FINANCE & CITY ADMINISTRATION

VETERANS DAY OFFICE CLOSURE
City offices will be closed Friday, Nov. 10 in observance of Veterans Day. Public Works and Public Safety will continue to provide support to the community. City offices will reopen at 8 a.m. Monday, Nov. 13. 

We extend a special thank you to city staff and community members, both past and present, who have served our country. 

NEXT CITY COMMISSION MEETING: NOV. 20
The next City Commission meeting will be held at 6 p.m. Monday, Nov. 20 at the Community Center, 750 Lakeside Drive SE.

Community members can also watch the meeting live via the City’s YouTube channel: https://bit.ly/3koI057.

ELECTION RESULTS
Special thanks to our elections staff and volunteers for facilitating another secure election. Results can be viewed on the county’s website here.

For more information on elections in East, visit eastgr.org/elections.

EGR COFFEE TALK
Mayor Favale’s next EGR Coffee Talk returns 10 a.m. Friday, Nov. 10 at Bagel Kitchen. Mark your calendar and join Mayor for some great coffee and conversation.  

PRIVATE SNOWPLOW CONTRACTOR LICENSES 
Contractors hired by residents or businesses must be licensed with the City and adhere to the following rules:

• Snow shall not be deposited in the street or in public sidewalks. 
• Snow shall be deposited behind the curb (or where curbs do not exist, off the traveled portion of the roadway) along the same side of the street as the driveway being plowed.
• Snow shall not be deposited across the street from the driveway being plowed. 
• Snow shall not be deposited around fire hydrants.   

Licenses may be obtained through the City Clerk’s Office or Finance Department at 750 Lakeside Drive SE. 

Complaints regarding private snowplow contractors may be directed to Public Safety at 616.949.7010. When calling, please provide as much detail as possible, such as time and date, what occurred, business name, plate number and photos or video, if possible. 

PUBLIC SAFETY

REMINDER TO LOCK UP 
A reminder to lock your home and vehicle. We’re encouraging residents 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 such as lawnmowers, toys and other personal items, locking your house, garage and vehicles and turning on outside lights to deter theft.

Learn more about the #9PMRoutine here.

PUBLIC WORKS

TREE PLANTING GRANT
Our Public Works team just completed planting 12 trees made possible through a grant administered by the Michigan Forestry and Park Association, Inc. on behalf of Consumers Energy. The Community Street & Boulevard Tree Planting Grant Program aims to assist local municipalities with tree planting projects, focusing on the appropriate selection of species and locations. 

The trees were strategically planted along public streets and boulevards, increasing the number and diversity of our urban canopy. Some of the varieties include autumn brilliance juneberry, little leaf linden and red horse-chestnut.

Learn more about our forestry operations by visiting eastgr.org/forestry.

FALL LEAF PICKUP
Through the week of Dec. 4, leaves may be placed in the street without containers, avoiding the traveled portion of the roadway for bicycles and vehicles and away from storm sewer catch basins. We ask residents to assist in keeping catch basins clear to prevent localized flooding during rain events.  

Depending on leaf volume, crews may be behind schedule by a few days. Rules and routes can be found at eastgr.org/refusecollection.

WINTER MAINTENANCE OPERATIONS
With winter weather around the corner, learn about the City's street and sidewalk salting and plowing operations, priority road routes and how you can help make snowplowing easier for our team here. 

PARKS AND RECREATION 

PARK RESTROOM WINTERIZATION

As we head into winter, our parks’ restrooms will be winterized and closed until the spring. Portable restrooms will be available at select locations for visitors to use while enjoying our parks year-round.  

SPORTS NIGHT OUT

Mark your calendar for the annual Sports Night Out on Saturday, Jan. 13. Elementary school-aged children are invited to join us from 5:30-8:30 p.m. at the East Grand Rapids High School gymnasium for a fun evening of games, challenges and activities. Plus, there’s a photo booth so you can have a keepsake from the evening. 

Registration is open online. The cost is $24 for residents and $29 for non-residents, and adult chaperones also need to register. The cost increases $5 after Jan. 14.

COMMUNITY PARTNERS

KENT COUNTY FALL RECYCLING GUIDE
Kent County Public Works has created this fall recycling guide to help community members make more sustainable decisions during this busy time of year. Tips include:

• Halloween costumes, wigs and masks can be donated, swapped or thrifted. 
• All household hazardous waste can be brought to a SafeChem location for free disposal.
• Soup cartons, plastic or glass jugs, cardboard and metal cans can all be rinsed and placed in the recycling bin. 

For more information on recycling, visit reimaginetrash.org or contact Kent County Public Works at recycle@kentcountymi.org.

KENT DISTRICT LIBRARY: EAST GRAND RAPIDS BRANCH
The KDL East Grand Rapids branch will host several free programs for adults over the next few weeks: 

• Caring for Family Collections – 6:30-7:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 13: Are you the family archivist or do you have family collections? Whether you are an individual collector or work for a small historical society, join us to learn about preserving and organizing archival materials.
• Bingo Hour – 1-2 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 21: Relax and make new friends while playing exciting rounds of Bingo.
• Card Crafting – 6:30-7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 5: Explore the art of card making as we delve into various themes and designs, providing inspiration for your personalized creations. Discover a multitude of artistic techniques, with a focus on collaging materials and embellishments, in a supportive, inspiring environment. Space is limited; first come, first served. Doors open 15 minutes before the program starts and you may save one seat for a friend. 

GASLIGHT VILLAGE BUSINESS ASSOCIATION
Community members of all ages are invited to ring in the holiday season in Gaslight Village with the annual tree lighting ceremony Friday, Nov. 24.

From 5-8 p.m., you can enjoy the lighting of the 30-foot tree, live entertainment, a DJ playing holiday music, reindeer, s’mores, crafting stations, carriage rides and a special visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus – all in Regatta Plaza, 2181 Wealthy St. SE. Mayor Katie Favale will greet the crowd and begin the lighting ceremony with Santa and Mrs. Claus. 

Consider volunteering with your neighbors to help make this beloved event possible. Sign up here.

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