The City of Wyoming’s yard waste drop-off site will be open from 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. through Saturday, July 15 to allow for storm damage clean up. The drop-off site, located at 2660 Burlingame Ave. SW, will return to normal hours on Monday, July 17. The site is free to Wyoming residents and they are encouraged to continue assisting with the clean-up efforts.
The City will also be performing a city-wide pickup of branches and trunks starting today. All debris must be stacked neatly in the parkway areas between the curb and sidewalk. Homeowners are asked to have this material ready for pickup by Monday, July 17.
While this is not a regular service provided by the City, leaders feel it is necessary due to the severity of the storm. “We generally do not provide yard waste pick-up after weather events, unless they are extremely severe in nature such as last year’s tornado. There are extra costs associated with these services, and we always seek to use our resources in the most judicious ways,” said Curtis Holt, City Manager for the City of Wyoming. “Due to the severity of last weekend’s storm we feel we should assist residents to the extent we’re able. Our thanks go out to all of the residents who have already cleaned their properties and brought debris to our yard waste drop-off site. Their efforts are tremendously helpful and we hope they will continue to assist us.”
The cleanup effort will be performed by both City staff and contractors. City staff will be removing small piles of debris, while contractors will remove larger piles throughout this week and next. At this time, residents do not need to call Public Works to request pickups.
The City of Kentwood will have various equipment out at its Public Works Open House set for May 17.
We see the snow trucks clearing the roads during the winter and we drive past traffic lights and street signs but it is not until you get up close to these items that you discover just how big these items really are.
Wyoming and Kentwood residents will get that first-hand view of snow plows and other public works equipment as both the cities celebrate National Public Works Week with open houses.
In 1960, the American Public Works Association established National Public Works Week to create a better understand of the various responsibilities of a Public Works facility in maintaining the infrastructure of its community. This includes such areas as ground maintenance, sewer and water, potholes and road maintenance, and snowplowing to list a few of the many services provided by these departments.
“It is an opportunity for us to share what we do and to get information out to the people on the various items we take care, the water systems, the sewer system, the streets and all the details related,” said Kentwood Public Works Director John Gorney.
Kentwood is hosting its second National Public Works Week event Wednesday, May 17, from 4 – 7 p.m. at the Kentwood Public Works building, located at 5069 Breton Rd. SE. Last year, about 400 people attended the first-ever event.
Again this year, the Kent County Road Commission and the Kent County Department of Public Works will join Kentwood’s Public Works event. Participants will have the opportunity to sit in the driver’s seat of a plow, grader and other equipment. There will be live demonstrations about the maintenance and repair of water and sewer systems, along with information about the care and maintenance of the city roads. Residents will learn about the safe disposal of household waste. Free hotdogs and refreshments will be available.
Residents will be able to tour the Wyoming Public Works Department at its event May 15.
The evening will include a proclamation by Kentwood Mayor Steven Kepley and the opportunity to meet local Public Works and Kent County Road Commission employees. During the event, the winners of the Work Zone Poster competition will be announced. The contest asked local third grade students to design a new Work Zone sign, and a gallery of all entries will be showcased at the event.
City of Wyoming
One of the oldest and longest running National Public Works Week event is hosted by the City of Wyoming, which is Monday, May 15, 5 – 8 p.m. at the Public Works Facility, 2660 Burlingame Ave. SW.
This is the 23rd year the City of Wyoming has hosted a National Public Works Week event with it becoming quite popular with residents showing up early and waiting for the event to start. Staff estimated about 1,800 people visited the facility within the three-hour time span last year.
During Wyoming’s event, various Public Works Department equipment will be on hand for people to explore along with a police cruiser and fire truck. Staff will be on hand to talk to visitors about equipment and projects as well as serving free beverages, chips, and, of course, hotdogs. The purpose of the event is to give the public a chance to ask questions, learn about what the Public Works Department is all about and the services the department provides, according to staff.
National Public Works Week this year is actually May 21 to May 27 and many local organizations, such as Wyoming and Kentwood, are hosting events. The City of Grandville will host a barbecue Wednesday, May 17, from 5 – 7 p.m. at the KDL Grandville branch, 4055 Maple St. SW. The City of East Grand Rapids will host its Touch-a-Truck event Wednesday, May 24, starting at 10 a.m. at the KDL East Grand Rapids branch, 750 Lakeside Dr. SE.
This week’s WKTV featured sports coverage includes basketball.
WKTV Staff
This week in WKTV’s featured high school sport games, the coverage crew will be at Wyoming Lee for boys basketball game against Kelloggsville on Tuesday, Feb. 14, and then at East Kentwood for a hockey game against Grandville on Friday, Feb. 17.
WKTV videos and broadcasts several games each week during high school sports season.
Each Tuesday game will be broadcast that night on Live Wire Comcast Channel 24 at 10:30 p.m. throughout the Grand Rapids Metro Area and repeat on Wednesday at 5:00 p.m. on WKTV Comcast Channel 25 and AT&T U-verse Channel 99 in Wyoming & Kentwood. Every Friday game will be aired that night on Live Wire 24 at 10:30 p.m. and repeat Saturday at 11 a.m. on WKTV 25 and AT&T U-verse 99.
For a complete schedule of all local high school sports action in January, see now.wktv.org/sports/
DVDs and Blue-Rays of each game are also available for purchase at $20 including shipping. For more information, visit WKTV.org
Vicky Devine, left, has worked at the Well Mannered Dog Center for three years. “I could cry. I was doing okay until I got here and saw it,” she says of the building’s destruction behind her. The center was boarding over 60 dogs over the holiday weekend. All dogs were found safe. Photo by Janice Limbaugh
Wyoming work crews continue to be on the streets Tuesday morning working to reopen streets blocked by the storm and to provide assistance to the 50+ homes and 5-10 businesses in the neighborhood bordered by Clay Avenue, 56th Street and Division Avenue.
Power lines, tree limbs and power poles block neighborhood streets. Photo by Janice LimbaughHomes on Averill SW near Ideal Park suffered extensive damaged. Photo by Janice Limbaugh
Consumers Energy expects to have crews working around the clock to secure remaining downed power lines and begin the process of restoring energy after an EF1 tornado touched down in Wyoming Sunday night. City inspectors have already begun the process of inspecting homes and businesses to ensure they are structurally safe and plan to continue the process throughout the day today.
Extra Public Safety patrols will be on duty for the next 48 hours. Community members who do not live in the area should avoid “sightseeing” in the affected area, which is already congested with work crews and concerned family and friends. Residents will be asked for identification to show that they live in the area before they will be allowed through.
A view of Ideal Park before Sunday night’s tornado.Ideal Park is only recognizable by the sign. Photo by Janice LimbaughWhile helping a family member in the neighborhood, Eve Goff stopped by the park to take in the damage. “We’ve had many family reunions under this pavilion,” she recalled. “Up until now, many of these trees outlived generations of families here.” Photo by Janice Limbaugh
Ideal Park suffered extensive damage and will remain closed until further notice. The Parks and Recreation Department is working with individuals and groups who had reserved space in the park to reschedule events. A reminder that residents who need shelter or other assistance can access one of two shelters now open in Wyoming:
• The Salvation Army has established a temporary aid station at the Ideal Park Christian Reformed Church at 320 56th Street SW.
• The American Red Cross has established a shelter at the Kentwood Activity Center at 355 48th Street SE.
Any resident needing shelter assistance can call the Red Cross hotline at 616.899.4511. For non-emergency public safety needs, residents can call the Wyoming Public Safety Department at 616.530.7300. Other city services and requests will be handled through Wyoming City hall at 616.530.7272.
The Well Mannered Dog Center was a popular dog training facility. Photo by Janice LimbaughBoth sides of the building were blown out by winds reaching 110 mph. Rated an EF1, the tornado would have been classified as an EF2 at 111 mph. Photo by Janice Limbaugh
“We have made tremendous progress Monday, but there is still a lot of work to do,” said Wyoming City Manager Curtis Holt. “We remain focused on clearing the streets of brush and debris to allow for safe travel of emergency vehicles into the area and, once Consumers Power is through with its restoration, assessing the safety of homes and businesses.
“Know that anyone from the City will be clearly identifiable as an employee. Be cautious if someone comes to your door asking for money upfront to do repair work or for information. Be sure to get proper identification before answering questions or writing a check.”
Public Works is asking Wyoming residents with downed trees or tree limbs inside the curb line so they are not by the road. The yard waste area is open Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Starting Monday for the next two weeks, Public Works crews will be picking up brush in that neighborhood only.
The City of Wyoming’s yard waste drop-off site will be open from 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. through Saturday, July 15 to allow for storm damage clean up. The drop-off site, located at 2660 Burlingame Ave. SW, will return to normal hours on Monday, July 17. The site is free to Wyoming residents and they are encouraged to continue assisting with the clean-up efforts.
