Inside 208

  MSHDA is seeking feedback in the state’s efforts to identify Opportunity Zones. The Opportunity Zone Program was created as part of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act to encourage long-term investment in low-income urban communities throughout the country. There are more than 1,000 eligible low-income communities in Michigan and [...]

Today Royal Oak staff, James Krizan assistant to the city manager, joined League staff in testifying before the Senate Appropriations: Licensing and Regulatory Affairs Committee regarding funding recommendations for the Michigan Indigent Defense Commission (MIDC). Public Act 93 of 2013 created the MIDC. The MIDC is responsible for establishing minimum [...]

Starting today, the Bureau of Medical Marihuana Regulation (BMMR) and the Michigan State Police (MSP) will be serving cease and desist letters throughout the state of Michigan to open marihuana businesses that did not meet the February 15, 2018 deadline to apply per Emergency Rule 19, as well as those [...]

NEW: Media coverage on Dan Gilmartin’s testimony: Detroit Free Press: “Michigan’s Lousy Roads: Congressional Panel Get an Earful” and same article on Wopular. WJR Radio: Paul W. Smith Talks with Dan Gilmartin from Washington D.C. Dave Aklery Show on WILS Radio 1320: “Dan Gilmartin” News Talk 94.9 WSJM: “Municipal League Wants [...]

Both the House and Senate election committees took up bill packages last week that would allow residents to register to vote online. The legislation, supported by Secretary of State Ruth Johnson, would allow voters to register online at ExpressSOS.com. The system would authenticate identities by matching applicants with their driver’s [...]

WATCH the hearing live here TODAY (March 13, 2018) at 2:30 p.m.: https://www.commerce.senate.gov/public/ Michigan Municipal League CEO and Executive Director Dan Gilmartin will speak before Congress in Washington D.C. this week about infrastructure needs. We all know how ferociously bad Michigan’s roads are. Now Washington, D.C. is going to learn. Gilmartin has [...]

Across the country the telecommunications industry has been pursuing legislation to streamline the deployment of small cell technology. Small cells are low-powered antenna nodes that are installed to relieve congestion for wireless users. The term “small” refers to the footprint of the device but they typically are installed on their [...]

The Michigan Transportation Asset Management Council (TAMC) is requesting that local agencies complete the survey below regarding the Culvert Mapping Pilot Project, which is included in the State of Michigan 2018 budget. The budget includes $2 million for the inspection and inventory of culverts on the local road system. Participation [...]

The State has announced that low-income residents affected by the flooding that began in late February in lower Michigan may be eligible for emergency relief assistance through the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. The State Emergency Relief program provides immediate help to individuals and families facing conditions of [...]

Senate Bill 393 was presented to the Governor yesterday. The legislation consolidates tax increment financing authorities, excluding BRAs, in to one act called the “Recodified Tax Increment Financing Act”. Each individual act was incorporated in to the legislation without change. In addition to combining the TIF authorities under one act, the legislation [...]