LIVE STREAM CITY COMMISSION MEETINGS
Thanks to the
East Grand Rapids Community Foundation, the City now has the professional equipment required to stream our meetings directly to our
YouTube channel. You can catch us at 6 p.m. on the first and third Mondays of every month and follow along by pulling up the
most recent agenda. Don't forget to subscribe!
RESCHEDULED CITY COMMISSION MEETING
To accommodate for Spring Break traveling, the Monday, April 6 City Commission meeting has been rescheduled for
Monday, March 30 at 6 p.m.
RESCHEDULED PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING
Due to the presidential primary election, the Tuesday, March 10 Planning Commission Meeting has been rescheduled
for
5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 11 in the commission chambers.
ABSENTEE BALLOTS AVAILABLE
Michigan law now allows residents to register to vote up to and on election day, but why wait? Save yourself some time and effort on election day by registering in person at our offices prior to the election. Your registration can be entered into the database by our staff and then your polling location will be able to issue your ballot quickly and efficiently.
Absentee ballots for the
March 10 presidential primary election can be obtained in person during normal business hours or by filling out an
Application for Absentee Ballot then fax it to 616.940.4884 or email it to our offices.
The new envelopes look a little different than what you are used to. This photo shows what to look for:
For more information, visit
eastgr.org/elections or contact City Clerk Karen Brower at 616.949.2110 or
kbrower@eastgr.org.
PARKS & RECREATION
SPONSOR EGR EVENTS
Looking to support community-favorite events? Your support is a key component to the success of our races, celebrations and other events. If you are interested in sponsoring or volunteering at the 4th of July, Reeds Lake Trail Blazer, Reeds Lake Run or the Triathlon, give us a call at 616.949.2110 and we will direct you to the appropriate race coordinator.
PUBLIC SAFETY
NO ICE IS SAFE ICE
Did you catch
Officer Jason Bradley on WOOD TV8 earlier this week? In response to accidents that happened in Allegan and Muskegon counties over the weekend, Public Safety reminds everyone interested in partaking in winter activities on Reeds Lake, or elsewhere for that matter, that no ice is safe ice.
PUBLIC WORKS
CONSTRUCTION UPDATE
For information regarding sanitary and storm sewer cured-in-place pipe work and DTE gas main renewal project areas, please visit our
construction webpage.
SPECTRUM HEALTH BLODGETT HOSPITAL UPDATE
The EGR Planning Commission unanimously approved a recommendation to the City Commission to accept Blodgett’s revised site plan with conditions. It is anticipated that the City Commission will consider the revised site plan at the
March 16 City Commission Meeting. To view additional information pertaining to this project, please follow the
Blodgett Hospital Construction link located on the City website home page as well as the
Planning Commission documents page.
UPCOMING ROAD CLOSURES
On
Monday Feb. 24, Consumers Energy will be temporarily impacting traffic on Lake Drive and Plymouth Road for electrical work. Work is anticipated to take several hours between the timeframe of 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. to avoid peak traffic periods.
Additionally, next week,
Feb. 24 – Feb. 28, Hall Street will be closed at Fuller Avenue due to work on a Grand Rapids gas main, impacting EGR traffic. Take a look at the map below for detour information.
LEAD & COPPER TESTING SHOWS COMPLIANCE WITH STATE STANDARDS
The City completed lead and copper testing as required by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy for 2019 and is pleased to report that testing results for the 90th percentile were 4 ppb with no testing sites above the 15 ppb action level. Results in 2019 across water systems throughout the state may be different from previous testing due to a change in sample procedures by EGLE.
EGR purchases water from the City of Grand Rapids that is treated with orthophosphates, a protective pipe barrier coating for corrosion control. EGR is proud to continue to provide safe and high-quality water to residents.
The City also recently mailed out notices to properties that may have lead service lines based on property record information in conjunction with the water distribution system materials inventory review. This is an EGLE requirement from the revised lead and copper rule. To review testing results and consumer confidence report, please visit our
Water/Sewer Systems webpage.
HEATING & COOLING INFORMATION
Did you know that permits are required for the installation of replacement furnaces and water heaters? Vince Milito, Dan Heyer and Jeff Biegalle of Cascade Township (the city's contracted inspector) are trained to inspect your new or replacement furnace and water heater. They ensure that the new equipment is safe and in compliance with the 2015 Michigan Residential Code.
Before signing a contract to have these items replaced, make sure that the contractor will obtain the necessary permits and coordinate inspection upon completion of the work. Inspections generally only take 10 minutes or so and cover important safety items like gas piping, venting and combustion air requirements. For more information, please contact Cascade Inspection Services at 616.949.3765.
FEEDBACK REQUESTED: 2045 METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION PLAN
The Grand Valley Metropolitan Council has completed a draft of the 2045 Metropolitan Transportation Plan, which includes transportation projects and investment priorities for all modes of transportation in Kent and eastern Ottawa Counties for the next 25 years. The document is open for public comment through March 2 and can be found in three portions at
gvmc.org/mtp.
KENT COUNTY RECYCLING INFORMATION
The Kent County Department of Public Works Recycling & Education Center is scheduling upgrades to improve its efficiency and quality by replacing the mechanical screens used to sort paper. The Recycling Center and Recycling Drop-Off stations will be temporarily closed between
Friday, Feb. 21 and Monday, March 16. While the new equipment is being installed, the facility will be closed and unable to accept recycling materials for processing.
For additional information about the project and progress updates, visit
reimaginetrash.org or call the dedicated phone line at 616.632.7945.