June 9-13: Ottawa to interview admin candidates, Zeeland to host hearing on Mead Johnson
In 2025, The Sentinel is providing a weekly round-up of the biggest topics in upcoming municipal meetings, giving our readers a chance to engage with their local officials on the projects, appointments and decisions that hit closest to home.
These round-ups are written on Fridays, and will not include an agenda if one hasn't been posted by 1 p.m. Municipalities are not required by the Michigan Open Meetings Act to provide an agenda in advance of a meeting, but they are required to provide notice. Please visit your local municipality website for the most updated information.
Here are the biggest topics for meetings Monday-Friday, June 9-13:
Planning and Policy Committee: 9 a.m. Tuesday, June 10, at the Ottawa County Fillmore Street Complex
An agenda was not immediately available
Finance and Administration: 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, June 10, at the Ottawa County Fillmore Street Complex
An agenda was not immediately available
Board of Commissioners Special Meeting: 9 a.m. Thursday, June 12, at the Ottawa County Fillmore Street Complex
A meeting to interview candidates for Ottawa County Administrator
Board of Commissioners: 9 a.m. Tuesday, June 12, at the Allegan County Services Building
An agenda was not immediately available
Holland Board of Public Works: 4 p.m. Monday, June 9, at the Holland Board of Public Works Service Center
The agenda includes:
Consideration of a motion to approve a Resolution of Appreciation for Mutual Aid provided to HBPW by the Zeeland Board of Public Works, Hillsdale Board of Public Works, Niles Utilities Department, and Lowell Light and Power
Consideration of a motion to approve a contract value increase with CTC Technology and Energy for $118,000 for Change Order #1, plus an additional contingency of $135,000, for a new total contract value of $764,951.
Consideration of a motion to approve an increase in the EX2 Engineering and Construction Contract contingency of $300,000, for a new approved contract price of $17,864,961.20.
Consideration of a motion to approve a contract with Utility Contracting Co. for Fiscal Year 2026.
Read the agenda: tinyurl.com/yca553rr
Planning Commission: 5 p.m. Tuesday, June 10, at Holland City Hall
The agenda includes:
Review of Unified Development Ordinance Section 39-2.16 Industrial Zone District and Section 39-3.13 Building Envelope Overview Table
Consideration of a rezoning request and site plan review from Resthaven for 740 College Ave. and 49 E. 32nd St. and 11 E. 32nd St. The plan includes constructing a building addition, a parking lot, a driveway entrance and to combine all three properties into a single PUD.
Consideration of a special land use request and site plan review for 1033 Lincoln Ave. The plan includes a Speedway fuel station, a seven-slot auto canopy and a full access driveway.
Read the agenda: tinyurl.com/m692vm3j
City Council Study Session: 6 p.m. Wednesday, June 11, at Holland City Hall
The agenda includes:
An update on Windmill Island Gardens from General Manager Matt Helmus
Read the agenda: tinyurl.com/mvwnrywp
Board of Public Works Board of Commissioners: 3:30 p.m. Monday, June 10, at the Water Warehouse Meeting Room
An agenda was not immediately available
Cemetery and Parks Commission: 5 p.m. Wednesday, June 11, at Zeeland City Hall
An agenda was not immediately available
Planning Commission: 6 p.m. Thursday, June 11, at Howard Miller Community Center
An agenda was not immediately available
An expected public hearing for a rezoning request at 605 and 633 E. Main Ave. — submitted by applicant Mead Johnson as part of a draft expansion plan
City Council: 6:30 p.m. Monday, June 9, at Saugatuck City Hall
The agenda includes:
Consideration of a motion to change the city's fee schedule
Consideration of a motion to enter closed session to conduct an annual personnel evaluation of the city manager
Read the agenda: tinyurl.com/47fenz3j
Planning Commission : 6 p.m. Thursday, June 12, at Douglas City Hall
An agenda was not immediately available
Planning Commission: 6 p.m. Tuesday, June 10, at Fennville City Hall
An agenda was not immediately available
Board of Trustees: 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 11, at the Port Sheldon Township Offices
The agenda includes:
Consideration of a motion to approve a resolution for firefighter Olivia Ohlman
Consideration of a motion to assume and assign a contract for Pierce Pumper/Tanker
Consideration of a motion to approve the MERS Surplus Division
Consideration of a motion regarding extra storm clean-up compensation
Read the agenda: tinyurl.com/4ze6d9v5
Board of Trustees: 6:30 p.m. Thursday, June 12, at Park Township Offices
An agenda was not immediately available
Planning Commission: 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 10, at Zeeland Township Hall
The agenda includes:
Consideration of a site plan review from T Bosgraaf Homes for a 9-unit condominium development at 7400, 4394 and 7386 Byron Road
Read the agenda: tinyurl.com/yck2k8mk
Township Board: 6 p.m. Wednesday, June 11, at Laketown Township Hall
The agenda includes:
Hearing a report from the Laketown Parks and Recreation Commission
Updates regarding the municipality's manager search
A discussion regarding options for Wolters House
A discussion on short-term rentals
Read the agenda: tinyurl.com/e6k3fjrw
Township Board: 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 10, at Ganges Township Hall
A public hearing regarding the proposed budget and property tax millage rate
Township Board: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 10, at Overisel Township Hall
An agenda was not immediately available
Board of Trustees: 6 p.m. Wednesday, June 11, at Saugatuck Township Hall
An agenda was not immediately available
— Cassidey Kavathas is the politics and court reporter at The Holland Sentinel. Contact her at ckavathas@hollandsentinel.com. Follow her on Twitter @cassideykava.
This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: June 9-13: Big meetings coming in Ottawa County, Zeeland, Holland
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
June 9-13: Ottawa to interview admin candidates, Zeeland to host hearing on Mead Johnson
In 2025, The Sentinel is providing a weekly round-up of the biggest topics in upcoming municipal meetings, giving our readers a chance to engage with their local officials on the projects, appointments and decisions that hit closest to home. These round-ups are written on Fridays, and will not include an agenda if one hasn't been posted by 1 p.m. Municipalities are not required by the Michigan Open Meetings Act to provide an agenda in advance of a meeting, but they are required to provide notice. Please visit your local municipality website for the most updated information. Here are the biggest topics for meetings Monday-Friday, June 9-13: Planning and Policy Committee: 9 a.m. Tuesday, June 10, at the Ottawa County Fillmore Street Complex An agenda was not immediately available Finance and Administration: 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, June 10, at the Ottawa County Fillmore Street Complex An agenda was not immediately available Board of Commissioners Special Meeting: 9 a.m. Thursday, June 12, at the Ottawa County Fillmore Street Complex A meeting to interview candidates for Ottawa County Administrator Board of Commissioners: 9 a.m. Tuesday, June 12, at the Allegan County Services Building An agenda was not immediately available Holland Board of Public Works: 4 p.m. Monday, June 9, at the Holland Board of Public Works Service Center The agenda includes: Consideration of a motion to approve a Resolution of Appreciation for Mutual Aid provided to HBPW by the Zeeland Board of Public Works, Hillsdale Board of Public Works, Niles Utilities Department, and Lowell Light and Power Consideration of a motion to approve a contract value increase with CTC Technology and Energy for $118,000 for Change Order #1, plus an additional contingency of $135,000, for a new total contract value of $764,951. Consideration of a motion to approve an increase in the EX2 Engineering and Construction Contract contingency of $300,000, for a new approved contract price of $17,864,961.20. Consideration of a motion to approve a contract with Utility Contracting Co. for Fiscal Year 2026. Read the agenda: Planning Commission: 5 p.m. Tuesday, June 10, at Holland City Hall The agenda includes: Review of Unified Development Ordinance Section 39-2.16 Industrial Zone District and Section 39-3.13 Building Envelope Overview Table Consideration of a rezoning request and site plan review from Resthaven for 740 College Ave. and 49 E. 32nd St. and 11 E. 32nd St. The plan includes constructing a building addition, a parking lot, a driveway entrance and to combine all three properties into a single PUD. Consideration of a special land use request and site plan review for 1033 Lincoln Ave. The plan includes a Speedway fuel station, a seven-slot auto canopy and a full access driveway. Read the agenda: City Council Study Session: 6 p.m. Wednesday, June 11, at Holland City Hall The agenda includes: An update on Windmill Island Gardens from General Manager Matt Helmus Read the agenda: Board of Public Works Board of Commissioners: 3:30 p.m. Monday, June 10, at the Water Warehouse Meeting Room An agenda was not immediately available Cemetery and Parks Commission: 5 p.m. Wednesday, June 11, at Zeeland City Hall An agenda was not immediately available Planning Commission: 6 p.m. Thursday, June 11, at Howard Miller Community Center An agenda was not immediately available An expected public hearing for a rezoning request at 605 and 633 E. Main Ave. — submitted by applicant Mead Johnson as part of a draft expansion plan City Council: 6:30 p.m. Monday, June 9, at Saugatuck City Hall The agenda includes: Consideration of a motion to change the city's fee schedule Consideration of a motion to enter closed session to conduct an annual personnel evaluation of the city manager Read the agenda: Planning Commission : 6 p.m. Thursday, June 12, at Douglas City Hall An agenda was not immediately available Planning Commission: 6 p.m. Tuesday, June 10, at Fennville City Hall An agenda was not immediately available Board of Trustees: 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 11, at the Port Sheldon Township Offices The agenda includes: Consideration of a motion to approve a resolution for firefighter Olivia Ohlman Consideration of a motion to assume and assign a contract for Pierce Pumper/Tanker Consideration of a motion to approve the MERS Surplus Division Consideration of a motion regarding extra storm clean-up compensation Read the agenda: Board of Trustees: 6:30 p.m. Thursday, June 12, at Park Township Offices An agenda was not immediately available Planning Commission: 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 10, at Zeeland Township Hall The agenda includes: Consideration of a site plan review from T Bosgraaf Homes for a 9-unit condominium development at 7400, 4394 and 7386 Byron Road Read the agenda: Township Board: 6 p.m. Wednesday, June 11, at Laketown Township Hall The agenda includes: Hearing a report from the Laketown Parks and Recreation Commission Updates regarding the municipality's manager search A discussion regarding options for Wolters House A discussion on short-term rentals Read the agenda: Township Board: 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 10, at Ganges Township Hall A public hearing regarding the proposed budget and property tax millage rate Township Board: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 10, at Overisel Township Hall An agenda was not immediately available Board of Trustees: 6 p.m. Wednesday, June 11, at Saugatuck Township Hall An agenda was not immediately available — Cassidey Kavathas is the politics and court reporter at The Holland Sentinel. Contact her at ckavathas@ Follow her on Twitter @cassideykava. This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: June 9-13: Big meetings coming in Ottawa County, Zeeland, Holland
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Yahoo
Monmouth County ‘Conservative Republicans' challenge the establishment in GOP primary
FREEHOLD — A pair of self-identified 'Monmouth County Conservative Republicans' are running against the GOP establishment for their party's nominations, to run this year for county clerk and a seat on the Board of Commissioners, in Tuesday's primary election. Monmouth County Commissioners Thomas A. Arnone and Dominick 'Nick' DiRocco, who have the support of the county GOP organization to seek re-election, are being challenged in their bids by Mary Katie Kelliher. Kelliher is hoping to replace one of the the incumbents in the June 10 contest. Arnone is also the director of the board. Monmouth County Clerk Christine Giordano Hanlon, who also has the support of the county GOP leadership, is being challenged for the party's nomination to her office by Danielle Bellomo, on the conservative ticket. The incumbents are running on a record that they say has resulted in sound economic stewardship, which includes the county's AAA bond rating and a reduction in the size of the county workforce while expanding services. The challengers argue that the incumbents have lost touch with ordinary Republican voters. They have said they want more fiscal discipline, more transparency in county government and would offer new perspectives and fresh ideas in county government. Hanlon, 57, was a lawyer before she was first elected county clerk in 2015. She is seeking a third, five-year term this year. She, her husband and four children live in Ocean Township. Bellomo, 38, a Marlboro Board of Education member, left a career as a marketing manager to focus full-time on her family, which includes her husband and three children. Arnone, 62, is a vice president with PRC Group in Red Bank, a commercial and residential real estate developer, and property and construction management company. First elected in 2010, he's continuously served as director of the Board of Commissioners since 2018. He and his wife live in Neptune City, where he was mayor from 2004 to 2010. They have one daughter. DiRocco, 50, is seeking a third, three-year term. A vice president at South Jersey Industries, an energy infrastructure holding company headquartered in Folsom, he is a former Wall mayor who served on the Township Committee from 2014 to 2019. A lawyer, he was also a deputy chief of staff to former Gov. Christine Todd Whitman. He and his wife have three daughters. Kelliher, 47, of Freehold Township, has been a local real estate agent for 25 years and is a licensed special/general education teacher. She and her husband have three children. For the first time this June, registered Republican voters in New Jersey will go to the polls in a primary in which there are no so-called county lines. Democratic voters did so for the first time last June. Contact Asbury Park Press reporter Erik Larsen at elarsen@ This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Conservative Republicans challenge establishment in Monmouth County NJ
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Yahoo
Emmitsburg focuses on residents' costs and maintaining staff with FY26 budget
Emmitsburg approved a town budget on Monday that included a water-rate increase less than earlier planned, as well as above-the-norm salary increases for some town employees. The town expects to receive and spend $2.7 million in FY 2026, according to town documents. That represents a 6% increase compared to FY 2025. The municipal property tax rate will remain 34.64 cents per $100 in assessed value. The Board of Commissioners passed the budget 4-1. Commissioners Amy Boehman-Pollitt, Jim Hoover, Valerie Turnquist and Kevin Hagan voted in favor. Commissioner Cliff Sweeney voted against. In an interview, Sweeney said he was concerned the water-rate changes would not leave enough money in the budget for repairs and anything unexpected. Earlier in Monday's meeting, the commissioners voted to increase water rates by 15% in FY 2026, rather than 36%, which would have been in line with a previous ordinance. The previous ordinance stated that beginning July 1, 2023, water rates in town would increase 36% annually, and continue to increase that rate each year for five years, according to town records. Starting July 1, 2028, rates would increase 3% annually. 'I didn't think the water rates should be adjusted until next year,' Sweeney said. 'I wasn't for the 15%' He was also the lone dissenting vote in the water-rate increase change, saying the need for a 36% increase was 'partly my fault' for all of the years he served on the board and did not increase rates incrementally. Hoover said in an interview that he felt the municipal property tax rate staying flat and a reduction in the expected water rates were the most important items to residents. The tax rate is based on assessed value, so while the rate may be unchanged, individual tax bills might rise and as property assessments rise. As such, the town projects to receive almost $73,000 in FY 2026 than it did in FY 2025 due to this increase in assessed values. Hoover said the annual 36% increases were a 'thorn' in his and others' sides and represented an increase that was 'substantially more than I felt was justifiable.' Hoover added that he felt that the new approach to managing water rates will be more responsive to the needs of the town, since the board will have to be more vigilant by reviewing rates annually and adjusting it as needed. 'I believe wholeheartedly that this will accomplish that,' he said. Boehman-Pollitt said in an interview that she was happy to implement the smaller increase that would 'still put us in the black,' but also 'not be shocking to our residents.' She said a proposal by Mayor Frank Davis in May sought to shift how the town paid out benefits to employees. Currently, the town attaches the benefits to the employee rather than to the departments of their work if their work impacts multiple departments. Boehman-Pollitt said the mayor's proposal reflected best practices, but would also lead to around an $80,000 increase in cost of the water fund. She said the commissioners are open to phasing that accounting strategy over time, but the added financial strain on the water fund 'just didn't seem prudent.' Davis said the was disappointed that cuts to the water fund will lead to downstream impacts to the general fund, ultimately preventing road improvement and other projects. 'But other than that, I am happy with the budget,' Davis said. Merit increases One item he fought for at Monday's meeting and previous meetings was salary raises above the standard 3% merit increase for Najila Ahsan, the town planner, and Jared Brantner, the superintendent of water and sewer. All other town employees will receive a 3% cost-of-living increase in salary, as well as between a 1% and 3% merit increase. Ahsan and Brantner will receive additional salary increases — not counted as merit-based increases due to town code — of 4% and .2%. The second figure was due to a lack of money in the water fund, according to town staff. Davis said both town employees performed above expectations and he worried that without salary increases, they could be recruited by other municipalities. 'What made me realize that we needed to do something was when the state of Maryland came and reviewed our comprehensive plan, they asked me what contractor we used to write that plan because it was so well written,' the mayor said. 'That would have been a very costly contract if we had to bring someone in. 'Our town planner was able to go above and beyond what was expected of her and we need to compensate our employees for that.' Hagan participated in the committee that worked with the town staff and community input to create the comprehensive plan prior to being elected to the Board of Commissioners. He said at the meeting that Ahsan performed 'a lot of detailed work' for the project that was 'all done at a pretty extraordinary level.' 'I agree,' Hoover said. Boehman-Pollitt said the increases represented 'a big jump,' but she supports the mayor's recommendations. Davis said Brantner has certifications and experiences to run large-scale water and sewage plants that were hard to find. Additionally, the mayor said Brantner runs a team of five or six and manages both the water and sewage plants. 'So we're getting quite the bang for the buck,' Davis said. 'We have good people and we just can't afford to lose them.'
