Inside 208

The transportation conference committee working on a new authorization continues to meet, with staff behind the scenes working on several issues in the hopes of reaching a compromise before the current extension expires on June 30th. The League and its national partners are asking members to “Call-In” on Wednesday, May 23rd to...

The Senate Local Government Committee passed passed HB 5142, sponsored by Rep. Marc Ouimet (R-Ann Arbor). This legislation will allow Corridor Improvement Authorities to have a board consisting of members of different communities.  Under current law, each community must create a Corridor Improvement Authority Board then use the Urban Cooperation...

The Michigan Municipal League League is hosting a National Brownfield Association Workshop, Building Sustainable  Communities: Revitalizing Your Town, in our Lansing office on Tuesday, June 5 from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The workshop aims to highlight the importance of sustainable development on Brownfield sights as well as put attendees...

This morning the Senate Reforms, Restructuring and Reinventing Committee hear testimony on HB 4059, a bill that would prohibit “union activity” during time paid for by a public employer. The committee was discussing this substitute:HB 4059_h4.pdf (14.74 kb) Many public employer and union groups discussed problems with this language. The...

LANSING, Michigan – The Michigan Department of Treasury website has a posting dated May 15 which indicates $700,000 is still available in the second and final round of the Economic Vitality Incentive Program (EVIP). More than $4 million (of the original $5 million) in EVIP funding was awarded for 28 projects throughout Michigan...

Riverview Mayor Pro-Tem Elmer Trombley talks with Senator Mike Nofs, R-Jackson, Tuesday in Lansing. LANSING, Michigan – This afternoon (may 15, 2012) the Michigan Senate Energy & Technology held a hearing on House Bills 4265 and 4266, bills that would lift the yard waste ban for landfills that meet certain criteria....

LANSING, Michigan – The Michigan Municipal League today (May 14, 2012) is calling on the Governor and Michigan Legislature to appropriate the $100 million that was committed to communities for economic gardening and revitalization when the redevelopment credits were eliminated. For many years, communities throughout Michigan used Brownfield and Historic...

Iin passing its version of 2013 spending for a number of departments and programs (H.R. 5326), the House has voted to maintain current 2012 spending levels for the COPS (Community Oriented Policing Services) program. The bill also includes increased funding for Byrne Justice Assistance Grants and Second Chance grants.  While a major victory since the...

The White House has announced a number of actions federal agencies have taken to reduce regulatory burdens and eliminate unnecessary costs for local governments.  As a example, federal traffic sign regulations have become more than just a nuisance for locals, but a financial burden as well. A new rule eliminates 46 regulations...

The Michigan Department of Treasury now has new Economic Vitality Incentive Program (EVIP) forms/instructions available on their website for communities that would like to certify for the third phase of EVIP by complying with Public Act 152. Click here to view the form and here to view the instructions. The deadline...