Mayor Mark Behnke of Battle Creek announced on March 29 several updates for city residents, including holiday service changes, water quality improvements, upcoming elections, and community services.
The announcement provides important information about how city operations will be affected by the Good Friday holiday and highlights ongoing efforts to improve public services and infrastructure in Battle Creek.
City administrative offices will be closed on Friday, April 3 in observance of Good Friday. Regular business hours will resume on Monday, April 6. The Full Blast Recreation Center will remain open during regular hours on April 3. Ride Calhoun’s administrative offices will also close that day but its transportation services—RC MAX fixed-route buses, RC MOVE paratransit service, and RC FLEX on-demand service—will operate as usual. Republic Services will complete regular waste pickups without delay.
Behnke reported that first-quarter drinking water sampling showed reduced total trihalomethane (TTHM) levels across the city’s water system. While Emmett Township and parts of Pennfield Township remain above federal standards due to previous results included in annual averages, both Battle Creek and Springfield are now below the federal limit of 80 parts per billion for TTHM. Residents can expect a letter with detailed results in early April or find more information at battlecreekmi.gov.
Yard waste collection resumes Monday, April 6 through December 4. Residents should place yard waste at the curb by 6 a.m. on their collection day using approved containers or bags; loose branches must be bundled and tied. More details are available at https://www.battlecreekmi.gov/238/Yard-Waste.
For elections this year, absent voter ballots for the May 5 special election have begun mailing out to eligible voters who requested them or are on the permanent list. Additional elections are scheduled for August 4 (state primary) and November 3 (state general). Early voting periods apply only to the August and November dates; further details can be found at https://www.battlecreekmi.gov/509/Elections.
The Post-Franklin neighborhood is undergoing a major water main replacement project requiring residents to return Lead Service Consent forms to avoid service interruptions as work progresses through fall of next year.
Residents can also request free smoke alarms or carbon monoxide detectors from the Fire Department via https://www.battlecreekmi.gov/850/Smoke-Alarm-Installation-Service. The latest BC City Connection podcast is available online featuring small business resources discussed by John Hart from Small Business Battle Creek.
Behnke encouraged neighbors to sign up for city alerts covering construction projects or emergency notices through battlecreekmi.gov under “Alerts & Notifications.” City Commission meetings continue twice monthly with opportunities for public comment both in person at City Hall or via broadcast channels.
