ZEELAND, MI (WHTC) – A replacement for a long-time servant to the City of Zeeland should be in place shortly.
The City Council is expected tonight to concur with the recommendation of the Fire/Rescue Search Committee and appoint Nicholas Bonstell as the Fire/Rescue Chief. He comes back to West Michigan after a brief stint with as Contract Hazardous Materials Instructor at FEMA’s Center for Domestic Preparedness in Alabama and as a member of Kentwood’s fire department for the past couple of years. Bonstell has past leadership experience as chief of Knoxville, Iowa’s Fire Department for a two-year stint, and was a part of the Zeeland Fire Department for five years through 2003.
City Manager Tim Klunder, in a memo to Council as part of tonight’s meeting agenda, spoke for the committee in saying that “the decision … was not easy, as we had highly qualified candidates both internally and externally. In the end, though, we felt Mr. Bonstell’s passion for fire/rescue service, his family’s love of Zeeland, his desire to become involved in Zeeland, his skills, education and experience differentiated him from the other candidates.”
If Council confirms his appointment, Bonstell would come on board during the week of November 14th to serve about two and a half weeks alongside Bill Gruppen, who is retiring as Fire/Rescue Chief after 52 years in the department, the last 38 as its leader. Council will continue to hold annual evaluations of the position each May.
