Spotlight Series: Meet the Gas Department

Each month, we highlight one of our City departments and their important work for our community. This March, we’re featuring the Gas Department—the team that keeps our homes warm, our businesses running, and our community safe!

Led by Ed De Jong, who has worked in the industry for 14 years and served as Gas Department Supervisor for the past 9, this team maintains over 100 miles of gas pipeline throughout Orange City. Their work includes installing new mains and services, conducting leak surveys and inspections, handling locates, and ensuring our gas infrastructure operates safely and efficiently.

A typical day for the team includes daily locates, service calls to homes and businesses, routine maintenance, and assisting other City departments as needed. No two days are the same, but their dedication to safety and reliability never changes.

For Ed, the most rewarding part of the job is helping make Orange City a great place to live. A lifelong resident, he values the strong sense of community and the care people have for their town. He and his wife, Susan, have four children and three grandchildren, and in his free time, he enjoys camping with his family.

Shane Schwarz has worked for the Gas Department for the past 9 years. He enjoys the daily variety and the detailed work of caring for the gas systems. He lives in Orange City with his wife, Lisa, and their children, Luke, Jenna, and Blake. They enjoy living and working alongside their friends and neighbors in our community! When he finds free time, he enjoys spending it outside, hunting, fishing, and attending sporting events.

Louis Vander Velde is the most recent addition to the team. He has worked with the Gas Department for the past 6 months and greatly enjoys the team he serves alongside. He lives in Orange City with his wife, Emily, and their two boys, Wyatt and Jackson. On the weekends they enjoy the businesses in downtown Orange City and time at the park.

Next time you turn on the heat or cook a meal, take a moment to appreciate the Gas Department’s hard work behind the scenes!