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Greetings City of Rockford Residents!
After several short-lived warm spells, Spring weather seems to have finally arrived. This year, we will be taking advantage of the warm weather to complete several projects in the City. Like any home improvement, the excitement of the home improvements can be overshadowed by the inconvenience of the mess while the work is done. This year, we anticipate partial street closures on Division and intermittent detours of some City streets. We will actively push out timely project updates and street closures on social media, on our website and via text messages. While this newsletter will contain broad information, I encourage you to use the links to the city website for much more detailed information and key dates for each project.
Thad Beard
City Manager
| | Rockford Farmers Market Returns!
We are thrilled to announce the return of our beloved Rockford Farmers Market for another exciting season! Join us as we kick of the season on May 3, 2025 and every Saturday through October 25, from 8:00am-1:00pm. You can find us in the parking lot off Main St., just north of Courtland St.
There are several convenient nearby parking lots on Main St., including one directly across from the market and two more just north of it. Additionally, on-street parking is available throughout downtown Rockford. Check out our interactive map for more details on parking locations.
Stay updated on market news and weekly vendor lists by following the Rockford Farmers Market Facebook page. We'll keep you informed about weekly vendors and any important market updates.
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The Department of Public Services is excited to unveil our plans for the upcoming season. With unwavering dedication, our team is diligently preparing our city for the warmth ahead, ensuring that all public areas are primed to shine.
A host of initiatives is underway to ensure everything is in pristine condition. From prepping city properties for mulching to activating irrigation systems and water features, from freshening up street lines to refining our parks and cemeteries, every detail is being tended to with care.
Safeguarding our state's waters is paramount. To this end, we've enlisted the expertise of Plummer’s Environmental to meticulously clean out 150 storm basins across town. Moreover, our annual city-wide street sweeping is on the horizon, furthering our commitment to environmental stewardship.
As proud participants in Trees USA, we're thrilled to announce plans for an extensive tree-planting initiative throughout the city. Recognizing the myriad benefits trees offer, from purifying air to providing shade, we're committed to cultivating a greener, more vibrant urban landscape.
In closing, the Department of Public Services is dedicated to readying our city for the joys of Spring and Summer. From ensuring access to clean water to maintaining pristine streets and roads, we're steadfast in our commitment to serving the community and fostering a thriving urban environment for all.
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Why wasn't my yard waste picked up?
- It wasn't in biodegradable bags
- Too many bags were placed curbside
- The bag was heavier than 30lbs
- It wasn't your scheduled day
- It wasn't placed out in time (before 7:00 a.m.)
- It was unapproved material- garbage, rocks, pet waste, lumber, concrete, etc.
Why weren't my branches chipped?
- They were over 6 inches in diameter
- They were under 4 feet long (smaller branches can be bagged like regular yard waste)
- It's not your chipping week (East side of the river is the 1st & 3rd Monday of the month; West side of the river is the 2nd & 4th Monday of the month).
- It was not curbside by 7:00 a.m. Monday morning on your week
- There was a root ball attached to the branch
If you're positive none of these reasons apply to you and your waste was still not picked up or chipped, contact City Hall at 616-866-1537
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City Construction Projects
Kayak/Canoe Ramp near Farmers Market
If you have floated the Rogue, with your exit strategy to be just north of the dam, there is good news for you. A permit was obtained from the state, and the City has replaced the gravel launch area with a prefab concrete ramp at the existing location. Thanks to Wolverine Worldwide for allowing significant improvement at the current convenient location. Asphalt will bridge the two surfaces when weather permits.
Upcoming work on 10 Mile/E Division & corner of Main St
The resurfacing of 10 Mile/E Division by Kent County will begin after Start of Summer Celebration. There will be a major impact on traffic routes while this work takes place. During construction, traffic will only be allowed in one direction – Eastbound. All Westbound traffic will be rerouted via 12 Mile and Wolven. There will, however, be a few days when a total closure will be necessary, which will require a separate detour route for the Eastbound traffic.
To minimize traffic disruptions the intersection of Main and Division will also be reconstructed. This includes improvements to the turn lanes and new traffic signal poles, including a dedicated left turn light for eastbound traffic to turn onto Main St, and lights.
The majority of the construction is expected to be done by the middle of July, but the traffic signals may not be entirely complete until possibly fall.
Garden Club Park Renovations
Work has begun on renovations to the south end of Garden Club Park, near Bridge St and the White Pine Trail. Significant improvements to the area should be completed by the end of July. Renovations include a gas fireplace, LED lighting, decorative pavement, ledged seating, landscaping and the off-street parking will become on-street parking. Thanks to Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDCI) grant funding and donations from the Rockford Lions Club, the Rockford Area Community Foundation, and a generous discount from Extremis for making this possible.
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Bridge Street Closed 4/21-4/25
Bridge Street will be closed between Summit/River St. and Squires St. from April 21-25 for underground utility work. The detour will be Summit to 12 Mile, then 12 Mile to Northland for eastbound traffic. And River St. for westbound traffic.
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Greening Your Cleaning
As you’re cleaning up your home and yard, take special care to dispose of household hazardous wastes appropriately so that you protect people’s health and the environment. Products such as paints, cleaners, oils, batteries, and pesticides can contain hazardous ingredients and require special care when you dispose of them.
What is a household hazardous waste? A product is considered hazardous if it has one or more of the following properties:
- Toxic – poisonous or lethal when ingested, touched or inhaled;
- Flammable – ignitable and burns easily;
- Corrosive – eats through materials & living tissue; or
- Reactive – can possibly explode or react with other chemicals.
Improper disposal of household hazardous wastes can include pouring them down the drain, on the ground, into storm sewers, or in some cases putting them out with the regular trash. The dangers of such disposal methods might not be immediately obvious, but improper disposal of these wastes can pollute the environment and pose a threat to human health. Certain types of household hazardous waste have the potential to cause physical injury to sanitation workers or to contaminate septic tanks or wastewater treatment systems if poured down drains or toilets. They can also present hazards to children and pets if left around the house. Storm sewers lead directly to surface waters without being treated, so dumping waste in storm drains pollutes nearby creeks, rivers and lakes.
Make sure any household hazardous wastes are safely disposed of according to your community’s guidelines. To find out how and where to dispose of household hazardous waste, visit www.LGROW.org/disposal. Better yet, swap out chemicals when possible for all-natural cleaning supplies. To find products that are safer for people and the environment, check out www.epa.gov/saferchoice.
By safely disposing of household hazardous waste, you are doing your part to “Keep your Lakes Great and your River Grand”!
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Use Phosphorus-Free Fertilizer to Keep Your Lawn Green and Your Streams Clean
Protecting Water Quality
Phosphorus is a naturally occurring essential nutrient for plant and animal growth. It is also a primary water quality concern in Michigan. When excess phosphorus is applied on land, it may run into nearby lakes, rivers and streams. This runoff can lead to increased algae and aquatic plant growth which can have negative effects on water quality, fisheries, recreation, and property values. By reducing unnecessary phosphorus applications, you can help maintain and protect Michigan’s vast water resources.
It’s the Law
Since 2012, Michigan Fertilizer Law (1994 PA 451, Part 85, Fertilizers) has restricted the use of phosphorus fertilizers on residential and commercial lawns, including athletic fields and golf courses statewide. Both homeowners and commercial applicators must follow the phosphorus application restrictions. However, there are a few exceptions, including new turf establishment, soils where a test shows deficient phosphorus, and fertilization of agriculture, gardens, trees or shrubs.
What Fertilizers do I Use?
Look for lawn fertilizers with zero phosphorus in them. On the bag or box of fertilizer is a row of three numbers. These numbers indicate the amount of total nitrogen (N), available phosphate (P2O5) and soluble potash (K2O) in the particular product. The middle number is available phosphate and should read “0.”
Where can I find Phosphorus-free Fertilizers?
A majority of garden centers, hardware stores, and large chain stores carry phosphorus free
lawn fertilizers.
For more information on how to landscape for water quality, visit www.LGROW.org/rainscaping
Article information courtesy of the Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development.
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Miss Dig Requests
Spring usually brings plans for landscaping, tree planting, or excavating. Before breaking ground, even putting a shovel in the ground, you should contact Miss Dig. Hitting a water, power, gas, sewer or electrical line could be catastrophic. Our DPS crew marks all water, sewer and storm sewer for Miss Dig requests. Reminder – do not move or remove any flags in your area as the work might not be completed. It is the responsibility of the contractor to remove them when completed.
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Spring Means an Increase in Pedestrian and Vehicle Traffic
Spring is here and the Rockford Department of Public Safety is busy preparing for the warmer weather. Each year we see a dramatic increase in vehicle and foot traffic throughout the city during the warmer months. It’s a great time to remind drivers to take extra care and caution when driving through our beautiful downtown area. The business district will soon be full of pedestrian traffic, including families with children, so slow down and be vigilant. We’d also like to remind our pedestrians that predictable movements are safest. Motorists expect you to cross streets in designated crosswalks, travel on sidewalks, and to follow traffic control devices. Please avoid crossing streets midway through the block, yield to vehicles that have the right of way, and be aware of changing traffic conditions.
The increase in foot traffic throughout the city can also lead to an increase in property crimes. Over the past few months, law enforcement agencies in our area have seen an increase in stolen vehicles and larceny from automobile complaints. The Rockford area is likely targeted because vehicles are frequently left unlocked with keys or valuables inside. Although our area remains one of the safest in the state, we still need to lock up our vehicles and valuables to take away opportunities for crime. If you see suspicious people in your neighborhood, please don’t hesitate to contact our non-emergency number 616-866-9557.
As the last few months of school wind down, we’d like to remind motorists to be attentive at bus stops and in school zones. The safety of school children is a top priority in our community, and we all must do our part. Keep an eye out for children at intersections and on sidewalks, as they often move unpredictably. Please take special care at bus stops and give them plenty of room. We never know how many kids may get off at each stop or which direction they may go. Using a little extra patience and caution keeps these areas safer for all.
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Rockford Fire Service Community Risk Reduction program
The Rockford Fire Service Community Risk Reduction program provides home fire safety inspections, assistance with developing escape plans, assessing existing smoke and carbon monoxide alarms and/or installing new State of Michigan provided detectors in the homes of residents that need them. The safety of our residents is the number one goal of the Rockford Fire Service, and that starts well before an emergency occurs. By providing working detectors that will alert occupants in the event of a fire we are greatly increasing the odds of a favorable outcome.
Our community risk reduction program is working as a part of the MI-Prevention program, a State of Michigan effort whose mission is to provide sustainable community risk reduction programs to minimize fire deaths, injuries, and property loss within the state of Michigan. Mi-Prevention provides support for home safety assessments, escape planning and for a statewide smoke alarm and CO detector installation program. To schedule your home safety inspection, smoke and carbon monoxide alarm assessment, or if you have any questions regarding any one of our programs, please reach out to us by:
- Stopping by the Firehouse, 7 S Monroe St. Rockford MI 49341, 8:00 am – 4:30 pm
- Giving us a call Monday thru Friday 8:00 am- 4:30 pm at 616-866-9557
- Reaching us via email anytime at RockfordFireService@rockford.mi.us.
In the past few months, the Rockford Fire Service has been responding to several natural gas leaks, odor of gas in the building reports as well as carbon monoxide alarms and leaks. We urge you to take these situations seriously. While oftentimes these issues are minor in nature, every once in awhile we learn of a major fire, explosion or loss of life due to just these causes. If you experience or think you even might be experiencing a gas leak, you smell something that just does not seem right, or your alarms are sounding, please evacuate your location and call us. Most often, we have the ability to detect a problem, protect from the hazards, find the source or get the appropriate help on the way. It is never a problem for us to come out, that is why we exist!
| | In November 2024 we conducted our annual resident survey, based on the results we are amending our firework ordinance to align with the State firework ordinance as well as our skateboard ordinance to allow longboards to be ridden within the city limits. Both of these ordinances are expected to be adopted by the City Council at the May 12, 2025 meeting and go into effect on June 2, 2025. | | |
Consumer Firework Ordinance
A person shall not ignite, discharge or use consumer fireworks except on the following days after 11am:
- December 31 until 1am on January 1
- Saturday and Sunday immediately preceding Memorial Day until 11:45pm on each of those days.
- June 29 to July 4 until 11:45pm on each of those days.
- July 5, if that date falls on a Friday or Saturday, until 11:45pm.
- Saturday and Sunday immediately preceding Labor Day until 11:45pm on each of those days.
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Longboard Ordinance
A longboard refers to a board or object mounted on roller skate type wheels, lacking a handheld steering mechanism, and intended for use while standing or sitting on it. The dimensions are generally 8.5 inches in width and 32 inches in length and are used as a means of transportation.
Longboards shall be restricted in the same manner as skateboards, with the exception that longboards may be used in a public street or roadway, traveling in the same direction as traffic, at the farthest right portion of the roadway. Longboards shall be prohibited on any roadway with a speed limit in excess of 25 mph.
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The K-List –- Even better than the A-list!
What’s better than making the A-List? The K-List! That’s the Krause Memorial Library donor list!
The City of Rockford is planning a comprehensive donor sign to be included in the new Krause Memorial Library expansion project.
“A comprehensive donor sign is a way for us to honor the generosity of our community that loves this library and is making sure this important project moves forward,” says Thad Beard, City Manager.
Donors to the Krause Memorial Library expansion campaign will be listed in alphabetical order. To guarantee inclusion, donations or pledges must be received by July 31, 2025.
“The campaign to right-size the Krause Memorial Library is almost complete,” states Neil Blakeslee, co-chair of the campaign. “So many people have stepped forward to make stretch gifts to ensure this library project happens.”
Since launching, the city has raised over $5.4 million from 170+ people, businesses, and organizations. According to campaign co-chair Dr. Michael Shibler, “This is one of the largest fundraising efforts in our community. But I’m not surprised by the support. Folks care about each other here and go above and beyond to make sure our kids in particular have the resources they need and safe places to go.”
The residents of the City of Rockford also passed a millage in November 2024 to support the expansion, and the Townships of Algoma, Cannon, and Courtland all contributed to the project. “We really would not be able to do this project without the support from our residents for the millage and the Townships committing to help,” notes Beard. “We are just incredibly grateful to them and everyone who has made a gift!”
There is still time to help! Blakeslee urges, “Please join us today by making a financial donation and help us cross the finish line!”
To learn more about the expansion, see the new floor plan, and make a gift, visit our website.
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The Krause Memorial Library expansion will
· Double the size of the library
· Resolve accessibility issues, and add barrier-free restrooms, a family restroom,
and a mother’s room
· Significantly increase space for children for materials and literacy-based activities
· Create a larger, flexible community room for public and library use
· Add study rooms and quiet spaces to sit, work, and read
· Increase the collection onsite, services offered, and hours open, including
Sundays!
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The City of Rockford Planning Commission is currently seeking applicants for the Planning Commission. This position is a three-year term and the Commission meets every fourth Thursday at 6 pm, in the Council Chambers of Rockford City Hall. Preference may be given to applicants with planning, architecture or engineering education or experience. If you are interested in applying, please complete the application found on our website and email to City Clerk Christine Bedford at bedfordc@rockford.mi.us
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7 South Monroe St. NE
Rockford, MI 49341
(616) 866 1537
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