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Grand Rapids expands shut down and urges residents to stay home

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The city of Grand Rapids is suspending in-person services and is urging residents stay home as a means to stemming the spread of coronavirus. 

 

Monday, Governor Gretchen Whitmer ordered residents to stay home, with some exceptions. What does it mean for the City of Grand Rapids operations?  Amy Snow-Buckner is the city’s Managing Director of Communications. She says there’s no need for panic, services will continue, but in a different way.

“Many city buildings, city hall, our police headquarters, our fire stations, parks and rec, public works, water resource facility, our development center are all closed to walk in traffic until regular business hours April 14.”

Essential services like police, fire, refuse and recycling, dispatch and 311 services will not stop during this time. However, meter parking enforcement has been suspended and all street parking will be free until further notice.

“Public safety is among our top priorities and during a public health emergency we still need to make sure the safety of our community is considered.”

For now city commission meetings are postponed until the middle of April, and the new filing deadline for the city’s income tax return is July 31.