HOLLAND, MI (WHTC-AM/FM) – The slogan “buy local” has been altered a little by the Holland City Council in its selection of a new City Manager.
The nine-member panel “picked local” last night in voting for Keith Van Beek to be the permanent successor for Ryan Cotton as the Tulip City’s chief operating officer. The Zeeland native and Holland resident, who has been Ottawa County’s Deputy Administrator for the past nine years, was chosen ahead of Novi Assistant City Manager Victor Cardenas, who also had West Michigan ties as a Grand Valley State graduate and a current GVSU trustee. The two men emerged as finalists from an overall field of 60 applicants, from which retained consultant Amy Cell recommended seven for further consideration and three, including Redford Township Supervisor Tracey Schultz Kobylarz, for a round of interviews last month.
Contract terms have yet to be finalized before a time frame for when Van Beek takes over as City Manager can be established. Public Safety Chief Matt Messer continues to serve as Interim City Manager, as Cotton stepped down last June and Greg Robinson served on an interim basis during a seven-month pact that expired at the end of January.
