City of Cedar Springs

Help celebrate Earth Day April 24, 2010 by participating in the City of Cedar Springs’ second annual Earth Day Photo Contest open to students and residents in the Cedar Springs area.

To enter take a picture that best depicts the theme:  “Cedar Springs Loves Mother Earth!”  Entries must be submitted in digital format as an attachment to email.  Send your entries by March 31, 2010 to City Clerk Linda Branyan at:  labranyan@wingsisp.com

Include your name, home address, email address, classification (resident or student – if student, include your age and grade level,) where the picture was taken and two or three sentences describing the photo and how it best depicts the theme.  Put “photo contest” in the subject line.  Photos must be taken in the Cedar Springs 49319 area and must be current (no older than one year old.)

Only amateur photgraphers may enter.  Prizes will be awarded to elementary, middle and high school age students, Cedar Springs area residents and a Judges Favorite.

If you have questions, please call 616.696.1330 ext. 103

The City is accepting bids for the following:

The installation of a 3 in. RPZ Backflow Preventer for the Fire Barn located at 31 W. Maple St. and

The installation and replacement of the DPW Garage Overhead Door located at 66 S. Main St.

Please contact DPW Superintendent Jerry Hall (616.696.1330 ext. 108) with questions and to receive a bid package or to schedule an appointment to view the facilities.

Bids are due by 10:00 a.m. March 24, 2010.

The City is also accepting proposals for spring street sweeping of approximately five miles of downtown streets. 

Please contact Jerry Hall, DPW Superintendent at 616.696.1330 ext. 108 for a map and bid specifications.  Bids are due by 10:30 a.m. March 29, 2010.

After consideration by the Downtown Development Authority (DDA) and City Council, the property located at 95 N. Main will be sold.  Request for Proposals (RFPs) will be due on August 31, 2010.  Interested parties should download the RFP.  Questions should be directed to City Manager Christine Burns 616-696-1330 x 104.

Be Cautious About Giving Info to Census Workers

With the U.S. Census process beginning, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) advises people to be cooperative, but cautious, so as not to become a victim of fraud or identity theft. The first phase of the 2010 U.S. Census is under way as workers have begun verifying the addresses of households across the country. Eventually, more than 140,000 U.S. Census workers will count every person in the United States and will gather information about every person living at each address including name, age, gender, race, and other relevant data.

The big question is – how do you tell the difference between a U.S. Census worker and a con artist? BBB offers the following advice:

If a U.S.  Census worker knocks on your door, they will have a badge, a handheld device, a Census Bureau canvas bag, and a confidentiality notice. Ask to see their identification and their badge before answering their questions.  However, you should never invite anyone you don’t know into your home.

Census workers are currently only knocking on doors to verify address information.   Do not give your Social Security number, credit card or banking information to anyone, even if they claim they need it for the U.S. Census. 

REMEMBER, NO MATTER WHAT THEY ASK, YOU REALLY ONLY NEED TO TELL THEM HOW MANY PEOPLE LIVE AT YOUR ADDRESS.

While the Census Bureau might ask for basic financial information, such as a salary range, YOU DON’T HAVE TO ANSWER ANYTHING AT ALL ABOUT  YOUR FINANCIAL SITUATION.  The Census Bureau will not ask for Social Security, bank account, or credit card numbers, nor will employees solicit donations.  Any one asking for that information is NOT with the Census Bureau.

AND REMEMBER, THE CENSUS BUREAU HAS DECIDED NOT TO WORK WITH ACORN GATHERING THIS INFORMATION.  No Acorn worker should approach you   saying he/she is with the Census Bureau.

Eventually, Census workers may contact you by telephone, mail, or in person at home. However, the Census Bureau will not contact you by Email, so be on the lookout for Email scams impersonating the Census.

Never click on a link or open any attachments in an Email that are supposedly from the U.S. Census Bureau.

For more advice on avoiding identity theft and fraud, visit www.bbb.org.

Oh, my.  Here comes Ol’ Man Winter with a vengeance!  The DPW crew is working diligently to get the slush removed before the snow arrives this afternoon.  The DPW has priorities when it comes to snow removal.  First they address the major streets, followed by the local streets, sidewalks which are trunklines to the school and finally public parking lots.  Depending on how quickly the white stuff comes down, they may be only able to keep up with the streets.  Rest assured, they will get to the sidewalks and parking lots eventually but safe vehicular travel is far more essential. 

Please, please please remind your children not to play in snowbanks next to the roadway.  It is very dangerous; our crews work at all hours of the day and night and travel at high rates of speed. 

Residents are also reminded that you can not park on City streets or in the right-of-way (20′ from the centerline of uncurbed streets) from 3 a.m. until 6 a.m. from November 1 until May 1.  Officers will ticket your vehicle for violating the City ordinance.

Be safe!

Christine Burns, City Manager