Greetings from the Mayor's Office | |
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This winter was measurably stronger than recent years, and with that came many challenges. The least of which is the impact it had on our City services we provide. At the top of the list, our teams in Public Works and Public Safety (Police & Fire) once again showed why they are the best in the area at what they do. Please join me in sharing our heartfelt gratitude for a job well done, sometimes in the most trying of circumstances.
The demolition and underground work with the new library are coming along well. The warmer weather and early onset of spring are giving us a great boost. If you glance at the old library, you will notice the shell is removed. The new design considers the footprint of the old building and repurposes the underground infrastructure as the base for the updated building. The design also calls for a new roof on the old structure. The roof will be elevated to allow additional light into the community meeting rooms and administration offices. With the removal of walls for old windows, much of the interior block wall structure has been removed. We also made the decision to peel off the remaining brick façade from the existing wall sections. It is extremely hard to match new and existing brick colors, and we were able to have the removal done very efficiently to ensure that all the brick facades on the reconstruction and expansion will match. Over the next month, we will see the excavation for and installation of the new basement under the expansion. Underground work will continue to ensure that when our new facility comes out of the ground, the site will come together to allow for critical City functions throughout 2025. It will be extremely exciting to see steel arrive onsite in late April. We appreciate all the patience visitors to our campus have shown over the last few months. We will be challenged throughout the coming year and a half as we navigate the changes around this important community resource.
Another big impact is the Fruitridge Bridge being completely closed on March 31. This will be a challenging and painful summer and fall to navigate through that closing, and we hear you, as many of our City staff are also personally impacted by the closure. There is no perfect time or easy way to do this, and we will keep that vision of how much better that bridge and surrounding area will be later this fall. Thank you in advance for your continued patience with the library and bridge construction.
Thank you for being a positive and resilient community in all that we do. Walker remains a great place to live, work, and grow.
Mayor Gary L. Carey, Jr.
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Door-to-Door Sales
Did you know solicitors in the City of Walker must have a valid City-issued license to go door-to-door? This requirement helps protect residents from fraud, safety concerns, and unwanted disruptions. The Clerk's office will issue photo ID badges to each licensed solicitor. The badges state the individual's name, provide a photo of the individual licensed, the name of the business they have authorized to solicit for, and the issue/expiration date of when they are allowed to solicit in Walker.
Solicitors MUST:
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Obtain a license from the City of Walker before operating.
- Carry and display their license & photo ID when soliciting.
- Follow City regulations, including approved hours (9 AM - 7 PM in summer, 9 AM - 5 PM in winter).
Solicitors CANNOT:
- Ignore “No Soliciting” or “No Trespassing” signs.
- Use aggressive or deceptive sales tactics.
- Enter garages, backyards, or obstruct driveways.
- Solicit from a vehicle or block public walkways.
Exceptions: Religious, charitable, and nonprofit groups are exempt from licensing but must still register with the City before soliciting.
Concerned about an unlicensed solicitor? Please report it to the Walker Police Department Non-Emergency number at (616) 453-5441.
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Income Tax Department Updates | |
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New Option
We now have an option for taxpayers to upload their Walker Income Tax returns for 2024. Click here to register and submit your information. On this same site, there is an option to use a fillable form if desired. PLEASE NOTE: Submission should include all schedules/forms/W-2s, etc, as indicated. A basic knowledge of tax return preparation may be beneficial when submitting a return using this site.
If you choose to mail your return to our office, it would help greatly if you would:
1. Mail your return flat
2. Use one paper clip to attach the return and W-2s together (NO STAPLES)
3. Send the original, not a poor copy
I Need Help
Walker Income Tax returns for calendar year 2024 and first quarter estimated payments for 2025 are due April 30, 2025. Forms are available on our website. Common questions are answered on our website.
Quarterly estimated payments can be paid by direct withdrawal from a bank account. Please do not attach your 2025 quarterly estimated vouchers to your 2024 return. Also, check your bank account to make sure the amount you requested to pay has been withdrawn. It usually takes three to seven business days after the date you requested on the voucher. If you don’t see a withdrawal for the requested amount, contact us at (616) 791-6880.
Required Attachments
All resident returns must have the following attachments:
- All form W-2s
- Page 1 of Federal Form 1040; pages 1 and 2 of Schedule 1, if used
Filers taking a credit for tax paid to another city:
- Copy of page one of the other city(ies) return
If applicable:
- Detailed list of employee business expenses
- Federal Schedule C
- Federal Schedule D, Forms 8949, 4797, 6252
- Federal Schedule E, including Federal Schedule K-1 for all S corporations shown on Schedule E, if any
- Copies of all forms 1099-R for taxpayers under age 65 and form 8915-E
- If you have any questions, call (616) 791-6880.
Masking
We are receiving returns with the social security numbers showing up as all asterisks (***-**-****). We are also seeing taxpayers requesting refunds deposited to bank accounts with account and routing numbers that are masked in the same way. We are unable to process tax returns without a full Social Security number. We cannot directly deposit a refund into your bank account without a complete bank account and routing numbers. Please check for these problems before mailing your return.
E-Filed Returns
Did you e-file your 2024 return, and it showed that you had a balance due? You may have received an assessment from the Income Tax Department or have a voucher from your tax preparer that shows the amount you owe. All tax due must be postmarked or paid online by April 30, 2025, to avoid penalty and interest. Call us at (616) 791-6880 with any questions.
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.
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Public Works & Engineering Updates | |
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Fruit Ridge Bridge Project Open House
The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) will hold a public meeting in the Commission Chambers at Walker City Hall to discuss this year’s rebuilding of the I-96/Fruit Ridge Avenue interchange. MDOT and Walker officials will provide project details, scheduling information, and expected traffic impacts. Find more information on our website.
Date: Monday, March 3
Time: 4:30 PM - 6 PM
Location: Commission Chambers at Walker City Hall, 4243 Remembrance Rd NW
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Adopt-A-Road
The City of Walker's 2025 Adopt-A-Road program will begin on Monday, April 7, and end on Friday, October 4. The purpose of Adopt-A-Road is to involve Walker citizens in keeping our local roads clean, safe, and attractive.
We encourage service organizations, schools, scout troops, senior groups, and businesses to get involved in the program. Group participants must be at least 16 or older unless otherwise approved by the City. Groups of 10 or more members can adopt as little as one mile and as many as four miles from our available road inventory.
To apply, please use our Adopt-A-Road Application. If you have any additional questions, please contact our Department of Public Works by email or (616) 791-6854.
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Police Department Updates | |
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Throughout winter, we still respond to larceny from vehicle incidents. Just like during summer weather, thieves will work in teams, checking neighborhoods for unlocked vehicles. If they are open, they are rummaged through, and items are taken. If keys are left inside, the vehicle may end up stolen. Garage door openers left in unlocked vehicles are also utilized to open garages for further inspection by thieves. Make it a year-round habit, each time you leave your vehicle unattended, to remove all valuables & keys and then lock the doors.
As we get into the swing of 2025, don’t forget our Community Outreach Officers are available to assist your business, church, community group, or school with safety-related training. Often requested topics are civilian response to active threat events, mitigating workplace violence, medical response, and re-unification protocols. To request a lesson or ask about other topics, contact Officer Glass (North District) at tglass@walker.city or Officer Harkema (South District) at mharkema@walker.city.
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Don’t forget, we are always hiring! If you know of someone dissatisfied with their current law enforcement career, send them our way. In addition to working in an extremely supportive community, we have a great lateral transfer pay package! Visit our careers page for more info. | | | |
To keep up on department news, safety tips, and police-related humor, follow us on Facebook by liking “City of Walker Police Department-Michigan.” | |
Walker Ice and Fitness Updates | |
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Winter Hours
Monday - Friday: 5 AM - 9 PM
Saturday and Sunday: 7 AM - 7 PM
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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.
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Parks and Recreation Department | |
Kent District Library - Walker Branch | |
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We’re excited to begin programming again after a pause to complete our move to the temporary location. While in the 2,000 square foot temporary location, we are partnering with the city of Walker to hold larger programs in the community room at Walker Fire Station 2. Visit our Events page for more information.
Storytime
Mondays, March 03 - April 21 | 10:00 AM
Babytime
Thursdays, March 06 - May 1 | 9:30 AM
Awesome Adults
Wednesday, March 5 | 10:30 AM
For Adults.
This event will be held at Walker Fire Dept. Station 2, 4101 Lake Michigan Dr NW.
Hora de Intercambio / Spanish Conversation Hour
Wednesday, March 19 | 6:30 PM
Open to all Spanish fluency levels. For Adults.
The History and Impact of American Indian Boarding Schools
Wednesday, March 26 | 6:30 PM
This event will be held at Walker Fire Dept. Station 2, 4101 Lake Michigan Dr NW.
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