Photo courtesy Lund & Lund Digital Photography © 1998

The City's Name

"Otsego" was named after Lake Otsego in New York and is a combination from Iroquois Indian: "Ot" means a meeting place, and "Sego" is a word of greeting.

City Government and Services

The City of Otsego operates its own administrative, police, fire, public works, water, wastewater treatment, assessing, and inspection departments.

The City Commission meets every first and third Monday of each month at 7:00 p.m. at City Hall, 117 E. Orleans Street.

Downtown Businesses

To facilitate economic development in the central business district, we have a Downtown Development Authority (DDA). This body oversees the following functions for the downtown: public improvements, private improvements management and promotion, and tenant search. A considerable amount of construction has occurred over the past few years, including a new parking lot, new Post Office, underground utility lines, attractive new streetlamps, downtown parks, and other functional and aesthetic improvements.

Photo courtesy Lund & Lund Digital Photography Digital Photography © 1998

The DDA has also instituted a program to consolidate dumpsters for each downtown block. For more information on this, please contact a neighboring business on your block.

The Chamber of Commerce initiates and sponsors many activities which promote downtown Otsego. The Chamber coordinates town festivals, gathers and disperses information for businesses and residents.

DDA - Downtown Development Authority

During the mid 1990's the DDA funded a $3.3 Million renovation of the downtown. New streets, curb & gutter, alleys, sidewalks, brick pavers, street lamps, benches, trees, and landscaping are a few of the renovations made to the downtown. Parking lots within the city were enlarged and renovated. Since these improvements were made, the City is completely handicap assessable. Other improvements include a Riverfront walk, the replacement of the North Farmer Street Bridge and the renovation of the old Waterworks building into a new museum.

The DDA is currently working on several projects which include: the construction of a new public works garage, an extension of the Riverfront Walk and an outdoor band shell and park.

Churches, Community Resources, and Organizations

Otsego is fortunate to have a Community Center/Scout House, located at 410 E. Orleans Street. The Community Center/Scout House can be rented for parties, meetings, etc. Contact Otsego City Hall at (269) 692-3391 for reservations.

The Otsego Public Library is located at 219 S. Farmer Street, 694-9690. The winter hours are 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday - Thursday; 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Friday; and 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Saturday. From Memorial Day to Labor Day, the library is open 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Monday and Tuesday; 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Wednesday through Friday; and 9 a.m. to 12 noon on Saturday.

The Otsego Lions Club meets on the first Tuesday of each month. For information, contact Walter Reed, President, at 694-6801.

Education in Otsego

The Otsego Public Schools System has an excellent educational reputation at all levels and offers a full variety of extra-curricular activities. A class "B" school, it is large enough to offer everything from theater to advanced computer applications. However, it is still small enough to provide individual attention to all students. Recently, taxpayers approved the passage of a school bond issue which provided for a new high school and major renovations to all other facilities making Otsego Public Schools a leader in West Michigan.

Additional education opportunities abound near Otsego. We are within a 45 minute drive of 14 colleges and universities in Western Michigan. The Allegan County Intermediate School District Vocational/Technical Center offers extensive training programs in business and industrial skills.

The Allegan Area Educational Service Area, formally known as the Allegan Intermediate School District, is also part of the Michigan Works program. This service will custom-design training services for any new or expanding Allegan County business. Among the services offered are referral/selection, company orientation, quality-of-work-life, pre-employment skills, and in-plant training.

Area parochial schools are St. Margaret's (Catholic), Peace Lutheran (Wisconsin Synod), and the Otsego Baptist Academy.

Community Schools Program

This office is located at the Otsego Middle School, 538 Washington Street. Tim Syrek, 692-6225, coordinates many of the town's recreation activities and scheduling of the park facilities. The following programs are offered:

• Adult High School Completion
• Adult Enrichment - classes designed for Otsego adults to pursue new hobbies and interests
• Student Enrichment - opportunities for Otsego school children to pursue activities which are not a part of the regular curriculum
• Community Recreation - several sports leagues and other activities are coordinated for recreational purposes
• Community Services - other programs and services for community enrichment

Important Phone Numbers for Otsego, MI

EMERGENCIES

• Police - Emergencies ONLY - 911
• Police Department Business Calls - 692-6111
• Fire - Alarms ONLY - 911
• Fire Department Business Calls - 692-3391
• Ambulance - 685-6172
• Borgess-Pipp Hospital - 685-6811

CITY OF OTSEGO

• Mayor, Joel Thompson - 692-3391
• City Manager, Thad Beard - 694-6146
• City Clerk, Angie Cronen - 692-3391
• City Treasurer, Matthew Storbeck - 692-2741
• Police Department, Gordon Konkle - 692-6111
• Fire Department, Jim Clark - 694-9540
• Public Works, David Dutton - 694-6636
• Wastewater Treatment Plant, Tom Dunn - 694-9194
• Building Inspector, Professional Code Inspections - 1-800-628-3335
• Assessor, Renee B. Laws - 269-382-4182

OTHER INSTITUTIONS

• Downtown Development Authority - 692-3391
• Chamber of Commerce - 694-6880
• Community Ed./Recreation, Tim Syrek - 692-6225
• Otsego Public Library, Ryan Wieber - 694-9690
• Community Center/Scout House - 692-3391
• Otsego Public Schools - 692-6066
• Otsego Lions Club, Walter Reed - 694-6801
• VFW, Bernie Livingston - 694-4615
• Otsego Elks, Norm Starr - 694-6490
• Masons, Darl Gilliland - 694-6149
• American Legion, Dave Delame - 692-6139
• Rotary, Ryan Wieber - 694-6455
• Allegan County United Way Community Committee, Rebecca Lamper - 692-6281

Parks

Photo courtesy  Lund & Lund Digital Photography © 1998

Brookside Park - Vast improvements have been made to this park that is along the bank of the Kalamazoo River. New parking areas, playground equipment, picnic tables, gazebo, recreational vehicle overnight camping area, restrooms, trees and landscaping have recently been added to enhance the park. This project's cost was $230,000.

Memorial Park - In 1995, improvements were made to Memorial park totaling $225,000. These improvements included: paving of existing parking lots, new restroom, concession stand building, new tennis & basketball courts, sand volleyball courts, new play equipment, fencing, and an irrigation system for the rocket football field. This facility also features a softball complex.

Northside Park - This park is located on the north side of town located between two paper mills. This community built playground was completed in the fall of 1996. Known to many as "Castle Park," this park resembles a large, beautiful castle. Recently added was a hockey / skating rink. There are two pavilians to suit your picnicing needs.

Community Center/Scout House

Photo courtesy Lund & Lund Digital Photography Digital Photography © 1998

The Community Center/Scout House is located at 410 E. Orleans Street. This property was deeded to the City of Otsego in 1978. This historical facility is still used by the following groups: Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts. The building seats approximately 100 people, has a fully equipped kitchen, gas fireplace, and is handicap accessible. The Community Center/Scout House is available for rental when it is not being used by one of the above groups. All scheduling and rentals are processed through City Hall.
 
Fire Department

Photo courtesy Lund & Lund Digital Photography Digital Photography © 1998

The Otsego Fire Department consists of approximately 30 volunteers. The Otsego Fire Department not only responds to fires within the city and Otsego Township, but responds as First Responders to accidents and medical calls. Since we have an aerial truck, our department is often called to assist other departments in the area. The department's trucks consist of a Rescue Unit that is equipped with the Jaws of Life, and aerial truck, 2 pumpers, a tanker, a medical response unit, and grass truck.

Police Department

Photo courtesy Lund & Lund Digital Photography Digital Photography © 1998

The City's police department consists of a chief, sergeant, detective, three officers, three part-time officers and a dispatcher/secretary. The department provides 24 hour coverage to the community and keeps Otsego a safe and enjoyable place to live and work.

By the Numbers

Click here to view Otsego Statistics.