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East Express | Oct. 7, 2021
A NOTE FROM MAYOR FAVALE Hello Friends and Neighbors, I hope this message finds you well and that you are enjoying this beautiful fall we are having. As wonderful as summer is, the gorgeous autumn colors, cozy nights and cooler weather are always welcome changes. Fall is truly a special time of year. Please join me for the next EGR Coffee Talk! We'll be gathering Oct. 20 from 10-11:30 a.m. at Bagel Kitchen in Gaslight Village. This month, I will be joined by City Manager Shea Charles, City Commissioner Karey Hamrick and School Board Trustee Abby Sorota. We'll be addressing any questions you may have regarding the upcoming ballot proposals. Please join if you are able and as always, the coffee is on me! Additionally, the next EGR Community Blood Drive will be held on Oct. 19 from 2-7 p.m. at the Community Center. Blood levels remain critically low in West Michigan, so please do consider donating if you are able. Sign up on the Versiti website. As always, please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or concerns. I am available during office hours — Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 1-3 p.m. Additionally, please feel free to reach out to me anytime via email or phone: kfavale@eastgr.org, 616.949.2110 x 887. Enjoy the season! Best, Katie
CITY COMMISSION UPDATE At its Oct. 4 meeting, the Commission reviewed and approved a Strategic Planning proposal from City Manager Shea Charles and reviewed the Cascade Township’s permit and inspection fees. At its Sept. 20 meeting, the City Commission approved four zoning-related items, including the establishment of a separate Zoning Board of Appeals (see below to apply). The Commission additionally said farewell to Commissioner Walters, who resigned from his seat after four years on the Commission as his family begins a new chapter. We are thankful for Commissioner Walters’ dedication to EGR and wish him all the best. Please note, because his term was up this year, the Commission will leave this seat vacant until the new commissioners are elected in November. You can always find agenda materials at eastgr.org/agendas and watch meetings live via our YouTube channel. 
SERVE ON THE CITY’S NEW ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS EGR residents now have a chance to serve on the new Zoning Board of Appeals, which will take over hearings and decisions on zoning, fence and sign variance requests beginning Jan. 1, 2022. The Commission will appoint seven residents, including a current city commissioner and planning commissioner, to the seven-person board before the new year. Learn more about the ZBA and how to apply on our website. Applications are due Oct. 15.
CITY MANAGER’S OFFICE & FINANCE
NOV. 2 ELECTION UPDATE If you applied for an absentee ballot but have not yet received it in the mail, give us a call at 616.949.2110 or visit the Community Center at 750 Lakeside Drive SE. We are seeing delays through our postal system so we encourage all absentee voters to drop their ballot in our 24/7 secure dropbox at the Community Center or mail their ballot as soon as possible. Please note postmarked ballots will not be counted. More at eastgr.org/elections.
JOB OPENINGS AT THE CITY There are several positions open at the City! We’re looking for an account clerk, a crossing guard substitute, a lead mechanic, lifeguards and swim instructors to join our team. Learn more and apply on our Careers webpage. PUBLIC SAFETY OCT. 23: PUBLIC SAFETY OPEN HOUSE & NATIONAL PRESCRIPTION DRUG TAKE BACK DAY Save Saturday, Oct. 23 on your calendar for these two important events: Residents of all ages are invited to visit Public Safety between 10 a.m.-noon to meet the officers, climb into the firetrucks and check out the cruisers. Enjoy donuts and cider as you mingle with friends and neighbors and learn more about the department and its role in our community. Oct. 23 is also National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. Bring your unused or expired prescription drugs into the lobby between 10 a.m.-2 p.m. for safe disposal. Regularly going through your medicine cabinets and avoiding flushing expired or unused medications down the toilet helps keep our watershed healthy and prevents drug abuse. If you have questions, contact Public Safety at 616.949.7010.
RIDING FOR RYAN: PICK UP YOUR FLAG TODAY Officer Collin Wallace currently has 50 Riding for Ryan flags he'd love to give to the children of EGR. Stop by the department at 770 Lakeside Drive to pick yours up during regular business hours (8 a.m.-5 p.m.) Riding for Ryan is a local nonprofit organization that began due to a bicycle-truck accident that killed nearly 7-year-old Ryan Marsman. In an effort to protect young children while riding their bikes, especially as they are at a disadvantage when it comes to visibility, Ryan’s parents came up with the idea of safety flags for kids to attach to their bikes. As of April 2021, the organization has handed out 5,000 flags to kids free of charge. 
FIRE PREVENTION WEEK It's National Fire Prevention Week and this year's theme is "Learn the Sounds of Fire Safety." It is absolutely critical to your household's safety to understand the differences between the sounds your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors make. Learn more and review tips and materials with children at firepreventionweek.org. PARKS & RECREATION 
2021 PARKS IMPROVEMENT MILLAGE UPDATE Join us this coming Monday, Oct. 11 at 12 p.m., via Zoom to learn more about the Parks Improvement Millage proposal. The final educational meeting on the millage proposal will take place Oct. 19 at 7 p.m. in the Commission Chambers at the Community Center. Want to learn more about the proposal? Details and resources can be found at eastgr.org/parksmillage.
PUBLIC WORKS CONSTRUCTION IN EGR Visit our Construction webpage for the latest updates and learn more about upcoming projects. As a reminder, residents impacted by construction projects will receive mailed notices with project details. Public Works also posts notices at project locations. FALL LEAF PICKUP Fall leaf pickup begins next week and will end the week of Dec. 6. Leaves may be placed in the street without obstructing the roadway or storm sewer catch basins. Yard waste rules and regulations can be found on our Refuse Collection webpage.
ADOPT A DRAIN EGR and other local jurisdictions work together to keep our watershed healthy for all and prevent localized street flooding through the Grand Valley Metro Council and Lower Grand River Organization of Watersheds’ Adopt a Drain Program. Residents are encouraged to monitor and clear storm drains near their homes to ensure they’re clear from leaves, snow and other debris. Learn more and officially adopt a drain at adoptadrain-lgrow.org.
SHAKE YOUR MAILBOX BEFORE WINTER While raking and blowing leaves this fall, make sure to shake your curbside mailbox to determine if it’s in good condition. Over time screws loosen/break and posts rot. If the mailbox moves when shaken, the mailbox and/or post may not withstand standard winter snow removal operations and should be repaired or replaced before winter. It’s also important to ensure your mailbox is located to U.S. Postal Service standards. Mailboxes located too close to the street or posts not adequately secured are more susceptible to damage by winter maintenance operations. Position the bottom of the mailbox or point of mail entry 41-45 inches above the road surface and 6-8 inches back from curb. Addressing mailbox repairs and location in the fall will help avoid potential mail delivery delays and repairs during the winter season.
COMMUNITY PARTNERS 2021 East Grand Rapids Public Schools Recreation Millage Information On Nov. 2, 2021, the community will vote on a new 20-year Recreation Millage for the East Grand Rapids Public Schools that will, if approved, mostly renew the EGRPS Recreation Millage that was passed in 2004 that is set to expire in 2023. For more information and to attend an upcoming information session, please see the letter recently sent to all EGRPS families.
FREE TIRE & CAR SEAT RECYCLING EVENTS Our friends at the Kent County Department of Public Works will be collecting tires as well as car seats on Saturday, Oct. 9 between 8 a.m.-noon at Algoma Township Hall. Learn more at reimaginetrash.org. 
FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY USED BOOK SALE Don’t forget to head to the Friends of the EGR Library Book Sale this weekend. Books, movies and music will be available for all ages! View this event on Facebook.
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