City Services Information

CITY OF BIG RAPIDS - CITY SERVICES
City Hall
226 N Michigan Ave, Big Rapids, MI  49307
www.cityofbr.org
Hours: 8:00am to 5:00pm Monday thru Friday

If you have a specific problem and you are looking for who to call click here.

CITY ATTORNEY
Eric Williams
(231) 796-8945
524 N State Street 

Appointed by the City Commission, the City Attorney provides legal advice at Commission meetings, prosecutes ordinance violators, and represents the City in all lawsuits and legal matters. Responsible for the legal work of the city, both civil and criminal, serves as legal advisor to Mayor and City Commission, City Manager, City departments and various boards/commissions. The City Attorney also reviews all ordinances, contracts and other legal documents.

CITY MANAGER
Mark Gifford
(231) 592-4020

The City Manager directs the operations of all city departments. The City Manager is appointed by the City Commission and implements, with the aid of City staff, the policies set by the Commission.

CITY CLERK
VOTER REGISTRATION
Tammy Gillis
231-592-4020
Deputy Clerk
Amanda Vogel
231-592-4001

The City Clerk's office  serves as the custodian of all documents, as well as the Chief Elections Officer, and the Freedom of Information Act Coordinator. This office interacts with the media, develops publications for employees and the public, and provides public relations assistance to other departments.

HOUSING COMMISSION
(231)796-8689
9 Parkview Village

The Big Rapids Housing Commission operates 287 units of public housing in Parkview and Evergreen Village, the Nisbett – Fairman Buildings, Stepping Stones Childcare/Learning Center, a Homeownership Program and provides management services for Water Tower Place Apartments.

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
(231)592-4033

The Information Technology department is responsible for all telecommunications for the municipal buildings as well as Internet/Intranet development. This department researches new information technologies and implements advanced solutions requiring hardware, software, and systems integration on the City's Networking system. It also performs Maintenance, Training, and Support - Maintains and operates the city's network computer systems which includes almost 200 microcomputers in use throughout city government.

This department is also responsible for providing assistance to employees through a comprehensive support center and maintains the City's voice mail/processing system. In addition, training is provided by in-house staff or commercial training centers and workshops. The IT Department also monitors compliance of franchised cable television operator(s) and policy issues related to cable operations, provides assistance in the leasing of space on City owned water towers, as well as managing the land management department.

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

Community Development Director  (231)592-4035
Code Enforcement  (231)592-4057
Planning and Zoning  (231)592-4035
Rental Inspections  (231)592-4036

The Zoning Division provides plan review, permit issuance, and inspection of all construction, demolition, and site work in the City. It enforces building and construction codes, natural features, soil erosion and sedimentation rules, historic preservation rules, housing, and zoning ordinances. Provides periodic inspection and certification of all rental housing and handles complaints regarding these above ordinances. It also operates the City's central permit desk, maintains a supply of construction code books, coordinates appeals of certain boards/commissions, and performs code surveys of structures. Encourages, assists, and monitors historic preservation activities. Currently, the Building Division has been contracted to the Mecosta County Building Inspector (231)592-0105.

The Planning Division prepares and updates the city master plan and capital improvements program to guide Big Rapids' short and long-range development. The department also coordinates city review of annexation, zoning, site plan, site condominium, land division and plat proposals for private development. In addition, the department coordinates review of major public developments and initiates land use ordinance revisions. The Planning Department submits reports to the Planning Commission, which makes recommendations to the City Commission. This department also makes available aerial photographs, maps, census data and other information.

This Division helps maintain rental certificates to approved landlords, and helps maintain the rental inspection system, that is performed by Mecosta County. The main goal of this department is to protect the tenant from unfair/unsafe housing in the City.

PUBLIC SAFETY DEPARTMENT- Including the Police and Fire Divisions and Parking Violations
435 N Michigan Ave

The Police Division is responsible for enforcing Michigan Laws, City ordinances and maintaining order. The fire division suppresses and prevents fires, educates the public about fire safety, provides emergency medical services, reinforces fire codes and regulations, inspects buildings, and investigates fires.

TREASURER'S OFFICE

Treasurer  (231)592-4002
Administration  (231)592-4010
Assessing  (231)592-4030
Human Resources  (231)592-4007
Income Tax  (231)592-4012
Utility Billing  (231)592-4005

Finance and Accounting - This division provides general administrative oversight for the divisions of City Hall and administers long-term capital financing, provides revenue forecasting, as well as serving several boards and committees. Accounting services are rendered to other city departments through processing payroll, billings to customers, and accounts payable. Additionally, this division is responsible for reconciling cash and investments funds, tracking purchase orders, filing the city's tax returns and performing internal audits. The City Treasurer is the custodian of all city monies, funds, and securities.

Collection Services - The Treasurer collects taxes for all taxing units within the City including delinquent personal property taxes.  This department is also responsible for utility billing, including curbside sanitation services, i.e.,  weekly trash, recycle, yard waste (April - November), and bulk collection of residential customers.  Dumpster service is also offered to residential and commercial customers, and schools.  In addition to utility billing, this office manages the maintenance of residential and commercial meters.

The Assessing division appraises all real and personal property for the purposes of taxation, prepares assessment rolls, processes lot divisions, and ownership changes, which include Homestead and Transfer Affidavits.

The Income Tax division is responsible for the collection and enforcement of income taxes from residents or employees who work within the City limits. This department also is in charge of purchasing.

PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT

The Department of Public Works includes the following functions and responsibilities:

• Maintaining and repairing infrastructure owned by the City, including but not limited to roadways, sidewalks, curbs and gutters and the water distribution, storm water collection, and wastewater collection systems and appurtenances
• Installing and maintaining facilities in and along the right-of-way of and within the City, including, but not limited to traffic signs and signals, directional signs, and street name signs
• Operating a central garage and repairing, maintaining, and housing City-owned vehicles and equipment
• Operating and maintaining City-owned parks, playgrounds, and swimming pool
• Operating City-sponsored recreation program
• Planting and maintaining trees and other vegetation on rights-of-way and property owned by the City
• Maintaining buildings and grounds owned by the City, except as provided for by the City Charter or the Code of Ordinances
• Surveying and mapping any public utility or property owned by the City;
• Inspecting construction and major maintenance work on any City-owned facility, utility, improvement or property;
• Pumping, purifying, and filtering water supplied to the distribution system and elevated water storage tanks associated with the system;
• Maintaining and operating the wastewater plant and the lift, metering, and sampling stations associated with the collection system; and
• Any other functions and responsibilities which may be assigned to this department by the City code or the City Manager