May 28, 2020 – In accordance with the updated “Safer at Home” Executive Order 2020-96 issued by Governor Gretchen Whitmer on Thursday, May 21, the City of Midland has extended the closure of all City buildings and facilities and suspension of all non-essential services through Friday, June 12.
The following service changes, which were implemented under previous executive orders and public health directives, remain in effective through Friday, June 12 unless otherwise noted:
- Midland City Hall, Municipal Service Center, Water Treatment Plant, Wastewater Treatment Plant, Law Enforcement Center, Grace A. Dow Memorial Library, Midland Civic Arena, and all Midland Fire Department stations will remain closed to the public.
- Rental certification inspections through the Building Department are suspended.
- Visitors to Washington Woods senior living community is limited to essential care providers only through Friday, June 12. Riverside Place is closed until further notice due to damage sustained during the recent flooding event.
- The Sanitary Landfill is open for residential and commercial customers from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. Monday through Friday for residents who wish to dispose of trash, yard waste, or flood debris. At this time, it will be also open on Saturday, May 30 and Sunday, May 31 from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. Additional hours will be announced at a later date.
- The Plymouth Pool will not open for the 2020 season. Gerstacker and Longview spray parks and the water features at Thrune Park will remain closed at this time, but may open at a later date subject to future executive orders and public health directives and guidance from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
- The Midland Civic Arena has melted ice rinks and cancelled previously-scheduled summer activities and programs at this time. An estimated timeline for the reopening of the arena has not been determined.
- Dial-A-Ride Transportation continues to operate normal phone and bus service hours to provide rides for essential travel only.
- Water service installations are suspended through Friday, June 12.
- The terminal building of the Jack Barstow Airport is closed. Pilots may continue to access hangars and purchase fuel as needed.
- Public meetings of the Midland City Council and City boards, commissions, and committees will be evaluated on a meeting-by-meeting basis to assess their need to meet and take action on matters of significant importance. Public meetings that must be held will be done so electronically. A list of meetings to be held electronically will be updated regularly online at www.cityofmidlandmi,gov/emeetings.
Most non-essential City staff will be working remotely and responding to residents’ requests by phone and email to the best of their ability in line with the “Safer at Home” order. Residents are encouraged to conduct business with City staff via email or phone or on the City’s website, www.cityofmidlandmi.gov. To contact a City staff member or department by phone, residents can call the City Hall switchboard at 989-837-3300 and use the prompts to find the appropriate department.
Building and Midland Fire Department personnel are working remotely to process construction permits and inspection requests as quickly as possible to provide service for flood-impacted residents. To schedule a building inspection or apply for a building permit related to the recent flooding event, residents should call the Building Department at 989-837-3383 and leave a voicemail message regarding their project or email the appropriate staff member. Fees will be waived for all City permits related to flood damage.
Individual inspectors can be reached as follows:
To find building permit applications forms, building permit and inspection information, and more, please visit www.cityofmidlandmi.gov/building.
For fire safety inspections and other plans related to fire safety, please contact Midland Fire Department Fire Marshal Tony Lelo at 989-837-3413 or alelo@midland-mi.org. For fire department permit and inspection information, visit www.cityofmidlandmi.gov/fire.
Refuse, recycling, and yard waste collection continues as scheduled. Some customers in Friday refuse, Friday Week 4 recycling, and Friday yard waste collection routes may see a temporary service disruption while flood debris collection is ongoing in their area due to high volumes of debris, heavy equipment, and vehicle traffic. Heavy item and brush collection has been suspended citywide at this time to allow for flood debris collection to continue every day until further notice. For the latest updates related to the recent flooding event, view the “Recent News” section on the homepage of www.cityofmidlandmi.gov.
Water and sewer bill payments will still be accepted during the closure. Residents can pay their bills online at www.cityofmidlandmi.gov/pay or submit payment by cash or check via the City’s secure drop box located inside the main doors of City Hall, 333 W. Ellsworth Street.
The City will continue to monitor public health information regarding COVID-19 and will reassess and alter its response as needed.
For the latest updates and information regarding the statewide response to COVID-19, please visit www.michigan.gov/coronavirus.