Tag Archives: City of Wyoming

Wyoming’s original fire engine part of this year’s 28th Street Metro Cruise

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The City of Wyoming’s Engine No. 1 at its home, Fire Station No. 2on Division Avenue.

By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma

joanne@wktv.org

 

It could be because it is red as a red vehicle always stands out. Then again, it is a fire engine which usually draws a crowd.

 

But more likely it is simply the fact that it is the City of Wyoming’s first fire truck that made Engine No. 1  so popular at last year’s 28th Street Metro Cruise.

 

“People love it,” said Wyoming firefighter Brad Deppe. “They’re honking. They’re waving. They’re thumbs up. They love to see it as much as we like to see it in and around the station.”

 

When restore, the truck’s details were done gold-leaf as it would have been done when purchased.

 

Deppe admits that participating in the 2017 28th Street Metro Cruise was almost an afterthought with him making the call rather late with organizers able to find a spot for the truck last year’s layout. This year, Deppe was one of the first to receive a call about this year’s event with the Engine No. 1 scheduled to be at Rogers Plaza on both days of the event, Friday and Saturday.

 

“There’ are not many communities that have the ability to say ‘Yes, we still have our original fire truck and it still goes down the road and we are still using it,” Deppe said. “It’s just really cool and a reminder of where we came from.”

 

The chase was purchased in 1931 with money raised by the Wyoming Park-Beverly area. As was typically during that time period, the body was built by the members of the department. It was put into service in 1932. The truck remained in active service until 1962 and for another eight years was used to fill and drain cisterns around the city.

 

In 1970, the truck was retired and for the next eight years, it sat in storage. That is until the question was raised on what the city should do with it, Deppe said. A group of about 18 Wyoming firefighters pushed for the truck to be restored. The restoration project started in May of 1978 and took about 14 months and approximately 610 man hours to complete, mostly done during off hours in evenings and on weekends. The cost was about $3,500.

 

During the restoration, the truck was dismantled and sent to Jackson to be repainted. When it was stripped, many of the original details and designs were discovered so the truck was restored to as much of its original look as possible, Deppe said, adding that included gold-leaf used in designs and pin stripping which was all done by hand.

 

Other details included the seat being reupholstered to as close at the original as possible. An original-style siren was located in New Jersey. Also original is one of the two ladders and the seat on the front fender which was not used when the truck was driving down the street, Deppe said, but was designed for a firefighter to sit in while helping to put out brush fires.

 

Firefighters would only seat on the fender seat when the city had a brush fire.

 

The restored engine was utilized in a number of events for several years but as those involved with overseeing the truck retired or moved on, Engine No. 1 once again was moved back into storage.

 

“About a year or so ago, the question came up again about what should we do with the truck,” Deppe said. The truck needed to be made road ready which included fixing any leaks and tracking down an era appropriate license plate.

 

The city’s firefighters knew what a gem it was to have Wyoming’s original fire truck and with that in mind, along with the help of Wyoming’s Steve Antique Repair — which is located in the old Wyoming Park/Beverly area — the staff was able to bring the engine out of storage.

 

“Now we are slowly piecing it back together,” Deppe said. “Finding some of things that use to be original on it the weren’t that have been changed at some point. Getting it back to its original state.”

 

The Wyoming’s Engine No. 1. which is housed in the Fire Station No. 2 on Division Avenue, has participated in parades, attended Department of Public Safety events, and of course, the 28th Street Metro Cruise. Deppe said the department hopes to continue to use the truck as way to engage the community, sharing a bit of the past to teach the importance of fire safety.

Wyoming celebrates grand opening of Ferrand Park

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The City of Wyoming hosts a grand opening of Ferrand Park Saturday, Aug. 25.

By Krashawn Martin

City of Wyoming

 

After almost six months of closure, the City of Wyoming is excited to re-open Ferrand Park, 4715 Byron Center Ave., on Saturday, Aug. 25, at 10 a.m. The community and neighborhood is encouraged to join the Mayor, City Council and Parks and Recreation Commission in celebrating the renovations.

 

Two new features at Ferrand Park is the green half-circle seesaw and the dragonfly seesaw.

The new park features new and expanded play equipment, including swings, custom powerscape playground structure, and dragonfly see saw. There are also universally ADA accessible walkways, improved turf conditions and a picnic shelter.

 

“The City of Wyoming and Parks and Recreation Commission are pleased to celebrate the grand opening of Ferrand Park,” said Rebecca Rynbrandt, Director of Community Services. “We pride ourselves on excellent facilities and know that the improved accessibility of Ferrand will be a great asset to the families of our community.”

 

Ferrand Park is a small neighborhood park with a shady oak canopy. It also serves as a storm water collection area during large rains. The tree canopy is protected by a deed restriction that prohibits the removal of any trees unless dead or unsafe.

 

The grand opening celebration will feature Mayor Jack Poll and Parks and Recreation commissioner Doug Wustman.

 

The construction project, valued at $419,750, is made possible by the Capital Projects Revolving Fund and the Parks and Recreation Operational Millage.

Snapshots: Fun news you need to know from Wyoming and Kentwood

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WKTV Staff

joanne@wktv.org

 

 

Quote of the Day

 

"Being the Queen is not all about singing, and being a diva is not all about singing. It has much to do with your service to people. And your social contributions to your community and your civic contributions as well." _ Aretha Franklin

 

Making a difference

 

Having lived in Wyoming all of his life — except for a short time when he was away at college — Chris Hall felt he knew a lot about the community he lives in. Then in 2003, he joined Wyoming’s Community Development Committee and discovered even more about his city. “It is really cool because you hear from folks who have been a part of [the Community Development Committee] and they’ve learned about stuff — me included — of things that I didn’t know existed and ways that I can help out, and I think I am a better resident, a better citizen. Because of my involvement in this committee, I am able to serve my neighbors better.”

 

 

 

Time to Sparkle

 

The Grand Rapids Ballet will celebrate the arrival of its newest artistic director, James Sofranko with a gala Oct. 18. The Wild Sweet Love Welcome Gala, so named after a ballet that will be performed that event, will start at the L3VEL at The B.O.B. and then head to the company’s Peter Martin Wege Theatre. To find out why “Wild Sweet Love” was selected and how it connects to Sofranko, click here.

 

Opa!

 

Or rather Yassou!, which is the Holy Greek Orthodox Church’s annual celebration of the culture and traditions of the Greek Orthodox community. The event takes place Aug. 17 – 19 and includes music, dancing, and of course, lots of Greek food favorites. This year’s event will be supporting the Children’s Advocacy Center of Kent County (CAC). The church is located at 330 Lakeside SE.

 

While My Guitar Gently Weeps

 

Also this weekend is the popular JazzFest taking place in downtown Grand Rapids at Rosa Parks Circle. The event, which is Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 18 and 19, features a host of jazz musicians from noon to dusk both days. Edye Evans Hyde, Kevin Jones, Grupo Ayé, and Marcus Anderson are just some of the performers slated for the seventh annual event. The entire two days are free, although if you plan on sitting, you might want to bring your own chair.

 

Fun Fact:

300,000 bulbs

That is how many tulip bulbs are planted in Holland every year for the annual Tulip Time, of which 50,000 are hand planted on the Window on the Waterfront Park. Organizers for Tulip Time just recently announced submission dates for the annual Art In Bloom competition, which are Sept. 29 - Oct. 4.

For one Wyoming resident being on a city committee has helped him become a better citizen

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, City of Wyoming, , , , ,

By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma

joanne@wktv.org

 

Having lived in Wyoming all of his life — except for a short time when he was away at college — Chris Hall felt he knew a lot about the community he lives in. Then in 2003, he joined Wyoming’s Community Development Committee and discovered even more about his city.

 

“It is really cool because you hear from folks who have been a part of [the Community Development Committee] and they’ve learned about stuff — me included — of things that I didn’t know existed and ways that I can help out, and I think I am a better resident, a better citizen.

 

“Because of my involvement in this committee, I am able to serve my neighbors better.”

 

The Community Development Committee is an advisory board to the Wyoming City Council with its focus on the federally funded Community Block Development Grant program. Enacted by Former President Gerald R. Ford in 1974, the Community Development Block Grant or CDBG is one of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s longest-running programs. It funds local community development activities such as affordable housing, anti-poverty programs and infrastructure development. 

 

The funding is distributed mostly to state and local governments which controls how the funds are used.  

 

“As an advisory panel we kind of get to determine where those dollars should be spent,” Hall said. “So we make recommendations to the city council, usually it is around community development-type work, strengthening neighbors, helping with education with housing, those types of issues.”

 

Projects funded through the CBDG program have included several park improvements such as the snack area at Pinery Park and a monument at Veteran’s Park. The program has worked with various non-profits that provide affordable housing and home repair services along with helping with other needs such as English is a Second Language programs. 

 

The Community Development Committee is looking to fill some open spots. The person has to be a Wyoming resident and should be engaged in the community. The time comment is not much, about one meeting a month for a couple of hours, according to Hall.

 

“What you find you are doing is that you are more engaged between the meetings throughout the month looking for opportunities to find a nonprofit who can benefit from this or just be more engaged as a resident,” Hall said. “It’s a great opportunity for a resident of the city to participate and maybe be part of the solution.”

 

Hall went on to state that “A lot of people like to think of us as the suburbs. We are a pretty diverse city. From one end of the city to the other, there is a lot of different things happening in Wyoming. We have a lot of the same challenges we have in the urban core but the architecture is different. The cool thing is we have the ability to work on those as a community.” 

 

To learn more about the Community Development Committee or the other volunteer committees, commissions and boards at the city, visit the city’s website or contact the city clerk’s office at 616-530-7296.

Wyoming city leaders express their ‘thanks’ to voters for approving public safety renewal

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Wyoming voters approved a permanent millage renewal for its public safety at the primary election.

By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma

joanne@wktv.org

 

As Wyoming Public Safety officers and city leaders visited block parties and participated in activities for the annual National Night Out event last night, residents headed in record numbers to the polls to overwhelmingly approved the permanent renewal of the dedicated 1.25 mills for its public safety department.

 

A total of 11,432 people voted in Tuesday’s primary election, which determined party candidates for a number of races. That is 22.9 percent of the registered voters in Wyoming coming to the polls. The proposal passed 7,306 to 2,223.

 

The percentage turnout was one of the highest the city has seen in the past four primary elections, said City Clerk Kelli Vandenberg. In 2010, when Gov. Rick Snyder first ran, the city had a 20.1 percent voter turnout. In 2012, it was 9.26 percent, 2014, it was 13.5 percent and 2016, when President Donald Trump was elected, it was 10.6 percent.

 

“In talking to several other clerks in the area, the comment was it definitely felt more like a general election than a primary election,” Vandenberg said.

 

Indication that it could be busy primary election day started with the absentee ballots. The city received 2,261 absentee ballots which was about 600 more than in 2016. As to why the high turnout, VandernBerg said there could be a number of reasons such as the fact that there was a term-limited governor and this was the first time the Libertarian Party was included on the ticket.

 

As to the city millage renewal request, VandenBerg said it was certainly a nice surprise to see at the end of a very long night. City officials had no indication as to how the millage renewal would go as there was little commenting, except for a few positive posts on the city’s Facebook page, and no formal opposition presented.

 

This morning, city leadership expressed gratitude for the community’s continual support and stated they look forward to maintaining the excellent public safety programs and initiatives developed since the initial millage was first approved in 2010.

 

“We are pleased with last evening’s results and want to thank everyone who came out to vote yesterday,” says Wyoming Mayor Jack Poll. “Over the years, we have worked hard to be good stewards of the funding this millage provides, and it is clear our residents recognize we’ve made good on our promises.”

 

Public Safety Chief Kim Koster concurs with Mayor Poll’s sentiments, remarking the Public Safety Department’s efforts to work more closely with residents are bringing about excellent results for the community as a whole.

 

“Safety is at the core of the City’s mission, and the public safety millage allows us to maintain funding for critical services and programs,” Koster said. “We are fortunate to have the confidence of our residents and businesses, who continue to support our officers and firefighters. We look forward to working with the entire community to ensure Wyoming remains safe and welcoming.”

 

Following are some of the Public Safety Department’s accomplishments since the dedicated millage was first approved in 2010:

  • Achieved and maintained Gold-Standard police accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc., putting the department in the top one percent of law enforcement agencies nationwide
  • Provided a professional public safety response to more than 37,000 calls for service every year
  • Implemented efforts to visit every school in Wyoming each school day, totaling 5,738 school visits last year
  • Conducted daily and nightly visits to businesses, making 8,606 contacts and 6,852 closed business checks in 2017
  • Equipped every police cruiser with an automated external defibrillator, or AED,  as well as supplying every officer with Naloxone, which reverses the effects of overdoses
  • Increased forensic laboratory capabilities providing faster, more comprehensive results which have contributed to a higher success rate in solving crime
  • Reduced response times with the 24/7 operation of the Gezon Fire Station and the addition of two quick-response vehicles, or QRVs
  • Added three full-time fire fighters
  • Utilized part-time employees to implement a peak load staffing model which employs more staff during times of high call volume
  • Crossed-trained and licensed 22 City employees as fire fighters and utilized paid-on-call staff
  • Secured grants that allowed staff to become licensed as EMTs and purchase CPR assisted compression device

Aug. 7 millage vote will maintain public safety services

3-bottom, City of Wyoming, , , ,

By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma

joanne@wktv.org

 

Even with a six percent increase in fire and emergency calls in 2017, the City of Wyoming has been able to achieve a 4 minute and 27 second response time throughout the city.

 

And in some areas of the city, such as the southwest end, those response times have improved to just over three minutes with the re-opening of the Gezon fire station to 24/7 and the addition of two quick response vehicles.

 

The city plans to maintain those response times and its level of service through the passage of a permanent renewal of its 1.25 mills for public safety, which is on tomorrow’s primary ballot. Chief Kim Koster credits a number of programs that have been developed over the past eight years — when the millage was first approved — that have helped provide more efficiencies within the department so the city could maintain services to its residents.

 

One of those programs was the training of 22 city employees from the parks and recreation and public works departments as firefighters. This training allowed the department to call upon the employees to help with fires and other emergency calls when needed.

 

From the Wyoming Department of Public Safety 2017 Annual Report.

“So in a matter of minutes we would have more than the eight or nine firefighters that we had on, but we could have fourteen or fifteen people who are trained in fire to an emergency,” Koster said during a recent interview on WKTV Journal In Focus. “That definitely increased our service to the community and gave us a lot. It also really provided safety for our firefighters as well because they had more (people) on the scene.”

 

The program is unique and Koster said she is not aware of another city that has trained city employees to be firefighters.

 

“We do have paid on-call as well, but in today’s society it is more difficult for employers to let a volunteer or a paid on-called firefighter to leave their job to go fight a fire,” Koster said, adding that the paid-on call staff are still important to the department.

 

“Between the part-time, the paid on-call and those dual-trained employees, we feel we are addressing our staffing issues efficiently and using tax dollars very wisely with that,” Koster said.

 

The city also purchased two quick response vehicles, medical vehicles that have firefighting capability, Koster said. These vehicles only require two people to man versus an engine which needs three to four. 

 

“So we were able to put two of those machines out along with an engine from our fleet and we would have three vehicles that would respond to emergencies versus the two,” Koster said. “So we increased our response times to our citizens that way.” 

 

Chase, the Wyoming K-9 dog, at a recent public safety open house.

Also in the fire department, three full-time firefighters have been added and a program was instituted to utilized part-time staff during high call volumes to help increase staff. 

 

In the police department, the city has been able to save dollars through consolidations and collaborations with other area departments that included the centralized 911 dispatch, Koster said. The police department is also accredited, which only about one percent in the United States are.

 

“And that, I believe, really tells the taxpayers that we take our job seriously,” Koster said. “That we are accountable and we are transparent using their tax dollars to the best of our abilities.”  

 

Showing that the city would use the money raised from the public safety to the best of its abilities was a key reason that the city decided to seek only a five-year millage in 2010, according to Major Jack Poll.

 

“So we went with the five-year millage so that after five years we could go back and say this is what we promised, this is what we accomplished,” he said.

 

However with costs continuing to climb and state funding shrinking, city officials see a need for those funds in order to maintain the current level of public safety services, which is why the 2018 proposal seeks a permanent renewal, Poll said.

Wyoming hosts last on-the-road meeting for the summer

3-bottom, City of Wyoming, , ,
The Wyoming City Council at Godfrey-Lee Early Education Center

By WKTV Staff

joanne@wktv.org

 

The Wyoming City Council will have its last summer on-the-road meeting this Monday, Aug. 6, at Oriole Park, 1368 42nd St.

 

There will be a meet-and-greet from 6-7 p.m. with the meeting scheduled to start at 7 p.m. This is the third on-the-road meeting held this year with the first being in June at the Godfrey-Lee Early Education Center and in July at the Del-Mar Farms Community Room.  Both of the meetings were well attended.

 

The on-the-road meetings were started last summer with the main goal being to provide an opportunity for residents to meet with council members in their own neighborhoods while taking part in council meetings. 

 

“These are just great opportunities to get out in the community,” said Mayor Jack Poll during the meeting at Del-Mar. “We want our citizens to feel that we are very approachable and that they can come and talk with us.”

 

On Monday’s agenda is several items that will cover projects for the city’s parks and recreation and public works department along with several bid proposals and ordinance changes.

 

The council meets every first and third Monday of the month at 7 p.m. The meetings are broadcast live on WKTV Channel 26 and rebroadcast at 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday.

 

Clyde Park area remains under water advisory, city awaits test results

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The area marked in black is under a precautionary boil water advisory.

WKTV Staff

joanne@wktv.org

 

NOTE: As of 10:59 p.m. Aug. 2, the precautionary boil water advisory has been lifted and Clyde Park is now fully open to traffic.

 

The City of Wyoming is waiting for water test results to determine if a water advisory issued yesterday can be lifted.

 

Bacteriological test results should be available by midnight tonight, Aug 2.

 

A precautionary boil water advisory was put in place Tuesday evening due to a waterman break on Clyde Park between 26th Street and Cricklewood. About 45 customers are effected by the wtaermanin shutdown. 

 

The area marked in black is under a precautionary boil water advisory.

The break caused a drop in pressure in the City of Wyoming water supply, bacterial contamination may have occurred in the water system. Bacteria are generally not harmful and are common throughout the environment. 

 

What should a resident in the effective area do?

 

Do not drink the water without boiling it first. Bring all water to a boil, let it boil for one minute, and let it cool before using, or use bottled water. Boiled or bottled water should be used for drinking, making ice, brushing teeth, washing dishes, and preparing food. Boiling kills bacteria and other organisms in the water. Continue using boiled or bottled water until further notice.

 

The area marked in black is under a precautionary boil water advisory.

What happen? What is being done?

 

These precautionary actions are being taken due to the loss of water pressure in the water distribution system caused by a water main break on Aug. 1. Whenever a water system loses pressure for any significant length of time, precautionary measures are recommended. When a pressure loss occurs, water from inside a building may back flow into the water supply system.

 

The City has been working to get pressure restored, and water staff will be taking other remedial actions such as flushing and collecting bacteriological samples from around the system. The samples will be collected to determine that the water quality meets the state drinking water standard. Residents will be informed when tests show no bacteria and residents will no longer need to boil water. When water is restored, residents should remove aerators and flush water outlets for a minimum of five minutes. 

 

The boil water notice shall remain in effect until results from the sampling verify the water is safe to drink. Customers will be advised when the boil water advisory has been lifted.

Wyoming voters to see public safety millage on August ballot

3-bottom, City of Wyoming, , ,

By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma

joanne@wktv.org

 

Officers at the schools, property checks at businesses and residences, the re-opening of the Gezon Fire Station — these are just some of the accomplishments that the Wyoming Department of Public Safety has been able to complete in the last eight years when a public safety millage was approved.

 

This Aug. 7, residents are being asked to provide a permanent renewal of the annual levy of 1.25 mills for public safety. For a resident with a home valued at $100,000, the cost will remain at $62.50 per year.

 

A Wyoming Public Safety firefighter shows how a firehouse works during a recent public safety open house.

“We would like to maintain the level of service we have been able to provide this far and in order to do that those funds would be needed to continue the operations and maintain the efficiencies built into some of our models here for public safety,” said Wyoming Department of Public Safety Chief Kim Koster during a recent interview with WKTV.

 

Police and fire services account for 65 percent of the all spending from the city’s general fund. In 2010, when the millage was first proposed and passed, the city was facing declining state funding, the loss of the General Motors Stamping Plant and falling property values. Voters approved a renewal in 2014. Today, while home values have started to increase, Wyoming has faced continued cuts in state funding and its revenue status remains largely the same.

 

Through its new Pubic Safety service delivery model, the department has created many efficiencies and cost savings. One of those measures lead to the re-opening of the Gezon Fire Station which also now houses the Metro Health – University of Michigan Heath’s helipad.

 

“So through some creative staffing models we have been able to staff this Wyoming fire station out here on the south end of Wyoming for 24 hours, seven days a week,” Koster said. “In addition to that we have added two quick response vehicles. They are able to respond from [the Gezon] Fire Station as well as our central fire station that way we don’t have to take an engine to a medical call, and get there a lot faster and more efficient that way.”

 

One of the Wyoming Department of Public Safety K-9s meets with his fans.

The opening of the Gezon Fire Station and the addition of the quick-response vehicles has helped to reduce response times, according to a recent city report. Other accomplishments by the department include:

 

·       Achieved and maintained Gold-Standard police accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc., putting the department in the top one percent of law enforcement agencies nationwide.

 

·       Provided a professional public safety response to more than 37,000 calls for service every year

 

·       Implemented efforts to visit every school in Wyoming each school day, totaling 5,738 school visits last year

 

·       Conducted daily and nightly visits to businesses, making 8,606 contacts and 6,852 closed business checks in 2017

 

·       Equipped every police cruiser with an automated external defibrillator, or AED,  as well as supplying every officer with Naloxone, which reverses the effects of overdoses

 

·       Increased forensic laboratory capabilities providing faster, more comprehensive results which have contributed to a higher success rate in solving crime

 

·       Added three full-time fire fighters

 

·       Utilized part-time employees to implement a peak load staffing model which employs more staff during times of high call volume

 

·       Crossed-trained and licensed 22 City employees as firefighters and utilized paid-on-call staff

 

·       Secured grants that allowed staff to become licensed as EMTs and purchase CPR assisted compression devices

 

Residents can learn more about the millage on the city’s website at wyomingmi.gov/publicsafety or by calling 616-530-7272.

 

Wyoming City Council hosts second on-the-road meeting, discuss roads, master plan

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, City of Wyoming, , , , , ,
The Wyoming City Council prepares for the meeting at Del-Mar Community Center

By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma

joanne@wktv.org

 

For this first time in his council career, Wyoming Mayor Jack Poll walked to the council meeting.

 

The meeting was the second council-on-the-road one for the Wyoming City Council which was at the Del-Mar Community Room, the subdivision Poll lives in. The last on-the-road summer meeting is Aug. 6 at Oriole Park.

 

Community members filled the Del-Mar Community Room and thanked the council for bringing the meeting to the residents.

 

Poll said staff worked to bring subjects to the meetings that would be important to the residents of the southwest area. This meeting included discussion on the city’s master plan, upcoming road projects, and the TEAM 21 program.

 

City of Wyoming’s Principal Planner Nicole Hofer

Master Plan

 

So what will the City of Wyoming look like in the future? This was the question that the Wyoming City Council, staff, and residents will be asked to consider as the city begins the process to review and update its current master plan.

 

“Ultimately, a master plan helps to define our future vision, our economic development opportunities, what housing will look like in our city, what transportation we will have,”  said the city’s new principal planner Nicole Hofert. “Will we have busing? Will we continue with cars? Will we integrate bike lanes? It is about land use.”

 

The city’s current master plan was adopted in 2006 with the plan projected out to 2020. The city has done periodic updates on the plan but with 2020 only a few years away, the time is now for the city to look ahead at the next 20 years. 

 

Hofert said a lot has happened within the city since the master plan was first adopted. This has included the adoption of a form base code, the discussion of affordable housing, and looking at the city’s industrial sites. Also, the City of Grand Rapids has had tremendous growth and the city needs to consider how that impacts the Wyoming community, she said.

 

The review process is expected to take about 14-16 months with the goal of getting the community involved as much as possible. This includes hosting pop up events, utilizing social media, and attending community activities such as school homecomings to interact with residents and collect as much input as possible. The next step in the process will be to create a request for proposals to send it out to potential consultants for the master plan update, Hofert said. 

 

Welcome sign at the Del-Mar Community Center

Road Projects

 

Wyoming Department of Public Works Director Bill Dooley spoke about the road work that will be taking place in the City of Wyoming. The Wyoming City Council approved a bid of around $4 million for the city’s resurfacing projects. The bid was awarded to Michigan Paving and Materials Company. 

 

Dooley said the city has 650 miles of lane roads. The lifespan of a road depends on use with most being about 25-30 years with roads that have high traffic such as truck traffic, being around 10 years. The city spends about $5.5 million annual on road projects with some of the money coming from the state’s gas tax. 

 

Because the bids came in 22 percent higher than last year, a few roads were eliminated from the scope of the project. The increase cost is related to what oil prices are and asphalt is made from oil, Dooley said.

 

Poll noted that because last year bids came in so low, the city did add on some roads so as to make its dollars go farther. 

 

Dooley said that the remaining $1.5 million in roads was being used for the reconstruction of 56th Street between Byron Center and Ivanrest avenues and will include the addition of a new signal at Ivanrest and 56th. That project is scheduled to start on July 9 with the intersection being done in the fall, closer to the project’s completion.

 

Community members and city officials chat before the meeting

Team 21 program

 

The Wyoming City Council approved about $1.46 million for the city’s after school and summer program, TEAM 21.

 

The city partners with four school districts, Wyoming Public Schools, Kelloggsville Public Schools, Godfrey Lee Public Schools and Godwin Heights Public Schools to provide 15 TEAM 21 sites around the city. These sites support about 2,000 students. Wyoming Public Schools serves as the fiduciary agent for the program. 

 

“These budget amendments actually recognize approximately $1.6 million that will come into the City of Wyoming, specifically to the operations of the parks and recreation service area in supporting and employing our site coordinators and our program administrative staff,” said Rebecca Rynbrandt, the city’s director of community services.

 

This year, the city saw an increase in funding for the program, however; funding, which comes from the federal government, has been “more challenging” since the Trump administration has taken office, Rynbrandt said, adding the administration has zeroed out funding for these types of programs. Congress has been putting the funding back in when reviewing the budget, Rynbrandt said.

 

Next year, 10 sites are up for renewal. Because the city does not know its funding level until on or about July 1 and since there remains a question on funding for the future, Rynbrandt said city staff will be meeting with area superintendents to work on plans to make sure there is funding at least through the summer of  2019. She said she will be reporting at a later date on what those plans will be to accomplish that goal.

They’re baaaack — Gypsy Moth update

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, City of Wyoming, Community Health, Education, Hard News, Our Cities, Pets/Animals, , ,
Cute? We don’t think so.

By WKTV Staff

 

Just when you’re in the throes of enjoying the lush tree canopy in city, it stops being lush. One day, the shade is gone. The leaves are decimated. The mess is significant.

 

We can thank our nemesis, the gypsy moth, for that. Despite the June 5th spray in Wyoming, these buggers are back in force. (To learn how gypsy moths came to be such a menace in America in the first place, go here. Warning: Not for the faint of heart.)

 

The City of Wyoming shares your frustration. The spray has not been as effective as in years past. A gypsy moth consultant says that there are several reasons for this.

 

According to the City’s website, under ideal spray conditions, 80% mitigation is expected. The consultant believes that extreme cold in April combined with extreme heat in May disrupted many of the gypsy moths’ normal patterns and resulted in fewer gypsy moth larva ingesting the spray product.

 

The City of Wyoming is documenting calls and conveying that information to the City Council and the consultant. Residents’ calls and emails are valuable and will help determine where treatment is needed in the future.

 

On the prowl, in a neighborhood near you

Due to the moth’s life cycle and the complexity of coordinating a community-wide spray, the City is not able to conduct a secondary treatment. Homeowners are encouraged to explore mitigation efforts of their own that would best serve the needs of individual properties. Here are some products that could help:

  • Thuricide (sold under various brand names) — read the label to ensure it contains Btk
  • Tanglefoot — this is a wrap that goes around the tree trunk and it prevents the caterpillars from going up to the tree canopy to eat
  • Pheromone traps are another option, though they are not as effective

Another option is to hire a private contractor to treat smaller trees and ornamentals. Use caution when using other products as some can affect bees, butterflies and other pollinators.

 

Refer to the City of Wyoming’s Facebook page or website for more information. There’s a form you can fill out on the website to alert the City to gypsy moths in your area. Use it.

 

Michigan State University Extension has more information on what to do about gypsy moth infestations. Go here.

 

 

A love for the programs encourages resident to serve on Parks and Recreation Commission

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By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma

joanne@wktv.org

 

Note: In this continuing series, we take a look at some of the 18 boards, commissions and committees that address specific needs within the City of the Wyoming. 

 

Every second Wednesday of the month (except for July and August), you’ll find Dr. Lillian Cummings-Pulliams at Wyoming City Hall. A school psychologist for the Wyoming Public Schools. Cummings-Pulliams is at the city hall as a representative of the district on the city’s Parks and Recreation Commission.

 

She is not a resident of Wyoming, but lives in Kentwood. Since her daughter attends Wyoming Public Schools as part of schools of choice, they have participated in a number of Parks and Recreation programs and because of that, discovered she had an interest on serving on the Parks and Recreation Commission. Once she learned that the school district position was open, Cummings-Pulliams, along with a few others, applied for the open seat. 

 

Dr. Lillian Cummings-Pulliams

“I put a plea into our superintendent to say ‘Hey, if anyone is as passionate as I am about this city and about the committee, then definitely put them in.’ and so I was picked,” she said.

 

It is an opportunity she has not regretted taking as it has given her an inside look as to what the Parks and Recreation Commission does and the work that goes into maintaining the city’s 21 parks along with the Wyomig Senior Center and library facility.

 

“When you go to the parks, at least when I do, I think that the parks are just there,” said Dr. Lillian Cummings-Pulliams. “I never have ever considered what goes on behind the scenes to make the parks what they are.”

 

The Parks and Recreation Commission reviews recreational program and park needs of the community and advises the City Manager and City Council on recommended changes. The commission also plans and coordinates recreational activities and park development.

 

Ideal Park

Most recently, the Parks and Recreation Commission has been focused on Ideal Park because of the tornadoes that came through in 2014 and 2016, destroying a portion of the park, and the Gezon Park master plan.

 

There are currently two at large positions open on the commission. For those positions, a person must be a City of Wyoming resident. Because the area public schools play such a role in the parks — several schools are located close or next to a city park — the board has positions for the following schools within the City: Godwin, Godfrey-Lee, Kelloggsville, Wyoming and Grandville. Currently the Kelloggsville and Godfrey-Lee school positions are open. A person for those positions should be a school staff member. 

 

For more information about the city’s boards, commissions, and committees, click here. To apply, click here for the application, which must be sent to the City Clerk’s office, located in city hall at 1155 28th St. SW.

Widening project on 56th Street set to start around July 9

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A 56th Street reconstruction project includes adding a traffic signal to the intersection of 56th Street and Ivanrest Avenue.

By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma

joanne@wktv.org

 

If 56th Street is one of your favorite routes to take to the RiverTown Crossings or to Maple Hill Golf Course, be warned: starting July 9 you will need to find a different route.

 

It is around July 9 that 56th Street will be closed between Ivanrest Avenue and Byron Center Avenue for reconstruction that includes the road being widen to three lines. 

 

“The addition of the left-turn lane has really helped us be able to put in a traffic light at 56th and Ivanrest, which has been long over due at that intersection,” said Russ Henckel, assistant director of the city’s Department of Public Works. Currently the intersection is a four-way stop. Without the left turn lane, it hindered the city in putting in the traffic signal, Henckel said.

 

Along with the widening of the road, on the north side, a regional pathway of a 10-foot sidewalk will be constructed and on the south side, a standard sidewalk of five feet will be constructed. 

 

Regular traffic will be rerouted to 52nd Street and truck traffic will be rerouted to 44th Street.

 

“Out of all the road work that we have for the summer, the 56th Street project probably will have the most impact on drivers,” Henckel said. 

 

The reason beinging is that the road will be totally shut down to through traffic (it will be open to local businesses and residents) unlike road resurfacing projects where a lane is maintained during a project to allow for traffic flow.  

 

The City of Wyoming has a pretty extensive resurfacing program with this year focusing on a number of the city’s neighborhood roads, according to Henkel. A couple of the bigger resurfacing projects for the City of Wyoming are the west mile and a half of 44th Street from Burlingame to Clyde Park avenues and Michael Avenue from 28th Street to Prairie Parkway. 

 

Bids for the city’s resurfacing projects just went out with the Wyoming City Council expected to review and approve final bids at its July 2 meeting, Henckel said.

 

Total cost for the 56th street reconstruction is around $2.4 million which includes the city’s portion of $630,500. According to city staff, the cost does not include the city’s engineering and other expenses, which will bring the total project to about $3 million. The city will pay for its portion of construction costs out of its Capital Improvement Fund.

WY-FI concert set to kick of Fourth of July celebrations

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The Kari Lynch Band performs this upcoming Tuesday.

By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma

joanne@wktv.org

 

This upcoming Tuesday, June 26, the City of Wyoming’s popular WY-FI concert will kick off the area’s annual Fourth of July celebrations.

 

The event will feature performances by Valentiger and the Kari Lynch Band with fireworks after the concert.

 

Valentiger

Mainstays of West Michigan’s music scene since 2008, pop-rock veterans Vatentiger most recently played at 20 Monroe Live!, opening for the Gin Blossoms. A good fit for the group of three since the band has a penchant for 50s, 60s, and 70s rock and pop. The group has been performing in and around Grand Rapids for the past decade at various venues including several of the Local Spins series.

 

Kari Lynch is also a familiar face in Grand Rapids, having performed at several outdoor concerts and venues. Michigan born and raised, and now residing in Nashville, is all country and working to record her next album. Lynch has played thousands of shows across the U.S. and abroad as well, playing to crowds in the tens of thousands and has earned an impressive resume opening for some of country music’s most recognized artists including Miranda aLambert, Little Big Town, Kacey Musgraves, Dierks Bentley, The Band Perry, The Charlie Daniels Band, and Alabama. 

 

The theme for the WY-FI concert is patriotism and those who participate in the theme will be eligible to enter a drawing for a gift card that will be given out at the end the concert.. The fireworks will be after the show.

 

Also, due to the cancellation of last week’s concert featuring The Adams Family, the Wyoming Concerts in the Parks series has been extended with The Adams Family performing on Aug. 14.

 

All concerts, unless noted, start at 7 p.m. at Lamar Park, located 2561 Porter St. SW. Free parking is available at Lamar Park. All the concerts will air on WKTV 25 Wednesdays at 5 p.m. and again Saturdays at 11 a.m. and 10 p.m. For all details and up-to-date information, visit www.facebook.com/wyomingcec.

Snapshots: Wyoming and Kentwood news you need to know

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WKTK Staff

joanne@wktv.org

 

Wyoming: Candidate forum set for Thursday, June 20, at WKTV

The Wyoming Kentwood Area Chamber of Commerce hosts its Wyoming candidate forum Wednesday, June 20, at the WKTV station, 5261 Clyde Park Ave. SW. For more on the story, click here.

 

Kentwood: Summer concert series continues with May Erlewine on June 21

May Erlewine (Facebook/John Hanson)

The City of Kentwood Summer Concert series continues this week with “Michigan’s Songbird”, May Erlewine, on Thursday, June 21. The concert will begin at 7 p.m., on the lawn behind Kentwood City Hall, located at 4900 Breton Road SE. For more on the story, click here.

 

 

 

WKTV Journal

In the latest WKTV Journal newscast, we sit down with Dr. Lillian Cummings-Pulliams to talk about the Wyoming Parks and Recreation Commission and Jeremy Witt from the West Michigan Tourist Association to discuss fun, educational trips residents can take this summer. Also there is Fourth of July information along with upcoming road construction projects.

City of Wyoming promotes Maguffee to police captain

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Capt. Jim Maguffee (right) with newly appointed Fire Chief Brian Bennett (left)

The City of Wyoming has promoted Lt. James Maguffee to administrative captain in police services. He takes over the position that was vacated by Chief Kim Koster upon her recent promotion. In this role, Maguffee will oversee the department’s administrative processes such as those related to accreditation, annual reporting, internal affairs, public information and grant funding.

 

Maguffee began his career with the Flint Police Department where he served for seven years before joining the Wyoming Department of Public Safety in January of 1998.

 

He was promoted to sergeant in 2005 and specialized in patrol operations, investigations and community services.  He served as a member of the department’s motorcycle unit and is the current leader of the department’s Honor Guard.  In 2012, Maguffee earned a promotion to lieutenant where he worked as a patrol commander, oversaw the department’s community policing efforts, and was eventually assigned as the investigative division commander.

 

“For the past three-and-a-half years, Jim’s leadership of the Investigative Division has been instrumental in the department’s ability to bring some of our most challenging and intricate cases to a successful conclusion,” Koster said.  “I look forward to his contributions to the overall direction of the administration of our Public Safety Department.”

 

Maguffee is a graduate of Cornerstone University and Northwestern University’s School of Police Staff & Command.  He currently serves as an adjunct instructor for both the Grand Rapids Community College and Grand Valley State University police academy programs.

 

Recently, the City of Wyoming also promoted Brian Bennett to the position of fire chief. Bennett has been with the city since 2015. Bennett has served in fire services for more than 30 years and received his initial certifications from the Rockford Fire Academy. Bennett plans to continue working on the department’s commitment to customer service through the efficient delivery of emergency meeting services. For more on Bennett, click here.

 

Snapshots: Fun news you need to know from Wyoming and Kentwood

3-bottom, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Local Faces, Voices, WKTV Projects, ,

 

WKTV Staff

ken@wktv.org

 

Wyoming: Delilah Dewylde’s Rockabilly sounds at Lamar Park on June 12

 

Delilah DeWylde (Photo by Tyler Steimle)

Delilah DeWylde and her band the Lost Boy brings a high-octane rockabilly sound to the next Wyoming Concerts on Tuesday, June 12, starting at 7 p.m., at Lamar Park, 2561 Porter St. SW. The performance is free.

For the complete story, click here.

 

Kentwood: Adams Family will kick off summer concert series June 14  

 

The Adams Family (Facebook)

The Adams Family will be the first of a summertime full of music as the City of Kentwood’s Summer Concert Series offers free concerts and family entertainment on select Thursday nights from June to August. All concerts will begin at 7 p.m., on the lawn behind Kentwood City Hall, located at 4900 Breton Road SE.

For the complete story, click here.

 

WKTV Voices: You love Marge’s donuts, and you will love her and her sisters stories

The WKTV Voices trailer is at Marge’s Donut Den the second Saturday of each month. In March of this year, Marge and her sister Marilyn sat down to record their oral history. Hear what these marvelously mischievous siblings had to say about the various pranks they pulled during their childhood.

To see the video, click here.

 

Brian Bennett named as City of Wyoming’s new fire chief

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Brian Bennett has been named as the new deputy director of fire services/fire chief for the City of Wyoming.

By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma

joanne@wktv.org

 

A familiar face will be taking over as the City of Wyoming’s new fire chief.

 

At its regular Monday meeting, the Wyoming City Council unanimously approved a contact to hire Brian Bennett as the city’s new deputy director of fire services or fire chief. Bennett replaces former Fire Chief Chuck Lark who retired.

 

Bennett came to the department three years ago when Lark was hired to serve as the assistant deputy director of fire operations for the City of Wyoming. Before coming to Wyoming in 2015, Bennett was the fire chief for the Caledonia Fire Department 12 years and before that, served as the deputy chief for that department. Firefighting runs in the family as Bennett’s father was a firefighter for 30 years and his sons,Tony and Brad, are also firefighters with Brad received a unit commendation during the 2017 City of Wyoming Department of Public Safety’s awards ceremony.

 

“About three years ago we approached Brian Bennett along with Chuck Lark with an idea and asked them if they would come and lead our fire department,” said Wyoming’s Public Safety Chief Kim Koster. “We deploy our fire department in some traditional ways, so we were looking for someone who was willing to think outside of the box and be willing to come in and work hard and provide some excellent leadership. Brian stepped up to the plate along with Chief Lark at the time.

 

“Lark has since retired and we decided we would like to go in the same direction that we have been going for the last three years and we believe that Brian Bennett will continue the forward movement of the fire department.”

 

The positive momentum has included opening the Gezon Fire Station 24/7 which has helped to reduce the city’s overall response times to 4 minutes and 27 seconds, which Koster pointed out earlier in the meeting with her presentation of the Department of Public Safety’s annual report.

 

While response times have gone down, the department has seen a 15 percent increase in calls every year since 2015, Koster said, adding that she credits some of that increase to continue growth of the south side of the city which has had a number of commercial and residential construction projects. The department also added three full-time firefighters, expanded its part-time program and all firefighters are trained to the EMT Level 1.

 

About 17 parks and public works employees have been cross-trained to help the fire department during structural fires and the department has developed a special response program that includes water, ice, trench, hazmat, and machine rescue.

 

“We really have been progressive the last three years,” Bennett said after the meeting, pointing out that a combination of full- and part-time firefighters allowed the city to have the Gezon Fire Station operational 24/7. Members of the department also have been involved in a number of community events such as Soups-On, WinterFest, WY-FI Concerts in the Park, Relay for Life, Pumpkin Path and National Night Out.

 

He said he sees the department continue to build on that progress to provide the best service it can to the city and its residents. This includes continuing the accreditation process for the Wyoming Fire Department.

 

“We’ve appreciated your service over the last couple of years and trust that the fire department will continue to show great progress and there has been a lot of good continued to happen since Chief Lark and you have been here and we trust that will continue on,” said Mayor Jack Poll at the meeting.

The Porters set to kick off 2018 Wyoming’s Concerts in the Park

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The Porters are set to open the Wyoming Concerts in the Park series.

By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma

joanne@wktv.org

 

It’s time again to grab a chair, a cooler and head to Lamar Park for the City of Wyoming’s Concerts in the Park.

 

The annual event is set to kick off at 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 5, with its Kids’ Night featuring The Porters. The Grand Rapids-based group, which includes Matt Porter, Lynn Porter, Barbara Weatherhead, and Pete Weatherhead, performs interactive music and movement for children. 

 

As part of the fun for this year’s Concerts in the Park, each night will have a theme. Those who participate in the theme will be eligible to enter a drawing for a gift card that will be given out at the end the concert. The June 5 theme is to dress like your favorite Disney character. 

 

A deaf interpreter will be at the June 5 show as well as the June 19 show which will feature The Adams Family.

 

The rest of the Wyoming Concert Series’ performers and themes are:

June 12: Delilah DeWylde with the theme of flowers

June 19: the Adams Family with the theme of retro

June 26: the WY-FI concert with Valentiger and Kari Lynch with the theme of patriotism 

July 10: Cabildo with the theme of wear your bright colors

July 17: Soul Syndicate with a beach theme

July 24: Blue Soul Express with a Mardi Gras theme

July 31: Matt Gabriel and wear you cowboy hat

Aug. 7: the National Night Out with Yellow Brick Road, Elton John and Billy Joel dueling pianos, with a super hero theme

 

All concerts, unless noted, start at 7 p.m. at Lamar Park, located 2561 Porter St. SW. Free parking is available at Lamar Park. All the concerts will air on WKTV 25 Wednesdays at 5 p.m. and again Saturdays at 11 a.m. and 10 p.m. For all details and up-to-date information, visit www.facebook.com/wyomingcec.

 

Kentwood Summer Concert Series

 

The Kentwood Summer Concert Series kicks off the following week on June 14 with The Adams Family. The Kentwood series is every Thursday (except for June 28 and July 5) through Aug. 2 The event takes place at 7 p.m. on the lawn behind the Kentwood City Hall, 4900 Breton Rd. SE. The series is free with participants encouraged to bring their own lawn chair and drinks. Food trucks will be at each show.

Memorial Day ceremonies planned for both Kentwood, Wyoming

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The Memorial Day parade in Kentwood.

 

By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma

joanne@wktv.org

 

Many communities will be honoring those who have given their lives to serve this Memorial Day, set for May 28, including the communities of Wyoming and Kentwood.

 

City of Wyoming

 

Veterans lay a wreath during Wyoming’s 2017 Memorial Day ceremony.

The City of Wyoming will host its annual Memorial Day Ceremony at 7 p.m. on Monday, May 28, at Veterans Memorial Garden, 2380 DeHoop SW. The community is welcome and encouraged to attend.

 

The ceremony will feature guest speaker retired Sergeant Brian Gravelyn who served in the Marine Corps Reserves. During his service he was activated twice and deployed once to Iraq. He is the recipient of several distinguished medals and ribbons.

 

“The City of Wyoming is honored to recognize those who have served and those who continue to serve our country in the armed forces in order to protect our freedoms,” said City of Wyoming Mayor Jack Poll. “The Memorial Day Ceremony is a tribute to that service and protection and we are grateful to continue the tradition of this ceremony in our very own Veterans Memorial Garden.”

 

The ceremony will feature the Lee High School band led by Kevin Gabrielse and the Wyoming Department of Public Safety Honor Guard who will fire a rifle volley salute. Poll will host. The program will air on WKTV Channel 25 at 8:30 p.m.

 

City of Kentwood

 

Wreaths are laid during the Kentwood Memorial Day ceremony.

In Kentwood, the Amvets Post and the American Legion D.W. Cassard Post 208 have shared the responsibilities of hosting the annual parade and service with one group hosting it one year dn the other hosting it the nest. For 2018, the Cassard Post 208 have organized the event.

 

According to the D.W. Cassard Post’s website, the parade is set for 9 a.m. Monday, May 28. It kicks off from the Disabled American Veterans (DAV), near the corner of 48th Street and Eastern Avenue. From there, it will head west down 48th Street to Kentwood’s Veteran’s Memorial Park located in front of the Kentwood Activities Center, 355 48th St. SE. At the park, there will be a ceremony including the laying of five wreaths, one for each of the branches of the military service: Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, and Coast Guard. The service will last about an hour. The Kentwood Memorial Day celebration will air at 12:30 p.m. and again at 8 p.m. on WKTV Channel 25.

 

WKTV Programming

 

Throughout Memorial Day, WKTV Channel 25 will be featuring a variety of Memorial Day program. The rest of the day’s schedule includes 9:30 a.m. and 3 p.m., A Saltue to Honor; 10 a.m., Memorial Day Tribute; 10:15 a.m. and 9 pm. ,The Lost Boat Ceremony; 1 p.m., Lest We Forget; and 6:30 p.m., Vietnam Moving Wall.

A little rain did not deter Wyoming residents for attending city’s annual Public Works Day event

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By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma

joanne@wktv.org

 

It was a little wet and rainy on Monday but it didn’t stop Wyoming residents or employees from enjoying this year’s National Public Works event at the Wyoming Department of Public Works.

 

“It seems like it has been 20 years that we have been doing this and we haven’t had a night where it has been raining,” said Public Works Director Bill Dooley. “It is uncanny how every single year, even if it was raining earlier in the day by the time it got to this event, the sky would open up and it would be sunny and warm. So, we are a little disappointed that it is rainy but we are probably due for something like this.”

 

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.

 

Having hosted a Public Works Week Open House for the past 24 years, the event has become one of the City of Wyoming’s most anticipated activities for families.

 

While the rain did curb this year’s numbers – Dooley estimated the department will only go through about a third of its usually 2,000 hot dogs – many still came out to enjoy the event and learn more the Wyoming Department of Public Works.

 

“We do this because we want the community to feel really comfortable with who we are,” Dooley said. “We’re the public works organization and we take care of the streets, water system and the sewer system and there is a lot of aspects in doing that. So, we want to make sure that the public feels comfortable with us helping them.”

 

The event is focused around families with the department sending flyers out to the area schools. With that in mind, the activities are children-focused with the food being hot dogs, balloons and coloring books, and the vehicles Dooley said, adding “little children like to sit in the trucks and be around them…”

 

“We so look forward to this,” Dooley said. “Unfortunately, the weather isn’t perfect, but even if there was only 10 families here we would be so happy to have them and welcome them and just spend time to get to know them. So, we will do this every year as it is a lot of fun for us.”

Big trucks, free hot dogs: It’s Wyoming’s annual Public Works Day event

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Students get up close to check out the trucks during Wyoming’s Department of Public Works open house

 

 

 

By Allison Biss

WKTV Editorial Assistant

 

The City of Wyoming is celebrating National Public Works Week once again on Monday, May 21, at the Wyoming Public Works Department, 2660 Burlingame Ave. SW. The event that attracts more than 1,500 visitors gives the public the chance to learn about the Public Works Department and its services, meet community members and much more.

 

“This is a great time for us to show them who we are and what we do in the community and how we can make a better community,” said Carlos Ochoa, a Wyoming Department of Public Works employee.

 

From 5-8 p.m., staff will be present to talk to visitors about the work they do for the community as well as show off various pieces of equipment that they use. For the children, the equipment on display is the highlight of the event.

Public Works employee Carlos Ochoa shows off one of the trucks that collects leaves.

 

“Kids get to sit in a backhoe or a loader, sit in a street sweeper,” said Wyoming Department of Public Works Assistant Director Aaron Vis. “The weather is always good every year and of course, there is free food – free hot dogs, free drinks, free chips so I think that’s what brings people out.”

 

Besides the big trucks and hot dogs, residents can enjoy learning about those who help shape and maintain their community. This event is not only enjoyable by community members, but by public works staff as well.

 

“Oh, I love seeing the citizens,” said Public Works employee Jerry West. “We actually get to work with people from different departments too, which is fun. We don’t get to see each other all the time so yeah, it’s a blast to see the citizens, just let them know what we do and how we tick.”

 

“It’s a great event for the public to get to see what goes on in the city and what we do,”  said Wyoming Mayor ProTem Sam Bolt.

 

For public works employees, this event is not just about displaying their work within the community.

 

“We reach a lot of people,” Vis said. “We have 72,000 customers in our city so for us to get some of them in every year and take a look at what we do, we appreciate it. It’s our way of saying thank you back to the community.”

 

National Public Works Week is May 20-26 and is celebrated by many communities across the country.

Wyoming Department of Public Works open house is set for Monday, May 21.

Wyoming City Council hires city’s first-ever in-house attorney

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Scott G. Smith will be joining the city as its new attorney on July 1.

In a unanimous vote, the Wyoming City Council has hired Scott Smith as its city attorney during its May 14 meeting.

 

In this role, Smith will serve as the chief legal advisor to the City, responsible for providing legal services to the City Council, city manager, all departments, and City boards and commissions. He will render legal opinions, prepare contracts, ordinances, resolutions, leases and other documents, and assist in drafting proposed legislation on matters of interest to the City. He will defend the City in cases filed in all courts and assist with managing the hiring and work of outside attorneys retained to provide legal services to the City in various specialty areas. Smith will begin his duties on July 1.

 

With the hiring of Smith, the City will bring its legal services in-house for the first time in its history. Wyoming had previously contracted with Jack Sluiter and his firm Sluiter, Van Gessel & Carlson PC, who will continue to do project work. Sluiter has indicated his intention to slow down his practice as he prepares to retire.

 

“As Wyoming continues to grow and the nature of our work becomes more complex, we feel the time is right to bring legal services in-house,” said Wyoming City Manager Curtis Holt. “We have long partnered with Scott Smith on innovative development projects, policy recommendations and other issues and have admired the depth and breadth of his knowledge on municipal matters.

 

“We have appreciated the fine work of Jack Sluiter and his legal team over the years. We look forward to building on that foundation and are delighted to welcome Scott to our team. We know having him contribute to our efforts on a daily basis will greatly benefit our City.”

 

Smith comes to the City with nearly four decades of municipal law experience, most recently with the firm Dickinson Wright PLLC. He has worked with dozens of public entities and authorities across Michigan, providing general counsel on municipal matters as well as special counsel regarding joint emergency services, brownfield and downtown development, local development financing, utilities, tax increment financing, district libraries and utilities.

 

He has been a part of several legislative workgroups, most recently serving on Lt. Gov. Brian Calley’s personal property tax legislative work group. He has also authored the municipal partnership act, 2011 PA 258, as well as amendments to other intergovernmental contract statutes, the brownfield redevelopment financing act, 1996 PA 381 and tax increment financing legislation such as 2018 PA 57.

 

“The City is on the brink of some exciting developments, and we need a strong internal team to get the work done,” said Mayor Jack Poll. “Scott has been a trusted advisor to the City for many years, and we know he will help us turn our vision into reality. He is thoughtful, innovative and an extremely strong collaborator.”

 

Smith earned his law degree from the University of Michigan Law School and his bachelor’s from Wheaton College in Illinois. He is active in the community, serving in board capacities for Grandville Baptist Church, Wedgwood Christian Services, Lake Ann Camp and Freedom Baptist School.

 

He resides in Grandville with his wife, Mari, and has two sons who live nearby with their families. He and Mari are the proud grandparents of five, soon to be six, grandchildren.

5 Local Things You Need to Know: For the weekend, to start next week

Citizen Journalism, , , , ,

Wyoming: Lee High School hosts Copa Rebelde

At Lee High School’s Copa Rebelde and on other local fields, several local girls high school soccer teams will be in action this weekend.

 

The Lee High School girls soccer team, on Saturday, May 12, will host its first Copa Rebelde — Rebel Cup, for those of you not bilingual, which most of coach Gabriel Snyder’s team is.

 

And while the event should feature some great tournament soccer action, it will also be a community celebration of sorts.

 

“We are lucky to have a team and community that can embrace their cultural heritage as much as they do,” coach Snyder said to WKTV. “Copa is ultimately just a word but that word represents more than a tournament cup. It represents our small community’s strong ties with Latin America.

 

For more on the story, click here.

 

Wyoming: Fair Housing Seminar

 

Deadline for the City of Wyoming’s Fair Housing Seminar is fast approaching. Those interested in the May 21 seminar should register by May 14 by calling 616-530-3164. The event is at the Wyoming Senior Center community Room, 2380 DeHoop Ave. SW from 9 a.m. to noon.

 

For more on the story, click here.

 

Kentwood: Brush-Drop Off Site Open

The Kentwood’s Brush Drop-Off site is open this Saturday from 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. Kentwood residents can bring brush to the site located at the Kentwood Department of Public Works, 5068 Breton Ave. SE.

 

The site will be open through June 7. Hours are 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. Saturday. Burning of brush materials is not allowed within the city. For more information, click here.

 

Local: Gravel Bottom moves into Ada

 

Gravel Bottom Craft Brewery will open a new facility as part of the Ada Village redevelopment project on Friday, May 11.

 

“We’ve put a lot of time and effort into making this feel similar to what the other Gravel Bottom was: welcoming and comfortable,” Matt Michiels, Gravel Bottom owner, said in supplied material.

 

The new bar will offers 20 taps, which will allow Gravel Bottom to have more “experimental styles” in rotation.

 

For more on the story, click here.

 

West Michigan: Tulip Time in Holland

Holland’s Tulip Time still has a lot of activities left before wrapping up this Sunday, on Mother’s Day. Tulips are blooming at a variety of locations including the Window on the Waterfront Park.

 

The Music Parade is this Saturday at 2 p.m. There is also an arts and craft show, carnival and a number of free activities taking place.

 

For more on the story, click here.

Wyoming presents fair housing seminar

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The City of Wyoming will host a seminar for rental property owners and housing professionals.

 

Free and open to the public, the City of Wyoming invites residents to learn more about housing-related topics. The seminar will take place in the Wyoming Senior Center Community Room, 2380 DeHoop Ave. SW on Monday, May 21 from 9 a.m. to noon.

 

Designed for Wyoming landlords, rental agents, property management personnel, real estate agents and residents, the three-hour training seminar will provide practical, up-to-date information to assist housing professionals in their daily compliance with fair housing laws, and provide information on local agencies and resources who address various housing-related needs.

 

Topics and speakers include:

  • “Don’t break the law – what you need to know as a landlord relative to Section 8” will be presented by the City of Wyoming Public Housing Commission
  • “Fair housing practices update – what are your responsibilities & how are you affected?” will be presented by the Fair Housing Center of West Michigan
  • “City of Wyoming rental inspections program update – what are the proposed ordinances relative to multi-family dwellings & rental inspections for manufactured housing?” will be presented by the City of Wyoming Building Inspections Department

 

The Rental Property Owners Association and Wyoming Building Inspections Department will be available after the sessions to answer any questions. To register, please call 616-530-3164 by May 14.

 

A continental breakfast will be served. Seminar completion certificates will be provided upon completion. The educational seminar is sponsored by the Wyoming Community Development Department and the Rental Property Owners Association.

 

For more information, call the City of Wyoming at 616.530.7266 or visit the City website at www.wyomingmi.gov. Follow the City on Twitter @WyomingCityHall and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/CityofWyoming.

5 Local Things You Need to Know: Headlines for the Week

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By WKTV Staff

joanne@wktv.org

 

Wyoming/Kentwood: Transformando West Michigan

Shawn Kohlhaas, owner of Culinary Cultivations, talks to participants in the Transformando West Michigan program.

 

The West Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce launched its newest intiative Transformando West Michigan, “Feeding Minds, Mouths, and Pockets.” The goal of this program is to provide Hispanic business owners currently working or with the desire to work in the food industry with the necessary financial tools and food safety knowledge to become successful. 

 

The inaugural class kicked off at Gordon Food Service. The class is six sessions over three months with those who complete the program receiving food safety certification required by the health department of any restaurant operator.

 

For more on the story, click here. 

 

Kentwood: The Vibe gala is coming up

Garrett Bazany in Kentwood’s adapted water ski clinic.

 

Got your tickets to the Kentwood Parks and Recreation’s The Vibe yet? The event is set for Friday, May 18. The third annual fundraiser benefits the Kentwood’s Adaptive Sports programs, which provide recreation opportunities for individual with disabilities.

 

Tickets for the semi-formal event are $100 per person and can be purchased online at kentwoodvibe.com or by call 616-656-5270.

 

For more on this story, click here.

 

Wyoming: Buck Matthews makes last appearance

Buck Matthews

Once known as the voice of West Michigan, Buck Matthews is on his farewell tour offering one last piece of advice: write down and share your stories.

 

Matthews will be at First & Main of Metro Health Village, 6812 Village Dr. SW, Wednesday, May 9, to talk about his latest book, “The Book in Each of Us.” The program is at 2 p.m. In the book, Matthews discuss the experience of writing and encourages others to do the same to share their stories.

 

For on this story, click here.

 

Wyoming: Concerts in the Park schedule announced

The Wyoming Community Enrichment Commission has released its 2018 Concerts in the Park line-up. The series runs from June 5 to Aug. 7. All concert are at 7 p.m. at Lamar Park.

 

To see the schedule, click here.

 

West Michigan: Local African-American music scene

A student-produced film on the history of black musicians in Grand Rapids will be shown Thursday, May 10 at Celebration Cinema North, as well as on Xfinity On Demand cable TV beginning the same day.

 

A student-produced film,  “Rhythm and Race: A History of African American Music in Grand Rapids,” on the history of black musicians in Grand Rapids will be shown Thursday, May 10, at Celebration Cinema North, as well as on Xfinity On Demand cable TV beginning the same day. The screening is at 6:30 p.m. followed by a panel discussion.

 

For more on the story, click here.

Wyoming cleans up with another successful community clean-up day

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By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma

joanne@wktv.org

 

Almost 400 cars made their way through the City of Wyoming’s third annual Community Clean-Up Day site this past Saturday.

 

Hosted at the Grand Rapids First church, organizers said about 25,289 pounds of household hazardous waste and more than 41 tons of refuse was removed along with about 40 mattresses collected. Organizers are waiting for the numbers on recycling.

 

The Salvation Army was there as well and several items were donated.

 

The Community Clean-Up Day was established three years ago by one of the three strategic planning committees made up of city employees. When staff first came up with the plan for the community clean ups, they looked at areas of the city that had a particular amount of complaints regarding the improper disposal of refuse, according to organizers, with three specific areas identified. It was decided the event would be hosted in a different part of the city every year. The first year, 2016, it was at Godfrey-Lee Early Education Center. In 2017, it was at North Godwin Elementary School.

 

Every year the event has grown with the first year having around 332 cars to this year having almost 400 cars.

 

For those still cleaning, the city does have a Yard Waste Drop-Off site, located at 2660 Burlingame Ave. SW. There are no limits to the size of branches or shrubs, however, residents must unload the yard waste themselves and all containers must be removed from the facility.

 

Also Kent Recycling offers a number of options for a variety of items to be recycled such as metal, plastic, and paper. For more information, visit reimaginetrash.org.

 

Wyoming’s spring carnival set to open this Friday

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It’s time to celebrate spring, which the City of Wyoming plans to do by hosting its annual spring carnival at Lamar Park.

 

The carnival opens on Friday, April 27 and runs through Sunday, May 6, at Lamar Park, 2561 Porter St. SW. Carnival times are Monday through Thursday from 4 – 8:30 p.m.; Friday from 2-8:30 p.m.; and Saturday and Sunday from noon – 8:30 p.m. 

 

“What says family fun like a spring carnival?” said Rebecca Rynbrandt, director of community services for the City of Wyoming. “The carnival is a great opportunity for the community to come out and celebrate the change in seasons in a fun and exciting atmosphere.”

 

The carnival will feature entertainment for all ages, including games, prizes, and carnival fare favorites. A spectrum of rides will be available for carnival-goers, from crowd pleasers, such as a carousel and Ferris Wheel to the adrenaline-inducing Mega Drop and Wipe Out.

 

Proceeds from the carnival support City of Wyoming parks and recreation services and the Greater Wyoming Community Resource Alliance or GWCRA. Funds raised support youth scholarships and youth and family programming through the Wyoming Parks and Recreation Department. The GWCRA distributes funds to the community through its annual grant awarding process.

 

The spring carnival is made possible through the City of Wyoming Parks and Recreation Department. For more information, call the Wyoming Parks and Recreation Department at 616-530-3164.

Wyoming Tree Commission celebrates Arbor Day with a variety events

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Mayor Jack Poll reads a proclamation at last year’s Arbor Day event.

By The Wyoming Tree Commission

 

The City of Wyoming Tree Commission, “The Tree Amigos,” has four reasons to celebrate Arbor Day 2018.

 

Tree City USA. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources has informed the City of Wyoming that the Arbor Day Foundation has designated the City of Wyoming as a 2017 Tree City USA community. This is the City’s second year as a designee. To receive the designation, cities must have a tree board or department, a tree-care ordinance, an annual community forestry budget of at least $2 per capita, and an Arbor Day observance and proclamation.

 

Tree-covery Block by Block. On April 21, The Tree Amigos and student volunteers will plant 24 street trees in the City. Planting will begin 9 a.m. in the 4200 block of Flamingo Avenue SW where ten Wyoming residents have signed up for the project. The volunteers will plant another fourteen trees at other residents’ homes in various locations throughout the City. The Wyoming residents will help plant and pledge to maintain the hearty tree sapling in front of their homes. A matching-funds grant from the Michigan DNR Urban and Community Forestry Program and the USDA Forest Service, State and Private Forestry Program helped cover the cost of this project.

 

Beverly Bryan Community Orchard. NOTE: This event has been moved to May. The Tree Amigos will join West Elementary students and volunteers recruited by Kent School Services Network (KSSN) at Wyoming’s West Elementary School after school to plant ten more fruit and nut trees at the Beverly Bryan Community Orchard.  Named for the late wife of the Tree Commission’s vice president Greg Bryan, who provided funding, the orchard was started August 30, 2017 with five, rescued heirloom apple trees, donated by Habitat for Humanity. Other funding comes from a Slow Food West Michigan Biodiveristy Mini-grant, Greater Wyoming Resource Council, District 77 Giveback and private donations in memory of Beverly Bryan.

 

Arbor Day Proclamation. At 10 a.m. Friday April 27. Wyoming City Commissioner Kent VanderWood will read the 2018 City of Wyoming Arbor Day Proclamation during a special celebration at Wyoming West Elementary School. After the speech, West Elementary students will sing a few songs to celebrate the community orchard.

 

For information on The City of Wyoming Tree Commission, like The Tree Amigos on Facebook or email TreeAmigosWyoming@gmail.com.

It’s spring with Wyoming helping residents with that urge to purge

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The City of Wyoming’s annual clean up day is Saturday, April 21.

By Seth Van Ast

Editorial Assistant

 

Sometimes there are those things around the house that you want to throw away but disposal can be expensive and some items can be a hazardous challenge to handle. Well the City of Wyoming will help residents take care of that as the city hosts its third annual Community Clean-Up Day, Saturday, April 21.

 

“It came about as an opportunity for people who maybe have refuse or recycling or household hazardous waste at their homes and weren’t sure on how to get ride of those items,” said Terra Wesseldyk, who is with the Wyoming Public Safety Department and is heading up this year’s event. “We wanted to help make Wyoming beautiful, so we developed a program in which people could come to a centralized location and get rid of all those items.”

 

Recycle Kent will be on hand at this year’s event.

Started in 2016 through a employee committee, the event encouraged many in the city to clean up and dispose of unwanted items. Every year the event has grown with last year, more than 400 vehicles going through the 2017 location at North Godwin Elementary School, which was a 20 percent increase over the previous year’s event. About 15,000 pounds of electronics were recycled including 140 tubed TVs. About 5,096 pounds of household hazardous waste was dropped off and 4,400 pounds of metal were recycled. About 43 dumpsters were filled and 60 toms of refuse was hauled away by Plummer’s Disposal.

 

Also every year, the event has been at a different location.

 

“It was developed as a plan in which we would move the location of the clean up to different areas in order to serve each area of the city,” Wesseldyk said. “So that people who weren’t able to bring large items to an area across the city, that if they had it closer to them they would be able to bring larger items to us.”

 

This year’s event will be at First Grand Rapids, 2100 44th St. SW. 

 

“People will need to enter traveling eastbound on 44th Street and enter at the northeast entrance of Grand Rapids First,” Wesseldyk said. “There will be lines and there will be volunteers showing where to enter. All the other entrances will be barricaded so nobody can go in any of the other entrances.”

 

Join the challenge by getting rid of old electronics.

Trash, recycling, and household hazardous waste will be accepted with a picture ID to show proof of Wyoming residency. Organizers are asking that people show up no later than 1:30 p.m. The Kent County Department of Public Works, Recycle Kent and the Salvation Army will be on hand to take various items.

 

The only items that citizens will be charged for dropping off will be mattresses, box springs and tires. All of this is being sponsored by the the Greater Wyomig Community Resource Alliance.

 

For questions or further information, call 616-530-7226 or visit wyomingmi.gov/cleanup

Wyoming City Council promotes Kimberly Koster to Public Safety chief

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Capt. Kim Koster has been named the new Wyoming Pubic Safety Chief. She will be sworn in on April 25.

In a unanimous vote, the Wyoming City Council has named Kimberly Koster its new director of public safety during its regular April 16 meeting. She will be sworn in Wednesday, April 25.

 

In this role, Koster will lead a team of nearly 130 full-time personnel, including 86 sworn police officers and 29 full-time firefighters. She is the first woman to lead the Department of Public Safety. Koster will replace Chief James E. Carmody, who will retire on April 26 after more than four decades of service in public safety – including 11 with the City of Wyoming.

 

““Capt. Koster has been an exceptional officer and instrumental member of our public safety team, and I am fully confident she will soar in this new role,”” said Wyoming City Manager Curtis Holt. “”She has gone above and beyond in her various positions, and I believe is a role model and trusted figure for our residents.

“”We look forward to seeing her future accomplishments as she leads our public safety team in its ongoing mission to protect and to serve our community.””

 

With more than two decades of law enforcement experience, Koster began her career with Wyoming as a school resource and community policing officer. In this position, she worked with neighborhood groups and organized community events to bridge gaps and build solidarity among neighbors.

 

She worked her way up through the ranks to detective, sergeant, lieutenant and, most recently, captain, a position she has held since 2010. In this role, she assisted with the formation of the Public Safety Department through the administrative consolidation of police and fire services, created a new staffing model, facilitated dispatch operation transitions and led a collaborative effort in the development of the department’s five-year strategic plan.

 

““It has been an honor to watch Capt. Koster grow professionally and to form such strong bonds of trust with colleagues and the public,”” Chief Carmody said. ““This department has some of the very best public safety professionals.  They work extremely hard, and Kim is at the forefront of this team.

 

““I have complete confidence in her ability and look forward to watching her take this department to the next level, while providing second-to-none police and fire services to our community.””

 

As the chief of police and fire services, Koster plans to develop strategies that will improve the delivery of the department’s public safety services. She will ensure the open and lasting dialogue necessary to keep the community safe is maintained and members of the community are served with dignity, respect, fairness and compassion.

 

““The Wyoming community has been such an incredible place to begin and to progress in my career,”” Koster said. “”Chief Carmody has been a phenomenal mentor, and I am honored and humbled to have the opportunity to take the reins and lead this first-rate public safety department, which is committed to exceptional service and strong community relations.””

 

Throughout her career, Koster has been recognized with several commendations, including the Life Saving Award, Chief’s Award of Excellence, Outstanding Young Public Safety Officer and Safe Driving Award.

 

 

She served as a 911 communications supervisor, during which time she led the consolidation of police and fire operations in multiple communities, including Wyoming’’s, move to Kent County. She has also served as lead detective in homicide investigations and as a crisis negotiator, among other critical roles throughout her career.

 

With a commitment to training, she graduated with Class 251 of the FBI National Academy. She also attended the Leadership Institute training hosted by Grand Rapids Police Department and the Police and Staff Command training hosted by Northwestern University.

 

Koster received her associates degree from Grand Rapids Junior College, her bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Grand Valley State University and her master’s degree in criminal justice administration from Ferris State University.

 

She resides in Grand Rapids with her wife, Marie, and three of her children, Bonham, Cash and Jett. She also has two adult stepchildren, Samantha and Alex.

Two neighborhood clean ups set for tomorrow, depending on weather

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The Annual Division Avenue Clean up is set for Saturday from 7:45 – 10 a.m.

By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma

joanne@wktv.org

 

Two neighborhood groups plan to hit the streets Saturday, April 14, for annual clean ups along Division Avenue and 28th Street.

 

At 7:45 a.m., community members are invited to meet at Godwin Heights High School, 50 35th St. SW, for the Division Avenue Annual Clean-Up hosted by the Division Avenue Business Association (DABA). Work will be along Division Avenue from 28th Street to 44th Street. The event is from 7:45 a.m. to 10 a.m.

 

Abundant Life Church is hosting the Team Up to Clean Up event for 28th Street. Volunteers are asked to meet at 10 a.m. at Marge’s Donut Den, 1751 28th St. SW. Volunteers will be working along 28th Street from Burlingame Avenue to Byron Center Avenue. The event is scheduled for 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. with lunch provided.

 

Of course with the National Weather Service having placed the Kent County under a winter storm watch, organizers of the event advise residents to double check that events are taking place before heading out.

 

For the Division Avenue clean up, visit the Facebook page by clicking here.

 

For the 28th Street event, visit the event page by clicking here or got to the Abundant Life Church of God Facebook page.

Planet Fitness moves into former Big Lots location at Rogers Plaza

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PF Michigan Group, LLC (“PFMG”), one of the nation’s largest franchisees of Planet Fitness health clubs, will celebrate the opening of its newest Grand Rapids-area location in Wyoming at 958 28th Street SW on March 20 from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.

 

The grand opening event, which is being held with the Wyoming-Kentwood Area Chamber of Commerce, is a free event and open to the public. It will kick off at 11 a.m. and include a ribbon cutting ceremony at 11:30 a.m. Immediately following, food and light refreshments will be served. The first 100 guests will receive a giveaway, and each guest will be entered for a chance to win a complimentary one-year PF Black® card membership and brand-new, 49” television.

 

Guests will have an opportunity to tour the new facility and network with other area businesses and residents. In addition, several local lawmakers, including Wyoming Mayor Pro-Tem Sam Bolt, will be present.

 

“We are very excited to be part of the community in Wyoming, giving residents access to our state-of-the-art facilities,” said Bryan Rief, one of the Northville, MI
-based franchise owners responsible for bringing Planet Fitness to Wyoming. In addition to Wyoming, Bryan and Laura Rief own and operate 38 other Planet Fitness locations throughout Southeastern Michigan, Central Michigan, Grand Rapids and Toledo.

 

Planet Fitness has plans to open an additional 12 to 15 Planet Fitness clubs in Michigan in the next 2-3 years, said Rief.

Per residents’ request, Wyoming City Council considers short-term rental ordinance

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Wyoming City Council will consider an ordinance on short-term rentals at its next meeting set for March 19.

 

By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma

joanne@wktv.org

 

“It’s noisy, it’s loud,” said Steven Christensen of an AirBnB located near his home along Mayflower Drive in Wyoming. “You are trying to sit in the living room, trying to relax and people are coming and going, slamming doors all the time. It’s just loud. I had one time with a wedding … I have to go to work at five and they are out there at three o’clock in the morning hooting and hollering it up.”

 

Christensen and his neighbor Andrew Hanselman attended a Wyoming City Council work session earlier this year to encourage the city to host public hearings on short-term rentals such as AirBnBs, VRBO, and HomeAway, in an effort to create a city ordinance to regulate them.

 

At its March work session, the Wyoming City Council reviewed an ordinance that would prohibit all short term rentals for non-owner occupied homes. The proposed ordinance will be presented at Monday’s regular council meeting, which is at 7 p.m. at the Wyoming City Hall, 1155 28th St. SW.

 

“So, if I owned a house, I could rent my room or a room in the house, the basement or something as a short-term rental and that would be completely acceptable,” said City Manager Curtis Holt as he explained the proposed ordinance. “If I own a house and I bought a house just for the idea of an AirBnB that would not be acceptable. If I own a house and let’s say I would be out-of-town for long periods of time and I wanted to hold that house, it would not be acceptable to do short-term rentals with it.”

 

Holt acknowledged that the ordinance would address the one property the city has received two complaints about. In general, the city has not received a lot of complaints about short-term rentals. He said in a recent search, city staff found about six properties listed as short-term rentals. The most the city has had at one time is around 12, Curtis said.

 

“Well, understand this short-term rental issue is far more prevalent in tourist destination type towns…,” Curtis said.

 

The tougher challenge would be enforcement, Curtis said. Mayor Jack Poll said he could see that as if he goes away for the weekend and his children came by to stay, it would be tough to determine if they were renting or just house guests.

 

Still several council members liked the simplicity of the proposed ordinance and it gave something for the city to refer to when a property owner is blatantly obvious in not following the rules.

 

The ordinance could have a short life. At the state level, both the House and the Senate have bills — HB5403 and SB329 respectively — in committee that would prohibit municipalities enacting zoning ordinance bans of short-term rentals. Rep. Steve Johnson said during a January Government Matters, cities would still be able to regulate short-term rentals through such means as noise, advertising, traffic or other conditions. The house bill remains in committee, Johnson said.

 

“There is a battle going with one side on the private property rights of an individual who owns a piece of property versus local control and what control a local municipality can have on it,” State Senator Peter MacGregor said of the proposed Senate bill. In the past couple of months, there has been little movement on either the Senate or House bill.

 

Holt said municipalities have several concerns about the state bills. It is the belief of many community leaders, including those in the cities of Wyoming and Kentwood, that to avoid inspection requirements, landlords would change their leases to 28 days or less.

 

“The majority of people who own residential properties do a great job,” said Mayor Stephen Kepley during the January Government Matters meeting, “but then you have have five percent who don’t and if they don’t have to do something they aren’t going to do something.”

 

To prevent a “one bad apple” scenario, Kepley said city officials are hoping to prevent that loophole so as to keep the neighborhoods nice. Currently the City of Kentwood does not have any regulations on short-term rentals.

 

AirBnB has opposed outright banning of short-term rentals but does support fair regulations. In an October 2017 Crain’s Detroit Business op-ed piece, a representative for AirBnB said “by taking the nuclear option off the table (the banning of short-term rentals), this law would encourage communities to collaborate with local hosts on commonsense rules…”

 

The most popular Michigan destinations for AirBnB travelers is Detroit followed by Ann Arbor and then Traverse City. Traverse City does regulate short-term rentals like bed and breakfasts. Traverse City’s ordinance requires owners must be present when renters are there, be licensed and cannot be within 1,000 feet of one another.

 

Last summer, AirBnB did strike a deal with the Michigan Treasury to collect use taxes. It is estimated that about $1.5 million would be generated through the tax. The move also will allow the state to track and collect the six percent use tax that applies to nightly rental charges on stays in Michigan hotels for periods of less than a month. However the six percent use tax, currently, does not come back to the municipalities.

Wyoming City Council approves about $624,000 in park improvements

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The existing playground equipment at Ferrand Park currently does not have swings.

By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma

joanne@wktv.org

 

Gezon Park is not the only City of Wyoming park property that will be seeing some improvements in the near future. At its Monday night meeting, the Wyoming City Council approved work to three city parks, Ferrand, Buck Creek, and Lamar, totaling about $624,366.

 

All of the improvements were part of the city’s 5-Year Community Recreation Master Plan, with one project falling under the 2017 approved library millage proposal for .16 of the .39 library millage money tube used for park improvements.

 

Ferrand Park was one of four parks that was part of the 2017 library millage. Gezon Park and its master plan process was another park under this proposal along with Ideal and Jackson parks. Ferrand Park is a small pocket park located off of Byron Center Avenue that serves a very dense residential area, according to city staff. Staff added that the park has not had any improvements or new equipment in a number of years. It currently has no shelter, pathways or swings and outdated play equipment.

 

At its meeting, the Wyoming City Council unanimously approved a contract for $344,376.70 to the lowest bidder, Denny’s Excavating, Inc., for work on the park. This work would include accessible pathways, shelter, new and expanded play equipment that would include swings, and improved turf conditions.

 

The current restroom facility at the Buck Creek Nature Preserve.

Also unanimously approved by the city council was a bid for $136,990 by by low bidder Vancer Kodde Construction for the replacement of the more than 30-year-old restroom at the Buck Creek Nature Preserve. The Buck Creek Nature Preserve entrance is located just north of the Burlingame and 44th Street intersection on Burlingame Avenue. The city had initially budgeted about $115,000 for the new restroom, adding another $64,290 to the over budget — now totaling $189,290 — to help cover the difference plus other costs associated to the project.

 

The city staff noted in its report that the city was able to save money on the project by re-using the architectural plans for the Frog Hollow restroom. Those plans, which were designed by Fishbeck, Thompson, Carr and Huber, Inc., were modified for construction in a floodplain. The facility will be converted from wood to brick to ensure a longer life as well as reducing a fire hazard. The new restroom also will meet ADA requirements and will be located in the general footprint of the current building.

 

The city council also approved a bid of $143,000 for LED sports lighting equipment to Musoc Sports Lighting, LLC. The lighting will be for the north softball field at Lamar Park, 2561 Porter St. SW. By going through a national bid process, the city was able to save about 15-20 percent on the purchase of the lights. However, staff is expecting an increase in costs for installation as “contractors are busy.” The overall cost for the project is estimated to be around $362,730. A bid process is underway for the general contractor to install the lights.

 

The Wyoming City Council meets the first and third Mondays of the month at 7 p.m. in the council chambers at the Wyoming City Hall, 1155 28th St. SW. The meetings are broadcast live on WKTV Channel 26 and rebroadcast at 7 p.m. Tuesdays and Fridays.