1/2/24 First council meeting – Eric Bartkus Lowell City Council

Four Interviewed for Vacant City Council Spot - Lowell's First Look

Beryl Bartkus lives in Lowell City. She is married to her husband Eric, who already a council member. Bartkus has 2 children. She serves as president of the Lowell Area Chamber of Commerce Board, and a board member for Flat River Outreach Ministries board and of the Chamber of Commerce. 

Candidate website

Beryl is a licensed pharmacist and the owner of Ability Weavers, a social enterprise that focuses on training and employing adults with special needs. 

Beryl currently serves as a member of the Downtown Development Authority (DDA. She was appointed in 2024 and is serving her first term. 

As of August 14, 2025, Beryl Bartkus’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Economy

City Council Candidate Profile: Beryl Bartkus, Lowell's First Look

Supports creating accessible housing and amenities within the community.

Wants to expand accessible housing and amenities in the community.

Believes city leaders should ensure proper zoning is in place to manage growth.

Believes city leaders should ensure proper zoning is in place to manage growth.-

- Wants to expand accessible housing and amenities in the community.
- Believes city leaders should ensure proper zoning is in place to manage growth.-

Housing & Urban Development

Believes the current "paid on call" funding for the fire department is unsustainable and plans to find "reasonable financial solutions" to support it, especially with the annexation of township land.

Believes the current “paid on call” fire department funding is unsustainable and plans to find reasonable financial solutions to support it, particularly with the annexation of township land. 

- Believes the current “paid on call” fire department funding is unsustainable and plans to find reasonable financial solutions to support it, particularly with the annexation of township land. 

Public Safety

Healthcare

Believes communication between city government and residents is crucial, saying, "Not every request can be granted, but every request or concern should be respected and sincerely considered."

Believes communication between city government and residents is crucial, noting that many people feel their concerns are ignored or dismissed.

Believes there is a lot going well in the Lowell community – from good schools to plenty of activities for all ages – but that there could be better communication from Lowell City Council on major issues such as the Covenant Business Park.

Believes communication can be improved for "major issues ", such as the Covenant Business Park.

Believes Covenant Park should benefit residents and supports a transparent, well-defined plan for its development.

- Believes communication between city government and residents is crucial, noting that many people feel their concerns are ignored or dismissed.
- Believes communication can be improved for "major issues ", such as the Covenant Business Park.
- Believes Covenant Park should benefit residents and supports a transparent, well-defined plan for its development.

Public Services

Energy & the Environment

Believes in funding major water and wastewater system expansions through multiple sources, including grants and developer investment, to avoid steep rate increases for residents.

Believes major water and wastewater expansions should be funded through multiple sources, such as grants and developer investments, to prevent steep rate increases for residents.

- Believes major water and wastewater expansions should be funded through multiple sources, such as grants and developer investments, to prevent steep rate increases for residents.

Transportation & Infrastructure

Beryl Bartkus

Supports economic development and believes in the potential for future growth in downtown Lowell.

Beryl Bartkus's campaign for Lowell City Council Member is her first entry into politics. She was appointed to the Downtown Development Authority (DDA) in January 2024 and will serve until January 2026.

As of August 14, 2025, Beryl Bartkus did not have a website or any information online.

Buket Urgen

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2023 City Council Candidate Profile: Jim Salzwedel - Lowell's First ...

James Salzwedel lives in Lowell. He and his wife have 3 children, 6 grandchildren, and 5 great-grandchildren. He is a former member of the Lowell Planning Commission and the current president of the Lowell Showboat VI Board. He also served as the city council representative on the Lowell Light & Power Board, LCTV Endowment Board and Arbor Board.

James is retired. He previously worked in the security industry.

Meet the candidates running for office in Kent, Ottawa counties ...

James' currently serves as a Lowell in City Council member. He was elected in 2017 and has served since. 

Supports responsible budgeting and fiscal management to ensure effective use of city resources.

- Supports responsible budgeting and fiscal management to ensure effective use of city resources.

As of August 14, 2025, James Salzwedel did not have a website or any information online.

Supports reinstating monthly Coffee with Council meetings to encourage more interaction between the public and council.

In 2023, supported reinstating monthly Coffee with Council meetings to encourage more interaction between the public and council.

Plans to hold regular town hall meetings to ensure that residents have a voice in local governance.

During 2017 campaign, said he will hold regular town hall meetings to ensure that residents have a voice in local governance.

- In 2023, supported reinstating monthly Coffee with Council meetings to encourage more interaction between the public and council.
- During 2017 campaign, said he will hold regular town hall meetings to ensure that residents have a voice in local governance.

Opposes the majority of the council on how to address increased demand on water and wastewater facilities due to township growth.

In 2023, opposed the council's approach for addressing greater demand for water and wastewater facilities due to township growth.

Plans to focus on infrastructure improvement and economic development.

During 2017 campaign, planned to focus on infrastructure improvement and economic development.

- In 2023, opposed the council's approach for addressing greater demand for water and wastewater facilities due to township growth.
- During 2017 campaign, planned to focus on infrastructure improvement and economic development.

James Salzwedel

James Salzwedel has lived in Lowell for over 20 years and has been actively involved in the community.

James Salzwedel's campaign for a seat on the Lowell City Council is his first entry into politics. 

Mark Ritzema: Lowell's Newest Councilmember - Lowell's First Look

Mark was born and raised in Lowell. He earned a bachelor's degree in business administration from Aquinas College and a master's degree in public administration from Grand Valley State University. He lives with his wife Annette along the Flat River in Lowell.

Mark is a retired police officer and insurance fraud investigator.

Mark Ritzema is currently a council member on the Lowell City Council. He took office in 2024 and is serving his first term. Before joining the council, he served on the Lowell Area Schools Board of Education.

City Council Candidate Profile: Mark Ritzema

Plans to focus on fiscal responsibility and enhancing community engagement during his term.

Supports the addition of more businesses in the downtown area.

- Plans to focus on fiscal responsibility and enhancing community engagement during his term.
- Supports the addition of more businesses in the downtown area.

As of August 14, 2025, Mark V. Ritzema did not have a website or any information online.

LinkedIn

Mark V. Ritzema

Mark is currently a member of the Lowell City Council. He was appointed in November 2022 to fill the vacancy left by the resignation of former council member Jim Hall. As a new council member, he will serve a term that will end in November 2024.

Mark is currently a councilmember on the Lowell City Council. He was sworn in on October 2, 2023, filling the vacancy left by former councilmember Jim Hall. Before joining the council, he served on the Lowell Area Schools Board of Education.

2021 Lowell City Council Candidate Profile: Marty Chambers ...

Lowell City Council Election 2025: Marty Chambers

Marty has been a resident of Lowell for over 30 years. He lives there with his wife, Lori, who serves on the Lowell Downtown Development Authority. They have two adult children and three grandchildren.

Marty is a truck driver and a co-owner of the Red Barn Mercantile in Lowell. 

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Marty Chambers is currently a Lowell City Council member. He was first appointed in 2017 and is serving his second term. He previously served on the Lowell Planning Commission and the Lowell Area Schools Board of Education.

As of August 14, 2025, Marty Chambers did not have a website or any information online.

Supports adding a parking lot and lighting to increase the area's appeal and accessibility, especially for trailer users.

Plans to prioritize repairing city streets and infrastructure.

Supports upgrading water and sewer infrastructure to facilitate development projects like the Covenant Business Park.

- Supports adding a parking lot and lighting to increase the area's appeal and accessibility, especially for trailer users.
- Plans to prioritize repairing city streets and infrastructure.
- Supports upgrading water and sewer infrastructure to facilitate development projects like the Covenant Business Park.

Marty Chambers

Marty has been a resident of Lowell for over 20 years. He lives there with his wife, Lori, who serves on the Lowell Downtown Development Authority.

Marty is a co-owner of the Red Barn Mercantile in Lowell. 

- Supports adding a parking lot and lighting to increase the area's appeal and accessibility, especially for trailer users.

Marty Chambers has been a resident of Lowell for over 20 years. He has served on various local boards and committees, including the Lowell Planning Commission and the Lowell Area Schools Board of Education.

Marty is currently a Lowell City Council member. He was elected in 2021 and is serving his first term. He previously served on the Lowell Planning Commission and the Lowell Area Schools Board of Education.

Supports enhancing parks and recreation facilities.

- City council members in Michigan help make city-level laws, approve budgets, and oversee city services to serve the community’s needs. 
- Council members attend regular meetings, listen to public concerns, and vote on city issues like zoning, public safety, and spending. They also appoint and direct officials, like the city manager.
- City council members may be elected in partisan elections or nonpartisan elections, depending on the city. They may represent either the whole city or residents of a specific district. 
- Terms for city council members often last two or four years, depending on the city.