Inside 208

The League is involved in workgroups on the issue of “squatting.” This is when someone illegally inhabits a vacant or foreclosed home. This is a problem throughout the state and Rep. Kurt Heise (R- Plymouth Township) would like to see a solution to this problem.  He has convened workgroups with [...]

Planned changes to the state’s personal property tax have many Michigan Municipal League member communities concerned, as reflected in recent articles posted this week. Mlive.com out of Jackson and the Observer & Eccentric out of Northville each posted stories recently outlining community leader concerns over the financial impact from proposed changes to Michigan’s [...]

A package of bills to help local communities address blighted property was re-introduced from last session. The bills are SBs 35-39. Here is a summary of the bills:  Senate Bill 35 would allow cities that use administrative hearings bureau to adjudicate blight violations to establish additional civil and criminal penalties on [...]

A new JustFixtheRoads.com video was released by the League today. Check it out. Several Michigan Municipal League members have had letters published by their local media regarding the Just Fix the Roads effort. We appreciate everyone’s help on this important issue and encourage more of our members to pitch in. [...]

Governor Snyder talks transportation funding in Flint Friday. For more information go to justfixtheroads.com and mml.org. View more photos from the event here. Check out a Michigan Municipal League sample resolution that communities can send to lawmakers regarding road funding. FLINT, Michigan (view photos) – Michigan Municipal League members from Flint, Durand [...]

(View photos from the event here). Municipal managers from throughout Michigan were in Rochester this week (Jan. 29-Feb. 1, 2013) for the 2013 Michigan Local Government Management Association (MLGMA) Winter Institute. The theme of this year’s event was communication and city, village, county and township officials attended a variety of [...]

The Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) rolled out its newest program today called the MI Neighborhood Program, which seeks communities that want to complement a Main Street or traditional commercial district revitalization project with a nearby neighborhood redevelopment. Once accepted into the program through the application process, MI Neighborhood [...]

On February 21, 2013, the Michigan Chapter of the National Brownfield Association is presenting a program on the newest developments on brownfield issues in Michigan.  The program will be held at the offices of the Michigan Manufacturers Association in downtown Lansing (620 S. Capitol Avenue, Lansing, Michigan 48933). Program speakers [...]

Plywood under a bridge going over a Michigan expressway. Image from Justfixtheroads.com. This statement is from Linden Mayor David Lossing, president of the Michigan Municipal League Board of Trustees. Lossing is commenting on tonight’s State of the State address by Gov. Rick Snyder, who called for new investment in Michigan’s [...]

William Mathewson talks to League members about the Open Meetings Act at an education session Wednesday in Ann Arbor. View more photos here. ANN ARBOR, Michigan – The first of a series of new training weeks kicked off today with sessions on the state’s Freedom of Information Act, Open Meetings [...]