Inside 208

The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) has announced the fourth annual call for projects of the Local Grade Crossing Surface Program. The Program provides 60% state funding and requires a 40% railroad match: there is no expectation of financial participation by any local road agency. In consideration of feedback received...

Last month, the Science Advisory Group directed by Governor Whitmer presented newly developed health-based values for PFAS to the Michigan PFAS Action Response Team. We posted about those new health-based values in our last blog here. The next step is to gather feedback from our communities. The Michigan Department of...

The Legislature’s summer recess continues throughout the month of July, as leaders meet with their respective caucuses to determine what approach(es) they might take during negotiations with the Governor on road funding. While tentative session days are scheduled this month, the consensus is that they will not reconvene until sometime...

Last month, The Michigan PFAS Action Response Team received and adopted new health-based values for seven per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). This new health-based values will be used to develop statewide regulatory drinking water standards. The Science Advisory Workgroup presented the following recommendations and the reasoning for their findings to...

The Marijuana Regulatory Agency (MRA) has issued the emergency rules for recreational marijuana today. The promulgation of rules is required per the Michigan Regulation and Taxation of Marihuana Act (MRTMA) passed by voters last November.  The rules provide municipalities and prospective licensees with the framework in which to operate if they choose to participate in...

Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed into law HB 4118 addressing residential speed limits This bill rectifies an issue that was created in 2016 when legislation that passed, unintentionally eliminated the presumed residential speed limit of 25 mph in a traditional city and village grid system. The law will now allow a...

Governor Whitmer announced that the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) will host three Michigan Safe Drinking Water Virtual Town Halls that will be live streamed at the dates and times listed below. The town halls will provide information to residents on sampling that is being done in...

House Bill 4118 passed the Senate by a vote of 33-4 and is now on its way to the Governor for signature. This bill will rectify an issue that was created in 2016 when legislation that passed, unintentionally eliminated the presumed residential speed limit of 25 mph in a traditional...

This week the House swiftly moved the transportation budget out of appropriations committee and the full House passed HB 4246 on a party line vote, 57-52, with all Republican voting yes and all Democrats voting no. The most significant component of the House transportation budget is that it begins a...

Join the State Fire Marshal, Kevin Sehlmeyer,  Friday, June 14 at 1:00 p.m. for a conversation clarifying the new state law on fireworks – what it means, what days are legal to shoot off consumer-grade fireworks, and what oversight local governments have. He’ll also offer tips for the safe use of...