Meeting Minutes: Hudsonville tackles plowing, park security

The Hudsonville City Commission had its regular September meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 9. All members except Jeremy Kamp were present, and voted on three issues:

The issue

A recommendation from the Department of Public Works to purchase a 2024 Chevy Silverado 2500, along with front and rear snow plows, for a total of $59,717.50. Bob Miller, superintendent of the Hudsonville DPW, said a 2007 pickup in the city's plow fleet is aging out of its usefulness and needs to be replaced.

What we know

The bid for the truck is $43,620 from Berger Chevrolet, and the plows and installation bid is from B&B Truck for $16,097.50. The equipment bids were obtained through the MiDEAL Extended Purchasing Program, a 1984 law that allows municipal governments to make purchases under established state contracts. The cost of the equipment replacement is already listed in the FY 25-26 budget, according to Miller.

What's next

The present members of the city commission voted unanimously to approve the purchase. A clear date for receiving the vehicle was not set.

The issue

Consideration of a contract for professional water and sewer engineering services by Fishbeck for a total of $34,600.

What we know

Bob Miller of the City of Hudsonville's Department of Public Works is recommending Fishbeck to evaluate the current water and sewer system and design improvements to serve the planned Outdoor Discovery Center in the Hudsonville Nature Center. Miller's recommendation letter said the current sewer system ends about 500 feet short of the likely future location of the restroom building.

What's next

The present members of the city commission voted unanimously to approve Fishbeck for the work. Fishbeck plans to meet with the city three times in the coming months, with final completion of the work in January 2026.

The issue

Security upgrades at various park facilities are needed. Bob Miller with Hudsonville's Department of Public Works said they are struggling to keep the facilities secure due to the redirection of Sheriff's Department resources, rental demand rising, and an uptick in vandalism.

What we know

The DPW is recommending a Verkada system of programmable locks and cameras that will help by automating many of the routine locking and unlocking procedures, at a cost not to exceed $46,000. The vendor chosen is VanBelkum, Inc., which is authorized through the PEPPM Cooperative Purchasing program to sell the Verkada system. The system includes dome cameras, door locks with battery backups, and wireless connectivity.

What's next

The city commission members present at the meeting voted unanimously to approve the recommendation. The installation is slated to be completed this year.

— Joshua Vissers covers communities in eastern Ottawa County. Contact him at newsroom@ottawanewsnetwork.org.

Support Our Work

Ottawa News Network is a nonprofit news service dedicated to providing the residents of Ottawa County with trustworthy, community-driven news. ONN treats journalism as a public good — something that enriches lives and empowers Ottawa County’s 300,000-plus residents to stay engaged, make informed decisions, and strengthen local democracy. Please consider giving today.