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City of Eaton Rapids

Michigan's Island City

City of Eaton Rapids

January Mayor’s Corner

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The City of Eaton Rapids had a very productive 2024! We welcomed 3 new officers to our Police Department. Officer Green and Officer Benson successfully completed cadet and field training and Officer Kipp successfully completed cadet training and is currently in field training. We also have 1 new cadet starting the academy soon. We are happy that they have chosen Eaton Rapids for their career in law enforcement.

We welcomed Lisa Barna as our new Community and Economic Development Specialist. Lisa works directly with the DDA and LDFA on projects and also assists city staff with other economic initiatives. We appointed Rick Loftus to City Council. Rick represents the Council At-Large position and has made a great addition to our team.

We also appointed some new members to our various boards and committees, as well as reappointed current members. Their time and dedication to these boards is greatly appreciated as we cannot move forward without their work and commitment on these boards.

We started a major sewer project in 2024 that should wrap up in early 2025. We also received a grant to inspect and assess our lead lines. This work resulted in a $34 million grant for work to the lead lines along with other water projects in 2025.

We completed major bridge repairs to 3 bridges; State Street, East and West Knight Street bridges. We also held our annual events such as the 4th of July, Downtown Trick or Treating and added one new event, a Wine Walk that was a huge hit.

This year we will be just as productive. The Planning Commission and City Council will be considering the adoption of an updated Zoning Ordinance. We will continue working with Eaton County on a recycling center and we are also working to bring a housing development to the City! Our DDA and LDFA continues to work to bring new economic incentives and development to the downtown and industrial parks.

Last but not least, we will see the return of Urban Air in October. Planning has begun, and we are super excited to see this return! We will also see the Horner Mill property officially turned over to the Eaton County Land Bank! This is great news as we will finally start seeing progress towards the demolition and clean up of the property.

If you’d like to stay up to date on these or other projects, please join us at our council meetings. We appreciate the feedback! As well, if you’d like to get involved on one of our boards or committees, please let me know.

Wishing all of you a very Happy New Year!

Notice of City Council and Council of Governments Meeting Cancelation

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 NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING – CANCELED 

To comply with the Michigan Open Meetings Act (MCL 15.265): 

The City of Eaton Rapids City Council and Council of Governments 

Council of Governments on January 16, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. is Canceled. 

Eaton Rapids City Hall 
200 S. Main St 
Eaton Rapids, MI 48827 

The City of Eaton Rapids will provide necessary reasonable auxiliary aids and services, such as hand signers for the hearing impaired, audio tapes of printed materials being considered at the meeting, to individuals with disabilities at the meeting (and/or hearing) upon two weeks notice to the City of Eaton Rapids. Individuals with disabilities requiring auxiliary aids or services should contact the City of Eaton Rapids and leave a message which includes (1) who you are/how to contact you, (2) what meeting and date you wish to attend, (3) what aid you are requesting. 

Contact: Eaton Rapids City Clerk, voice phone, (517)663-8118; U.S. mail, 200 S. Main Street, Eaton Rapids, Michigan 48827; E-mail rwebb@cityofeatonrapids.gov. 

Affidavit 

This notice was posted by Robin Webb, Clerk, to comply with Sections 4 and 5 of Michigan Open Meetings Act (MCL 15.265) at 9:00 a.m. January 14, 2025, on the bulletin board at City Hall at least 18 hours prior to the start of the meeting. 

I, Robin Webb, City Clerk, certify that the foregoing notice has been posted as specified above in accordance with the Michigan Public Act (MCL 15.265) as amended. 

Robin Webb, Clerk 
City of Eaton Rapids 

Notice of ZBA Meeting Cancelation

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CANCELED MEETING NOTICE 
To comply with the Michigan Open Meetings Act (MCL 15.265): 

The City of Eaton Rapids Zoning Board of Appeals 

200 S. Main Street 
Eaton Rapids, MI 48827 
(517) 663-8118 
cityofeatonrapids.gov 

The Meeting scheduled for January 08, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. HAS BEEN CANCELED DUE TO LACK OF BUSINESS. The next regularly scheduled meeting will be held on February 12, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. 

Robin Webb, Clerk 

 Notification of Eaton Rapids Snow Removal Ordinance 

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The City of Eaton Rapids snow ordinance is designed to ensure that snow is removed in a timely manner from public sidewalks and walkways. If you will be out of town, arrangements must be made to have your snow cleared. The City snow ordinance will be enforced throughout the winter. 

Chapter 19, Streets, Sidewalks, and Public Grounds, Article II, Sidewalks, Section 25, Owners to Clear Snow and Ice; Removal: Costs of the City of Eaton Rapids Code of Ordinances. Under the provisions of this ordinance: 

  • The occupant of every lot or premises adjoining any street, or the owner of the lot or premises, if not occupied, shall clear all ice and snow from sidewalks adjoining the lot or premises by 12:00 noon of the following day. 
  • If any owner or occupant of any house, building, or lot shall fail to remove or cause to be removed snow as provided in subsection (a), the City may cause the snow to be removed at the expense of such occupant or owner and the cost, as determined by the City Council, if not paid within 30 days after billing, shall become a lien in favor of the City against the house, building, or lot. The cost shall be assessed against the house, building or lot or, in the case of the personal property contained thereon, the same as real and personal property taxes are assessed and levied. 

 This ordinance can be viewed in its entirety at cityofeatonrapids.gov. 

Robin Webb 
City Clerk 

Eaton Rapids Area Parks & Recreation Master Plan – Public Comment and Public Hearing Notice

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PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the City of Eaton Rapids, Eaton Rapids Township, and Hamlin Township are currently working on the proposed 2025-2029 Eaton Rapids Area Parks & Recreation Master Plan. The Eaton Rapids Area officials have opened the required 30-day public comment period for the proposed draft plan. The comment period will be open between December 4, 2024, and January 3, 2025.

The draft plan is available for review and download here: https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:US:a12a9a44-32b6-44bc-b4b3-e57218830408 or may be viewed at the following locations:

  • Eaton Rapids City Hall – 200 S. Main Street Eaton Rapids, MI 48827
  • Eaton Rapids Township Hall – 2512 S Canal Street Eaton Rapids, MI 48827
  • Hamlin Township Hall – 6463 S Clinton Trail Eaton Rapids, MI 48827

Please direct email comments to Corey Cagle, ccagle@cityofeatonrapids.gov. Written comments may be delivered to Eaton Rapids City Hall at the address referenced above.

The City of Eaton Rapids City Council will hold a public hearing on the draft plan at their regular meeting on Monday, January 13, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. at City Hall. The Council will consider adoption of the plan at this meeting.

Hamlin Township Board will hold a public hearing on the draft plan at their regular meeting on Wednesday, January 8, 2025, at 6:00pm at the Township Hall, 6463 S. Clinton Trail, Eaton Rapids, MI 48827.  The Board will consider adoption of the plan at this meeting.

Eaton Rapids Township Board will hold a public hearing on the draft plan at their regular meeting on Thursday, January 9, 2025, at 7:00pm at the Township Hall, 2512 S. Canal, Eaton Rapids, MI 48827.  The Board will consider adoption of the plan at this meeting.