I was honored to lead my fifth State of the City a few weeks ago. I believe a state of the city holds significant value for our community overall as it celebrates our successes this past year and identifies the challenges we have faced. There are several areas that this annual event touches like policy priorities, understanding the economic climate in Walker, and, I believe, most importantly, transparency and accountability in what the city is focused on. The presentation was live streamed, and you can find a link to the recording on our city website and social media in multiple places. 

As far as those policy priorities are concerned, they remain the same from my first year serving as mayor. They are Public Safety, Industrial and Commercial Development, Housing Inventory, Fiscal Strength, and Quality of Life. So, where do these priorities and commitments come from? That is a simple answer: our community. Recently, while eating in one of our outstanding Walker restaurants, a couple of residents stopped by our table to share some kind words about the state of the city. When I hear, “You stole my list of the things I want my money spent on,” I believe we continue to get things right. While representative of only one household, that resident’s comments are the same ones I have heard for the 13 years of holding office. We all know you cannot have a healthy and safe community without a solid public safety presence - and without question, both our fire and police departments are two teams that separate Walker from other areas. The industrial and commercial development that is impossible to miss in our city pays our bills and allows us to expand our services to our residents and businesses. Adding to our housing inventory is desperately needed because people want to live here, and we currently cannot meet those needs. Our fiscal strength is needed to make sure we are always able to not only meet our current needs, but also to plan for the future and any unforeseen surprises that might come our way. Last but not certainly least is our quality of life. This encompasses many areas, like our parks, trails, and library. Yet, quality of life also includes areas like our roads and infrastructure. I cannot find a time we have invested so much at one time into this category. 

In closing, if you are election fatigued from the commercials, phone calls, and emails, there is never a better time than to walk away from the technology and get out and enjoy those many parks and trails in Walker. With the changing of the seasons, the changing of the colors is about to go into showoff mode and make for a can-not-miss viewing experience. There is nothing better to balance the intensity of some heated election campaigns at all levels with some decompression by enjoying our parks and trails system.

As always, thank you for choosing to call Walker home. 

Mayor Gary Carey, Jr

Calling All Young Leaders!

Applications are now open for the Mayor's Youth Academy. We’re seeking passionate teens who want to make a difference in our community. This advisory committee works to encourage engagement with high school-age leaders at a local level, develop programs with local schools, and promote public service with these students. It's a fantastic opportunity to help shape the future of our City and have your voice heard when making important decisions! 

Meetings will run once a month from October to May.

• First meeting is Tuesday, October 29, 6:30-8 PM
• Every meeting following will be on the 3rd Monday of each month, 6:30-8 PM

Who can apply:

• High school juniors and seniors
• Must be residents of Walker

Applications are due October 11. Click here to apply. 

Knights Run for Education

Get ready to lace up your sneakers and hit the pavement for a great cause! The Knights Run for Education is Saturday, October 12. By participating, you’ll be helping to raise funds for the Kenowa Hills Education Foundation, which provides grants to our excellent teachers to enhance the learning experience for all students. Your support will directly impact our classrooms and make a difference in the lives of our students.

Public Works & Engineering Updates

Bristol Bridge

Bristol Avenue is open once again as construction on the new bridge wrapped up in mid-September. The 117-year-old single-lane underpass has been replaced with a double-arched structure. The improvement includes a new bridge with both northbound and southbound movements. The new design also includes a sidewalk on the east side of the road.

The bridge's previous height of 10 feet has increased to 14.5 feet in accordance with state design guidelines. The sidewalk system will be expanded north in 2026, which will help to enhance pedestrian connectivity between the Fred Meijer Pioneer Trail and West Catholic High School.

Fun Facts:

• It was manufactured in 18 pieces in Bay City, Michigan, and shipped 150 miles to Walker on 18 "oversize load" semis.
• The larger arch sections weigh 50,000 pounds each, and the total weight is over 600,000 pounds.
• The monstrous crane used to place the arches had a rated capacity to lift 500,000 pounds!! It was on the site for three days and is rented from Erickson's for $10,000 per day.
• The arch bridge is designed to carry a train locomotive weighing 568,000 pounds.
• The arches are supported by steel-reinforced concrete foundations that rest on top of 76 steel piles that go over 50 feet into the ground. Each pile can support well over 200,000 pounds.

Dive into the World of Watersheds

A watershed is an area of land draining to a common waterbody. If you live in the greater GR area, your home is within the Lower Grand River Watershed (LGRW). From recreation to conservation, your actions matter, as they can influence the health of this watershed. Discover more about the LGRW at www.lgrow.org and learn why safeguarding it is crucial.

Income Tax Department Updates

Due Dates

Fourth quarter estimated payments for calendar year 2024 are due January 31, 2025. Forms are available on our website.

Forgotten Returns

If you have past years of Walker returns that you have forgotten to file, contact the tax department immediately at (616) 791-6880. If you file prior year returns and pay the tax and interest due, you may request a waiver of penalty. If the tax department contacts you first regarding unfiled returns, you will not be eligible for a waiver of penalty. We are electronically matching State of Michigan returns filed from a Walker resident address with Walker returns filed. If you have forgotten to file Walker returns from prior years, now is the time to get that cleared up before the letters go out from this matching program.

Have questions?

If you are not sure if you need to file Walker Income Tax returns, the most common questions are answered on our website. You can also call us at (616) 791-6880.

Clerk's Office Updates

• Election Day – Tuesday, November 5, Polls will be open from 7:00 AM - 8:00 PM.
• Early Voting is available to Walker registered voters from October 26 to November 3 from 8 AM to 4 PM at the Walker Commission Chambers, 4243 Remembrance Road NW, Walker.
• Register to Vote:
• The last day to register to vote by mail or in person anywhere but the Walker City Clerk's Office for this election is October 21. Eligible Walker residents with proof of residency can register to vote in person at the Clerk's office by 8 PM on Election Day.
• Extra Clerk Hours—The Clerk’s office will be open on Saturday, November 2, from 8 AM to 4 PM for anyone who needs to register to vote or pick up an absentee ballot.

Those who wish to vote by absentee can request an absentee ballot for the upcoming elections. Absentee ballots can be obtained by the voter:

Apply for an Absentee Ballot Online – Completed applications will automatically be sent to the City Clerk's Office so an absentee ballot can be issued.



Apply for an Absentee Ballot By Mail— Applications can be downloaded and returned by mail or dropped in one of the City's designated elections drop boxes. Signed and completed applications can also be emailed to the clerk’s office. Once the application is received, the voter’s absentee ballot will be mailed. 

Apply in person at the Clerk’s office during normal business hours or on Saturday, November 2, from 8 AM to 4 PM. The voter can pick up an absentee ballot in the Clerk’s office until Monday, November 4, at 4:00 PM.

Voters can email or call the Clerk’s office to request that an application be mailed to them. The number is (616) 791-6865.

Fire Department Updates

Police Department Updates

New Officers

Walker Police Department continues to bolster our staffing. Two new hires, Officers DeGroot & McGinnis, recently completed the field training process and are now on solo patrol. Two other hires, Officers Grabinski & Mickey, are in field training and progressing well.

Officer Promotions

Walker PD also recently promoted Chris Wietfeldt from Corporal to Sergeant, and Mitch Campbell from Officer to Corporal. Both have been assigned to a night shift squad.

The department also added a second Community Outreach Officer after several years of only having one liaison for the entire City. Officer Tyler Glass moved from Road Patrol into this role and will be the liaison for our North District schools, churches, and businesses. Officer Harkema will continue in this role for the South District.

Finally, as we do every year, we look forward to seeing all the boys & ghouls in their Halloween best at Walker’s Pumpkin Bash on October 5!



To keep up on department news, safety tips, and police-related humor, follow us on Facebook by liking “City of Walker Police Department-Michigan.”

Try Us FREE for 7 Days!

Are you interested in a gym membership? You can try out our facility FREE for 7 days. Anyone 18 years and older, an area resident, and a first-time visitor to our facility is welcome to do this! You will have access to all our amenities during this week. That means the indoor track, cardio equipment, extensive free weights, and more are yours to try FREE! Call (616) 735-6286 or click here for more info.

Write Michigan Short Story Contest 

Kent District Library is pleased to announce the 13th annual Write Michigan Short Story Contest. Michigan writers of all ages are invited to enter, with separate categories for youth, teens, and adults. Winning entries will be published, and the top writers will receive cash prizes. For more information on Write Michigan, visit writemichigan.org.

A selection of our programs is highlighted below. Visit KDL’s Events page for more information, or check out our Facebook page.

Walker Pumpkin Bash  

Saturday, October 5 | 1:00 p.m.-2:30 p.m. 

Click here for more info

KDL Lab Experience: Dog Man’s STEAM Adventures 

Thursday, October 14 | 1:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m. 

Click here for more info

Backyard Birding 

Wednesday, October 23 | 6:30 pm.-7:30 p.m. 

Click here for more info

Staff List Highlight: Hispanic Heritage Month 

Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated from September 15-October 15, and KDL staff have created multiple reading lists celebrating Hispanic characters and culture. Check out the Children's List, Teen List, and Adult List for Hispanic Heritage Month or visit KDL Staff Lists to see what other books and movies we’re recommending!