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East Express | Jan. 18, 2024

PARKS & RECREATION

Spring 2024 Program Guide

SPRING PROGRAM REGISTRATION
Registration for spring programming is now available for both residents and nonresidents. 

Check out the spring program guide online.

FINANCE & CITY ADMINISTRATIONCommission chambers

NEXT CITY COMMISSION MEETING
The next City Commission meeting will be held 6 p.m. Monday, Jan. 22 at the Community Center, 750 Lakeside Drive SE. 

Community members can also watch the meeting live via the City’s YouTube channel. 

Winter property taxes due Feb. 14

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 here.

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. 

Community members are welcome to view voting machine testing starting at 8 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 7 in the Commission Chambers at the Community Center, 750 Lakeside Drive SE.

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

PUBLIC SAFETY

Closeup of icy surfaceICE SAFETY 
Winter in East Grand Rapids offers community members plenty of recreational opportunities to enjoy the season. If you plan to venture out on Reeds Lake or other bodies of water, Public Safety has a few safety tips for you here. 

PUBLIC WORKS

Construction hat

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 more information on these projects and more, visit the construction updates webpage. 

Snow plow

WINTER WEATHER OPERATIONS

With winter here, make sure you’re aware of 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. 

When snow events are forecasted, Public Works asks residents to park in their driveway instead of the street. If you must park in the street, please avoid parking directly across from another vehicle so snowplow drivers can provide safe and efficient service. 

PREVENT PIPES FROM FREEZING 
During the winter, pipes and water meters can freeze. The City is responsible for water service from the curb stop in the right-of-way to the water main in the street. Property owners are responsible for water service from the curb stop to and throughout their property.

The City offers the following tips to help protect water service pipes:

  • Wrap and insulate all water pipes in unheated areas of your home, paying particular attention to pipes near exterior walls.
  • Keep the location of your water meter above 40 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Make sure any garden hoses on the exterior of your home are disconnected and the outdoor faucet is winterized.
  • Know the location of your water shutoff valve in case of a leak.

What to do if your pipes freeze:

  • If your pipes freeze and you have water running in your home, turn off the water at your water shutoff – usually located near the water meter – and contact a licensed plumber.
  • If interior pipes freeze, do not apply any direct heat to your pipes and instead use a space heater or a blow dryer to heat the area around the piping.
  • If your water service stops and the entire interior plumbing and water meter are insulated or located in an area heated above 40 degrees Fahrenheit, please contact Public Works at 616.940.4870. Public Works staff will assess the situation and, if the water service is frozen from the curb stop to the main, they will thaw the service line and restore water service.

Adopt a hydrantCLEAR SNOW AND ICE FROM FIRE HYDRANTS
If you have a fire hydrant near your home, please consider helping Public Safety by keeping snow piles away from the hydrants or shoveling out around the hydrant after heavy snow events. Public Safety officers do make the rounds and shovel when necessary, but their immediate duties may keep them from clearing the snow from all hydrants in a timely manner. Thank you for your help!

Save the pipes, don't flush the wipesAVOID FLUSHING WIPES

A reminder that wipes marketed as “flushable” are hazardous to our wastewater system. This includes adult wipes, cleaning wipes and baby wipes. 

Only toilet paper should be flushed down toilets because it is the only paper designed to break down as it travels through the wastewater treatment process. Other types of paper and wipes are not designed to break down, causing blockages in home sewer lines that can lead to costly plumber repairs.

COMMUNITY PARTNERS

2024 KDL Let It Snow Reading Club

KENT DISTRICT LIBRARY: EAST GRAND RAPIDS BRANCH

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

  • KDL Lab Experience – 3:30-4:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 23: Drop in and allow children to think creatively, tinker, explore and collaborate while engaging in an activity based on STEM concepts.
  • CARE Ballet – 2-3 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 28: Watch CARE Ballet dancers perform excerpts from their current show.
  • Reeds Lake Rogues – 3:30-5 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 31: Teens and tweens ages 11-17 are invited to learn how to play “Dungeons & Dragons” with us. Character sheets will be provided.  

Don't forget to join KDL’s Let It Snow winter reading club. Community members 11 years and older who read or listen to six books earn a Let It Snow mug. Want more? Log four more titles and be automatically entered into the Power Reader drawing for a chance to win an Amazon Kindle Scribe or other prizes. Visit kdl.org/snow to get started.

2024 LGROW Winter Tips

LGROW WINTER TIPS
 Our friends at the Lower Grand River Organization of Watersheds have these important winter tips for community members:

  • Shovel snow onto vegetated areas. Grass and plants absorb and filter meltwater, reducing runoff that goes down storm drains and directly into rivers and streams. 
  • Plan ahead by shoveling and scraping early and often. 
  • Use less salt – a little goes a long way. 
  • Reuse salt by sweeping the solids from the sidewalk after the storm. 
  • Store salt under a roof or other cover to minimize polluted runoff. 
  • Wash cars at a commercial car wash, where soapy water does not enter the storm sewer. 

Visit lgrow.org for more information.


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