City of Swartz Creek Frequently Asked Questions.
Please use the list of questions below to get the answers you need. Of course, if you need clarification or cannot find the answer to your question, call the City offices right away. That's what we are here for.
- Where are City Hall and the City offices?
- What are normal business hours?
- Where is the drop box located?
- Where do I pay a traffic ticket or water bill?
- How do I get a dog license?
- Who is responsible for sidewalk maintenance?
- Do I need a permit to build a porch or fix a sidewalk?
- Where can I park or store my RV?
- What is the process for voter registration or absentee voting?
- How do I request and absentee ballot?
- Who do I contact if there is a malfunctioning traffic signal or street light?
- Who do I contact if there is a problem with the water or sewer system?
- How do I finalize or transfer a water account?
- What is the deal with reserving park pavillions?
- What will my taxes be?
- How do Swartz Creek taxes compare?
- When do the public meetings for the City Council, Planning Commission and other boards occur?
- What is the story on brush chipping?
- Who do I contact about cable tv or other service problems?
Where are City Hall and the City offices?
City Hall and the City offices are located in the same building. The mailing address is:
Swartz Creek City Offices
8083 Civic Drive
Swartz Creek, MI
48473
For a map and driving directions, click here.
What are normal business hours?
The City offices and phones are open at 8:00am and close at 4:30 to the public, Monday-Friday. The offices are closed during most holidays. City Hall is open to the public during all public meetings.
Where is the drop box located?
The drop box for payments or other correspondence is located in the City Hall parking lot near the employee entrance. It is grey and placed in one of the landscaped islands that has a parking light in it. Please note that the box is checked within minutes of any official deadline for payment, and no late payments shall be accepted that are found in the drop box later.
Where do I pay a traffic ticket or water bill?
Payment for traffic tickets and water/sewer bills is accepted via mail or drop off at the City offices. Please do not mail cash. The City does not accpet credit or debt cards at this time.
How do I get a dog license?
Dog licenses can be purchased at the City offices from January 1st to the end of February. The cost is $7.00 for a neutered or spayed dog and $20.00 for non-neutered or spayed dogs.
Who is responsible for sidewalk maintenance?
Clearing the sidewalks of ice and snow on occupied property is the responsibility of the occupant. If the property is vacant, it is the responsibility of the property owner. Sidewalk repair and replacement is the responsibility of the property owner.
Do I need a permit to build a porch or fix a sidewalk?
Yes. The city requires permits for the consturction of new buildings, sheds (over 200 sq. ft.), porches, fences, pools, driveway approaches, and sidewalks. Please see the forms section for specific permits, applications, and guidelines.
We understand that people do not like to follow regulations when working on their own property. Permits aren't cool and can be a burden to a homeowner, but it is in the best interest of the community. For example, if a neighbor builds an in-ground pool without a fence next to a day care, we can begin to see the need for some general rules.
Where can I park or store my RV?
Your RV must be parked or stored in the rear or side yard. RVs can project into a front yard by five (5) feet, and can be located in a driveway for loading or unloading purposes (max. of three days). RVs or trailors that are 104" or more wide or 37' or more long must be stored off site.
What is the process for voter registration or absentee voting?
To register to vote you must be:
- a U.S. Citizen
- at least 18 years of age by election day
- a resident of Michigan and the City of Swartz Creek
You can register to vote for federal, state, and local elections by mail; at Genesee County or the Swartz Creek City clerk's office; or by visiting any Secretary of State branch office.
You must register at least 30 days before the election. This gives the clerk time to process the forms and send you a Voter Identification Card.
If you have never voted in Michigan and register by mail, you
must appear in person to vote in the first election in which you wish to
participate.
This requirement does not apply if:
- You or another person hand delivers the mail registration form to your county, city or township clerk's office instead of mailing the form
- You are 60 years if age or more
- You are disabled
- You are eligible to vote under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act
If you are temporarily outside the U.S., you may use a Federal Postcard Application (FPCA) form to register. The FPCA forms are distributed through U.S. embassies and military bases. A Michigan resident who moves and registers out of state may not re-register to vote in Michigan until he or she reestablishes residency here.
You may also register at the same time you renew your driver's license
by mail. Eligible drivers receive a voter registration application in
the mail with their driver's license renewal information.
Absent voter ballots are available for all elections. They provide voters
with a convenient mechod for casting a ballot when they are unable to
attend the polls on election day.
As a registered voter, you may obtain an absent voter ballot if you
are:
- age 60 years old or older
- unable to vote without assistance at the polls
- expecting to be out of town on election day
- in jail awaiting arraignment or trial
- unable to attend the polls due to religious reasons
- appointed to work as an election inspector in a precinct outside of your precinct of residence
Your request for an absent voter ballot must be in writing and can be submitted to the city clerk's office. Your request must include one of the six statutory reasons stated above and your signature. You may request an absent voter ballor with a letter or postcard, or you can obtain a pre-printed application form at the clerk's office. Requests to have an absent voter ballot mailed to you must be received by the clerk no later than 2 p.m. on the Saturday before the election.
Absent voter ballots may be issued to you at your home address or any address outside of your city of residence.
After receiving your absent voter ballor, you have until 8 p.m. on election day to complete the ballot and return it to the clerk's office.
Your ballot will not be counted unless your signature is on the return envelope and matches your signature on file. If you received assistance voting the ballot, then the signature of the person who helped you must also be on the return envelope. Only you, a family member or person residing in your household, a mail carrier, or election official is authorized to deliver your signed absent voter ballot to the clerk's office.
If an emergency, such as a sudden illness or family death prevents you from reaching the polls on election day, you may request an emergency absent voter ballot. Requests for an emergency ballot must be submitted after the deadline for regular absent voter ballots has passed but before 4 pm on election day. The emergency must have occurred at a time which made it impossible for you to apply for a regular absent voter ballot.
Who do I contact if there is a malfunctioning traffic signal or street light?
Call the City Offices at (810) 635-4464 during normal business hours to report any such problem. Call 911 if the problem is occuring outside of normal business hours. The local police can then dispatch or notify the proper afterhours personnel.
Who do I contact if there is a problem with the water or sewer system?
Call the City Offices at (810) 635-4464 during normal business hours to report any such problem. Call 911 if the problem is occuring outside of normal business hours. The local police can then dispatch or notify the proper afterhours personnel.
How do I finalize or transfer a water account?
There is a form that must be filled out at the City offices for this services. Idenification is required.
What is the deal with reserving park pavillions?
All pavillions in the City's parks are available for reservation. Reservations begin the first business day in January for residents only. Resevations open up to other parties beginning in February. Fees apply to resevastions in the parks for weekends in summer (May-september). For more information, click here.
What will my taxes be?
The property taxes you pay in Swartz Creek are a combination of State, City, County, and other taxes. Taxes are paid in the summer and winter, and there is a separate rate for 'homestead' and 'non-homestead' (commercial, industrial, or rental) properties. See the charts below for an estimate on your property taxes.
2008 Swartz Creek Property Taxes (in Mils) |
||
| Homestead | Non-Homestead | |
| Summer 2008 | 24.7659 | 42.7659 |
| Winter 2008 | 6.0418 | 6.0418 |
| Total Yearly Rate | 30.8077 | 48.8077 |
2008 Property Tax Example |
||
| Homestead | Non-Homestead | |
| If Your Property Value Is: | $100,000 | $500,000 |
| Then Your Taxable Value is equal to or less than: | $50,000 | $250,000 |
| Multiplied by the Tax Rate (see above) is: | $1,540 | $12,202 |
| Plus 1% admin: | $15.40 | $122.02 |
| Total Annual Taxes: | $1,556 | $12,324 |
For more information on taxes and assessements, click here.
How does Swartz Creek compare?
We should all be proud, Swartz Creek is the lowest taxing city in Genesee County and the second lowest taxing city in the State of Michigan (Harbor Springs takes first place). This is the breakdown for where your property taxes go:
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When do the public meetings for the City Council, Planning Comission and other boards occur?
All boards and committees meet in the City Council Chambers except for the Park Board which meets in the City Office conference room. Note that meetings may be cancelled if there is a lack of agenda items, or they may be rescheduled for holidays. The times for the meetings are scheduled as follows:
- City Council: 2nd & 4th Mondays of each month - 7pm
- Planning Commission: 1st Tuesday of each month - 7pm
- DDA: 2nd Tuesday of each month - 6pm
- Park Board: Quarterly on the 1st Wednesday of the month - 7pm
- Zoning Board of Appeals: Meets as needed on the 3rd Wednesday of the month - 7pm
What is the story on brush chipping?
Brush chipping is a service the City provides to residents to rid themselves of cut branches. Yard waste is picked up bi-weekly with the normal refuse. Guidelines are as follows:
- Cut branchs cannot exceed 4 feet in lenght or 4 inches in diameter
- Bunches should be set aside in 'arm-load' piles (not tangled branch piles)
- Place cut ends towards the curb
- No commerical jobs allowed; homeowner cut brush only
- No lumber or other debris
- Chipping is done on the same schedule as recyling, beginning and ending with the yard waste season (generally April-October)
Who do I contact about a cable tv or other service problems?
Customers of Comcast Cable in the City of Swartz Creek are to first contact the cable provider directly with any comments, concerns, or complaints. To do so, please use the contact information available on your statement. Otherwise, use the following:
Comcast Cable Web Page
Phone: (810) 320-2591
If that does not satisfy your complaint or concern, you must contact the Michigan Public Service Commission at:
Michigan Public Service Commission
Attn: Video Franchising
6545 Mercantile Way
Lansing, MI 48909Phone: (866) 552-7725
Fax: (517) 241-2400
Web: www.michgan.gov/mpsc