FINANCE & CITY ADMINISTRATION

MEET YOUR NEW COMMISSIONERS
At Monday’s City Commission meeting, new Commissioners Abbie Groff-Blaszak and Brad Hunter were sworn in. They were elected to the commission in November 2023.

Get to know the new commissioners and what they’re looking forward to in their new roles here.

CITY OFFICE HOLIDAY CLOSURES
City offices will be closed Monday, Dec. 25, Tuesday, Dec. 26 and Monday, Jan. 1, 2024, for the holidays. Public Safety will continue to provide 24/7 support to our community during this time.

City offices will reopen at 8 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 27 and Tuesday, Jan. 2.

NEXT CITY COMMISSION MEETING: DEC. 18
The next City Commission meeting will be held at 6 p.m. Monday, Dec. 18 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.  

WINTER PROPERTY TAXES MAILED OUT

Winter property taxes have been mailed out today and are due Feb. 14.

 Payments can be made in person at 750 Lakeside Drive SE, by mail, the Community Center drop box or online. Learn more: https://bit.ly/3FdEvXy. 

PUBLIC WORKS

LEAF PICKUP ENDS THIS WEEK + WINTER WEATHER OPERATIONS

Our leaf pickup service wraps up for the season this week. 

As we welcome winter, learn about our street and sidewalk salting and plowing operations, priority road routes and how you can help make snowplowing easier for our Public Works team here. 

SHAKE YOUR MAILBOX

Public Works reminds residents to shake their mailbox if it is located near the street. If your mailbox moves when shaken, the mailbox or post may not withstand snow thrown from plows and should be repaired.

For questions, contact Public Works at 616.940.4817. 

ORDER LUMINARY SAND BY DEC. 21

An EGR holiday tradition, candle-lit luminaries line some neighborhood streets Dec. 24-25. Participating residents can request sand for the lanterns by noon Thursday, Dec. 21 by calling Public Works at 616.940.4870 or submitting an online request. 

Public Works only provides the sand, which will be dropped off at requested addresses in half-filled 32-gallon barrels. Neighborhoods coordinate and organize luminary events and residents are responsible for purchasing their own candles and bags. Bags must be placed in the public right-of-way, the area between the sidewalk and the street. 

For more information, visit https://www.eastgr.org/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=839. 

HOLIDAY TREE PICKUP

Public Works will collect natural trees and wreaths for chipping Jan. 2-12. Please remove lights, ribbons and ornaments from the greenery and place the tree or wreath in the right-of-way on the day before your regular pickup day. More at eastgr.org/debris.

PUBLIC SAFETY

REMINDER TO LOCK UP 
Join your neighbors in locking your home and vehicle during this busy time of year. Public Safety encourages 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 snow removal equipment, 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.

BE VIGILANT OF FRAUD
With the holiday shopping season in full swing, Public Safety reminds community members to be vigilant of fraud. The Federal Trade Commission outlines a few tips to protect consumers from fraud, including:

• Block unwanted calls and text messages.
• Do not provide your personal or financial information in response to a request you did not initiate.
• Resist pressure to act immediately.
• Stop and talk to someone you trust.

To report a suspected case of fraud or other non-emergency, contact East Grand Rapids Public Safety at 616.949.7010.

PARKS & RECREATION

SPORTS NIGHT OUT

Mark your calendar for the annual Sports Night Out on Saturday, Jan. 13. Elementary school-aged children and their adult chaperones are invited to join us from 5:30-8:30 p.m. at the East Grand Rapids High School gym 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 $19 for residents and $24 for non-residents. Please note: Adult chaperones also need to register. The cost increases $5 after Jan. 5.

COMMUNITY PARTNERS

GASLIGHT VILLAGE BUSINESS ASSOCIATION

Support local businesses this holiday season by shopping and dining in Gaslight Village. Enjoy the festive decorations and new social district while checking off your holiday list.  

EAST GRAND RAPIDS COMMUNITY FOUNDATION

The East Grand Rapids Community Foundation supports positive developments in our community – all made possible through the generosity of its supporters. This holiday season, consider making a gift at eastgr.org/foundation. Your gift will go directly toward projects that enhance our community. 

KENT DISTRICT LIBRARY: EAST GRAND RAPIDS BRANCH

The East Grand Rapids branch will host several free programs over the next few weeks: 

• Winter Wonder Stories – 10-10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 13 and Wednesday, Dec. 20: Get cozy while listening to seasonal stories and then create fun winter-themed crafts. For young children and caregivers.
• Bingo Hour – 1-2 p.m. Tuesday, Dec 19: Relax and make new friends while playing exciting rounds of Bingo for adults.
• Ready for Reindeer! – 6:30-7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec 19: Traveling all the way from the North Pole via Rooftop Landing Reindeer Farms, live reindeer will visit the library. Dress warmly for this all-ages outdoor program and don't forget the camera.

The library will be closed for the holidays Dec. 24-26.

KENT COUNTY

Kent County Department of Public Works reminds residents that lithium-ion batteries can be properly disposed at five SafeChem sites around the county. Lithium-ion batteries can be found in devices like cell phones, electric toothbrushes, vapes or other similar items.

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