County has been awarded a $3 million Early Diversion Grant from the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).
The five-year grant will support the expansion of crisis stabilization and early diversion services throughout Ottawa County.
The grant will help CMHOC strengthen and improve the community’s behavioral health response by providing individuals experiencing a mental health crisis with timely support and connections to care.
The grant will allow CMHOC to work on developing:
• Complete county-wide diversion system mapping and develop Early Diversion Plan with partner referral pathways
• Expand behavioral health stabilization services to reduce justice system involvement and increase dedicated staffing for crisis response
• Launch walk-in and first-responder drop-off Living Room Crisis Services, operating Monday-Friday, 11 a.m.-7 p.m.
• Ensure timely follow-up and crisis stabilization plans for those served, connecting them to ongoing behavioral health and/or recovery supports
• Provide peer support, flexible case management, and warm hand-offs to treatment and community resources.
The five-year grant will support the expansion of crisis stabilization and early diversion services throughout Ottawa County.
The grant will help CMHOC strengthen and improve the community’s behavioral health response by providing individuals experiencing a mental health crisis with timely support and connections to care.
The grant will allow CMHOC to work on developing:
• Complete county-wide diversion system mapping and develop Early Diversion Plan with partner referral pathways
• Expand behavioral health stabilization services to reduce justice system involvement and increase dedicated staffing for crisis response
• Launch walk-in and first-responder drop-off Living Room Crisis Services, operating Monday-Friday, 11 a.m.-7 p.m.
• Ensure timely follow-up and crisis stabilization plans for those served, connecting them to ongoing behavioral health and/or recovery supports
• Provide peer support, flexible case management, and warm hand-offs to treatment and community resources.
––––––––––––––––––––
Subscribe to the Legal News!
https://www.legalnews.com/Home/Subscription
Full access to public notices, articles, columns, archives, statistics, calendar and more
Day Pass Only $4.95!
One-County $80/year
Three-County & Full Pass also available
