New Ordinance for Mowing
2015 SPRING NEWSLETTER
Village of Lyons Office Hours:
Monday, Wednesday, Friday
9:00 am through 4:30 pm
Closed from 12:00 - 12:30 for lunch
http://www.lyonsvillage.org/
Please see bulletin board posting for holiday closures and meetings.
Water/Sewer bill payments and other information can be placed in the drop-box outside of the Village Office for action on the next business day.
Our Treasurer Doreen Gould is a Notary Public, a service we will provide for our residents free of charge.
Council Meetings are the third Monday of each month starting at 6:00 pm
Village Council Members
President Jack Proctor
Pro Tem Bernie Russell
Trustees Jon Houserman
Ann Randall
Fred Charles
Kenton Eavey
Max Darling
The Village of Lyons is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
SPRING CLEAN UP
The Village is renting large dumpsters for SPRING CLEAN-UP again this year. Dumpsters will be located across from the old Chrysler Plant on the west side of the bridge, 117 Edward St, on Saturday May 2, 2015 from the hours of 7 AM to 11 AM. You must bring your items to the dumpsters; there is no door to door pickup. The Village DPW will be available with the backhoe to help unload large items from 7 AM to 11 AM. Residents needing assistance with getting items to the dumpster must call the Village Office before May 1st to make arrangements. THE DUMPSTERS ARE FOR RESIDENTS ONLY, please bring proof of residency.
ITEMS NOT ACCEPTED: TIRES, BATTERIES, PAINT, PESTICIDES AND COMBUSTIBLES.
BRUSH PICK-UP REMINDER:
Brush will be picked up ONCE this spring April 27th, weather permitting. ONE PASS THROUGH TOWN ONLY. Brush must be placed parallel to the road in lengths no longer than 8 foot with all stems facing the same way. Biodegradable bags of grass clippings and leaves will be picked up as time permits when the DPW is notified. Contact the DPW at 616-902-5838.
Unbagged lawn trimmings, weeds, and leaves left in the street right-of-way violate Village Ordinance Section 8-19 paragraph 6. Unbagged items not removed by property owner will be removed by Village DPW at the property owner’s expense.
The brush dump will be open for your convenience. Please DO NOT dump any plastic bags. The Brush Dump is for YARD WASTE WHICH CONSISTS OF GRASS, LEAVES, WEEDS, OR BRUSH ONLY.
ORDINANCE REMINDERS to maintain our beautiful Village
Ordinance for Mowing
Residents must keep their lawns mowed less than eight (8”) inches. Only ONE warning notice will be sent annually if out of compliance. After that time the Village will follow their mowing ordinance and have the lawn cut by maintenance staff. The minimum cost per mowing is $100 each time this happens.
Speaking of lawn mowing, Right-of-Ways need to be kept free of grass clippings, leaves, lawn rakings, tree or brush trimmings, tree trunks, stumps, ashes, soil, dirt or household debris. In the event such items remain on sidewalks, streets (Right-of-Ways), the village will remove it and all costs will be billed to the property owner.
Prohibiting Open Burning Ordinance, Chapter 8, Article II. Sec. 8-23
The Village adopted a new ordinance prohibiting open burning effective 1/1/2014
Please visit the Village website to read the full ordinance including enforcements and Penalties. You can also read the ordinance at the Village office during office hours. There are 11 sections to this ordinance.
General prohibition on outdoor burning and open burning are prohibited in the Village of Lyons unless the burning is specifically permitted by the ordinance.
SECTION 6: OPEN BURNING OF REFUSE IS PROHIBITED.
SECTION 7: OPEN BURNING OF TREES, LOGS, BRUSH, STUMPS, LEAVES AND GRASS
7.1 Open burning of leaves, grass clippings, trees, logs, brush and stumps is prohibited.
7.2.1. Open burning for barbecue, gas and charcoal grills are allowed.
7.2.2. Outdoor campfires and small bonfires for cooking, ceremonies, or recreation are
allowed if the campfire is 25 feet from any structure or property line, shall be
constantly attended and supervised by a competent person of at least
eighteen (18) years of age until the fire is extinguished and is cold.
The person shall have readily available for use such fire extinguishing
equipment as may be necessary for the total control of the fire.
7.2.3. Except for barbecue, gas and charcoal grills, no burning shall be undertaken
within 25 feet from any combustible material, combustible wall or partition,
exterior window opening, exit access or exit.
SEWER SYSTEM
Please remember our Sewer Ordinance which states that sump pump discharge and other non-sanitary sewer discharges are not allowed in the village sanitary sewer system. Said connections to the sanitary sewer are a violation. If you have a question as to where to discharge sump pump water, please call the DPW cellphone at 616-902-5838.
HYDRANT FLUSHING APRIL 6th – 10th
We will be cleaning the water tower on April 13, 2015 and you may notice disturbance in the water during the week of April 13 – 17 as the system is put back online.
RECYCLE PAPER AT TWIN RIVERS PAPERGATOR
2015 MAJOR VILLAGE IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS
HAZEL DEVORE ISLAND – Renovations have been made to the park. A kayak launch, fishing platform, RV camping pads and bath-house have been added. Come down and see all the improvements that were made. See more information on the Park below. Many thanks to all those involved on these improvements. We are looking forward to a busy summer using these facilities.
STREET IMPROVEMENTS - The Village has received a Street Bond to reconstruct a few of the severely damaged streets in town. Construction on the streets will start after June 12, 2015 and be completed by August 28, 2015. Parts of the following streets will be worked on: John Street, Bridge Street (west), Libhart Street, Felch Street, and Irish Street. Part of the RD project includes new water main on W. Bridge from the bridge to Irish. In this zone the entire road surface will be reconstructed with curb, gutter, storm sewer and sidewalk.
BRIDGE IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT
This project, primarily funded by approximately $270,000 Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) grant, will involve several needed renovations and improvements to the Bridge Street bridge over the Grand River. This project may go out to bid this fall but is contingent on the environmental studies underway for the endangered snuffbox mussel.
MUNICIPAL WATER SYSTEM IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS
With the USDA Rural Development (RD) Program financing authorization municipal water system infrastructure improvement project will be starting April 13, 2015 and be completed by June 12, 2015. Larger water main and new service lines will be installed on Irish St. and Felch St. An additional river crossing and larger main on W. Bridge will give more volume for fire flow to the east side of town.
LYONS DAM PROJECT
The Ionia Conservation District (ICD) was awarded a State and Federal Grant in 2014.
The dam project is still moving at a mussel’s pace. Permitting and the mussel survey are underway. The federal and state endangered species were tagged with a micro-chip so that the mussels can be relocated out of the work zone. This project is being administered by the Ionia Conservation District; specifics of the project are in process. We hope to be working on the Dam project 2016-2017.
Shared DPW Services, Equipment & Capacities
For purposes of better and more cost-effective serving the residents, businesses and other entities served by the Villages of Lyons & Muir, these two Michigan local governmental units, herein entered into an Associated Agreement for provisions of certain shared DPW Services, equipment and capacities. This explains why you may see Muir & Lyons trucks or employees working in either Village. If you would like to see a copy of the services we share, please feel free to stop into the Village offices.
“What causes us to like new acquaintances is not so much weariness of our old ones, or the pleasure of change, as disgust at not being sufficiently admired by those who know us to well, and the hope of being admired more by those who do not know so much about us.” LaRochefoucauld (1665)
HAZEL DEVORE ISLAND PARK
LYONS, MI
10 acre Island Park on Grand River
People of all abilities can enjoy these local amenities
Fishing Platform Picnic Pavilions & Grills
On-Site Parking Primitive & RV Camping
Concrete & Limestone Chip Pathways One Mile from CIS Trail
Kayak Launch Modern Bathrooms/Showers
For Reservations and Information
Village of Lyons
212 Water Street PO Box 175 Lyons, MI 48851
989-855-2125
Office Hours: Monday, Wednesday & Friday 9-4:30
Closed for Lunch 12-12:30
“The same man cannot well be, be skilled in everything; each has his special excellence”.
Euripides (c.455-441B.C.)
Lyons Committee 2015 Calendar
BANDSTAND PROJECT - Finally! Construction starts April 15, 2015. This multi-use structure will be located downtown to the right of the Memorial. Location, materials, colors and style were all carefully planned to accent the beauty of the Memorial. At this point, only the structure itself is set for completion. A combination of Lyons Village budget areas, Lyons Township Building fund, Lyons Downtown Development Authority revenue along with donations from over 50 local organizations, businesses and individuals has made this much possible. Finishing touches such as electrical (basic lighting and outlets) and staging (portable platforms, lights, acoustics and backdrops) depend on further donations, but do not prevent its immediate use. The possibilities include: performance and farm market pavilion, picnic shelter, outdoor theater and more. Names of those contributing $25 or more will be recognized at the pavilion. There are still some Island Lover t-shirts available for a $5 donation. Video recordings of past Cruise Ins, Island Fests, Veterans Ceremonies on DVD are available with a $10 donation and a 4-disc set of the 150th Celebration in 2009 for a $20 donation. CONTACT: Bryon, 616.902.0045
DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY - This year’s general plans for the Downtown District include expanding the electrical near the Memorial, another Downtown Property Grant program, the large plaque for the empty wall at the Memorial and some basic landscaping in that area. We are pursuing available funding for a Community Garden, too.
EVENTS - We are enjoying NOT planning around any construction this year! Muir’s bridge and the hill west of Lyons’ bridge do not affect us. We are concentrating our efforts on just Island Fest AUGUST 6-8, 2015, this year*, wanting to make the most of our newly improved venues - Hazel Devore Park and downtown. Still working on details, but the highlights and general outline:
Thursday: CRUISE IN - 5pm - 10pm - downtown
Friday: FAMILY DANCE & MOVIE - 7pm & Dusk - Park
GAMES IN THE STREET - time TBA - downtown
Saturday: PARADE - 10am - Skate Park to downtown
SOAP BOX DERBY - Register at noon - Race at 1pm - downtown
HORSESHOE TOURNAMENT - 4pm - Park
KIDZ ZONE - time TBA - Park
WHEELBARROW RACES - time TBA - Park
STREET DANCE - “Center Stage” - 8 to mid - downtown
ALL WEEKEND: Vendor/ Crafter Booths, FOOD, future-event fundraiser competitions.
or Bryon Bennett, 616.902.0045
“Lyons-Muir Island Fest 2015” on Facebook
www.lyonsmuir.com/island-fest-2015
* Some of us will be working with the VFW Post and the Scouts for “Veterans Day”, but Bryon is unavailable for “Armed Forces Day”. Tentatively, 2nd Thursday in December (10th) will be “Christmas by the River” and relies heavily on successful fundraising.
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Lyons Farm & Cottage Market: $3 covered space, $2 others
May 5 to Oct 17 - 1st & 3rd Sat - 9 to Noon - Closed July 18 for IFF Parade
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“Since it is not granted us to live long, let us transmit to prosterity some memorial that we have at least lived.” Pliny the younger (c.97-110)
LYONS WELLHEAD PROTECTION TEAM
The Village of Lyons Wellhead Protection Team recently held a poster contest for Twin Rivers students. The first place winner of each grade level won a cash prize and the overall winner won an additional prize. The posters for the top three winners of each grade level will be featured in an 18 month calendar to be printed for distribution later this year.
The Committee proudly recognizes the following winners:
Kindergarten 1st Grade
1st Place – Brooklynn Burhans 1st Place – Elise Simon
2nd Place – Eddie Johnson 2nd Place – Joanna Platte
3rd Place – Kaydents Wieland 3rd Place – Virginia Palmer
2nd Grade 3rd Grade
1st Place – Brittney Bush 1st Place – Isabell Helman **Cover Winner
2nd Place – Tori Hixson 2nd Place – Payton Gregersen
3rd Place – Mason Struble 3rd Place – Bailee Rux
4th Grade 5th Grade
1st Place – Landon Duell 1st Place – Jordan Dooley
2nd Place – Olivia Herbstreith 2nd Place – Trenton Greenfield
3rd Place – Madeline McGee 3rd Place – Jordyn Diebel
Lyons-Muir Historical Society
Lyons-Muir Historical Museum
309 E. Bridge St., Lyons
HISTORICAL SOCIETY MONTHLY MEETINGS: 7:00 p.m., 2nd Monday of each Month, March through December
Meetings usually held at the Museum - Call 989/855-2921 to confirm location
“SPRING INTO THE PAST” OPEN HOUSE Sat & Sun, May 2 & 3 10:00 am-4:00 pm Museum - Open to Public
LYONS FARM & COTTAGE MARKETS PARTICIPATION Visit the Historical Society’s booth spring/summer/fall at the Lyons Farm & Cottage markets the 1st and 3rd Saturdays of each month, May through October, 9:00 a.m-Noon
HISTORICAL MUSEUM - REGULAR SUMMER HOURS Open Sundays, 1:00-4:00 p.m. during June, July and August
Open other times by appointment: Call 989/855-2921 or 989/855-2271
ANNUAL RUMMAGE & BAKE SALE Scheduled in August concurrent with the Lyons & Muir Community-Wide Garage & Yard Sales Located at the Historical Museum in Lyons
CHRISTMAS BAZAAR & OPEN HOUSE Fri, Dec 4 9:00 am-4:00 pm Located at the Historical Museum in Lyons