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East Express | Nov. 4, 2021
NOV. 2 ELECTION RESULTS & PARKS IMPROVEMENT MILLAGE UPDATE
On Tuesday, EGR voters elected Marc Schulz, Chris Wessely and Laura Schwartz to the City Commission. They will be sworn in Monday, Dec. 6 during the City Commission meeting, which will begin at 6 p.m.
The Parks Improvement Millage was also passed by EGR voters at 59.3%. The millage will 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 will pay an annual 0.56 mills (assessed taxable home value multiplied by 0.56) allowing the City to borrow up to $7 million over 20 years beginning July 1, 2022, at the earliest. More information and resources can be found at eastgr.org/parksmillage. Learn more about the commission and what the millage will entail for residents by reading our latest press release. Stay tuned for more information, project updates and feedback/engagement opportunities. |
NOTE FROM MAYOR FAVALE
Hello Friends and Neighbors, I hope you enjoyed trick-or-treating and other Halloween festivities last weekend! It was fun to see our young residents and community members dressed up in their costumes on Sunday evening. As you know, EGR voters elected Marc Schulz, Chris Wessely and Laura Schwartz to the City Commission on Tuesday. I’d like to welcome these leaders to the table and look forward to working together in our work to continue making EGR a great place to live, work and play. I’d also like to thank Brad Hecksel, Claudine Wagenaar and Bryan Walters for their service and dedication to the City over the years. I wish them the best of luck in their next chapters. The Parks Improvement Millage was also approved by voters this week and I could not be more proud of our community for committing to and investing in our home. This millage will make an incredible difference to our ability to enhance our parks and open spaces for all. Keep reading the City’s newsletters and follow along on social media for information on upcoming projects. There are a few events to mark on your calendar this month: Join me for the next EGR Coffee Talk on Nov. 11 from 10-11 a.m. at Bagel Kitchen in Gaslight Village. Additionally, the next EGR Community Blood Drive will be held on Nov. 30 from 2-7 p.m. at the Community Center. You can sign up to save lives on the Versiti website. Lastly, my office hours have been modified to Monday and Wednesday evenings. Of course, if these days don’t work for you, I am more than happy to talk or meet at another time — contact me via email or phone: kfavale@eastgr.org, 616.949.2110 x 887. Wishing you and yours a wonderful November and start to the holiday season — I hope to see you in Gaslight Village for the Tree Lighting Ceremony on Nov. 26! Best, Katie
CITY COMMISSION UPDATE At its Nov. 1 meeting, the Commission heard from the MARCH committee which requested the City change Franklin Street to Martin Luther King Jr. Street so that it is consistent with the City of Grand Rapids’ recent change. City staff is reviewing what will be required to move forward with the street name change and will follow up with the commission at one of its meetings before the end of the year. The Commission also received an update on the audited financial statements for the 2020-21 fiscal year. You can always find agenda materials at eastgr.org/agendas and watch meetings live via our YouTube channel. CITY MANAGER’S OFFICE & FINANCE THANK YOU, ELECTION WORKERS We’d like to extend a special thank you to all our precinct and absentee ballot counting board workers who helped ensure the election was administered safely and efficiently: Ruth Bajema, Robert Barcelona, Kathy Bego, Angeline Berg, Ann Berman, Mary Block, Jean Boebel, Suzanne Bonnah, Christopher Caruso, Connie Caruso, Robin Christoffersen, Kimberly Conover-Loar, Amy Conway, Karen Cornelius, Gaylen Demarest, Ed Gray, Jane Gray, Joanne Heidenreich, Sam Helmrick, Susan Heynig, William Hill, Melinda Hoff, Cynthia Humphries, Harry Kendall, Josephine Kendall, Janet Koopman, Catherine Kriegbaum, Steven Loar, Melissa Marsh, Pamela Marshall, Clarice Newhof, Teresa Potts, Wayne Potts, Debra Roper, James Stanton, Vicki Whalen, Bradley White, Patricia Wilson, Maria Young. Another thank you to our city clerk and front office staff members for their hard work not only on all three election days this year, but in the great preparation of each. Their invaluable dedication ensured every EGR vote counted. Absentee ballots were again very poplar, which kept the office staff extra busy for several weeks. Thank you, Karen Brower, Chris Berg, Robin Christoffersen, Jane Gray and Ann Berman. 
RECYCLE YARD SIGNS Don’t forget to recycle your yard signs! Bring all corrugated plastic signs to the Kent County Recycling Center drop-off area at 977 Wealthy St. SW during processing hours. Learn more about corrugated plastic and the process by visiting reimaginetrash.org.
VETERANS DAY CLOSURE Please note City Hall will be closed Thursday, Nov. 11 in observance of Veterans Day. We extend a special thank you to all veterans, both past and present, for an unwavering commitment to defending our country and ensuring our freedom.
JOB OPENINGS AT THE CITY There are several positions open at the City! We’re looking for an account clerk, a crossing guard substitute, a lead mechanic, lifeguards and swim instructors to join our team. Learn more and apply on our careers webpage.
PUBLIC SAFETY 
WEAR REFLECTIVE CLOTHING Between the upcoming time change and shorter days, it's important to implement additional safety precautions while jogging, walking or biking. Make sure to wear reflective clothing and/or a blinking light so motorists and fellow pedestrians can see you.
PARKS & RECREATION 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. Please note DTE Energy will be replacing a gas main on the north side of Lake Drive from Conlon Drive to ~230 feet west of Hall Street. Work will consist of directional drilling beneath the sidewalk with new services to adjacent homes. Lake Drive will remain open to traffic with some limited impacts along with sidewalk detours for pedestrian traffic. 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. Consumers will work in the Calvin/Woodcliff Circuit until Thanksgiving. 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.
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 the curb. Addressing mailbox repairs and location in the fall will help avoid potential mail delivery delays and repairs during the winter season.
WINTER MAINTENANCE OPERATIONS As winter approaches, you can review the City’s plowing regulations, plowing routes and how to avoid the “second shovel” on our Street/Sidewalk Winter Plowing webpage. PRIVATE SNOWPLOW CONTRACTORS Please visit eastgr.org/snowplow to learn about EGR’s snowplow contractor rules and regulations.
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.
SPRING ZONING Already thinking about all the projects you’ll have for your home come spring? Now’s the time to start planning for those projects so you can be ready to go when the snow clears. If you have any questions, visit our Zoning webpage or contact Zoning Administrator Jay Gianotti at jgianotti@eastgr.org.
COMMUNITY PARTNERS HOLIDAY TREE LIGHTING CEREMONY Celebrate the start of the holiday season at the annual Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony on Friday, Nov. 26 in Gaslight Village. Festivities begin at 5 p.m. with carriage rides, s’mores and crafts. Mayor Favale, Rachael Ruiz from WOOD TV8 and Santa will officially light the tree in Regatta Plaza around 6:15 p.m. More details can be found at gogaslight.com.
GO GASLIGHT THIS HOLIDAY SEASON As we approach the holidays, you can support our community by purchasing gifts locally. From clothing, sweet treats, jewelry, services and more, Gaslight Village has something for all the loved ones on your list.
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