Z EELAND R ECORD THE
Vol. 129-No.41
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Zeeland, Michigan
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Serving Western Michigan for more than 128 Years
• August 3, 2023
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Cost$1.00/copy $30/year
Rep. Slagh Calls Newly Signed $82B State Budget ‘Unwise and Unsustainable’
On Tuesday, Aug. 8, downtown will host the Zeeland Zoom beginning with the Little Zoomers one-mile race beginning at 6:30 p.m.
14th Annual Zeeland Zoom To Be Held on Tuesday The 14th Annual Zeeland Zoom 5k & Little Zoomers Kids Run that was scheduled for Tuesday, June 27th will return to the streets of downtown Zeeland on Tuesday, August 8. The event was postponed due to the Air Quality Alerts in Zeeland, and around the state. “All active registrations will be automatically transferred to Tuesday, August 8, 2023. All other event details, including event time and location will stay the same. Registered participants will receive email updates regarding packet pick up and any other logistical changes,” said City Marketing Director Abby deRoo. The Zeeland Zoom takes runners on a 3.1-mile adventure through historic downtown Zeeland. The course is flat, fast and beautiful. Kids 10 and under can participate in the Little Zoomers one-mile race that begins at 6:30 p.m. Little Zoomers receive a race bib, and a finisher’s “medal”. At 7 p.m. the 5k race begins in the midblock on Main Street between Church and Elm streets. With the Main Street construction project, there will be a new route this year. Runners will travel east to Church and then south to Central. At Central the race will turn east (left) and travel to Fairview will it turn south to Lincoln. At Lincoln the race will turn and run west to Park St where it will turn south and head to Rich Street, where it will travel one block to Division. At Division the race will turn north and head to Lincoln. At Lincoln the race will turn east and continue to Fairview. The race will travel north on Fairview to Central, where it will turn west and travel to Church. From Church it will travel to Main where it will return to the mid-block start/finish line. “This local event provides healthy summertime entertainment and promotes community spirit while offering a competitive event for race enthusiasts,” she said. The original race date was cancelled based on the specific Air Quality Alert
issued for Zeeland, by the State of Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE), that persons living in affected areas refrain from strenuous outdoor activities until the Air Quality Alert decreases. Air Quality across the state was/ is being impacted by wildfire smoke from Canada, causing air quality alerts to be issued ranging from moderate to hazardous on the air quality index. “The health and safety of the runners, volunteers and community members are of utmost importance to us. We fully support the City of Zeeland’s decision to re-schedule the Zeeland Zoom in light of the poor air quality West Michigan is experiencing. Strenuous activity outdoors is not (more) advised in these conditions and for the safety of all participants we agree it’s the wisest decision to postpone the event. Please seek immediate medical attention if you experience any difficulty breathing or any other medical emergency,” said Dr. Melissa Taylor, Chiefof-Staff at Corewell Health’s Spectrum Health Zeeland Community Hospital. Registration is still open, but T-shirts are no longer guaranteed for new registrations but will be available on a first-come, firstserved basis at packet pick up on August 7 & 8. 5K registration is available for $35 and Little Zoomer registration is available for $10. The Zeeland Zoom 5k Foot Race & Walk is proudly sponsored by: Title Sponsor: Corewell Health. Gold Sponsors: Nephew Physical Therapy, Gazelle Sports, Crown Motors, BVW Property Management, Zeeland BPW, Hulst Jepsen PT, Imagination Station, Trio Wellspace, Request Foods, Riley’s Grove, Van Der Kolk Plumbing, Sharp Roofing. Silver Sponsors: Engedi Salon, Zeeland Farm Services, West Michigan Fleet Parts, Don’s Flowers and Gifts, Drip Coffee, Holland Hospital, Consumers Energy Zeeland Generating Station and Huntington Bank. Bronze Sponsors: Family Fare, City on a Hill, City on a Hill Café, Macatawa Bank.
Police Blotter A hit and run accident occurred on Lawrence Avenue east of the State Street intersection on Thursday, July 20, while the Zeeland Fire/Rescue “Pig Out’ was taking place at Lawrence Street Park. Brian Hemmeke of Zeeland had his vehicle parked facing west in front of 103 W. Lawrence. He parked the vehicle at
approximately 6:50 p.m. and when he returned at 7:15 p.m. he noticed damage to its rear driver’s side bumper. The paint transfer appeared to be from a gold/tan/ silver vehicle. A backing accident occurred at 5:54 p.m. on Saturday, July 22, in the (Continued on page 8)
On Monday, July 31st, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed a $81.7 billion budget for 2023-2024 that grows government with more than 1,000 new state employees. “Some $3.9 billion dollars were added to the budget at the last minute without any discussion or deliberation whatsoever; this elitist spending mentality is a disservice to the people of Michigan, and it’s not the way state government is supposed to work under our representative democracy,” said State Representative Bradley Slagh of Zeeland. Going into the budget session legislators had a $9 billion surplus, that some had sought to refund to taxpayers. “Even before those funds were quietly added, this budget came to an unprecedented total that grows the size of our government in an imprudent and unwise manner. We had a unique opportunity to use our budget surplus to bolster our state’s rainy-day fund, pay down our debts to reduce interest payments, saving billions in taxpayer dollars down the road and improving our roads and infrastructure. Instead, the governor and her Democrat allies in the Legislature doled out billions upon billions for pet projects and corporate handouts. Slagh was also frustrated with the budget process that excluded Republicans from submitting requests. “In the past we were able to appropriate money for the sewer line between Coopersville and Muskegon that will assist not only residents in northern Ottawa County, but also businesses, especially agricultural producers. There are no projects on this side of the state in this year’s budget,” he said. Not only does the budget use up the $9 billion surplus, but it also exceeds projected
revenues by $100 million. State Law requires the legislature to pass a balanced budget, so that means tax increases will be necessary to fund it. “The people of West Michigan are working hard to make wise financial choices with their family budgets amid rising inflation – but Lansing politicians won’t do the same. These increases go against the values of those I serve, are unsustainable and will result in costly tax increases on our residents in the years to come, which is why I opposed this spending plan,” he said. Included in the budget and drawing the ire of Slagh was $100,000 for a State Poet Laureate. “What does this do for the culture of Michigan? What is expected from this position, or is it just an honorary position,” he said. Another item in the budget was $1,000,000 to teach kids in affluent school districts in Detroit how to ride horses. “There seems to be better ways of spending money, especially the way schools in inner-Detroit are suffering.,” The budget also has $2 million set aside for prosecuting LGBTQ offenses such as discrimination, and harassment. “If doesn’t make sense to prosecute someone for using the wrong pronoun in identifying people,” he said. The legislature also appropriated $161,000 for the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Summit. “Typically, every organization pays for their own summit. This one is being paid for by the taxpayers of Michigan, this is wrong,” he said. The State’s 2023-2024 budget begins on Oct.1, 2023 and ends Sept. 30, 2024.
Siren Test Scheduled for Friday The monthly outdoor warning siren test for communities in Ottawa County is scheduled for Friday August 4th, at 12:00pm. These tests occur on the first Friday of every month, April through October. “The siren test will not be conducted this month in the city of Grand Haven, Grand Haven Twp, Spring Lake Twp and Ferrysburg, so there isn’t confusion for persons attending the Coast Guard festival. Sirens in those jurisdictions will be drilled the following month, in September,” explained Emergency Management Unit Director Lou Hunt. Outdoor warning sirens are intended to provide persons outdoors warning where they may be away from commercial radio or
television to seek additional information on hazards that may be a threat to public safety. Sirens will sound for approximately three minutes before timing out. Smartphone apps are available that will provide notification of weather watches and warning. Severe weather WATCH means the potential exists for the development of storms and/or tornadoes, so be mindful of changing weather conditions. A severe weather WARNING means that storms are imminent, or actively occurring. If a Tornado Warning is issued, take shelter in a location on the lowest level of a building, such as the basement or in a small windowless room at the innermost part of the building.