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East Express | March 28, 2024

PUBLIC SAFETY

RIC BUIKEMA NAMED ACTING PUBLIC SAFETY DIRECTOR
Longtime EGR Public Safety Department member Ric Buikema has been appointed acting public safety director. The appointment follows the March 6 retirement of Public Safety Director Mark Herald, who served in the role for 18 years. 

A 27-year member of the department, Buikema has served as captain for the past 10 years. Before that, he was a sergeant for 14 years and a public safety officer for four years after joining the department in 1996. He has served at every level within the department, including field training officer, detective and staff sergeant. 

In his new role, Buikema will oversee the East Grand Rapids Public Safety Department’s operations and personnel while the City conducts a national search for a permanent director. 

Read more about his appointment and career at EGR Public Safety on our website.

SPRING DRUG TAKEBACK DAY

While doing your spring cleaning, remember Public Safety is offering an opportunity to dispose of unused or expired prescription medications at its semiannual Drug Takeback Day 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, April 27 at the department, 770 Lakeside Drive SE.

SPRING BREAK SAFETY: REMEMBER TO LOCK UP
With spring break upon us, Public Safety reminds residents to lock their homes and vehicles. Make sure to participate in the #9PMRoutine – a national initiative that helps community members remember to take simple measures at 9 p.m. each night to keep their possessions safe. This includes bringing in items, locking your house, garage and vehicles and turning on outside lights to deter theft.

PARKS & RECREATION 

SWEETHEART DANCE

Make sure you register for the annual Sweetheart Dance by May 13 to receive a $5 discount. Community members of all ages are invited to a night of crafts, dancing, desserts and two themed photo backdrops on Saturday, May 18 at East Grand Rapids Middle School, 2425 Lake Drive SE. 

A few additional reminders: Each child and adult chaperone must register for the event. Don’t forget to bring your own camera. 

REEDS LAKE RUN, TRAIL BLAZER & TRIATHLON REGISTRATION OPEN
Registration for the June 22 Reeds Lake Run, July 4 EGR Community Foundation’s Trail Blazer and Sept. 7 Rhoades McKee Reeds Lake Triathlon are now open. Click on the name of each event for details and to register.

SUMMER PROGRAM REGISTRATION COMING SOON

Mark your calendar for summer program registration, which begins April 11 for residents and April 18 for nonresidents. 

Follow the Parks and Recreation Department on Facebook for updates.  

FINANCE & CITY ADMINISTRATION

CITY COMMISSION MEETINGS

Here are a few highlights from the March 18 City Commission meeting:

• Ric Buikema was appointed acting public safety director. 
• Planning Commission presented its annual report. 
• Elinor Lane was approved as part of the City’s municipal street system and public infrastructure. 
• Manhattan Park Improvement Project construction plans were approved to move forward for competitive bidding. 
• A baseball field improvement project at Remington Park was approved.
• A work session was held for the new city ordinance on outdoor furnaces and accessory structure heating devices.

For the full meeting agenda, visit our website. 

The next City Commission meeting will be held at 6 p.m. Monday, April 8 at the Community Center, 750 Lakeside Drive SE. This meeting has been pushed back one week to accommodate spring break. 

Community members can also watch the meeting live via the City’s YouTube channel and view minutes and agendas. 

PUBLIC WORKS

YARD WASTE PICKUP + SCHEDULE
With yard waste pickup beginning Monday, April 1, Public Works reminds residents to place all loose yard waste materials in disposable paper bags or 32-gallon containers with a maximum weight of 40 pounds per container. Large items such as tree limbs need to be cut to 6-foot lengths or less and cannot exceed 12 inches in diameter. Items need to be placed in the public right-of-way on the terrace side of the curb.

The placement of loose leaves in the street is NOT permitted in the spring and summer.

Please reference the map above for your collection day. For more information, please call Public Works at 616.940.4870 or visit the City’s website.

WATER SYSTEM MAINTENANCE
Public Works will conduct its regular preventative water system maintenance through May. This maintenance includes:

• Valve exercising – The opening and closing of water system valves located in the street on water mains –for two weeks starting April 1 between 7 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Monday-Friday. This work takes place in Zones 8 and 9 and does not impact water service
• Water main flushing – The flowing of water through fire hydrants from April 15-late May between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. Sunday-Friday. 

CONSTRUCTION UPDATES & DTE WORK
View the latest construction updates from Public Works on our website.  

A reminder DTE Energy is working on large-scale replacements of private gas mains throughout EGR this year. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the DTE natural gas system improvement office at 616.551.2621.

COMMUNITY PARTNERS 

EGREEN SUSTAINABILITY INITIATIVE
Next up in the E-GReen Sustainability Initiative’s Sustainable Neighbors Series is Birds of Reeds Lake, which will take place at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 16 at the East Grand Rapids branch of the Kent District Library, 746 Lakeside Drive SE. Attendees will learn about the vast array of bird species right in our own backyard. 

The following Sustainable Neighbors Series event, Composting for Beginners, takes place at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 21.

Additionally, honor Earth Day and help the environment with friends and neighbors at the E-GReen Sustainability Initiative’s annual Earth Day celebration Saturday, April 27 at the EGR Public Works Complex, 2310 Reeds Lake Blvd. From 9-11 a.m., attendees will help remove invasive garlic mustard weed in our community and learn from the Kent Conservation District on how to identify invasive species.

GRAND VALLEY METRO COUNCIL
The Grand Valley Metropolitan Council has completed its draft 2050 Metropolitan Transportation Plan, which includes transportation projects and investment priorities for all modes of transportation in Kent and eastern Ottawa counties for the next 26 years. The Plan is open for public comment through April 22.

GVMC is also hosting two open houses and a virtual public meeting to present the Plan, answer questions and collect feedback from community members.

• Open houses: 2-3:30 p.m. and 5-6:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 10 at The Rapid Central Station, 250 Cesar Chavez Ave. SW.
• Virtual public meeting: 10:30 a.m.-noon Thursday, April 11. Find the direct link at gvmc.org/mtp. 

KENT DISTRICT LIBRARY: EAST GRAND RAPIDS BRANCH
The library will be closed Sunday, March 31 for Easter. 

The branch will also host several fun spring break programs next week:

• Minecraft IRL – 2-3 p.m. Monday, April 1: Leave the controllers at home, unplug at the library and join us for Minecraft IRL. Bring the fun of the gaming world into real life as we create, explore and craft with Minecraft-inspired activities. For school-aged children.
• Mini Brick Derby – 3-5 p.m. Tuesday, April 2: Build your dream race car out of LEGO® bricks and see if it has what it takes to win! There will be one hour before the race to design and build your car using library-provided bricks, and then the all-ages derby race will begin. Sponsored by the Friends of the EGR Library.
• Meet Your Community Helpers – 2-3 p.m. Wednesday, April 3: Meet community helpers— such as a snowplow driver, firefighter or mail carrier — and learn about what they do. Enjoy a story and fun activities with our special guest. For young children with a caretaker.
• Lakeside Lit Book Club – 1-2 p.m. Monday, April 8: Adults are invited to join a fun, informal discussion of great books. This month, we'll discuss “The Round House” by Louise Erdrich.
• KDL Lab Experience: Total Eclipse of the Sun – 2-4 p.m. Monday, April 8: In anticipation of the total solar eclipse April 8, join us for STEAM-based activities exploring shadows, animal behavior and all things eclipses. A limited number of eclipse glasses will be available during this event, while supplies last.

EAST GRAND RAPIDS PUBLIC SCHOOLS
EGRPS Superintendent Dr. Heidi Kattula shares important updates regarding the first 2023 Bond Program construction project in her recent letter to community members.

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