City of DeWitt
Newsletter
www.dewittmi.org
Farmers’ Market begins Every Tues. from
June 2 to Oct. 13.
Memorial Day Parade
Mon. May 25 at 10 a.m.
at the Memorial Building to the Cemetery
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Police News
2
Administrative
3
Clerk’s Corner
3
City Programs
4
DDA News
4
DARA
6
Holiday Schedule
City Offices Closed
Good Friday
April 3—Closed
April 2015
Message from Mayor Jim Rundborg
Springtime has come after a long cold winter. Can't wait to see the flowers
start to bloom and for spring to wash away the remains of winter.
W
As always when the seasons change a new set of activities and events e
occur:
a
In April , the 4th Annual DeWitt Community Showcase will be held on r
April16 at DeWitt High School from 5-8 p.m. Stop by to see all the
e
groups, clubs and businesses that create our community and see what
they have to offer. The DeWitt Community Showcase is sponsored by the a
City of DeWitt, DeWitt Charter Township and DeWitt Public Schools.
l
In May the citizens of DeWitt are invited to attend the VFW Memorial Day Parade at 10:00 a.m.
starting at the Memorial Building on Washington Street and ending up at the DeWitt City Cemetery for a nice ceremony that will honor the men and women that have served to preserve the
freedoms of our country. I’d like to include the service of our police officers and volunteer firefighters for all they do for their community as well. It’s good to know that our City is in such capable hands.
In June the Farmers’ Market starts the season with new times: 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. and will provide
our favorite farm fresh fruits, vegetables and homemade goods. In mid-June the 12th Annual
Car Cruise-In is back with more fun and activities. Everyone is invited to participate as your
schedule allows.
In late February I was honored to represent our City and the DeWitt Public Schools in a non-city
funded trip to Koka, Japan. The experience was an impressive event for me as I was able to
join 10 DeWitt Junior High Students that attended the student exchange. They were great ambassadors and made many new friends. I was truly honored to travel with them and live with
our host family in Japan. The Sister City Program and the Student Exchange Program are positive ways to share and experience other cultures. I wish to thank all that worked over the past
20 years to keep the Sister City Program strong and available to our students.
Last but definitely not least, DeWitt lost a prominent member of our community in February with
the passing of Dustin Preston. Dustin was the President of our DDA and was very active in
promoting the City of DeWitt. He brought his business Capital Steel & Wire to Downtown
DeWitt and immediately became involved in other local projects. Dustin will be greatly
missed. Our sincere condolences to his family.
Monday, May 25
Closed
As we start to get out more and walk around DeWitt, please keep in mind that if you are walking
your pet that you need to clean up after them. Over the winter animal waste has been left behind on sidewalks throughout the City. For the benefit of all please follow the law and properly
take care of your pets waste.
Trash Service will be
Thursday, May 28
Have a pleasant spring and I hope to see you downtown in the near future!
Memorial Day
Page 2
City of DeWitt
Police Department News - From Chief Bruce Ferguson
After a long, cold winter and with warmer weather returning, people are ready
to be outside. Whether you’re walking , jogging, working in the yard or just
enjoying all that DeWitt has to offer, it sometimes can lead to a need for
emergency services.
In Clinton County, 9-1-1 is used for both emergencies and non- emergency
situations. If you need police, fire, or medical assistance call 9-1-1 even if you
are unsure its an emergency. By doing so we can respond and determine your
needs quickly.
For general questions or concerns, the DeWitt Police Department has personnel available in the office to
receive your phone calls Monday – Friday from 7 am to 5 pm. For general questions or concerns after hours
and on weekends, along with any and all criminal matters, please dial 9-1-1.
I always recommend to residents that if they see something that does not look right, trust your first instinct
and call to report it. It is always better to call and have an officer check it out than to lose an opportunity to
help someone. We also encourage you to call for those quality of life issues that sometimes arise, such as
noise complaints, barking dogs or other animal complaints, tall grass or blight issues, traffic or speeding
complaints, to check on someone’s welfare, or to check the security of someone’s property. While these concerns are a priority, our ultimate goal is to protect life, property, and to create a safe community environment
for our families.
In an attempt to get more emergency information out to the public our Clinton County 9-1-1 Center has implemented a program called “Code Red”. A Code Red message will tell you:
 what happened and where
 what actions you should take, if any;
 and where to get more information.
Most land line phones will receive Code Red information, but if you would like to enroll your cell phone
number you can do so by visiting the website at www.clinton-county.org or by calling (989)224-5108. There
is also a free app for your wireless device.
We are here to serve. If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to call. Have a great
spring!
********************************************************************************
City Ordinance Regarding Weeds & Grass
Weeds & grass are not to exceed 8 inches in height in the city. Exceptions include areas not within subdivisions, except areas of land within 50 feet of any lot line of any parcel upon which there is a dwelling, street,
road or highway right-of-way. Violation of this Ordinance is a municipal civil infraction. (See City Code #
70-123)
www.dewittmi.org
Page 3
Administrative Tidbits - City Administrator, Dan Coss
With spring and the start of construction season upon us, I wanted to take this
time to inform residents of a few things that will be happening around town;
several residential streets will be repaved this summer and due to the severe
winter weather the DPW crews will be out doing a lot of repairs around town.
Our 2015 Local Street Construction project will be occurring on Waxwing,
Longspur, Redpole, Larkwood and part of Sandhill Drive. Please check out
the website for an additional map of the locations of street resurfacing.
Survey stakes and survey flags are popping up along Schavey Road too. Our engineers, C2AE, are working on plans for repaving Schavey Road in 2016. As the plans move along we will be sure to keep
residents informed of the paving schedule and detour routes.
The fourth annual, “DeWitt Community Showcase”, will be held on April 16, 2015 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
at the DeWitt High School. You can read more about the event by visiting www.dewittschools.net and
click on “Community Showcase”. Hope to see you there! Please contact City Hall if you have any questions regarding any of these programs, 669-2441 or drop me an email [email protected].
Clerk’s Corner - Clerk/Treasurer, Lisa Grysen
ELECTION INFORMATION
City Hall is open Saturday, May 2nd in order to receive and vote absentee
ballots from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Tuesday, May 5, 2015 State Election Polls are open from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00
p.m.
TAXES: 2015 Summer Taxes will be mailed out July 1, 2015.
CEMETERY DECORATION GUIDELINES
EASTER AND MEMORIAL DAY DECORATIONS are allowed one week prior and one week after
each of these holidays.
SUMMER/FALL DECORATIONS are to be removed from the Cemetery by November 1st of each
year. If such decorations are not removed by the dates, they shall be considered abandoned and may
be disposed of by the City.
Page 4
City of DeWitt
GRANGER YARD WASTE COMPOSTING PROGRAM begins Wednesday, April 1st and ends
Wednesday, November 25, 2015.
BRUSH PICK UP PROGRAM is Monday, April 13, 2015. Brush must be placed at the curb no later
than 7:00 a.m. The purpose of this program is to remove brush that is too large to be removed as part of
the weekly yard waste-composting program. Brush must be neatly stacked with the large ends towards
the street. Only brush that measures between 2” and 8” in diameter is accepted. Shrubs with roots still
attached (non-woody vegetation and vines) are not accepted. Leave brush in as large of pieces as possible so it can be safely fed into the brush chipper by City Employees.
Downtown Development Association - Linda Kahler
HELP WANTED/VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR THE UPCOMING MONTHS!
The DDA and it’s sponsors runs several seasonal events, including the DeWitt Farmers Market. All events in the City attract hundreds, sometimes thousands of people to our 4 corner Downtown area. Throughout the years, the City of DeWitt has built a reputation
for quality, worthwhile, FUN, family-friendly events! Community members, Downtown residents and businesses and visitors come
together to enjoy our City, its charm and its amenities. Volunteer workers help provide “City “greeters”, crowd control, event assistance (extra hands) and assist with traffic management, flow and control. Our volunteers also have a big hand helping with safety for
all involved. Volunteers, assigned to specific duties, serve an important role to the success of each event! 50-100 volunteers can be
utilized this year!
Farmers Market Volunteers can participate in several, day of, on-site tasks. Available Shifts are 3:00-5:30pm and 5:30-8pm, or a
volunteer may work the entire shift! Market Days are Tuesdays, June 2 through October 13. This year is the 10 th Anniversary of the
Market and it sure has grown! We are expecting 30-35 weekly vendors and attendances up to 1,300 on market days!
DeWitt’s 12th Annual Car Cruise-in is Tuesday, June 16th, from 7:00-9:00pm. For participant and public safety, volunteers are needed
to help tend the road closure barricades on many of the Downtown streets. Further volunteers are needed to assist car owners at the
“Registration/Check-in” area. Volunteer Shifts are 6:00-7:45pm or 7:45-9:15pm.
The US 127 Motor Tour Stop and Car Cruise-In will officially “Stop” in DeWitt on Wed., August 19 th from 5-8pm. For participant
and public safety, volunteers are needed to help tend the road closure barricades. Volunteer Shifts are 4:00-6:15pm or 6:15 to
8:30pm.
The Annual Downtown DeWitt Christmas Market will take place this year, Saturday, December 5. Volunteers are needed from 8am
until 8pm to insure the many festive activities of the day run smoothly!
In addition to event day operations for volunteers, there are a few office tasks that could be done at the City Office for the DDA.
Volunteer Applications are available at the City Office, or on-line at www.dewittdda.org. Please do not hesitate to call 517-624-0285
ask for Linda Kahler, DDA Coordinator, if you have questions or need further information. Email communication is also welcome at
[email protected].
DDA Board Meetings are the second Tuesday of each month at 7:30 AM at City Hall 414 E. Main
Page 5
www.dewittmi.org
CADETTE GIRL SCOUTS
The 8th grade Cadette Girl Scouts are working on a Silver Award project
to help foster children feel a little better when they are placed in a new
foster home. Most children that are placed in a foster home are removed
from their family home with only the clothes they are wearing. We are
making “care kits” that include a duffel bag and many other necessities
and other comfort items. We can use YOUR help! You can help these
children by donating any of the items listed below. Donations will be ac
cepted throughout the month of April.
DONATIONS ACCEPTED:
PAJAMAS—SIZE 4 TO ADULT
HAIRBRUSH/ACCESSORIES
TOOTHBRUSH/TOOTHPASTE
COLORING BOOKS/CRAYONS
PUZZLE BOOKS
COZY BLANKETS
SHAMPOO/CONDITIONER
NIGHTLIGHTS
STUFFED ANIMALS
MEDIUM SIZE, NEW ZIPPER
DUFFEL BAG
SMALL PILLOW
DEODORANT
BOOKS—AGES 4-17
JOURNALS/PENS
THESE ARE THE VARIOUS DROP OFF LOCATIONS:
CITY OF DEWITT OFFICES
414 E MAIN STREET
DEWITT CHARTER TOWNSHIP
1404 W HERBISON
BURGER KING
US—27
SCCMUA OPEN HOUSE
Southern Clinton Co Municipal Utilities Authority (SCCMUA) will be holding their
annual Open House. The event is open to the public and will be held on Thursday, May
28, 2015 from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm at 3671 W Herbison Rd. in DeWitt. This free event
will host facility tours, information booths, demonstrations, games for the children with
prizes, a poster contest, and snacks. Poster contest information is available on the web
site. Information will be available in the schools soon. Please join us for a fun event
and learn what happens at the Cleanwater Plant. We have more information on our website at:
www.sccmua.com or follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/sccmua.
STORM DRAINS
When mowing your yard, make certain that you do not blow grass clippings into the street. While mowing,
make the first few passes with the lawnmower blowing the grass clippings into the lawn NOT the street.
If there are grass clippings on the street or sidewalk, use a broom or leaf blower to blow them back into the
lawn. Do not use a hose to wash them into the street or storm drains. Grass clippings that are blown into
the street eventually enter the street storm drain. Grass clippings contribute nutrients such as nitrogen and
phosphorous, which cause unwanted and uncontrolled growth of algae and aquatic weeds in the waterways. Leave grass clippings on the lawn area to decompose and recycle nutrients back to the turf area.
Page 6
Program
City of DeWitt
Dates
Registration
Dates
Age or
Grade
Cost (Res/Non-
10:00-10:45am OR
5:30-7:30pm (45
minute sessions)
Saturday mornings
Open-4/3
3-5yr.
$34/$49
Open-4/3
PreK-6
$34/$49 (PreK-1st
Grade)
$40/$55 (2nd-6th
Grade)
$44/$59
Time
Res)
Sports Starter
Thursdays 4/165/21
Youth Soccer
Saturdays 4/185/23
Youth Baseball and
Softball
Basketball University
Two nights/week
6/1-7/9
Wednesdays
4/22-5/13
(session one) or
Thursdays 5/216/11 (session
Weekday evenings
4/1-5/15
4-7yr.
5:45-8:45pm (one
hour sessions)
Open-4/17
(session one)
Open-5/15
(session two)
Grades
1-6
$35
Youth Intramural Volleyball
Adult Golf
Sundays 4/195/24
Wednesday or
Thursday evenings 4/8-4/30
Wed & Sun
Wednesday or
Thursday evenings 5/6-late July
4/24
5:00-6:00pm
Open-4/13
$20
6:00-7:00pm
Open-4/6
Grades
5-6
18+
7:00-9:00pm
Wednesday (coed)
or Thursday
(men’s) evenings
6:00-11:00pm
Drop in
Open-4/17
18+
18+
Open-4/20
4-12yr.
Preschool Play
May Drop Your Kids
Off – Evening
Thur mornings
5/29
10:00am-12:00pm
6:00-11:00pm
Drop in
4/1-5/25
2-5yr.
4-12yr.
Drama Camps
4/11-5/16
Saturday mornings
Open-4/8
4-14yr.
Summer Camps
June-August
7:30am-5:30pm
5-14yr.
Putt Putt Palooza
6/6
1:00pm
4/1-Open until
full
4/1-5/22
Birthday Bashes
Ongoing
As Needed
Ongoing
Open
$2 per visit
$325 team fee
$5/$20 player fees
$15 umpire fee/game
$15/child
$10/each additional
child
$2 drop-in
$15/child
$10/each additional
child
$40 (Fairy Tale Theatre)
$55 (Actor’s Workshop)
$105/$120 (price per
week)
$25/pair
$10/each additional
child
$50/hour
Adult Open Volleyball
Adult Softball – Coed
and Men’s League
April Drop Your Kids
Off – Evening
3yr.+
$60
Register for most DARA programs online by visiting our website at www.dewittrecreation.org. DARA accepts Visa and MC payments
for online registration only. You may also print a registration form and mail it in by clicking on our newsletter link from our home page.
Registration forms can be dropped off at DeWitt City Hall (414 E. Main St.). Call the DARA office at 517-482-5117 if you have any
questions. Thank you for your continued support!
Executive Director: Chad Stevens, CPRP
Program Coordinator: Lindsay Parkinson Program Specialist: Mitch McClintock