MML#3 – Officials Learn the Basics of Planning and Zoning (Crystal A. Proxmire, March 16, 2018) Frankenmuth, MI- Planning and zoning are essential components of local governance that are often not well-known by residents and require some learning by newly elected officials. The Michigan Municipal League recently did a weekend training session for officials, and…
MML#3 – Officials Learn the Basics of Planning and Zoning (Crystal A. Proxmire, March 16, 2018) Frankenmuth, MI- Planning and zoning are essential components of local governance that are often not well-known by residents and require some learning by newly elected officials. The Michigan Municipal League recently did a weekend training session for officials, and…
MML #2 – Communities Explore Methods of Intergovernmental Cooperation (Crystal A. Proxmire, March 13, 2018) Frankenmuth, MI- “There’s a tendency to think we’re in a box,” said Steve Mann of Miller Canfield as he addressed representatives from across the state as part of the Michigan Municipal League’s Elected Officials Academy. Mann’s presentation encouraged councilmembers and…
MML #2 – Communities Explore Methods of Intergovernmental Cooperation (Crystal A. Proxmire, March 13, 2018) Frankenmuth, MI- “There’s a tendency to think we’re in a box,” said Steve Mann of Miller Canfield as he addressed representatives from across the state as part of the Michigan Municipal League’s Elected Officials Academy. Mann’s presentation encouraged councilmembers and…
MML#1: Officials Learn Basics of Being a Good Public Servant (Crystal A. Proxmire, March 6, 2018) Frankenmuth, MI – For Bob Slattery, former Mayor of Mt. Morris, a life of public service is “the perfect life.” And as a past President of Michigan Municipal League and an ongoing educator for elected officials, he’s been able…
MML#1: Officials Learn Basics of Being a Good Public Servant (Crystal A. Proxmire, March 6, 2018) Frankenmuth, MI – For Bob Slattery, former Mayor of Mt. Morris, a life of public service is “the perfect life.” And as a past President of Michigan Municipal League and an ongoing educator for elected officials, he’s been able…
Birmingham Hires Tiffany Gunter as Assistant City Manager (City of Berkley, Jan. 6, 2018) BIRMINGHAM, MI – The City of Birmingham, Michigan is pleased to announce the hiring of Tiffany Gunter as the City’s new Assistant City Manager. Gunter assumed her new role as of January 2, 2018. “We are excited to bring Tiffany’s leadership…
Ferndale Councilperson Melanie Piana Selected Michigan Municipal League Board Vice President (Michigan Municipal League, Sept. 14, 2017) HOLLAND, Michigan – Ferndale City Councilmember Melanie Piana was selected as the 2017-18 vice president of the Michigan Municipal League Board of Trustees. Piana was named board vice president by the 19-member board during the Michigan Municipal League’s…
Cities Want State to Reform Funding, Public Info. Session Aug 9, 10 & 15 (EVENT page) Royal Oak, Ferndale, MI – In partnership with the cities of Pleasant Ridge, Berkley, Ferndale, Oak Park, and Hazel Park, we invite you to attend an upcoming SaveMICity presentation by the Michigan Municipal League. Find out why as the…
For Being Green it’s Gold for Novi, Bronze for Milford, Pleasant Ridge & Ferndale (Compiled, July 3, 2017) NOVI, MILFORD, PLEASANT RIDGE, FERNDALE, MI – The City of Novi is one of just five communities in Michigan to receive a Gold certification in the Michigan Green Communities Challenge for its commitment to sustainability projects, from…
MML#5 – Are Cities Prepared for Autonomous Vehicles? (Crystal A. Proxmire, April 1, 2017) Lansing, MI – There are two statistics that stood out in the presentation about autonomous vehicles at the Michigan Municipal Conference in March. The first is that 94% of auto accidents are caused by human error. The second is that the…
MML#1 – Working Towards Complete Streets (Crystal A. Proxmire, March 21, 2017) Lansing, MI – Civic leaders came together Tuesday to learn about topics important to local governments including “Complete Streets.” Representatives of Ferndale, Ann Arbor and Kalamazoo sat on a Michigan Municipal League’s Capitol Conference panel Tuesday to share what successes their communities have…
MML#3 – Cities and Civic Tech, How Local Governments Serve Residents Online (Crystal A. Proxmire, Sept. 18, 2016) Mackinaw Island, MI – Cities vary on how much effort they put into their websites, apps, social media, and online presence. Yet clearly the internet is important to residents and those wishing to do business. How can…
MML#2 – Cities Facing Increasing Lawsuits over Fees (Crystal A. Proxmire, Sept. 18, 2016) Mackinaw Island, MI – Class action lawsuits against municipalities are becoming more common, particularly those over water and sewer billing. Litigation attorney Soni Mithani, a Principal at Miller Canfield in Ann Arbor, took time to educate officials about these types of…
MML #1: From Pork to Pollination, Best Ways to Support Local Development (Crystal A. Proxmire, Sept. 15, 2016) Mackinac Island, MI – Development professionals often use the phrase “attract and retain businesses” as their main job functions. But economist and author Michael Shuman is determined to change that. “You cannot attract a local business,” Shuman…
Governor Vetoes Bill Eliminating Local Cost Sharing with MDOT (John LaMacchia, Assistant Director of State Affairs, Michigan Municipal League, July 9, 2016) Lansing, MI – On Friday morning the Governor vetoed SB 557. This bill would have eliminated the local cost sharing provision for cities over 25,000 on MDOT projects. The League and the bills…
MML #6: Lessons Learned at the Michigan Municipal League Conference (Crystal A. Proxmire, April 6, 2016) Lansing, MI – Each year employees and elected officials from cities, townships, villages and counties from across the state gather in Lansing for the Michigan Municipal League Capital Conference. This year oc115.com was able to attend and bring you…
MML #5: Making the Economic Case for Place (Crystal A. Proxmire, April 4, 2016) Lansing, MI – What do communities need to thrive? This is the question explored in depth by The Michigan Municipal League and Public Sector Consultants in 2015. They came up with eight elements of prosperous communities, and explored what research had…
MML#4: Deed Restrictions & Dark Stores Impacting Local Budgets (Crystal A. Proxmire, March 30, 2016) Lansing, MI – Cities and school districts depend on property taxes to provide services that residents rely on. One might think that having large companies in the community would help because of the large size of the “big box” stores…
MML #3: Cities Want their Share, Tool Shows Funding Loss by Community (Crystal A. Proxmire, March 26, 2016) Lansing, MI – Only four states have reduced the amount of tax dollars going to municipal governments, and of those Michigan has decreased funding the most. Robert Kleine of Great Lakes Economic Consulting spoke about the subject…