Inside 208

On June 6, the MIPlace Partnership is holding the first of three workshops through the Michigan MIPlace Partnership to learn about what tools and programs are offered through the State of Michigan that can advance placemaking in your community.  The workshop is being held in Boyne City. Representatives from MSHDA, [...]

This morning the Senate Reforms, Restructuring and Reinventing Committee reported HB 4059, a bill that would prohibit a public employer from entering a bargaining agreement that allows its union employees to conduct union business during time paid for by the public employer. This bill passed the House in April 2011 [...]

This afternoon the Senate Government Operations committee reported HB 5459, a bill that amends the Open Meetings Act (OMA). The intent of the bill is to create more transparency when there are “emergency” meetings that are unable to comply with the 18-hour reporting requirement. The bill requires a notice for [...]

This afternoon the Senate Judiciary Committee unanimously reported SB 94, a bill that would create a cancer presumption for firefighters. The League once again opposed this legislation, stating that costs would be increased, and workers compensation would become unaffordable or even unavailable for our communities. CONTACT YOUR SENATOR and ask [...]

On Wednesday, June 6th at 2 pm, join a webinar presentation designed for local officials to discuss implementation of a wireless nationwide public safety broadband network. The webinar is designed to  help local leaders understand their role in building this critical public safety communications network. The Department of Commerce Deputy [...]

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 [...]