NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING

The East Tawas Housing Commission will hold a special meeting on Friday, April 19, 2024 at 8:00 a.m. and held in the East Tawas City Council Chambers at 760 Newman Street, East Tawas, MI  48730 

The purpose of the meeting is to discuss the status of the Housing Commission and the best direction to move forward, relative to the Executive Director position. Current governance of the Commission, including the chair/president and vice-chair/vice president positions will also be discussed as well as other matters that may lawfully arise.  Below is a link to join the meeting via ZOOM.  

Topic: Housing Commission - Special Meeting
Time: Apr 19, 2024 08:00 AM Eastern Time

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82511329928

Meeting ID: 825 1132 9928
Passcode: 856353

One tap mobile
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Meeting ID: 825 1132 9928
Passcode: 856353

Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kdUk4NZGZx

Persons with special needs wishing to request reasonable accommodation can call (989) 362-4963.

The Urban Development Action Grant (UDAG) Board will hold a meeting on Monday, April 22, 2024 at 4:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers of the East Tawas City Hall, 760 Newman Street, East Tawas, Michigan.

The purpose of the meeting is to review an application for a UDAG loan.

Minutes of meetings of the UDAG Board are available for public review at the office of the City Clerk, 760 Newman Street, East Tawas, MI 48730.  Phone 989 362-6161.  Minutes are also available on the City’s website:  www.easttawas.com.

Julie J. Potts, Clerk/Treasurer

The City of East Tawas is seeking applicants for the Department of Public Works.  This full-time position includes a wage and benefit package based on experience and qualifications.  Minimum requirements include a high school diploma or equivalent.  If applicant does not already have a Class B CDL with air brakes, one must be obtained within two weeks of hire.  The successful applicant must have a S-3 water license or be willing to earn one within two years of hire.  Preference may be given to those applicants with training or experience in computers, confined space entry, heavy equipment operation and/or equipment maintenance.  Applications are available at East Tawas City Hall, 760 Newman Street, East Tawas, Michigan  48730-0672 or by calling (989) 362-6161.  Applications will be accepted until Friday, April 19, 2024.  The City of East Tawas is an equal opportunity employer.

The nonpartisan City Primary Election will be on Tuesday, August 6, 2024, to nominate a Mayor for a two (2) year term expiring after the first Council Meeting in November, 2026, three (3) Council members-at-large for four (4) year terms expiring after the first meeting in November 2028, and two (2) Council members-at-large for partial, two (2) year terms expiring after the first meeting in November 2026.  

In order for a candidate’s name to appear on the ballot, a nonpartisan nominating petition with a minimum of ten (10) and a maximum of fifteen (15) signatures of registered voters in the City of East Tawas must be filed with the City Clerk no later than 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 23, 2024.  If you would like to run for Mayor, a City Council position for a four-year term, or a City Council position for a two-year partial term, Nonpartisan Nominating Petitions and Affidavit of Identity forms are available at East Tawas City Hall, 760 Newman Street, East Tawas, MI  48730.  For more information, please contact the City Clerk by phone at 989-362-6161 or by email at jpotts@easttawas.com.

NOTICE: ANNUAL FALL FIRE HYDRANT FLUSHING

In our continuing effort to provide clean, safe drinking water, water mains in the following communities will be flushed April 29, through May 3, 2024, per the following schedule:

City of East Tawas            April 29th - May 3, 2024
City of Tawas City             May 6th - May 10, 2024
Baldwin Twp                     May 13th- May 17, 2024

Discolored water and lower water pressure may be encountered during this process. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact your water department. Your cooperation and understanding is appreciated. 

The City of East Tawas begins valve turning two weeks prior to flushing hydrants. 

The City of East Tawas has been approved for grant funding through the Consumers Energy 2023 Community Street & Boulevard Tree Planting Grant Program.   This year the City was able to plant 9 new trees throughout East Tawas.  We want to thank Consumers Energy for giving our community this opportunity and look forward to continuing to work with them for future tree management needs.

NATIONAL POLL WORKER RECRUITMENT!  Michigan needs more election inspectors / poll workers than ever before to run early voting sites and polling places for the 2024 elections coming up. 

Sign up now or learn more at Michigan.gov/poll worker or https://www.michigan.gov/sos/elections/pollworker

If you have served as an election inspector / poll worker in past elections, please contact that jurisdiction’s clerk’s office before signing up.  Or go to your local clerk’s office and complete an application to become an election inspector / poll worker. 

HELP US SPREAD THE WORD

If everyone who signs up recruits one more person, the critical need for more election inspectors / poll workers in Michigan will be met!

To learn more about Early Voting, please click the following link:  https://www.michigan.gov/sos/elections/voting/early-in-person-voting

The East Tawas City Council adopted ordinance No. 359 Short-Term Rentals and Ordinance No. 360 amending the Zoning Ordinance to incorporate short-term rentals into residential districts on December 5, 2022.  The Ordinance goes into effect on December 26, 2022.  Additional documents will be added to the Zoning and Community Development Department tab under government. View the full ordinances below:

Ordinance No. 359- Short-Term Rentals

Ordinance No. 360- Zoning Ordinance Amendments: Short-Term Rentals  

Here is the survey link: https://resourcerecycling.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6AtJRMik6YJIq1w and QR code is below.  Please complete the survey by the due date of November 18.  Thank you for your participation!

City of East Tawas Water and Sewer Rate Adjustments:
Beginning this October, water and sewer bills in the City of East Tawas will include a new line item to accommodate short and long term infrastructure expenses associated with the water and sewer systems. The new line item will be designated the “Infrastructure Improvement Rate” and will be incorporated to fund improvement and replacement costs for the City’s water distribution system, sanitary sewer collection system, the Huron Shores Regional Utility Authority’s water treatment facility, and the Tawas Utility Authority's sanitary sewer treatment facility.

The Infrastructure Rate for a standard ¾” diameter residential water meter will be $4.62 per month for water infrastructure and $21.06 per month for sewer infrastructure. Rates will vary proportionately based on the customer's water meter size.

Each utility bill will continue to include ready to serve and usage charges for both water and sewer services. The ready to serve cost has been adjusted for 2022 to accommodate Michigan Rural Water’s recommendation of equivalency-based rates. The cost for a standard ¾” diameter residential water service will be $9.04 per month for water (a reduction from $12.80) and $16.22 per month for sewer (an increase from $13.53). Ready to serve rates will vary proportionately based on the customer's water meter size. Usage rates, per 100 gallons of water used, will increase to $0.63 for water (an increase from $0.62) and $0.65 for sewer (an increase from $0.62).

Residential sewer customers that do not have a water meter will be charged the base usage rate of 4,600 gallons per month for sewer ($29.90), the sewer ready to serve charge ($16.22), and the new sewer infrastructure rate ($21.06).

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation to help maintain and improve our City’s public water and sewer systems. Information regarding the changes will also be included on the City’s Facebook page and in the fall newsletter. Please contact City Hall with questions.

Public Utilities Comparison 
2022 East Tawas Rates 
Billing Code Breakdown (example bill) 

The City of East Tawas is working together with conservation nonprofit Huron Pines to understand how to keep our local water resources healthy.  We are forming a partnership to learn more about managing our city's stormwater.  With heavy rains and snowmelt, water can pick up pollutants like road salt and dirt and deposit them into our fresh water sources.  We'll look at how and where stormwater and snowmelt enter our rivers, inland lakes and Lake Huron and how we can reduce negative impacts with natural features like forests, wetlands and green space. 

On June 6, 2019 local decision makers and Huron Pines staff like come together to kick things off with a hands-on workshop to build a shared understanding of stormwater efforts in the City of East Tawas and to identify tools and opportunities that can help us build a sustainable plan for healthy water in East Tawas.

The City of East Tawas accepts credit/debit card payments for utility bills, tax bills and miscellaneous items at City Hall, over the phone or online through Graphite Municipalities.  You are able to view your utility bill and tax information through the online services tab on our website, but you will have to use the Graphite Municipalities link to pay your bill online.  Please click here or click on the Graphite Municipalities logo on our main page or on the water/sewer and tax information pages.  You may also call 989-362-6161 during our office hours Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and our office staff will be glad to take your payment over the phone.  

PLEASE CLICK ON THE GRAPHITE MUNICIPALITIES LOGO UNDER THE QUICK LINKS TO MAKE AN ONLINE PAYMENT.

In an effort to expand broadband services for Northeastern Michigan, Develop Iosco is teaming with Northeast Michigan Council of Governments (NEMCOG) by maintaining critical infrastructure such as high-speed internet access, sewer, water, and transportation that is necessary for all aspects of the traditional economy, as well as the new economy. Check out the links below.

• Technology Action Plan
• Broadband Survey for Iosco County

We are looking for residents who may be interested in serving on one of the City’s boards, commissions or authorities which currently include the following:

A Walk of Honor has been incorporated into the design of the Veterans Recognition Plaza located in the heart of Tawas City at the corner of US-23 and Matthews Street. Brick pavers, donated by the City of East Tawas, are available to recognize a Veteran for a $100 donation. Black Granite Benches are also available to recognize a Veteran for a $2,000 donation. More information and an order blank are available here.

In accordance with Federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, religion, sex, familial status, sexual orientation, and reprisal. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.)