MICHIGAN MUNICIPAL LEAGUE

Monroe Mayor Robert Clark was recently selected as the Vice President of the Michigan Municipal League.

FLINT, MI -- Flint City Councilwoman Monica Galloway has been named president of the Michigan Municipal League, a nonprofit association of cities and villages across the state. The board also named Sterling Heights City Councilwoman Barbara Ziarko as vice president. As MML president, Galloway said she plans to continue the organization’s work in building community wealth and encouraging diversity, equity, and inclusion in municipalities throughout the state. In addition to the election of Galloway and Ziarko as the board president and vice president, six new board members were elected during the MML annual meeting. The new members are Joshua Atwood, Lapeer city commissioner; Rebecca Chamberlain-Creanga, Troy city councilwoman; Don Gerrie, Sault Ste.

LANSING, MI — The Michigan Supreme Court sided mostly with the state Wednesday in a consequential case on the state’s role in funding local governments and schools. In the case, Taxpayers for Michigan Constitutional Government v. Michigan, the Supreme Court ruled on a number of issues involving the 1978 Headlee Amendment. The amendment includes provisions affecting state and local taxes that require 48.97% of state revenue be paid to local governments. In a 2019 case, the state Court of Appeals sided with local governments, which have long argued that the state has been underfunding them. “State funding to a unit of local government is state funding to a unit of local government, whether that funding is tied to a state mandate or is unrestricted aid for discretionary spending,” Cavanagh wrote.

Legislation is moving through the house and senate seeking to stop Michigan communities from outright banning short-term rentals like Airbnb and VRBO. Dan Gilmartin, Michigan Municipal League CEO, called the push for a ban against bans a scare tactic during a Monday morning press conference. Holland Township does not allow short-term rentals through services like VRBO, Airbnb and HomestayThe league and the Michigan Township Association are not advocating for bans, Gilmartin said. Last week, Rep. John Damoose, R-Harbor Springs, and Rep. Jack O’Malley, R-Lake Ann, proposed House Bill 4985. The bill specifies that short-term rentals would be subject to parameters required for other commercial uses in a residential district.

Twenty-four communities across Michigan collect income tax from people who work in them but live elsewhere.

Grand Rapids is not alone. Grand Rapids is slated to receive an estimated $94 million in stimulus funds. Related: Grand Rapids avoids potential layoffs, service cuts thanks to $94 million from the fedsMayor Bliss said her No. 1 priority is to use some of the federal funds to fill the budget deficit so it doesn’t result in service reductions and staff layoffs. “I always think (community engagement) should be a two-way street,” she said.

SAGINAW, MI - Saginaw Mayor Brenda Moore is a recipient of the Michigan Municipal League’s Jim Sinclair Exceptional Service Award, according to a news release from the city. In September 2020, she became the first Black woman to serve as the board’s president, according to the release. “It is very rewarding to be as part of the Michigan Municipal League and to represent the City of Saginaw at the statewide level,” Moore said. In a statement included in the release, Moore said she’s honored to be recognized by the league. Read more:Saginaw Mayor Brenda Moore to speak at free Black History Month dinnerSaginaw’s Brenda Moore named first black female president of Michigan Municipal LeagueSaginaw YouthBuild organization opens after $1.5M federal grant“Love is the cure,” says Saginaw mayor after a year marked by pandemic and increased violenceSaginaw’s new mayor wants the community ‘to come together’

click to enlarge Michigan Municipal League via FlickrFormer Governor Rick Snyder. Former Michigan Gov. The disaster poisoned thousands with lead and was linked to an outbreak of Legionnaires' disease that killed at least 12, and last year, Michigan announced a historic $600 million settlement for the victims.The question is: what did Snyder know, and when did he know it? But according to a report by journalists published by, Snyder knew about a Legionnaires' disease outbreak in Flint as early as October 2014.That's when a "flurry of suspicious calls" between Snyder, his chief of staff, and health director were made, leading investigators to pursue charges against Snyder, according to the report. According to, investigators in the case even considered an involuntary manslaughter charge against Snyder.Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel is expected to hold a press conference at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday to offer more information on the new charges.

click to enlarge Michigan Municipal LeagueWe're kind of surprised drive-in concerts didn't take off in the Detroit area. All shows start at 6 p.m.According to the Crofoot Presents talent buyer Curtis Dalton, the venue had been considering drive-in concerts earlier in the summer, but wanted to see how they played out in other markets. "We started looking at doing drive-in shows when they began popping up in California and on the East Coast in July. Rather than moving on any immediately, we decided to pause and watch how others were doing it," Dalton said in a statement. A proposed federal bailout that would include $10 billion in emergency grants for independent venues, producers, and promoters was introduced to the U.S. House last month.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. The Ann Arbor Art Center has launched a crowdfunding campaign to fund a new project creating a series of murals to downtown Ann Arbor. The A2AC Murals project would create a series of up to 10 highly visible murals over the next five months. We know that right now, our communities have many social and financial concerns, said Ann Arbor Art Center President and CEO Marie Klopf in a statement. The Ann Arbor Art Center has worked to bring murals to Ann Arbor before. For a list of intended mural locations and more information about A2AC Murals visit the Patronicity page.

click to enlarge Michigan Municipal League via FlickrFormer Governor Rick Snyder. To paraphrase the famous Watergate question, what did former Gov. Rick Snyder know about the Flint water crisis, and when did he know it? Things came to a head in an April 2018 meeting in which Weaver alleges Snyder blew up at her, telling her that it was time for Flint residents to get over it and move on.And as recently as last year, Weaver alleges Snyder asked her to ask Congressman Elijah Cummings of the U.S. House Oversight Committee to back off his investigation into Snyder. Cummings died in October.Snyder and Baird did not respond to requests for comment, according to, nor did Special Prosecutor Todd Flood.Now, six years after the crisis began, Snyder has not yet been formally charged.

Westland Mayor William Wild. Photo courtesy: Michigan Municipal LeagueLANSING Westland Mayor William Wild has been named as the Michigan Municipal Leagues 2019-20 vice president. Wild was named vice president by the 18-member board on Friday, Jan. 24, during the Michigan Municipal Leagues Board of Trustees meeting in Lansing. As vice president, Wild is in line to become League president in 2020-21. Ive been active with the League for many years and its an outstanding organization, said Wild, who was appointed to the League board in 2017.