View Other Items in this Archive | View All Archives | Printable Version


Winter East Express

East Express | March 17, 2022




YOU CAN HELP SHAPE OUR FUTURE
COMMUNITY INPUT OPEN HOUSES

We’re kicking off input open houses for parks millage and mobility improvements as well as other community initiatives. They will feature several stations focused on improvements to playgrounds and play areas, athletic fields and sports courts as well as the proposed dog park, bike lanes and Waterfront Park. The open houses will take place 6-7 p.m. at the Community Center on the following Mondays: 

  • April 11 
  • April 25 
  • May 9 
  • May 23 
  • June 13 
  • June 27 

The parks millage - approved by EGR voters last fall - provides funding for the replacement of five playgrounds in our City as well as improvements to several EGR parks. The mobility improvements are part of the City’s 2020 Mobility Bike Action Plan. https://www.eastgr.org/533/2020-MobilityBike-Action-Plan  

Please join us for as many sessions as you can. Specific topics for each open house and dates for future input sessions will be provided in the East Express. Please note: Notices won’t be mailed for each project, so make sure to check out the e-newsletter when it arrives.  

We also will host a separate open house focused on the proposed Fred Bunn Trails at Manhattan Park. Join us 6-7 p.m. Thursday, April 14 at Manhattan Park to learn more about the trails, walk the proposed pathways and share your thoughts on the preliminary design. 

We hope you can join us in the coming months to learn more about these projects and provide input along the way. For more information about the parks improvement millage, visit eastgr.org/parksmillage.


FINANCE & CITY MANAGER


CITY COMMISSION MEETING - MARCH 21

Next week, the City Commission will hear from Public Safety Director Mark Herald on the service and enforcement statistics from 2021, and will receive an update on various components of the parks improvement millage as well as a report on the recent strategic planning session.  You can see the full agenda on our website. The meeting begins at 6 p.m. at the Community Center. Can’t attend in person? Watch the meeting live on our YouTube channel.

As a reminder, the first City Commission meeting in April has been rescheduled for Monday, March 28 to accommodate spring break travels. 


PLANNING COMMISSION

The Planning Commission recently approved recommendations to the City Commission regarding multi-family zoning modifications consistent with the city’s Master Plan and recent development trends. For more information on these items and more please visit the agenda center on our website.


PUBLIC SAFETY


SMART 911 

It can be difficult to prepare for an emergency. However, you can provide 911 call takers with critical information about you and your loved ones during an emergency through Smart911. Through this service, call takers - in EGR’s case, from Kent County Dispatch - can alert first responders of any medical conditions, a description of pets and vehicles and emergency contacts while help is on the way.  

You can customize how much or how little information you provide and even set up an account for a loved one. Smart 911 saves time and saves lives. Learn more and sign up by visiting the Smart 911 website.


PUBLIC WORKS


YARD WASTE SERVICE RESUMES APRIL 4 

Public Works will resume curbside yard waste collection April 4. Reminder: Loose leaves in the street are NOT permitted in the spring and summer - all yard waste must be in bags or containers.  Visit our Refuse Collection webpage for route information, regulations and more information.


POTHOLE PATCHING

City crews fill potholes year round; however, when there are freeze and thaw cycles, crews are out on a more frequent basis as these weather cycles cause potholes. To report potholes in EGR, residents can contact Public Works at 616.940.4870 or report them online by selecting the “submit a request” icon on our home page.


TREE MAINTENANCE  

The city’s right-of-way tree pruning program is underway and will continue throughout March and April in cycle 1 or Monday’s yard waste-compost route. City contractor Good Earth Tree Care will remove and clean up limbs and branches that are removed as part of the pruning process. Certified arborists and foresters target cycle areas of the city for preventative maintenance pruning services.  For more information and program area progress map please visit the forestry webpage.


STREET AND SIDEWALK CONSTRUCTION

This year’s street and sidewalks projects – all part of the 2015 voter-approved millage – will begin this spring. Residents impacted by these improvement projects will receive mailed notices in the near future with details. Below are some quick links in addition to our regularly updated construction webpage.

2022 street projects map

Targeted sidewalk repair and replacement program

 

STREET SWEEPING

Street sweeping will begin during the first full week of April, following behind yard waste collection routes. Street sweeping helps to keep our streets clean, reduces debris from entering the storm sewer system and has a positive impact on stormwater quality.


REFUSE/RECYCLING BINS

Refuse and recycling bins are required to be placed behind your house, in your garage or otherwise screened from view of the street.  Refuse/recycling haulers are required to pickup your refuse and recyclables from your screened location and return it, so please do not place containers out at the street. 


PERMITS FOR HOME IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS

Most home improvement projects require some type of permit. This includes new home construction, garages, additions, decks, roofing, siding, window replacement and interior remodeling. The City also requires permits for temporary dumpsters, storage units and fences.  

Permits can be applied for by the homeowner if the work is to be completed by the homeowner. If not, a licensed contractor or builder is required to obtain the permit and complete the work. Building permit applications must be submitted at the City’s Public Works Department office at the Community Center. Note: Some permits may require a fee. Following a zoning and drainage review, the permit application is forwarded to Cascade Township for processing and inspections. Cascade Township handles all building-related permits for EGR, including mechanical, electrical and plumbing permits.  

For more information, including permit applications, visit our website or call the Cascade Township Building Inspection Services Department at 616.949.3765.

Fence construction or maintenance permits also require a permit. You can view fence ordinance regulations as well as the free permit on our website.


PARKS & RECREATION


SPRING BREAK CAMP 

Looking for something to keep the kids occupied during a staycation over spring break? Our Parks & Recreation Department is offering a video-design camp for kids in grades 2-7. Check it out in our online catalog. 


SWEETHEART DANCE COMING IN APRIL 

Families, join us Saturday, April 23 for our Enchanted Garden! Put on your dancing shoes and enjoy a date night at the annual Sweetheart Dance! The evening includes your child’s choice of corsage, crafts (open 5:30 - 8:30 pm) dancing, delicious desserts, and two themed photo backdrops to help capture this unforgettable evening. Please remember to provide your own personal camera. Sign up at https://secure.rec1.com/MI/city-of-east-grand-rapids-mi/catalog


COMMUNITY PARTNERS


FRIENDS OF THE EGR LIBRARY BOOK SALE

The next Friends of the EGR Library Used Book Sale will be held this weekend, March 18-20, at the Community Center. Thousands of books, music CDs and DVDs for all ages are available at bargain prices.  

Members Only Pre-sale - Friday, March 18, 3:00-7:30 pm. If you are not a member, you may join at the door or via friendsoftheegrlibrary.org
Bag Sale Saturday - March 19, 9:00am - 5:00pm $10 per bag (public sale) 
Bag Sale Sunday - March 20, 9:00am - 3:00pm $10 per bag (public sale) 
Location: East Grand Rapids Library, 746 Lakeside Dr SE, lower level, EGR Parks & Rec rooms 
Payments Accepted: Cash, check, credit card, PayPal, Venmo

If you’d like to donate books, bring them to the upper level circulation desk at the Library as soon as you can. 


IRISH JIG COMING TO GASLIGHT VILLAGE MARCH 19 

The Spectrum Health Irish Jig will take place in East Grand Rapids on Saturday, March 19 beginning at 8:30 am and concluding by 11:30 am. There will be some road closures during the event to protect the participants and spectators. More information at https://www.spectrumhealth.org/irish-jig/race-day.  

Note: The library will open at 1 p.m. Saturday due to the road closures.


LGROW ANNUAL REPORT & SPRING FORUM

Nearly 1,200 storm drains across 16 local communities, including East Grand Rapids, were adopted last year as part of the Lower Grand River Organization of Watersheds’ Adopt-a-Drain program – a 34% increase over the previous year. And if that’s not enough, LGROW last year planted 300 trees at 15 schools that will intercept more than 123,400 gallons of stormwater runoff. These are just a few of the accomplishments highlighted in LGROW’s 2021 annual report, which is available at lgrow.org.

LGROW brings together local municipalities and community stakeholders in a unique format to address issues facing the Lower Grand River and its 31 subwatersheds. It will hold its annual Grand River Spring Forum on May 19-22. Details about this event are available at lgrow.org/spring-forum.


EGRSF HOSTS FUNDRAISING EVENT

The East Grand Rapids Schools Foundation’s big fundraising party for our schools - Hurrah: Together Again! - is bringing back the fun.  

You’re invited to this outdoor party 7-11 p.m. Saturday, March 26 in a heated tent on the top deck of the Gaslight Village parking structure. Enjoy food specialties from local restaurants, fabulous drinks, a DJ and a mountaintop theme that will send winter out with a bang and celebrate spring. Tickets are $70 each at egrsf.org.


Stay up-to-date with all things East Grand Rapids by following us on Facebook and Twitter.