FEES AND CHARGES

RESIDENTIAL SEWER RATES

Minimum usage is 1,000 gallons at $4.02 plus any in excess of minimum will be charged an additional $2.22/1,000 gallons

RESIDENTIAL WATER RATES

5/8" meter - minimum usage is 1,000 gallons at $3.91 plus all water in excess of minimum usage will be charged an additional $2.864/1,000 gallons.

RESIDENTIAL GARBAGE RATES

$12.91 per residential unit per month (1 house/1 unit).

ALL NIGHT WINTER PARKING

In order to permit the city to properly remove all snow and ice from streets during the winter months, no person shall park a vehicle on any street in the city from November 15 to and including March 1, between the hours of 2:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. Vehicles parked in violation may be ticketed and/or impounded by the Police.

The Department of Public Works handles streets, parks, water operations, sewer operations, sanitation, snow removal and composting. Some of the things the department handles are listed below.

• Streets- Pothole repair, snow removal, sidewalk repair, street lights, picking up dead animals in the street, etc.
• Parks - mowing grass, litter removal, flower and tree care.
• Water Operations - Getting the water from the plant to your tap. Billing is done by the Treasurer’s Office (592-4005).
• Sewer Operations - Getting the waste water from your house to the treatment plant.
• Sanitation - Garbage pick up, residential recycling, and leaf composting/pick up.

RECYCLING

Residential recycling occurs every other week. Please check with the Treasurer's Office for dates. A green recycling container is available at City Hall for all residential garbage collection customers.

RECYCLE DATES

Your recycle day is every other week. Please contact the Treasurer's Office for dates.

FALL LEAF PICK UP

Fall leaf pick up will begin approximately the 1st Monday in November and run until approximately The Last Friday in November. One city-wide pick up will be done, if we have time, we will attempt a second city-wide pick up. Call 592-4015 to check on second pick up.

Please call the Public Services Office or check the "PIONEER" for instructions on how to prepare the leaves.

Prior to November 2 and after November 21, the leaves will have to be bagged and put out for Sunset Waste to pick up. LEAVES MAY NOT BE PUT INTO PLASTIC BAGS.

Please place leaves in paper bags (30 gallon bags are available at City Hall and other locations around town). Leaves may also be placed into cans clearly marked "compostable material" or placed in cardboard boxes for pick up.

State law prohibits leaves and other compostables from being placed into landfills.

GARBAGE PICK UP

Refuse is collected on a weekly basis. Residents are allowed up to four (4) bags of garbage per week. Refuse containers, which must be covered, water tight, rodent and fly proof, can be placed at the curb or alley at 6:00 p.m. the night before collection. Containers must then be removed from the curb or alley no later than 12:00 midnight on the day of collection.

YARD WASTE

Yard waste will be picked up by Sunset Waste from the 1st Tuesday in April and lasts until the last Tuesday in November. Yard waste cannot be placed in plastic bags. The yard waste and leaves will be picked up if it is in rigid containers such as garbage cans and cardboard boxes or if it is placed in paper bags including grocery bags. Thirty gallon paper bags will be made available for purchase from local merchants and also at city hall. These materials will be picked up on the same day as your regular trash pick up

CLEAN UP

We will have year-round clean up on the same day as trash pickup. Items will be picked up any time during the year on the regular route. All clean up type materials must be boxed, bagged or bundled, weighing no more than fifty pounds except for the following items:

• Appliances: Must be clearly separate from other refuse. NOTE: Any appliance that once contained HFT or CFC (freon), i.e. refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners, must have a certificate from a licensed extractor that the freon was removed prior to collection.


• Miscellaneous steel: Shall be separated from other refuse or placed next to appliances.


• Furniture and Carpet: All furniture will be taken. Carpet must be rolled, bundled and cut into lengths of 6 feet or less. These items should be kept dry if possible.

WATER MAIN FLUSHING PROGRAM

The water distribution system should be flushed at least every six months. Using a program that starts at the source and works towards the dead ends contributes to cleaning of the system. The reason water mains are flushed is to remove sedimentation - rust and mineral deposits that have accumulated since the last flushing.

To remove these deposits, a water main should be flushed at a velocity at least six times its normal rate. During this flushing program not all the deposits can be flushed out of the hydrant so during a short period of time a resident can experience rusty or colored water. Normally this condition would only exist for a few hours while the flushing is being completed in your area.

There are several reasons other than flushing that could cause rusty or colored water. This rusty or colored water condition is from using higher than normal velocity in the system. Fire fighting, filling of the street sweeper through the hydrant as well as other hydrant uses could cause this condition to exist. The flushing program is also necessary to check flows for fire fighting and to make repairs as needed on hydrants.

We are sorry for any inconvenience this may cause the user. If you experience rusty or colored water, let the tap run for a few minutes until the water runs clear, do not wash clothes during this period since your clothes may become rusty, do flush the hot water heater to clear out any sedimentation that may have entered the system.

If you have any problems and/or concerns, please contact the water filtration plant at 796-6231. or by e-mail at wtp@ci.big-rapids.mi.us

PARKS

GENERAL PARK INFORMATION

Big Rapids is fortunate to have many acres of park land available for long and short term recreational use. The parks are in various stages of development, some with ball fields, playgrounds, picnic areas, while others remain vacant land.

All Big Rapids City parks are available for use on a first come - first served basis. The pavilions at Northend Riverside Park and Hemlock Park may be reserved for a fee of $50.00. Fee waiver forms are available for city-wide functions such as concerts, art fairs, etc. Anyone wanting to reserve a pavilion must come to the Public Works Office and fill out an application. The Park and Recreation Board has the final approval for any fee waiver reservations.

The consumption or possession of alcoholic beverages is prohibited in all City parks, except alcohol beverages may be possessed and consumed in Hemlock, Vogel and Industrial Parks from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, and from 1:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Glass containers of alcoholic beverages are prohibited at all times in all City parks. A violation of this section shall be a municipal civil infraction. For more details please call 592-4015.

Bandshell

The bandshell is located along Riverwalk and behind Big Rapids Middle School. It is available for reservations, call 592-4015 for more details.

Riverwalk

Is a linear trail extending from Hemlock Park to Northend Park. The trail includes 4 fishing piers, 1 small gazebo, 1 small picnic shelter, interpretive signage and is accessible for all. Click Here for pictures of riverwalk.

Local City Parks

Centennial Park is located between Mecosta County Medical Center and River Street Park. Features a Rotary gazebo and future walking trail with picnic area.

Charles E. Fairman Community Pool and Park Located on Hutchinson Street. Community swimming pool, pavilion and picnic area with grills and a hiking area. The pool is in operation mid June to mid August.

Hemlock Park is located at the east end of Hemlock Street and Warren Avenue. Features playscape, tennis and basketball courts, softball field, play areas, picnic tables, grills, pavilion, fishing area and a hiking trail. The beginning of Riverwalk.

Holland Park is located on State Street and it is used for a pedestrian rest area.

Industrial Park is located on Catherine and Milton and consists of two softball fields and soccer fields.

Library Park is located beside the Community Library at 428 S. Michigan Ave. Features the Anna Howard Shaw Memorial sculpture and play area.

Linden Street Park is located at the corner of Gilbertson and Linden Streets. Features a play area for children.

Mitchell Creek Park is located at the corner of Pine and State Streets. Features walkways, a bridge, wooden deck, picnic areas, fishing areas and restrooms.

Northend Riverside Park

River Street Park is located between 300 and 600 blocks of River Street. Features baseball diamonds, soccer fields, ice rink, picnic tables, grills, a fishing area and hiking trails.

Swede Hill Park is located on the northeast side of town on Baldwin Street and is used for fishing and picnicking. The park features a historic marker dedicated to those early Swedish settlers.

Vogel Field is located south of Colburn Street on the west side of Bronson Avenue and consist of two ball fields, picnicking and playground equipment.

COMMUNITY RECREATION

The City of Big Rapids Community Recreation Department sponsors the following programs:

Summer Youth Program

Department of Recreation Brochure

Please contact the Community Recreation Coordinator at 796-2425 or e-mail at recreation@ci.big-rapids.mi.us for more information