City of Muskegon New Website
August 23, 2009
Looking for contact information? You’ll find it located on the City of Muskegon Departments page.
This section is for those that would like to leave a comment or suggestion for the new site. If you would like to remain anonymous, simply enter anonymous for the name and anonymous@postman.org for the email.
We have been working very hard during the last six months on converting our old website to a new site based on the most popular Content Management System on the market today, Wordpress. This new CMS allows citizens to become more involved while at the same time automating costly processes and reducing the time spent on publishing content.
As this website grows, we’ll be correcting errors and omissions that can escape even the most detailed testing.
Should you find something missing, an error or have an idea for something new, please, by all means, leave a comment and let us know.
We look forward to hearing from you!
Jim Maurer
Information Technology Director
(231) 724-4126
Hi, I am trying to view the previous years tax forms and have had no luck from the income tax page. Are you are still updating this area?
Nice job- Congrats on improving your web site. More user friendly, nice drop down menus, etc. Looks wonderful, fresh, and new. :)
P.S. Was looking for your mailing address – and I’m sure it’s here somewhere, just can’t find it yet….
No address, no phone numbers either.
Hello Nicki,
Thanks for pointing that out! The tax forms have been updated and go back to 98.
—————–
Hi Vicki, Jon
You’ll find that information on the City of Muskegon Departments page.
—————–
We appreciate the feedback!
Have a great day!
Jim
Taking the minutes off is a major step backward for the public. By the way I am Chair for the CDC and see no minutes for the group period. Funds are federal and HUD was updated that the City was doing minutes to keep the public aware.
How is copy and paste costing time on publishing to the web after all these are minutes done on staff time for the boards?
Hi, I am trying to find the vacant lots for sale throughout the city of Muskegon. You used to have a page of all the available lots. I cannot locate it. I hope you can help!
-Kendra
Hello Patricia,
No worries, we are not taking the minutes off, we just have not included them, yet. It is high on our list and should have them up soon.
Hi Kendra,
Thanks for the heads-up, we’ll get it up there and post the link here.
Best regards,
Jim
Some enterprising soul there has glomd on to the idea that on losing the water-sewer revenue from Sappi Paper that the rest of us should have to pay more to make up for it. Why in the world would we pay more for water-sewer service that is no longer being used?
Hi Braim,
You’ll have the ability to leave comments concerning issues such as these once we have fixed any errors and omissions on our new site. For now, we are looking for comments concerning the content and flow of the website.
However, as I understand it, a ways back, the County of Muskegon upgraded their waste water system. At that time, Sappi asked the County to give them a price break, which they received, unfortunately, the County raised the rates for the surrounding municipalities (including the City of Muskegon) to make up for the price break; the end result is an increase in your rates.
Now that County no longer has revenue from Sappi, they may decide to increase the rates once again to cover the bond cost; another increase in rates to the municipalities (such as the City) would result in an increase to the end user, you.
It is the County of Muskegon that you want to voice your concerns to, but, we are listening and appreciate your feedback!
Thank you,
Jim
Congratulations! I know you have been working on this project for quite a while. The new site looks great.
Hello, while hiking at Seven Devils, which is located about 10 miles west of Boone in the mountains of North Carolina I found an old Coke Bottle with Muskegon, Mich embosed on the bottom. Knowing that Coke ceased this practice many years ago I brought the Coke Bottle home with me. I just wonder if anyone would like to have this bottle.
That’s great that you can find the phone numbers under the “departments” webpage, by why aren’t they cross-referenced on the page specified for each department? Also, it would be helpful to show the area code with the phone numbers. Not everyone viewing this page is from Muskegon.
Excellent suggestion Heather!
The changes have been made and each department in the list is now cross-referenced with its corresponding web page.
Thanks for making navigation that much better!
Jim
The site is very closed to interaction … except for this public comment section which I do not like. Amazing there is NO “Contact Us” section. No e-mail addresses listed that I could find except for the commissioners. Why not make it more interactive? Make it easy for people to connect with the person they need by providing e-mails?
On the Report Crimes section, it instructs people of an e-mail option to the Police Community Coordinator yet provides NO e-mail address. No where on the site could I even find out who the Community Coordinator is. I assume his job is to interact with the public yet there is no information on how to contact him? The old site provided an opportunity for people to anonymously report non-urgent crimes … isn’t this a GOOD thing? Not everyone is comfortable calling. Why not continue to provide a service that is mutually beneficial to the public and the police?
Hello Jane,
We’re still updating and have been working on the comments and contact information. It is on the list and should be completed soon.
The “Contact Us” link is on in the menu bar of every page where you have the ability to leave a comment and instructions on anonymity.
The community coordinator information is now up there as well.
I appreciate your comments, for it is comments like yours that will help make this site a valuable resource!
Have a great day!
Jim
We were thinking about getting married at Krause Park, but didn’t see any information regarding events held on the beach. Who do we contact to find out what sort of permits or fee’s are needed.
Hello Heidi,
For details on holding a wedding in one of our parks, check out our Wedding in Muskegon Parks page. You’ll find contact information, a form to fill out, pricing information and more.
Best regards,
Jim
I’m all for progress but this new website i don’t like because I can’t find information on new homes for sale. Where are they located?
Nice site but I need an address to put in my gps to find Pere Marquette park.
Hello Ann,
The address is:
Pere Marquette Park, Beach Street, Muskegon, Michigan 49441
I’ve also updated the information on the Pere Marquette Park Muskegon web page.
Thanks and have a great day!
Jim
Hello Pat,
Homes that are for sale by the City of Muskegon are handled by Community and Neighborhood Services; when you visit the page, you’ll see a ‘homes for sale list’ in PDF format.
Thanks for you input.
Jim
One add that would be nice is the Talent Bank listing what positions are open on councils and commissions.
Hello Jane Doe,
I wanted to let you know that we’ve added the the ability to comment on just about every post. There are some sections that don’t fit with comments in which case the comment box simply won’t appear.
Have a great day!
Jim
Jim:
You misunderstood my suggestions. I do not like to use the public comment. My idea of a useful “Contact Us” section should be a listing of people who work there, along with their job title, phone numbers and e-mail link. It seems inefficient to have to go through the IT person to get a message to the person they need contact with.
Hi Jane Doe,
You do not have to go through the Technology Department to contact a department and yes, that would be extremely inefficient.
The Muskegon Departments main page has links to each department with each departmental page providing the title, phone number and other contact information.
You’ll also find a contact form on each department’s page that clearly states it is not made public and that when you click ’send’, the message is immediately sent to the departmental contact person.
I hope that helps…
Jim
Ahh, excellent. Much improved. Thank you for your help!
Hi Jane,
Thank you – it was because of your suggestions that we found a module for the website that allows better management of comments than we had before.
Have a great day!
Jim
Can you give me information on purchasing a memorial plaque for one of your benches at Pere Marquett Park? Thanks
Great timing John!
They are working on this right now and only two spots are left. The cost is $310 for the bench plus the shipping cost; the City covers the cost of labor (cement pad, etc).
The cost of the plaque is the responsibility of the donor. A plaque can range in price form $25 to over $100. You can contact the Trophy House for more info about the plaque.
If you want to get in on this, you need to contact Bernadette Young (ASAP) over at the Department of Public Works. Her phone number is (231) 724-6991.
Enjoy the day!
Jim
I was trying to find some fun things to do in Muskegon and I couldn’t find anything, what do you have to offer?
What happened to the screen savers? I currently have one of Pere Marquette and people over here (in the Detroit area) always ask me where my picture was taken. I need to change to a fall picture but I can’t find them on the new website ~ which is very nice, by the way. Thanks!
Hi Joclyne,
Great question and we’ll put up a page that covers it all (or at least as much as we can think of : )
I’ll update this comment and send you an email when we get the page completed.
Thanks,
Jim
Gail,
The screen saver can be found here http://www.muskegon-mi.gov/muskegon/photo-gallery/
The screen saver and the photo gallery will be updated soon with additional pictures.
Thank you,
Mike
Dear City of Muskegon:
My group and I did the Adopt a Beach two weekends ago, and now want to contact whomever we need to talk with to change the beach that we cleaned into a non-smoking beach. Who should I start to contact to find out the procedure used to ban smoking from Pier Marquette beach?
Thanks for your help!
Lori M. Eslick
I can’t find an updated employee withholding certificate (W-4) for Muskegon. Could you send me one please to give our employees? Thanks
Hi Sheryl,
Click on Income Tax under the ‘Departments’ menu Item located at the top of this page and you’ll see the form listed on that page.
Best regards,
Jim
Still nothing on the talent bank and openings for boards. I posted September 16th Jim. There is an opening on the CDC that needs to be filled. The talent bank is empty.
I’m trying to locate the city street listing for tax assessment purposes. Can you tell me where it is located or send me the file? Thank you!
Hello Pam,
If you visit the Income Tax page from the drop down menu at the top of this page, you’ll see a link to the form you are looking for.
I’ve also included the link below.
City of Muskegon Street Address Listing for Income Tax
Best regards,
Jim
I am one of the many seniors living in the downtown area that can no longer drive and can not afford taxi service so after 6PM and on Sundays I am stuck in the downtown area.
Are there any plans in the works for a real grocery store and a non-alcoholic restaurant planed for the downtown area?
Hello James,
Give the Planning Department a call at (231) 724-6702 and ask for Cathy Brubaker-Clarke. She can help answer your questions.
Have a great day!
Jim
Hello Patricia,
The information you are looking for on Talent Bank Listings can be found here:
http://www.muskegon-mi.gov/cresources/index-committees.pdf
The Clerk’s Office keep this updated.
Best regards,
Jim
Regarding some of the comments about animals on your website. Please see my questions and comments in parenthesis.
Household Pets
- Pet ownership is limited to not more than three (3) adult dogs and three (4) adult cats. (My question: Is it 3 or 4 cats?…see the word “three” and the number “4.”)
Cruelty/Neglect
Cruelty and neglect cases have to be investigated. These issues are dealt with by Animal Control or the Humane Society. (My comments: This is not correct. Vector Control will not investigate cruelty & neglect cases. They will tell you to call 911. Cruelty and neglect cases are the responsibility of law enforcement agencies. This is in The Michigan Penal Code Act 328 of 1931. Law Enforcement agencies may enlist the help of Vector Control. Contact Ted Sietsema, Health Department and he will tell you the same thing.)
- The law indicates that feeding and watering pets once every 24 hours is sufficient care for them. Adequate housing includes anything with sides and a roof that the animal can get underneath for shelter. (My comments: The Michigan Penal Code defines “Adequate care” as “provision of sufficient food, water, shelter, sanitary conditions, exercise, and veterinary medical attention to order to maintain an animal in a state of good health.” This means that “feeding and watering pets once every 24 hours” may not be “sufficient care for them.” Puppies need to be fed several times a day, in hot weather, water is needed all during the day, in the winter, water freezes and needs to be replenished. Not every dog has sufficient fur to live comfortably outside. They need more food than normal to develop the body fat required to live outdoors 24/7. Shelter should be constructed so that the dog is protected from the elements and have dry straw during cold weather. It should also be adequate for the breed & size of dog)
Please correct the information on you website. Folks that care about animals do not need to be told to provide enough food, water and proper shelter (although I wish we could outlaw dogs living their lives outside on a chain.)
However, some law enforcement officers, city officials or people who do not care may use this information to defend their actions which may not be for the benefit of the animal.
If I rent a place, say, Amazon apartment, inside the Renaissance zone, will I be exempt from the state and city income tax? I read the following from the website and want to confirm what I read.
Thanks!
Our family is researching where our mother’s parents lived in Muskegon, MI. All the information we have is that they lived at the end of Taylor Rd in Muskegon south of Mona Lake. Their names were Peter and Dorothy Slagter. The property was sold to someone else in the early 1950’s after our grandfather died. We would appreciate any help you are able to offer.
Thank you,
That’s basically right, John. But it will need to be documented that it’s your primary residence (voter registration, drivers license, etc.). Also, you must live there for at least six months out of the year as well.
Dorothy -
That location is actually outside of the City of Muskegon. I would suggest you contact the Muskegon County Register of Deeds (231-724-62710 and/or the City of Norton Shores (231-798-4391).
Good luck!
Hi Connie,
Your comments are being looked at by the Planning and Police Departments. We have made changes and more are to come.
Thanks for taking the time to comment!
Jim