Greetings from the Mayor's Office |
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I trust that you are enjoying the summer weather and the return to normal. One thing that immediately comes to mind is the return of our Summer Concert Series. Our first concert of the summer in mid-June was with a band that is a local favorite - Brena. The music and weather were outstanding, and the turnout was even better with somewhere around 1,000 people in attendance! It was wonderful to see everyone enjoy great music and a sense of community we had been missing since the start of the pandemic. What a great night it was!
What has also been promising to see has been the overdue swearings-in and badge ceremonies of several new firefighters and police officers this past month. As a resident, I know that it gives me a sense of comfort and security knowing that the city I live in has public safety as its highest priority and is investing in it at such high levels. As a leader representing our city, it is an uncompromising strategy in the way that we approach our proactive community relationships.
You see police cars throughout our neighborhoods on a regular basis to ensure that their visibility is not just seen, it is felt in our homes when we are safely sleeping with our families. You also see our firefighters proactively in our homes and businesses looking over our fire prevention strategies, even if it is as simple as verifying our smoke detectors are in working order. I cannot recall a time when these needs of safety and security have been more necessary.
Together, these two departments alone account for almost 46% of our 2021/2022 General Fund Budget for the City. I would also emphasize that those percentages have been on the increase as our community and its needs grow. My intent here is to share that myself, the City Commission, and City Administration continue to listen to our residents wants and needs. That is why these two departments are always at the top of the list for our budget investments.
Second on our list is investment in infrastructure like roads and bridges, and the new budget reflects those priorities. For our new fiscal year budget which started July 1, we took a conservative approach. We purposely did not budget in our expected American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 monies that we are scheduled to receive from the federal government. We believe this to be a fiscally responsible and prudent strategy given the times of political volatility in both Washington D.C., as well as in Lansing. When that money comes in, we will invest it in our most important areas of need. For now, it’s business as usual and we have mitigated any budget risk that we cannot control.
June and July have provided us with some very positive news of strong, continued industrial and commercial growth in the City. It seems that every time we do a groundbreaking and speak to these new jobs coming in from one development, another opportunity comes to us with a new project. I cannot say thank you enough to our City staff who grabs the right tools out of the toolbox to keep these projects on track. Walker is enjoying an unprecedented time of growth and we could not do it without the leadership and vision of our City staff and the Planning Commission. Look for more growth announcements in the remaining summer and early fall months.
As always, thank you for making the choice to call Walker home.
Mayor Gary L. Carey, Jr.
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Welcome Commissioner Thom Burke |
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After a round of interviews late June, the Walker City Commission unanimously appointed Thom Burke to fill the open role created by the resignation of former Commissioner, Marv Raap.
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Mayor Gary Carey, Jr.
(616) 292-1715
Steven Gilbert
Mayor Pro Tem
First Ward Commissioner
Thom Burke
First Ward Commissioner
Roxanne Deschaine
Second Ward Commissioner
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Carol Glanville
Second Ward Commissioner
Elaina Huizenga-Chase
Third Ward Commissioner
Melaine Grooters
Third Ward Commissioner
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Income Tax Department Updates
Due Dates
Where's My Refund?
We are currently processing 2020 returns that were missing required information. If we did not receive the information upon request from the taxpayer, deductions and credits will be disallowed resulting in a lower refund or assessment. If you were expecting a refund, but have received a proposed assessment, please provide the missing information within 30 days.
You can also call us at 616-791-6880.
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Police Department Updates |
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Medical First Responders…Did you know?
“I called 911 for an ambulance. Why are the police showing up at my house?” The answer to that simple question is that the officers in Walker are licensed Medical First Responders and are all required to be trained and obtain their MFR License for their employment. Police officers and/or firefighters in Walker are going to be the first units to respond to a medical emergency within - and possibly outside - the city limits of Walker. They are equipped to start medical intervention at crash scenes involving trauma, as well as medical emergencies that arise from illnesses and sudden onset, such as cardiac arrest. They have even had the privilege of delivering several babies on scene before the ambulance arrived. Walker police cruisers are stocked with medical equipment and for that reason are very thankful to be driving a large Tahoe!
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25th Metro High School Police Academy
The departments in the Kent County area were able to hold the annual Police Academy for high school student in June at Northview High School. There were 34 recruits. The academy is open to students who were in 11th and 12th grades during the school year. Police officers and deputies organize and host the weeklong academy teaching the students criminal law, traffic law, tactics, crime scene and accident investigation, and various other Law Enforcement related topics.
Students start each day with an exam covering topics from the day before and end each day with physical training. The Metro High School Police Academy awarded four scholarships in the amount of $500 each to top recruits. The major fundraising event for this academy is a golf outing, which was held this year at North Kent Golf Club in May. Sergeant Frank and Officer Kremers from Walker served as mentors and teachers during the 2021 academy. The keynote speaker for the 2021 Metro High School Police Academy Graduation was Walker Police Chief Greg Long, who will retire from the department on July 31.
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Fire Department Updates
Whether it’s a trip to the beach or a dip in the community or backyard pool, these swimming safety tips can help you have fun in the sun.
Hard Facts about Drowning
- Drowning is the leading cause of injury-related death among children ages 1-4.
- It's the third leading cause of unintentional injury-related death among children 19 and under.
- In 2018, 918 children under the age of 19 drowned and more than 7,000 were seen in the emergency room.
Top Tips for Swimming Safety
- Watch kids when they are in or around water. Keep young children and weak swimmers within arm’s reach of an adult. Make sure more experienced swimmers are with a partner every time.
- Choose a Water Watcher. When there are several adults present, choose one to be responsible for watching children in or near the water for a certain period of time, such as 15 minutes. After 15 minutes, select another adult to be the Water Watcher.
- Teach children how to swim. Every child is different, so enroll children in swim lessons when they are ready. Consider their age, development and how often they are around water.
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Make sure kids learn these five water survival skills: Step or jump into water over their head and return to the surface. Turn around in the water and orient to safety. Float or tread water. Combine breathing with forward movement in the water. Exit the water.
- Teach children that swimming in open water is different from swimming in a pool. Be aware of situations that are unique to open water, such as limited visibility, depth, uneven surfaces, currents and undertow. These potential hazards can make swimming in open water more challenging than swimming in a pool.
- Learn CPR and basic water rescue skills. It is important to know how to respond in an emergency without putting yourself at risk of drowning. Learning these skills may help you save a life.
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Burns and Scalds
Since young children are still developing, they have thinner skin than adults, which can result in more serious injuries from a burn or scald. One of the ways young, curious kids learn about their surroundings is through their sense of touch. Sometimes their explorations can lead them to reach out and touch hot objects, resulting in an injury. Here are a few simple steps to keep your child safe from potential burns and scalds in your home.
The Hard Facts About Burns and Scalds
Fire/burn related injuries are among the leading ten causes of unintentional injury in children ages 0 to 5, with children 2 and younger at greatest risk. Every day, 300 children ages 0 to 19 are treated in emergency departments for burn-related injuries.
Top Tips Preventing Burns and Scalds
- Create a kid-free zone. Teach younger children to stay at least 3 feet away from your cooking space. If you need to watch babies while cooking, place them in highchair outside of the kid-free zone where you can see them.
- Keep hot objects out of children’s reach. Cook on the back burners of the stove and turn pot handles away from the edge. Keep hot foods and drinks away from the edge of your counters and tables.
- Teach older children how to cook safely. Make sure they don’t leave the kitchen while cooking and use oven mitts or potholders to carry hot pots and pans.
- Check bathwater temperature. Before placing your child in the bath, check the water temperature with on the inside of your wrist. The water should feel warm to the touch, not hot.
- Watch children around fireplaces. When a gas fireplace is turned on, the glass is extremely hot and can take more than an hour to cool down after it is turned off. Keep children away from the fireplace to prevent burns from the hot glass.
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American Legion Post 1111 |
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Hello my fellow comrades and Walker community members! Commander Jena Wilmers here from American Legion Post 1111 located in Walker, MI. You may be wondering where we are located. We do not have a building at this time as we are just a year and a half old. Post 1111 was chartered on February 29th, 2020 and, since then, has set out to support the Walker community in a variety of ways. We are reaching out to ask for help with our Gift Bags for Troops project. We are sending 1,111 gift bags overseas to deployed troops for the holidays. Here's is how you can help! We are in need of donations! A list of items can be found on our website at: https://www.alpost1111.com/gift-bags-for-troops
We want to thank all of our community partners in this endeavor. Help us support our troops!
Jena Wilmers
Commander, American Legion Post 1111
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Walker Ice and Fitness News |
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Congratulations to Michelle May, the City of Walker's new Parks and Recreation Supervisor! Michelle has worked for the City of Walker for the past 13 years and in Parks and Rec Department for 6 years. We are so glad to have her here to continue to organize and oversee our sports programs and city sponsored events. Thank you, Michelle, for helping to make the City of Walker a fun place to Live, Work and Grow! |
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July is Parks and Recreation Month!
This year's theme for Park and Recreation Month is "Our Park and Recreation Story." We want to highlight the stories of how Walker's community is strong, more vibrant, and more resilient because of park and recreation programs. Our parks are at the center of so many experiences and memories, and recreation programs like our youth soccer, adult softball, and senior bowling allow community members of all ages to get together and have fun. Events such as Winter Fest, the Easter Egg Hunt, and the Memorial Day Parade allow us to come together as a community to celebrate! We'd love to hear your stories about what Park and Recreation means to you! Be sure to follow along on social media and share your park and recreation stories on Facebook or Instagram using #OurParkAndRecStory #CityofWalker.
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Fall Coed Youth Soccer
We are getting ready for Fall Soccer! Our soccer program is great for teaching skills and the rules of the game while kids have FUN! Players are divided by age and the divisions are adapted to the abilities of each age group! Practices begin September 7, 2021 and the first game is September 18.
- Registration: July 1, 2021 – July 31, 2021.
- 4-6 yr. old age group is: $30 for Walker residents; $40 for non-residents.
- 7-8 yr. old, 9-10 yr. old and 11-12-13 yr. old age groups: $40 for Walker residents; $50 for non-residents.
- There is a $5.00 discount for each additional family member registered.
- There will be a $10.00 LATE FEE charged for any registrations received after the July 31st deadline.
- Volunteer coaches now get a full refund of 1 registration after passing a background check.
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Register online at www.walkericeandfitness.com.
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Super Readers!
Reach 45 days of activities between June 1 and August 7 (that's 15 extra days) for a chance to win another $250 Meijer gift card! Log those extra days in Beanstack or ask a librarian for a Super Reader paper log!
Summer Events
KDL will offer many wonderful programs virtually this summer. Some branches will provide limited outdoor programming. Click here for details!
Find Curi!
KDL and Kent County Parks invite you to go on an outdoor scavenger hunt! We are lucky to have such wonderful parks in Kent County, and here is a fun opportunity to get outdoors and explore (and learn) this summer! There are five park sites throughout the county in which Curi is hiding! For park clues and more information, visit kdl.org/findcuri. Answer the question at each park site for a chance to win an “Outdoor Fun” gift basket.
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Friends of Walker Trails News |
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The Friends of Walker Trails has a Facebook page! Follow along for updates and news on our lengthy network of trails right here in Walker! |
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Protect Our Watershed
Let's all remember to do our part and pick up after our furry friend! This ensures that their waste does not get washed into our storm drains. This will also keep E. coli and other pathogens out of our local waterways. You can find more useful ways to protect our watershed year-round by going to www.lgrow.org/.
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Dear Walker and Grandville seniors,
Sherri Meines here. I'm so excited for this summer where both centers will get the chance to experience fun times by having outdoor and indoor activities together. Due to our center not being open in 2021, we will be combining many of the activities and outings we have all enjoyed in the past. Lisa and I both welcome you back!
Grandville has already began serving lunches Monday through Friday at noon. Please RSVP at (616) 531-5250 a week in advance for the next week's meals. The August newsletter pickup will be on Wednesday, July 28 at the Grandville Center from 12:30-2:00pm. The Silvertones" will be our special musical guests for the day. Please bring your chair and a water bottle and enjoy some great music! Grandville will be serving lunch at noon and, if you would like lunch too, please RSVP by Wednesday, July 21. Make it a great day!
Walker Firehouse Cafe
Center Coordinator
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Phone Bingo
Monday's Phone Bingo can be enjoyed by calling the number below:
(231) 309-8101 ID: 864252#
*All activities subject to change if Michigan's COVID-19 regulations change.
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