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East Express | Oct. 21, 2021
PUBLIC SAFETY PUBLIC SAFETY OPEN HOUSE & NATIONAL PRESCRIPTION DRUG TAKE BACK DAY On Saturday, Oct. 23, Public Safety will host two important events: Residents of all ages are invited to visit the department 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 dozens of 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.
CITY COMMISSION UPDATE At its Oct. 18 meeting, the Commission received an update on the Parks Improvement Millage public education meetings and approved contracts for the annual tree planting program and audit of annual financial statements. You can always find agenda materials at eastgr.org/agendas and watch meetings live via our YouTube channel.
CITY MANAGER’S OFFICE & FINANCE NOV. 2 ELECTION UPDATE The election is just around the corner. We ask absentee voters to turn in their ballots as soon as possible once finishing 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 IN EGR As a reminder, trick-or-treating traditionally takes place on Oct. 31 from 6-8 p.m. Public Safety shared some important tips for the upcoming holiday! Parents are encouraged to share these tips with their children to ensure everyone has a fun evening. Additionally, children are welcome to visit public safety to take home a glow stick that can be attached to their costumes.
JOB OPENINGS AT THE CITY There are several positions open at the City! We’re looking for a crossing guard substitute, a lead mechanic, lifeguards and swim instructors to join our team. Learn more and apply on our Careers webpage.
PARKS & RECREATION 2021 PARKS IMPROVEMENT MILLAGE UPDATE Thank you to all who joined us over the past two months to discuss the Parks Improvement Millage proposal. If you are still looking for more information or want to engage the City Commission in further discussion, please contact City Manager Shea Charles. As a refresher, if the millage passes, it would provide funding for the replacement of the five playgrounds located within the City as well as several improvements throughout EGR’s parks identified in the City’s Master Plan and the Community Parks and Recreation Master Plan. Residents would pay an annual 0.56 mills (assessed taxable home value multiplied by 0.56) that would allow the City to borrow up to $7 million over 20 years beginning July 1, 2022, at the earliest. If the millage does not pass, the City will reassess the listed projects and determine which are feasible to accomplish with the available funding to ensure parks remain the vibrant community asset EGR is known for. More information and resources can be found at eastgr.org/parksmillage.
REGISTER FOR WINTER PROGRAMMING Residents and non-residents are welcome to register for winter programming. Flip through Parks and Recreation’s virtual guide. 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.
CONSUMERS ENERGY TREE TRIMMING In order to improve the reliability of electric service to residents, Consumers Energy and its contractors continue to conduct tree trimming and removal in private utility easements around EGR. Beginning in late October until Thanksgiving, Consumers will work in the Calvin/Woodcliff Circuit. Postcards have been mailed out to impacted residents by Consumers. Take a look at the provided map and brochure. To learn more about the tree trimming process, FAQs and contact information for Consumers Energy, please visit the Consumers Energy Trees and Power Lines webpage. If you have any questions regarding this work, please call our local work planner at 616.530.4306.
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.
UNDERSTANDING ROAD INFRASTRUCTURE + 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? Read our news articles Understanding the Road Right-of-Way and EGR Infrastructure & Services to learn more.
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