Coffee With City Council

Members of the Belding City Council would like to invite you to stop by the Pere Marquette Depot on the first Monday of each month between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. to share any ideas, questions or concerns you may have.  It will be an informal setting with one or two council members present to visit with you.  Coffee with City Council will begin on Monday, December 5, 2011.  Please join us!

Police Department 

PARKING

There is No Parking on City streets from 2 a.m. to 6 a.m. from November 1st through March 31st.  The signs are posted on the major streets entering the city.

Please park all vehicles facing the right way.  A vehicle stopped or parked upon a highway or street shall be stopped or parked with the wheels of the vehicle parallel to the roadway and within 12 inches of any curb existing at the right of the vehicle. A vehicle shall not be parked, except if necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic or in compliance with the law or the directions of a police officer or traffic-control device, in any of the following places:  on a sidewalk; in front of a public or private driveway; within an intersection; within 15 feet of a fire hydrant; on a crosswalk; within 20 feet of a crosswalk, or if there is not a crosswalk, then within 15 feet of the intersection of property lines at an intersection of highways; or within 30 feet of the approach to a flashing beacon, stop sign, or traffic-control signal located at the side of a highway.

Please keep sidewalks clear of ice and snow and remove accumulation within 24 hours of the ice storm or snowfall.  When there are no sidewalks, the property owner shall clear a path free from snow and ice, when such a path will provide an extension of existing sidewalk on an adjacent property.  When ice is formed on a sidewalk, the property owner, within 12 hours after the ice has formed, must place salt, chloride or sand on the entire sidewalk or pathway.  If snow or ice on a sidewalk has become so hard that it cannot be removed without likelihood of damage to the sidewalk, the property owner, within 24 hours, shall place enough sand or abrasive on the sidewalk as to make travel reasonably safe, and as soon as weather permits, have the sidewalk cleared in its entirety.  A person who violates this section is responsible for a municipal civil infraction, subject to payment of a civil fine plus costs for each violation. 

Trash receptacles can be placed at the curb after 6 p.m. the night before pickup and must be removed after the trash is picked up or emptied from the can by the hauler.

• Eliminate the opportunity for the thief to steal your property, by properly securing your personal property and properly marking your valuables for identification.
• Report suspicious activity in your neighborhood.  Suspicious activity can be described as a person(s) conduct or actions that does not fit the norm for your neighborhood.  If it looks suspicious, don't wait.  Report it to the police

If you are going away for an extended period of time, please contact the police department directly or visit us on the web at www.belding.mi.us  Click on police department for a vacation house check form.

• Have your chimney or wood stove inspected and cleaned annually.
• Keep the area around heating units free of combustible materials.
• Never use flammable liquids to start a fire.
• Soak ashes in water and place in a metal container outside your home.

Many fire departments have been experiencing an increase in the number of fires caused by the unsafe use of candles.  Some important safety tips to remember when burning candles:

• Never leave a burning candle unattended.
• Keep lighted candles out of the reach of children and pets.
• Burn candles away from drafts, other heat sources, and all flammable objects or materials such as curtains or decorations.
• Burn candles on a non-combustible surface such as a ceramic saucer or plate.
• Be sure to snuff out candles before falling asleep, going out, or leaving the room.

Extension cords are a common cause of electrical fires.

• Use only extension cords which are rated for the power used by the device they are powering.
• Extension cords should not be used as a long-term solution.
• Extension cords should never run inside walls or under rugs or furniture.
• Do not use any cord that has become stiff or cracked.

Develop and practice a home fire escape plan with your family.  Select a meeting place outside that everyone can get to.  Once you are out of the house - stay out!

City of Belding ordinance requires visible house numbers at or near the front entrance of all residences and businesses within the city limits.  Visible street numbers are critical to emergency service personnel when trying to locate the origin of an emergency call.

Water rates as of July 1, 2011 billing are:

First 1,000 cubic feet           $.098/100 cubic feet

Next 19,000 cubic feet         $1.43/100 cubic feet

Next 80,000 cubic feet         $.0.80/100 cubic feet

Over 100,000 cubic feet      $0.70/100 cubic feet

Readiness to serve:

                 Water                 Sewer

5/8"           $20.20                $35.50

1"              $28.20                $49.70

1 1/4"        $32.20                $56.80

1 1/2"        $36.30                $63.90

2"              $58.50                $102.95

3"              $221.80              $390.50

4"              $282.20              $497.00

6"              $423.30              $745.50

8"              $584.50              $1,029.50

10"            $755.90              $1,331.25

Additional apartments, trailers or commercial units on a master meter shall pay a quarterly readiness to serve charge for the master unit plus 0.75 times the 5/8" quarterly meter charge for each additional unit. 

Water  $15.15 and sewer  $26.63.

To ensure that your water meter is read quarterly, please keep the area near the outside meter clear from bushes, snow, locked gates, and dogs loose or chained near the meter. 

Water and sewer bills for each quarter are due 30 days after the following dates:  December 31, March 31, June 30 and September 30 billings.  If not paid within the thirty days, a 10% penalty will be added to current quarterly bill.  If not paid within the next fifteen days the water will be shut off and a $60.00 turn on fee is added to the bill to turn the water back on.  The total bill is required to be paid before the water is turned back on.