Highland Township Supervisor Signs Mayor’s Monarch Pledge
(Crystal A. Proxmire, March 24, 2026)
Highland Township, MI – Township Supervisors have many duties and responsibilities. They lead the local government and the departments that fight fires, maintain parks, manage elections, oversee the use of taxpayer dollars, and make sure residents stay informed. And they also, in some cases, take a stand to help butterflies.
The Mayors Monarch Pledge is a project of the National Wildlife Federation to bring local leaders together for monarch conservation efforts. Highland Township Supervisor Rick Hamill has joined the ranks of just over a dozen officials in Michigan who have taken the Monarch Pledge. The pledge requires Mayors and other heads of municipalities to take at least three actions – out of a list of 30 – to support monarchs in their community.
Monarch butterflies are important because they act as pollinators for various plant species, they serve as food for other wildlife, and they are a good indicator species, meaning that their presence can be a sign of a healthy ecosystem. The beautiful orange and black butterflies also have a unique migration pattern, traveling up to 3,000 miles from northern states to southern states and Mexico for the winter.
The butterflies are in danger because of habitat loss, and in particular the reduction of milkweed plants that are essential for monarch caterpillars.
While this is the first year signing this pledge, Supervisor Hamill said “Highland has been committed to monarch conservation for many years.”
“From our early work on the Monarch Mile in 2018 to encouraging residents to plant milkweed and native wildflowers, these community projects make a real impact. Each fall, the Supervisors office collects milkweed seed from residents, businesses, and HOA groups, and last year we gathered more than four bags of seed that we spread throughout the Milkweed Mile median along M‑59. This is about educating the public and strengthening environmental stewardship in Highland,” Hamill said.
Another important effort has been the removal of invasive plants at Hickory Ridge Pines Park. Multiple cleanup events have brought volunteers from the community together to get their hands dirty and make a difference. As the park gets cleaned up, invasive plants are replaced with native ones which thrive in a balanced way and support Michigan’s ecological balance. The same level of care is taken with other Township properties. ” Every acre we preserve makes a difference, and we’re continuing that commitment by exploring the addition of more native plants at the Township Office gardens and Veterans Park in the coming years,” Hamill said.
Monarchs are also the stars of Downtown Highland’s Monarch Festival each August at the Highland Farmers Market.
“Our goal is to help the community understand how good gardening and farming practices support pollinators and preserve the natural spaces that make Highland special,” the Superintendent said. “Protecting our monarch butterflies isn’t just about one species it’s about strengthening the entire ecosystem we all depend on. By signing the Mayors’ Monarch Pledge, Highland is committing continue our practical efforts that support pollinators, preserve natural spaces, and make our community healthier for future generations.”
Highland Township was the first community in Michigan to be awarded the Monarch City Designation in 2018. At the time the program was managed by a national nonprofit, and that organization is undergoing some restructuring. For Hamill and his team, “This pledge with the National Wildlife Federation continues that journey.”
Over 600 Mayors and Supervisors have signed on across the country. Some others locally include Mayor Debbie Jones in Rochester, Mayor Linda Fillipczak in Plymouth, Mayor Bryan Barnett in Rochester Hills, Supervisor Anne Marie Graham-Hudak in Canton, and Supervisor Chris Barnett in Orion Township.
Local officials have until March 31 to take the pledge for 2026. Learn more at https://www.nwf.org/mayorsmonarchpledge
