Mayor Scott Sessions declared April 11 a citywide day of service at Tuesday’s city council meeting. 

Day of Service, a Hillsdale College tradition, will now be observed by students and citizens alike. In a proclamation, Sessions called on citizens to help beautify the community. 

“Whereas, acts of service both large and small contribute to the beauty, safety, and well-being of our neighborhoods, public spaces, and shared institutions,” Sessions said, reading the proclamation. “The City of Hillsdale recognizes the value of bringing together citizens of all ages to work side by side in a unified effort to care for and improve our community.”

Sessions invited business owners and community members to get involved in philanthropic projects this Saturday to foster a sense of community and civic pride. 

Ward 3 Councilman Bob Flynn said he supports the mayor’s proclamation. 

“Everyone should take a little pride in their property and make it look the best they can,” Flynn said. 

Flynn also mentioned the possibility of doing a citywide junk pick-up, as Hillsdale had done in the past. 

“I’ve been approached by a number of people in the past six months or so wondering if the city would entertain looking at bringing back the trash pick-up,” Flynn said. “We did it a long time ago, when people would put their stuff out in the street. It ended up being a free weekend of garage-saleing. And then whatever was left was picked up. I know that Jonesville still does it, some other places do it. I’ve just been approached by a number of people saying, ‘Is it possible that the city could do that again?’”

City Manager David Mackie said other council members had raised the idea before, but the cost of the junk pick-up had stopped city staff from continuing the project. 

“It is very costly, and that’s why we haven’t chosen to do it,” Mackie said. “It is something that would be a benefit to the community and is something that could still be considered down the road.”