• Department of Administration

The administrative functions are divided into two units, the Office of Administration and the Office of the Village Manager.

• Office of Administration
The administration of the office falls under the direction of the Village’s Finance & Personnel Director. With a support staff of two, the Finance & Personnel Director is responsible for the daily operations of the Village’s office which includes tax billing, utility billing, accounts receivable, accounts payable, and human resource operations such as payroll, employment taxes, and insurance. Click here for frequently asked questions and answers from the Administration Department.

• Office of the Village Manager
The Village Manager is appointed by the Council as the Village’s chief administrative office and is responsible to the Council for the efficient administration of all affairs of the Village and exercises management supervision over all departments (except the Fire Department) and all public property belonging to the Village.

The Village Manager also advises the Council on measures necessary for the improvement or betterment of the Village, prepares and administers the Village’s annual operating budget, and other duties as assigned by State law or the Village Council.

For more information regarding the administration of the Village, please contact:

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• Department of Aviation

The Village of Sparta owns and operates the Paul C. Miller Municipal Airport located just outside of the Village limits.  The airport is home to over 75 aircraft, 2 flight schools, and a privately owned charter service.  The airport averages over 20,000 operations (take-offs/landings) annually.  The airport is self-supporting and does not rely on the use of tax dollars for operation.

The airport was established in 1941 and sits on over 160 acres. Through grants funded by the State of Michigan and the Federal Aviation Administration the airports runway was recently expanded to 4000 feet long and 75 feet wide.  Improvements to the runway and airport lighting was also completed.

The airport has 55 aircraft hangars for rent and has aviation and auto gas for sale.  Pilots flying into the airport can arrange for a courtesy car to visit area businesses and attractions.  Commercial businesses on the airport provide sight-seeing tours, flight instruction and aircraft charter services.

The Sparta Municipal Airport can serve your business needs as well as your spirit of adventure.

For further information about Paul C. Miller Municipal Airport and future expansion projects please contact:

Paul C. Miller Municipal Airport
Richard Roberts, Airport Manager
9100 Vinton Ave
Sparta, MI 49345

Phone: 616-887-5744
Fax : 616-887-1114

Email: rrobsparta@hotmail.com

For further information about services provided by businesses on the airport you may visit the links below:

http://www.flyparamount.com
http://www.flysparta.com
http://www.sportslayneaero.com

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• Downtown Development Authority

The Authority is established by the Village Council for the express purpose of capturing tax dollars within its boundaries and using its funds to promote, retain, and recruit businesses in the Authority’s district. The Authority employs a Business Director who is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Authority, plans and administers the long-term development plans of the Authority, and acts as a liaison between the Authority Board and the local business community.

For more information about the Authority, or for questions about starting, owning, or operating a business in Sparta, please contact:

Elizabeth Gorski, DDA/Chamber Director
ddadirector@spartami.org
156 E. Division
Sparta, MI  49345
Phone: 616-887-2454
Fax: 616-887-1114

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• Fire Department
Fire safety services are provided to Village residents in a joint effort by the Village of Sparta and Sparta Township. Both the Village and the Township fund the Sparta Fire Department to ensure that a high level of fire safety is provided to their residents.

The Sparta Fire Board, composed of members from the Sparta Village Council and the Sparta Township Board of Trustees, is responsible to guide the departments operation. Currently, the Sparta Fire Board has appointed Jerold Bolen as Chief to direct the day-to-day operations of the fire department. Leonard "Skip" Meyer is the Chairman of the Fire Board. Sandra Keech-Chamblis is a village representative. Meetings are held at the house, adjacent to the fire station, at 36 Elmwood Street (the meetings are no longer held at 160 E. Division Street).

Chief Bolen supervises a staff of 30 on-call firefighters.

For more information regarding the fire department and the services they provide, please contact:

Sparta Fire Department
Chief Jerold Bolen
36 Elmwood Street
Sparta,  MI 49345-1014
Emergencies: 911
General Phone: 616-887-0900
Fax:     616-887-5055
Email:  chiefbolen@aol.com
 

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• Police Department
The Village of Sparta maintains its own police department which provides policing services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.  The department is composed of four (4) full time officers and 8 or more part-time officers, most who average 10 years or more of law enforcement experience. This staff works under the direction of Chief Andrew Milanowski, a 21-year veteran of the Sparta Police Department.

In addition to basic law enforcement responsibilities, the Department also weapons registration, and child safety seat inspections. Click here for frequently asked questions and answers from the Sparta Police Department.

For more information about the police department and the services they provide, please direct your informational requests to:

Sparta Police Department
Chief Andrew Milanowski

Hours - 11:00am - 5:00am

260 W. Division
Sparta, MI  49345
Emergencies: 911
Dispatch: 616-887-7331
General Phone: 616-887-8716
Fax:     616-887-7681
Email:  policechief@spartami.org

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•  Street Department

The Village’s Street Department is responsible for the maintenance of the Village’s streets, parks, and other various other municipal properties as well as assists other Public Works departments in maintenance of the water and sanitary sewer systems.

Under the leadership of the Street Superintendent, the staff of four employees maintains, repairs, and plows over 24 miles of local streets; mows and maintains nearly 60 acres of parks and municipal properties; assists in the maintenance, up-keep, and repair of approximately 55 miles of underground utilities as well as provides for the Village’s monthly Brush Pick-up and seasonal Leaf Vacuum programs.

For more information about the Street Department and the services they provide, please contact:

Miles Ring, Street Superintendent
276 W. Division
Sparta, MI  49345
Phone: 616-887-9303
Fax:     616-887-1114

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• Wastewater Department
 
The Village of Sparta maintains its own independent wastewater treatment system. The system is composed of 1 treatment facility, 9 lift stations, and over 25 miles of service piping. The system is maintained by a staff of three, the Wastewater Superintendent and two support persons, who perform the day-to-day maintenance and effluent (exit flow) testing on the system.

The wastewater system services the Village of Sparta as well as the Camp Lake Drainage Basin in Algoma Township.  Daily flows to the system average approximately 750,000 gallons (enough to fill to Olympic sized swimming pools). The treatment facility uses a combination of gravity settling, biological agents, and chemical injections to treat the wastewater before it is released into the Rogue River.

For more information regarding the Village of Sparta’s wastewater system, please contact:

Bruce Robinson, Wastewater Superintendent
611 E. Gardner St.
Sparta, MI  49345
Phone: 616-887-8711
Fax:     616-887-1114

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• Water Department
The Village of Sparta maintains its own independent public water system. The system is composed of 1 treatment facility, 4 wells, 2 suspended water storage tanks, and over 21 miles of distribution pipe. The system is maintained by a staff of two, the Water Superintendent and a support person, who perform the day-to-day maintenance and purity testing on the system.

The system pulls groundwater up from the local aquifer located directly below the Village and pumps it into the treatment plant where the water is softened, fluoride is added for dental hygiene, phosphate is added to prevent corrosion of the system, and chlorine is used to disinfect the water. Once the water is treated, it is then pumped out through the system for use. 

During the winter months, the water system pumps and distributes an average of 350,000 gallons of water per day (enough to fill an Olympic-size swimming pool) and nearly 750,000 gallons in the summer months (enough to fill 2 Olympic-size swimming pools). Click here for frequently asked questions and answers from the Sparta Water Department.

For more information regarding the Village of Sparta’s water system, please contact:

Randy Carter, Water Superintendent
383 S. State St.
Sparta, MI  49345
Phone: 616-887-0854
Fax:     616-887-1114

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