The Board of Review consists of 3 members appointed to serve on behalf of property owners to review property assessments annually by the Township Board. Each member serves for a 2-year term that begins on January 1 of each odd-numbered year, and at least 2/3 of the members must be township taxpayers. If you are interested in serving on the Board of Review, contact our Assessor Ty Tacoma.

The Board of Review meets three times each year, as follows, according to Board of Review Law.

1. March – After Assessment Notices go out, the Board meets with any property owner who would like his or her assessment to be reviewed further for the given year.  After the March Board of Review has convened, property valuations are set for the year and are not subject to further review.
2. July – After the summer tax bills go out, the July Board of Review meets to correct any clerical errors and review late filed paperwork, and Disabled Veteran’s Exemption requests.
3. December – After the winter tax bills go out, the December Board of Review meets to correct any clerical errors and review late filed paperwork, and Disabled Veteran’s Exemption requests.

The Board of Review is governed by Michigan Compiled Law 211.30 and other various statutes, township board resolutions, etc.  The State of Michigan has provided a FAQs document (PDF) to provide basic information regarding Boards of Review.

Left to Right: Sam Sterk, Matt Michmerhuizen, Jerry Klaver

The Fire Board consists of five members, two township board members, and three township residents, appointed to six-year terms to serve in an advisory and oversight capacity. If you are interested in serving on the Fire Board, contact our Fire Chief Duane Miedema.

Janet Oskin, Chair / Township Board
Gail Altman, Township Board
Wendell Loew, Township Resident
Mike Rose, Township Resident
Jim Ondersma, Township Resident

Front Row: Janet Oskin, Gail Altman, Mike Rose; Back Row: Jim Ondersma, Wendell Loew

This ad-hoc committee plans and oversees new fire station construction. It consists of two residents, one board member, and various fire department personnel.

• Jim Ondersma, Chair / Township Resident
• Gail Altman, Township Board
• Dan Bylsma, Fire Department
• Jonathan Hubach, Fire Department
• Keith King, Fire Department
• Tim Kortman, Fire Department
• Duane Miedema, Fire Chief
• Mike VanAahold, Township Resident

“Library trustees are powerful advocates for libraries.  Through the coordination, hard work, and determination of trustees, new libraries have been built, budgets have been restored and increased, and new respect has been generated for the powerful role libraries play in communities.   As part of a trustee board, trustees serve on a volunteer basis, can be elected or appointed to a library board for a period of time, and are tasked with the duty of helping to direct the funds and policies of an institution.  In general, the library board of trustees has a role in determining the mission of the library, setting the policy that governs the library, hiring and evaluating a library director, and overseeing the general management of the library.” –ilovelibraries.org

• Debra Fridsma, President
• Larry Walton, Vice President
• Marcia Frobish, Treasurer
• Marcia Pluim, Secretary
• Dick Patmos
• John Strick

Front Row: Marcia Frobish, Deb Fridsma, Marcia Pluim; Back Row: Larry Walton, John Strick, Dick Patmos

The Parks and Recreation Board meets as needed.

• Ben Miller (Chair)
• Lesli Kwiatkowski
• Dave Pruis
• Chris VandenHeuvel
• Erin Wolters

The Planning Commission approves all site plans for development within the township, except for those requiring approval by the Board of Trustees. The Planning Commission prepares and periodically reviews and updates, when necessary, a Master Plan to guide physical development in the township. The Commission also reviews any matter requested of it by the Board of Trustees.

• Dean Smith, Chair (2017)
• Jeff Dykstra (2018)
• Kevin Gilliam ( 2017)
• Tim Tacoma, Township Board Liaison
• Ted Woltjer (2018)
• Doug Ymker (2019)
• Randy Zomerlei (2019)

From Left: Randy Zomerlei, Doug Ymker, Tim Tacoma, Dean Smith, Jeff Dykstra, Kevin Gilliam, Ted Woltjer

The Site Plan Review Committee consists of four members who are appointed to review all developments for which site plans are required under the Zoning Ordinance and provide recommendations to the Planning Commission. The membership includes two Planning Commissioners, and representatives from the township’s planning and engineering firms, Fresh Coast Planning and Vriesman & Korhorn, respectively.

• Jeff Dykstra, Planning Commissioner
• Ted Woltjer, Planning Commissioner
• Greg Ransford, Planner
• Nate Vriesman, Engineer

Front row: Greg Ransford and Nate Vriesman; Back row: Jeff Dykstra and Ted Woltjer

The governing Board of Trustees conducts policy and legislative functions of the township government. The seven-member Board consists of the Supervisor, Clerk, Treasurer, and four Trustees. The Board is responsible for, among other things, passing ordinances, adopting the annual budget, appointing other boards and committees, and hiring township employees. All members are elected to four-year terms occurring at the general November election in the presidential election years. The Board members are elected at-large on a partisan basis. Elected officers of the township must be qualified electors and residents of the township.

• Ken Bergwerff, Supervisor
• Scott Brouwer, Treasurer
• Candy DeHaan, Clerk
• Gail Altman, Trustee
• Ben Miller, Trustee
• Janet Oskin, Trustee
• Tim Tacoma, Trustee

For more information about the Township Board, including contact information, please view the Elected Officials page

Front Row: Janet Oskin, Gail Altman, Candy DeHaan; Back Row: Scott Brouwer, Tim Tacoma, Ken Bergwerff, Ben Miller

• Randy Zomerlei, Chair (2019)
• Laurie VanHaitsma, Vice Chair (2017)
• Janae Byker (2020)
• Chris VandenHeuvel (2019)
• Scott Brouwer, Township Board Liaison

Front row: Chris VandenHeuvel and Ron Terpstra; Back row: Scott Brouwer, Laurie VanHaitsma and Randy Zomerlei