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East Express | Jan. 4, 2024

A MESSAGE FROM THE MAYOR

Friends and neighbors,

As we welcome 2024, I wanted to take a moment to thank you all for making our community an exceptional place. Your participation and engagement in events and decision-making create a community of collaboration that makes East Grand Rapids truly unique. I look forward to all the exciting things 2024 has in store for us.

To kick off the year, I will be available to talk about all things East at the next EGR Coffee Talk – set for 10 a.m. Monday, Jan. 15 at Bagel Kitchen in Gaslight Village. Hope to see you there!

Consider adding acts of service to your 2024 resolutions. Donating blood is a great way to help our community – and beyond – with critical blood shortages. The City will host a blood drive 2-6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 16 in Room 102 at the Community Center, 750 Lakeside Drive SE. Walk-ins are welcome, but appointments are preferred. Schedule your appointment online or by calling 866.MI.BLOOD.

I look forward to seeing you all throughout the year!

All the best,

Katie 

 
PARKS & RECREATION

SPORTS NIGHT OUT

A reminder Sports Night Out is Saturday, Jan. 13. Elementary school-aged children and their adult chaperones are invited to join us 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. 

Register children and adult chaperones online. The cost is $24 for residents and $29 for non-residents. The cost increases $5 after tomorrow, Jan. 5.

SPRING PROGRAM REGISTRATION
The spring program guide is now available online. Registration for spring programming begins Thursday, Jan. 11 for residents and Thursday, Jan. 18 for nonresidents.

FINANCE & CITY ADMINISTRATION

CITY OFFICES HOLIDAY CLOSURE
City offices will be closed Monday, Jan.15 in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Public Safety will continue to provide 24/7 support to our community during this time.

City offices will reopen at 8 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 16.

NEXT CITY COMMISSION MEETINGS
Due to the New Year’s and Martin Luther King Jr. holidays, this month’s City Commission meetings will be held on Monday, Jan. 8 and Monday, Jan. 22. Each meeting will begin at 6 p.m. 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 DUE FEB. 14

A reminder winter property taxes are due Feb. 14. Payments can be made online, by mail, via the drop box at the Community Center, 750 Lakeside Drive SE, or in person at the Community Center. Learn more: https://bit.ly/3FdEvXy. 

FEB. 27 ELECTION

The Feb. 27 presidential primary is quickly approaching. The last day to register for this election by mail or in person anywhere but the City Clerk's Office is Feb. 12.

We will offer nine days of early voting 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Feb. 17-25 in Room 105 at the Community Center, 750 Lakeside Drive SE, except for Feb. 21, when it will be available 11 a.m.-7 p.m.  

Under new state laws, we have also consolidated our voting precincts and mailed updated voter information cards. Review your new card or visit mi.gov/vote for your polling location. 

More information about elections in East is available at eastgr.org/elections.

PUBLIC SAFETY

SAFE STORAGE STARTS AT HOME
Recognizing the role of gun safety in preventing violence and self-harm in our community, EGR Public Safety and Public Schools are reminding community members about the importance of safely storing household firearms. 

According to the Institute for Firearm Injury Prevention at the University of Michigan, 1 in 3 U.S. homes with children younger than 18 has a firearm and 1 in 4 children ages 5-14 know where firearms are kept in their home.

To safely store firearms, make sure they are unloaded, secured with a locking device – such as a cable or trigger lock – and stored in a locked box, container or safe. 

Gun safety is a community effort. EGR Public Safety and Public Schools encourage residents to practice and talk to their children about safe firearm storage. Together, we can educate our community on the importance of responsible gun ownership. 

For questions or more information about safe firearm storage, please feel free to reach out to EGR Public Safety by calling the department at 616.949.7010 or emailing EGR Public Safety School Resource Officer Troy Brown at tbrown@eastgr.org.

PUBLIC WORKS

HOLIDAY TREE PICKUP

Natural holiday tree and wreath pickup continues through Friday, Jan. 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 yard waste pickup day. More at eastgr.org/debris. 

CONSTRUCTION UPDATES

Public Works is completing crosswalk improvements, including enhanced pedestrian signage, and upgrading the traffic signal at Breton Road and Boston Street SE. For information on these projects and more, including water service line replacements, visit the construction updates webpage. 

DTE WORK

DTE Energy is working on a large-scale replacement of private gas mains throughout our city.

If you have any questions or concerns, please call the DTE Natural Gas System Improvement Office at 616.551.2621. Feedback can be submitted online.

COMMUNITY PARTNERS

KENT DISTRICT LIBRARY: EAST GRAND RAPIDS BRANCH

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

• Mama Bear & Baby Cubs Support Group – 11 a.m.-noon Wednesday, Jan. 10: Join this inclusive maternal support group for playtime, bonding with fellow mothers and enjoying complimentary coffee and tea.
• Bingo Hour – 1-2 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 16: Relax and make new friends while playing exciting rounds of Bingo for adults.
• Stories of the Underground Railroad Told Through Quilting – 6:30-7:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan 18: Through this program for adults, participants will learn the history of the Underground Railroad and its people, places and codes told through quilts. There will also be a quilt display by local quilter, fashion designer, sewer and teacher Erica Millbrooks. 

 E-GREEN SUSTAINABILITY INITIATIVE
Don’t miss the E-GReen Sustainability Initiative’s electronic waste and foam packaging recycling event 10 a.m.-noon this Saturday, Jan. 6 at the EGR Public Works building, 2310 Reeds Lake Blvd. SE. Learn more, including a list of accepted items, here.

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