Inside 208

The Michigan Municipal League has been contacted by several members telling us that the Michigan Liqupr Control Commission is no longer issuing one-day liquor licenses to local units of government for fairs and festivals and other one-day events.  Here is what we know: Up until this year, local units of...

By a bi-partisan vote of 74-22, the U.S. Senate has passed S. 1813, legislation that would support $109 billion of transportation programs over a two year period.  The bill now goes to the House, where a March 31 deadline looms on the latest extension of an act that expired nearly...

The Governor signed the changes to the Urban Cooperation Act (House Bills 4309, 4311 and 4312) in December. At that time there was not an official bill signing, so the Governor held a ceremonial signing yesterday for those who worked on the legislation. The League appreciates the leadership of Rep....

The Senate Appropriations General Government Committee met to hear Governor Snyder’s proposal on revenue sharing, the Economic Vitality Incentive Program (EVIP) and other issues. Andy Schor and Tony Minghine of the Michigan Municipal League testified regarding the proposals.  The testimony is included below. In adfdition to that testimony, the League...

The Senate Transportation Committee took up SB 909, 911, 912 and 967.  These bills create the Southeast Michigan Regional Transit Authority (RTA) which would oversee a rapid bus transit system in the southeast Michigan area. While the Michigan Municipal League is supportive of a southeast Micihgan RTA and wants to...

Yesterday afternoon the Governor signed HB 4589, a bill reinstating the long standing two inch rule for sidewalk liability. Under the new statute, PA 50 of 2012, there is a rebuttable presumption that a local unit of government properly maintained a sidewalk if a sidewalk defect is less than two...

President Obama meets with NLC membrs during a reception in October. He met again with NLC officials Monday, March 12, 2012, including staff and members of the Michigan Municipal League. (Official White House photo by Pete Souza). WASHINGTON, D.C. – Michigan Municipal League CEO Dan Gilmartin was among a national...

The Michigan Secretary of State’s Bureau of Elections has an online system to collect information necessary to reimburse local units of government for costs incurred administering the presidential primary. Click here to access the form. The system will allow you to enter and submit data, print a copy for your...

This week is the National League of Cities Congressional Cities Conference and yours truly along with League CEO/Executive Director Dan Gilmartin, and local officials from across Michigan are descending on our nation’s capitol during what will be a critical week in the Senate for a new transportation bill. We’ll be...

The U.S. Senate is moving forward with legislation, S. 1813, that would put in place a new two year transportation authorization.  Floor votes began last week on amendments after agreement was reached by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell as to how to proceed. Previous posts have noted...