A MESSAGE FROM THE MAYOR
Hello, friends and neighbors.
I hope you’ve been enjoying this mild winter – it feels like spring is just around the corner!
Our next EGR community blood drive is 2-6:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 14 at the Community Center, 750 Lakeside Drive SE. The need for blood donations is critical, and each donation can save up to three lives. Please consider donating if you are able.
Register for the blood drive today.
The next EGR Coffee Talk is 10-11 a.m. Monday, Feb. 20 at Bagel Kitchen in Gaslight Village. I look forward to chatting about all things East and answering any questions. It’s a morning of great coffee and conversation – hope to see you there!
Take care and enjoy the weekend.
All the best,
Katie
FINANCE & CITY ADMINISTRATION
ONLINE SERVICE FEE INCREASE
Starting April 2, the City’s payment processing provider, Invoice Cloud, is increasing the service fee for payments made with a credit card or debit card or through PayPal.
Residents who pay their water bill, taxes, parking ticket or permit with a credit card or debit card or through PayPal via Invoice Cloud’s online system will see this service fee increase. This change does not affect residents who pay via Automated Clearing House (ACH) or Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT).
Here’s a summary of the service fee changes:
- Water bill: $3.75 for every $325
- Taxes: Minimum of $2.95 or 3% of amount
- Parking tickets: Minimum of $2.95 or 3% of amount
- Permits: Minimum of $2.95 or 3% of amount
Residents can still make payments by mail, via the drop box in the Community Center lobby available 24/7 or in person 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday at the Community Center, 750 Lakeside Drive SE.
For questions, please call the Finance Department at 616.949.2110.
NEXT CITY COMMISSION MEETING: FEB. 20
The next City Commission meeting is 6 p.m. Monday, Feb. 20 at the Community Center, 750 Lakeside Drive SE.
Read the agenda here.
Community members can also watch the meeting live via the City’s YouTube channel: https://bit.ly/3koI057.
PUBLIC SAFETY
PUBLIC SAFETY DEPARTMENT RECEIVES STATE REACCREDITATION
EGR Public Safety Chief Mark Herald, Det. Sgt. Scott Kolster, Officer Corey Buter and City Manager Shea Charles were delighted to connect with law enforcement personnel from across the state recently in downtown Grand Rapids at the Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police event to receive the department’s reaccreditation from the Michigan Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission.
MLEAC accreditation is a voluntary commitment for Michigan law enforcement agencies to review and implement best practices that support a culture of continuous improvement.
EGR Public Safety first received MLEAC accreditation in 2020. Congratulations to Chief Herald and the team on this accomplishment.
Learn more about the accreditation process: https://bit.ly/3RIGebE.
For more on our Public Safety Department, visit here.
PUBLIC WORKS
TREE MAINTENANCE
The right-of-way tree pruning program continues throughout March following the Monday and Tuesday yard waste-compost routes. City contractor Good Earth Tree Care will remove and clean up removed limbs and branches as part of the pruning process.
Check out the program areas by year here.
WINTER SAFE STREET DEMONSTRATION PILOTS
Public Works is seeking resident feedback on its safe street demonstration pilots. This initiative seeks to improve misaligned intersections and pedestrian crossings and features temporary rubber curb installations and signs that allow residents to experience the potential changes.
These temporary installations will be in place through February. Below are links to each installation area. Information about the installations was mailed to residents who live near them, and information stations are available at each location.
For questions and feedback, please email publicworks@eastgr.org or call 616.940.4817.
The installations are located at the following locations:
CONSTRUCTION UPDATES
View the latest construction updates from Public Works here.
COMMUNITY PARTNERS
NOMINATE AN EGRHS SENIOR FOR A SCHOLARSHIP
Nominate a member of this year's EGRHS graduating class for a scholarship! Thanks to its donors, the East Grand Rapids Schools Foundation administers seven scholarship programs that honor graduating seniors for a variety of qualities.
Learn more about scholarship criteria here: https://egrsf.org/what-we-do/student-scholarships/.
Nominations are due May 1.
EAST GRAND RAPIDS PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Kindergarten enrollment for the 2023-24 school year is available for EGR residents.
Details are available at https://bit.ly/2ZVhsdk.
For residents looking to enroll for first through 12th grade, please email enrollment@egrps.org.
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