CITY MANAGER’S OFFICE & FINANCE
ELECTION UPDATE
The Presidential Election is just around the corner. We ask absentee voters to turn in their ballots as soon as possible once you’ve finished voting. This will allow staff the time to verify your signature and to organize the ballots to begin processing them on election day. If you haven’t made up your mind yet, you have until 8 p.m. on election day to turn in your ballot.
Learn everything you need to know about the election by visiting our website. We have multiple resources including
Election FAQs and
Submitting Your Absentee Ballot.
If you have any additional questions about your ballot or the voting process, please don’t hesitate to contact the City at 616.949.2110. We’re here to help and provide accurate and reliable information.
HALLOWEEN 2020
With the CDC advising against traditional festivities, Halloween will look a little different this year. Our
Halloween news article provides tips, resources and alternative activities that will help you and your family stay safe and healthy this holiday.
Please note the City does not organize any neighborhood Halloween events.
EGR COMMUNITY BLOOD DRIVE
Mayor Favale reminds all residents and community members of the upcoming
EGR Community Blood Drive on Oct. 22 from 2 to 7 p.m. in the lower level of the Community Center.
Sign up on the Versiti website.
PUBLIC SAFETY
OCT. 22 COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT SESSION
Join the EGR Public Safety Department for its next
Community Engagement Session on Thursday, Oct. 22 at 7 p.m. You will have the opportunity to meet your officers, learn more about the department and discuss topics important to EGR. All residents, employees and community members are welcome to attend. RSVP is not required.
NATIONAL PRESCRIPTION DRUG TAKE BACK DAY
Saturday, Oct. 24 is National Prescription Drug Take Back Day! Bring your unused prescription drugs into the lobby of the Public Safety building for safe disposal. Disposing of your medicines this way ensures they are not stolen from the garbage, will not enter our environment and eliminates the potential for abuse and overdoses at home.
If you have questions, contact Public Safety at 616.949.7010.
ANNUAL PUBLIC SAFETY OPEN HOUSE
Residents and community members of all ages are invited to visit Public Safety for its Annual Open House on
Saturday, Oct. 31 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. to meet the officers and take a look at the cruisers and firetrucks. Children are welcome to wear their Halloween costumes.
We value these interactions but want to make sure everyone remains safe — we ask all participants to practice social distancing and wear a mask.
View this event on Facebook.
PARKS & RECREATION
STAY ACTIVE THIS FALL & WINTER
Make sure you’re staying active as it gets easier and easier to sit around all day. You can prevent becoming a couch potato by registering for Parks & Recreation classes — the Winter Program Guide is live on the
Parks & Rec. website. Similar to the Fall Guide, this season’s offerings will be exclusively provided online. Visit
eastgr.org/recreation for additional details.
NEW BIKE STATIONS
Another bike repair stand has been installed in front of the Community Center in addition to the stand in Gaslight Village. They both provide a tire pump, tools, a rack to place your bike while you work on it and a QR code for helpful instructions.
We’d like to thank the
East Grand Rapids Community Foundation for funding projects like these for our active community to use.
PUBLIC WORKS
CONSTRUCTION IN EGR
You can always visit
eastgr.org/construction for weekly project updates.
FALL LEAF COLLECTION
Fall leaf pickup began this week and will continue through Friday, Dec. 11. During this time, leaves may be placed out along the curb without being placed in containers. Leaves should be placed along or in the street without obstructing the travel lanes of the roadway and away from storm sewer catch basins. Please view yard waste rules and regulations on our
Refuse Collection webpage.
Please note that any storm debris placed along the street for yard waste pick up should not obstruct the sidewalk nor the roadway.
MOBILITY/BICYCLE ACTION PLAN UPDATE
Working with
Progressive AE and
Aligned Planning,
the City will conduct a demonstration from Oct. 16 – Nov. 1 at Lakeside Drive/Greenwood Avenue and Reeds Lake Boulevard to test and analyze how this space can be made safer and more easily accessible to those utilizing our trails, parks and streets. The demonstration will include temporary stop signs, crosswalk markings, ramps and more to actively display potential modifications. The area selected is a direct result of feedback from previous public workshops and surveys.
Take a look at our map for greater detail.
We ask all those passing through this demonstration — whether on foot or wheels — to pay close attention over the next few weeks and provide feedback via this survey:
https://bit.ly/2SMuU0P.
To learn more about our Mobility/Bicycle Action Plan, please visit
eastgr.org/2020MobilityPlan. If you have any questions, call Public Works at 616.940.4817.
UNDERSTANDING EGR INFRASTRUCTURE & THE ROAD RIGHT-OF-WAY
Throughout the seasons you may notice Public Works crews working on various projects in the public right-of-way, enhancing City infrastructure and providing essential services to properties across EGR. But what is City infrastructure? Where does the road right-of-way begin?
City infrastructure includes limited street lighting, water distribution, sanitary sewer and storm sewer collection systems along with private infrastructure which includes natural gas, electric, street lighting and video/cable/internet and communication services — all of which are located under the right-of-way.
The right-of-way is public land on either side of a public roadway including the road. This area is used by the City and private utilities to locate and maintain infrastructure to provide necessary services to homes and businesses and to provide for safe transportation infrastructure including sidewalks, non-motorized trails and streets.
Read our news articles
Understanding the Road Right-of-Way and
EGR Infrastructure & Services to learn more.
NAVIGATING TRAFFIC CIRCLES
Ever wonder how to properly navigate a roundabout/traffic circle? Now that we have multiple circles in EGR, it may be helpful to take a look at the
Michigan Department of Transportation's tips and resources.
SHAKE YOUR MAILBOX BEFORE WINTER
While out in the yard raking and blowing leaves this fall, if you have a mailbox out by the street, take a few minutes to check the condition of your mailbox and post. Over time screws loosen and break, and posts rot. If the mailbox moves when shaken, it and/or the post may not withstand winter snow plowing and should be repaired or replaced before winter. The most common reason a mailbox and/or post are damaged during the winter is not from physical contact with a plow, but their deteriorated condition in combination with the impact of snow being thrown from plows.
COMMUNITY PARTNERS
SUPPORT OUR GASLIGHT VILLAGE BUSINESSES
Thank you to all those who have come out to (safely) support our business district during this challenging time. Please continue to visit Gaslight Village for everything you need from dining and shopping to real estate and physical and medical care. As we approach the holidays, consider purchasing gifts locally.
Our businesses are dedicated to providing you safe experiences — if you’re uncomfortable visiting in-person, please give them a call for additional options and services.
EGRHS HOMECOMING PARADE
To celebrate Homecoming Week, the High School will host a
Homecoming Parade on Oct. 23. Unlike usual festivities, this altered format will take place as a limited motorcade parade, consisting of Public Safety vehicles, fire trucks, snow plows, class floats and the EGRHS Homecoming Court.
The parade route has been altered and extended to ensure that every student in the district will have an opportunity to experience it by bringing the parade to surrounding neighborhoods. This modification will allow spectators to practice social distancing and watch within a few blocks of home rather than gathering on roads near the High School. This concept is similar to the City’s 2020 Independence Day Parade.
Take a look at the parade map which includes multiple estimated time frames for when the parade will reach the road nearest you.
The parade will begin at the High School at 2:20 p.m. and conclude no later than 3:00 p.m. at the Woodcliff Administration building. All families are welcome to view the parade as it winds through EGR and are strongly encouraged to social distance. Out of an abundance of caution, candy will not be thrown this year.
Stay tuned — EGRHS will provide additional Homecoming details tomorrow, Oct. 16.
KENT COUNTY CONSOLIDATED HOUSING & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN
Kent County residents are invited to identify priorities for investment of future federal grant dollars to support housing and community development projects and programs. Those wishing to submit input can complete an online survey or attend a virtual community forum. Learn more.
Information collected will inform a regional Consolidated Housing and Community Development Plan covering July 1, 2021 – June 30, 2026. The plan in turn determines how Community Development Block Grant money will be administered in the future.
Please note this plan and funds are administered through the county, not the City of East Grand Rapids.