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City of Eaton Rapids

Michigan's Island City

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Tri-county Transits Give Voters Free Rides for Primary Election

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Tri-county transits give voters free rides to early voting and polling sites for presidential primary election

LANSING, Mich. – To eliminate transportation barriers for voters, the region’s three transit agencies – CATA, EATRAN and Clinton Transit – will provide systemwide free rides to early voting locations Feb. 17-25 and to polling sites on Tuesday, Feb. 27, the day of the presidential primary election. There will be no in-person voting on Monday, Feb. 26. To ride free of charge, simply inform your driver that you are going to vote when you board. There is no ID requirement.

With the passing of Proposal 2 in November 2022, voters now have the constitutional right to cast their vote early for every statewide and federal election. For a list of early voting locations, ballot boxes and polling sites, visit https://mvic.sos.state.mi.gov. Trips to ballot boxes located throughout the three counties also qualify for a free ride.

Trips on CATA’s Spec-Tran and Rural Service must be scheduled by 5 p.m. the day before riders plan to vote. Same-day rides are not available for these services. CATA also recommends that all Redi-Ride trips to vote be scheduled a day in advance. Demand-response rides can be arranged by calling 517-394-2282.

EATRAN riders must reserve trips to and from Eaton County early voting locations and polling centers by calling

517-543-4087 no later than 5 p.m. the day before they plan to vote.

Clinton Transit voters should call 989-224-8127 or use the Clinton Transit mobile app to schedule a ride at least a day in advance of travel to and from the county’s early voting locations and polling centers. Scheduling hours are Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. – 6 p.m., and Saturday, 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Visit www.cata.org/vote, www.eatran.com or www.mybluebus.com for additional information regarding free rides.

CATA, EATRAN and Clinton Transit work collaboratively to meet the mobility needs of our region. Our services are provided in accordance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, without discrimination on the basis of race, color or national origin.

PERSON OF CONTACT: Lolo Robison – lrobison@cata.org/517-896-1873

Notice of Election Registration

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NOTICE OF REGISTRATION FOR THE ELECTION TO BE HELD ON TUESDAY, FEBRUARY  27, 2024 EATON COUNTY, MICHIGAN CITY OF EATON RAPIDS

To the Qualified Electors of the City of Eaton Rapids

COUNTY OF EATON STATE OF MICHIGAN

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that any qualified elector of the County of Eaton, Michigan, who is not already registered, may register to vote at the office of the City Clerk; the Office of the County Clerk; a Secretary of State branch office, or other designated state agency.  Registration forms can be obtained at www.mi.gov/vote and mailed to the Township or City Clerk.  Voters who are already registered may update their registration at www.expressSOS.com.

The last day for receiving registrations by mail, or at the County Clerk’s Office, will be Monday, February 26, 2024.

After February 12, anyone who qualifies as an elector may register to vote in person with proof of residency (MCL 168.492) at the following:

MunicipalityAddressRegular Business HoursHours on Saturday, February 26  Hours on Tuesday, February 27
Eaton Rapids City200 S. Main St Eaton Rapids, MI 48827Monday – Friday 830 am – 4 pmSaturday 7:00 am – 3:00 pm7:00 am – 8:00 pm

Sample ballots may be viewed at www.mi.gov/vote or at your local clerk’s office.

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2024

LAST DAY FOR VOTER REGISTRATION OTHER THAN IN-PERSON

Persons with special needs as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act should contact the appropriate clerk’s office. Or call the Michigan Relay Center TDD # 1-800-649-3777

This notice is given as required by law (MCL 168.498(3)).

Robin Webb

Eaton Rapids, City Clerk

January Mayor’s Corner

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Welcome to 2024 Eaton Rapids!

City Council kicked off the new year with our newest council member joining the team, Deb Malewski. Deb has been a staple in our community for many years. We are looking forward to working with her for the next few years.

One of the biggest challenges council will face this year is working on the Horner Mill property. As you may have heard, the owners of the property, Mill St. LLC, had their $653,000 state land bank grant revoked, due to noncompliance. Unfortunately, this was no surprise to many of us who have been dealing with this owner for years. On a good note, the owners now have an interest in deeding the property over to the Eaton County Land Bank. The county land bank has more funding resources at its disposal than the city so this could be a great opportunity. I am hoping to hear more on this in the next few weeks and will keep you updated.

Another issue that the city has been working on for almost a year is the safety concerns at the Main/Hamlin crosswalk. After many discussions with the State, MDOT has finally agreed to install a flashing light on top of both the north bound and south bound crosswalk signs. This is to alert drivers to stop when pedestrians are about to cross. Many people do not stop and let people cross even though it’s the law, so we are hoping this solution will be effective. This work is to be sent out for bid by the end of this year then we should see the new signage with the lights in early 2025. We are happy that MDOT was willing to hear us out on the dangers and safety concerns many of you have had.

Council will start working on the next fiscal budget soon and we welcome you to join our meetings and hear your feedback. We meet on the 2nd and 4th Mondays of each month, both at 5pm and 7pm.

Stay safe and warm!

Mayor Pam

EATRAN Connector to Resume Service

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EATRAN Connector to resume Jan. 15

Saturday service to launch Jan. 20

LANSING, Mich. – The Eaton County Transportation Authority will bring back a new-and-improved Connector service Jan. 15, 2024. The new service will operate 6 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday, and – in an unprecedented move – Saturday service will be available between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. The new Connector will offer improved routing and expanded service hours.

Riders will notice changes in routing and boarding locations. Buses will serve stops at the new courthouse on Independence Boulevard in Charlotte; the old courthouse on Bostwick Street in Charlotte; and Walmart on Marketplace Boulevard in Delta Township. The 30-minute route will travel along I-69 and I-96 between the two cities. Commuters will be able to connect to CATA’s Route 3 on Marketplace Boulevard for continued eastbound travel in Delta Township or to downtown Lansing. Visit cata.org for Route 3 fare and service information.

Eaton County Commissioner and EATRAN Board Chair Terrance Augustine said, “The return of the Connector is the culmination of a shared and strategic vision for coordinated public transit in our region. It represents collaboration between many partners who understand and support the concept of regional mobility. We are working on and look forward to launching additional Connector services in the very near future. This truly is only the beginning.”

Scheduled departure times will be posted at bus stops. If arranged 24 hours in advance, Connector buses will deviate up to three-quarters of a mile from the established route for pickups beyond designated bus stops. Call 517-543-4087 to schedule a ride or visit eatran.com for details. “As we continue to align the region’s transit agencies, our vision for more efficient, boundary-free transportation options is becoming a reality,” said EATRAN Executive Director Bradley T. Funkhouser. “The reintroduction of the EATRAN Connector will result in 14 additional hours of service each week – yet another example of our ongoing commitment to regional mobility.”

ABOUT EATRAN

EATRAN provides safe and affordable transportation to ensure that all riders, especially people with disabilities and mobility challenges, have access to services and resources that allow them to pursue a lifestyle of their choosing and promote quality of life. Our community embraces its own uniqueness, appreciates the contributions of all Eaton County residents and recognizes that our region deserves the very best transportation services possible.

MEDIA CONTACT

Lolo Robison

Public Information Officer

lrobison@cata.org

Mobile: 517-896-1873

View EATRAN Flyer/Schedule

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December Mayor’s Corner

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There have been many accomplishments for the city this year that I would like to highlight for you.

We received several grants this year that will allow improvements and important services such as the Clean Water State Revolving Fund, that will allow upgrades to our wastewater infrastructure. We received a $40,000 grant from Eaton County Parks, which will allow us to build a pavilion at the Outdoor Recreation Center and purchase a river gage that will monitor the river’s water flow. The Fire Department received a $10,000 grant to use for added equipment.

We signed a new ambulance contract with Sparrow-Eaton EMS. A 4-year agreement that will keep ambulance service here. This was a long process that we are happy to see finalized.

We welcomed 2 key department managers to City Hall: Genny Allen, Treasurer & Finance Director, and Robin Webb, City Clerk. They have added more transparency and professionalism to their positions, and I look forward to working with them both in 2024.

We are happy to report that the financial audit for the 2022/2023 fiscal year was filed and presented to City Council at its December 11th meeting. Audits are required to be filed with the State 6 months after the close of the fiscal year. With the hard work of City Manager Ridge, Treasurer Allen and our accounting firms, the audit was filed early with no significant findings. We have a great team that makes the financial health of our city top priority.

While we didn’t see the progress we hoped for with the former Horner property, we made progress behind the scenes, working with Eaton County and State Land Banks. There is light at the end of the long tunnel regarding the cleaning up of this property and I hope to have more details to share in January.

I wish you all a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Mayor Pam Colestock