HOLLAND, MI (WHTC) – His departure was as steady as his guidance.
Ryan Cotton tendered what he calls his “resignation and a partial early retirement” before the members of the Holland City Council during Wednesday night’s meeting. “This … decision comes after much reflection with Karen, my spouse, as we decided how we wanted to spend our time, given Karen’s recent retirement and our out-of-state family,” Cotton explained in his prepared remarks.
Cotton’s tenure as the Tulip City’s operational leader takes effect on June 30th, when his current contract with the city expires. He came from Spring Lake in 2012 as the replacement for Soren Wolff, who had retired the previous fall after 23 years as City Manager. During Cotton’s time in Holland, he helped shepherd the city through staffing cuts based on attrition more than layoffs, was a factor in the construction of the Holland Energy Park and the start of the renovation of the Holland Civic Center, and was a part in the development of the Holland Youth Connection program for at-risk youth.
Public Safety Chief Matt Messer will immediately assume the city manager’s duties on a short-term basis while Council decides on an interim leader. A nationwide search for a new manager will also begin shortly.
Cotton will be retained by the city as a managerial consultant through the end of June, 2018.
