Dear EGR residents,
From the Reeds Lake Trail to our roads, from our parks to City Hall, 2015 was a year where we worked to improve the infrastructure of the East Grand Rapids community. Each project completed was due to the dedication that our Commission, City staff and residents have to building a better place to live.
May of 2015 was a very important month for the future of EGR with the passage of the Street and Sidewalk Millage. Your vote to invest in our community will not only fix our immediate needs, but also build the foundation for long-term improvement and stabilization of our roads.
When determining how to best repair and improve our aging infrastructure, our Public Works team looked for value-focused solutions, which have allowed us to launch this massive project with great success. This past summer, our street construction projects were bid in conjunction with the Kent County Road Commission. The cost savings achieved through this partnership allowed us to pave 16 streets – compared to the nine originally scheduled for completion in the first year of the millage.
Our beloved Reeds Lake Trail saw major improvements in usability and safety as we completed the culvert and boardwalk projects. This truly was a community effort, and I thank everyone who made this project a reality through contributions to the East Grand Rapids Community Foundation. Overall, the foundation provided more than $275,000 to make up for the project’s cost difference after a $475,000 grant from the Michigan Department of Transportation.
Many of our residents made personal investments this year to improve the aesthetic appeal of their homes. A quick drive through our City reveals an impressive number of residential construction and renovation projects. Some of the most notable 2015 projects include the completion of the Croswell Mews townhouse development and the redevelopment of a vacated church property on Lake Drive.
While we take great pride in our homes, we also love to get outside and stay active. Through our joint facilities committee with the East Grand Rapids Public Schools, a number of repairs and updates were made in 2015 to keep our parks and common grounds looking good.
Both the Remington Park Rusty Swaney Baseball Field and Middle School Tennis Courts received updates to ensure our students have high-caliber facilities to stay active and build teamwork. The John Collins Park Boathouse received repairs and a new staining. In Manhattan Park, approximately 30 trees infested with the Emerald Ash borer were removed. Additionally, our City and School irrigation systems received extensive repairs.
As for indoor recreation, the installation of a new chair lift at Wealthy Pool allows users with mobility issues to enter and enjoy the pool safely and securely.
In East, we’ve long valued inclusivity and pride ourselves as a community where everyone is welcome. This past spring, the City Commission and I approved an amendment to the City Code to protect sexual orientation from discrimination. We join other like-minded communities in the state who want to signal that we are a welcoming, open and accepting place to live and work.
Keeping EGR a safe place continues to be a top priority for our Public Safety Department. A number of public safety officers and residents received awards this year for their heroic efforts. Two of our officers and a teacher received awards for outstanding actions while tending to an individual having a medical emergency. Two Public Safety officers and three Public Works team members received awards for their quick actions to save the life of one of our Public Works employees who became trapped in an excavated hole during a water main repair. I am continually humbled and inspired by the heroic efforts of our Public Safety officers and our residents.
Teaching our school-aged students the importance of bike safety was a key goal of our Public Safety Department this year. Through a grant from the EGR Community Foundation, the department held a bike registration at the Middle School during its open house. In addition to registering more than 100 bikes, officers gave locks to students free of charge.
Behind the scenes at City Hall, our Finance Department was restructured to streamline our processes and increase efficiency. Not only were we able to hire a new assessor, accounting clerk and administrative clerk, but we will also save approximately $20,000 in annual staffing costs.
In 2016, we will continue to build upon the achievements of last year as we pursue opportunities to further enhance the experience of living in East. Continuing to implement the street and sidewalk initiative will be a strong focus for our City. The reconstruction of the Breton/ Lake Drive intersection will be a major project this summer, with the goal of widening traffic lanes, improving safety and updating the overall aesthetics.
Fifteen years ago, the City worked with citizens to create a masterplan, which was later updated in 2005. I am amazed to see that much of what was suggested 15 years ago has now become reality. That masterplan suggested ideas to redevelop Gaslight Village, which has turned into a bustling business district and the heart of our community. The thriving businesses and the new condominiums on Bagley and Croswell are a direct result of that vision from a decade ago. It is now time to undertake an updated masterplan, to better set a vision for what the next 15 years will bring to our community. As your mayor, I will be sure to provide many opportunities for citizen input during this planning process. Our future must reflect what the residents of EGR want for their community.
Building relationships with our community and regional partners will be another key focus area in 2016. We look forward to continuing our great relationship with EGRPS. We are fortunate to have such a strong and robust school system in our City and appreciate all the opportunities we have to partner with and support our schools.
I know that part of EGR's appeal is its proximity to the thriving city of Grand Rapids. We will continue to partner with Grand Rapids and other Kent County communities to share services that benefit us all. For example, after many discussions, seven local municipalities have finalized an ambulance consortium to bring better efficiency to our emergency services while reducing costs. This is but one illustration – we will continue to work closely with surrounding communities to benefit all involved.
It was an incredible year in EGR with many important projects started and completed to build upon the success of our City. I sincerely thank each and every one of you for your dedication to making East Grand Rapids a better place to live.
Regards,
Amna Seibold
Mayor