Public Works

Above: City Council’s meeting last night; from left, Planning Director Tim Dempsey, City Manager George Lahanas, Councilmembers Ruth Beier, Diane Goddeeris, Nathan Triplett, Kathy Boyle, and Susan Woods.

All present: Mayor Nathan Triplett, Mayor Pro Tem Diane Goddeeris, and Councilmembers Ruth Beier, Kathy Boyle, and Susan Woods.

Above (left to right): Officer Sarah Campbell, Officer Shelby Humphries, Captain Larry Sparkes, and Chief Jeff Murphy of the ELPD at Council last night.

Present: Mayor Nathan Triplett, Mayor Pro Tem Diane Goddeeris, and Councilmember Ruth Beier.

Absent: Councilmembers Kathy Boyle, and Susan Woods.

A reader asked us to find out: “What is the appropriate way to report street lights that are not working in East Lansing? On Spartan, between Albert and Synder there are 3-4 lights (all along the two block section) that are not working. What is the city doing about keeping streetlights working? How do street lights play into city's effort to keep residents safe in light of the recent break-ins?”

Who maintains the streetlights in East Lansing?

Image: Artist’s rendition of what the alley off Ann Street Plaza could look like with art.

Note: This article was updated on August 19th, 2015 to indicate that the location of proposed condo development near Chandler and State Roads is Falcon Pointe, not Hawk's Nest as we originally reported.

The August 18 meeting of City Council was a “work session,” which means it was not videotaped or broadcast. You can listen to an audio recording by clicking here.

Image: East Lansing work crew dealing with a sewer

After Monday’s very heavy rain, a reader wrote to ask: “We have had this [a sewer back-up in the drain] happen in our home for three years in a row now, and East Lansing govt. says it is a freak ‘act of nature’ that they can't control. Do you know if there are any organizations discussing putting some pressure on City to deal with combined storm/sanitary sewer problems? I would like to be part of a group making this effort.”

Photo, courtesy City of East Lansing.

An ELi reader asked, via Twitter: “It’s six in the morning. Is the street sweeper really necessary right now?”

The answer we have for you comes from Ron Lacasse, Infrastructure Administrator for the City of East Lansing, who explains, “Our sweeper comes in at 5:30 in the morning for two reasons.”

Image: The new recycling bins coming soon to East Lansing neighborhoods

Recycling in East Lansing is getting re-cycled! There has been a buzz in East Lansing about bigger bins, an expanded list of recyclables, changing collection schedules, and more. I reached out to Cathy DeShambo, Environmental Services Administrator for the City of East Lansing, for her insights into the changes residents can expect, and this is what she had to say:

How will the recycling program be changing?

Image: East Lansing City Council’s first of two meetings this week

This Tuesday, there were two Council meetings, one “work session” and a “regular session.” This Council Capsule combines the two.

Present: Mayor Nathan Triplett, Mayor Pro Tem Diane Goddeeris, and Councilmembers Ruth Beier and Kathy Woods were present, with Beier arriving about ten minutes late to the work session. Councilmember Susan Woods was absent from both meetings.