HOLLAND, MI (WHTC-AM/FM) – A long-time vacancy in Holland city government may be filled tonight.
During this evening’s City Council meeting, City Manager Keith Van Beek will recommend the appointment of Kathy Mitchell as City Clerk. She was among 110 who had filed applications when the city posted the position, and emerged from 15 first-round interviewees and five finalists to formally succeed Jenifer French, who had been discharged in 2014 over a legal dispute over residency and tax issues. A settlement with French meant that the clerk’s position was kept vacant, although Anna Perales handled the operational duties as Deputy City Manager until she resigned this past December. Finance Director Tim Vagle held the official title of city clerk.
Mitchell comes to City Hall from Holland Hospital, where she was the Manager for Physician Recruitment and Practice Development, and has past Human Resource experience with Mercy Health and Haworth, Inc.
Also during this evening’s meeting, Council is expected to authorize the issuing of up to seven million dollars in Capital Improvement Bonds with a limited tax general obligation in order to “pay the costs to acquire, construct, furnish and equip the 9th Street Parking Deck” project, according to Van Beek. Last year, the panel approved a Notice of Intent Resolution, along with an agreement with GDK Construction, to build a 380-space, three-level parking structure. The bonds would go on sale on September 6th, with the city taking possession of the structure on September 28th, the same day the Holland Civic Center is scheduled to reopen.
Council’s bi-weekly business meeting begins around 7 PM in Chambers at Holland City Hall, preceded by a 5:30 special session that includes a scheduled closed-door meeting to discuss a written attorney opinion and consider a property acquisition. The agenda for the general business meeting can be found here.
