2009 MTN Article Index

2009 Michigan Township News Article Index

Volume 51

2009 Michigan Township News Article Index

Volume 51

Agriculture

Ag Census shows growth in Michigan's farming sector..... June, p. 4

Alternative Energy

Michigan's wind energy development among fastest in the nation.....June, p. 5

New report indentifies state regions with greatest wind energy potential.....July, p. 7

Turning green into gold: Renewable energy efforts and townships.....Aug., p. 14

Zoning for wind energy.....Aug., p. 15

Township think ‘green'.....Aug., p. 21

Report maps favorable locations for offshore wind development.....Nov., p. 5

Final ‘Wind Report' issued.....Dec., p. 5

Attorney General Opinions

AG issues conflict of interest, OMA opinions.....May, p. 5

AG issue opinions on trustee-fire chief compatibility.....July, p. 7

Casinos

The fourth wave: The resurgence of tribal casino development
in Michigan.....Jan./Feb., pg. 30

Communication

Extra, extra, read all about it:
Share your township's story through earned media..... May, p. 16

Anatomy of a media advisory.....May, p. 18

An earned media checklist.....May, p. 20

Court Decisions

Court of Appeals ruling clarifies when contractual water rates must be at actual cost.....April, p. 4

Federal circuit court of appeals rules local zoning can be reviewed.....Oct., p. 4

Economic Development

Growing your community:
The role of townships in entrepreneurial development.....June, p. 16

Entrepreneurship and place in Michigan communities.....July, p. 17

Viewing entrepreneurship development as an infrastructure need
for the New Economy.....July, p. 19

Growing entrepreneurial communities.....July, p. 21

Want to see your township in the movies.....Oct., p. 6

Emergency Management

Recruiting and retaining township volunteer firefighters.....Sept., p. 16

New Local Emergency Planning Workbook available.....Dec., p. 4

Environment

Watercraft disinfection station can help prevent disease spread.....June, p. 5

Financial Management

Budget reminders for townships.....Jan./Feb., pg. 4

Financial Forum (miscellaneous..... Jan./Feb., pg. 26

Financial Forum (special assessments, project financing).....March, pg. 25

Financial Forum (taxable income.....April, p. 14

Financial Forum (unclaimed property).....May, p. 11

Financial Forum (miscellaneous).....June, p. 12

Financial Forum (sales tax exemption).....July, p. 11

Financial Forum (contributions to township).....Aug., p. 9

‘Red Flags Rule' compliance deadline extended again.....Sept., p. 5

Financial Forum (electronic payments).....Oct., p. 21

‘Red Flags Rule' enforcement deadline is Nov. 1.....Nov., p. 5

GASB 43 and 45: ‘Phase Three' is here.....Nov., p. 14

Tough Times: Tips for stressed township budgets.....Nov., p. 18

Financial Forecasting.....Nov., p. 21

Financial Forum (budgeting).....Nov., p. 25

Financial Forum (retirement plans).....Dec., p. 30

Grants & Programs

Sustainable Communities grants now available.....Jan./Feb., pg. 5

State cell phone, Internet security programs available to townships.....April, p. 6

Tales from the front: Insider tips on successful grant writing.....July, p. 28

Township officials can apply for political leadership program.....Aug., p. 5

State program offers resources on building viable downtowns.....Sept., p. 5

Township can save with MiDeal program.....Dec., p. 6

Historic Preservation

History in the making: Historic preservation in Michigan Townships.....Oct., p. 14

Human Resources

Township employers must post MIOSHA form.....Jan./Feb., pg. 6

Form I-9 deadline extended.....March, p. 4

An orientation on employee orientation.....March, p. 28

New resource offers COBRA information.....May, p. 4

MTA legal opinion addresses IRS classification of township independent contractor assessors.....Aug., p. 4

Doing more with less: Reducing workforce operating costs.....Aug., p. 26

Advice for township that purchase employee insurance.....Dec., p. 6

Land Use

Finding the true cost of development in your township.....June, p. 18

Legislative Issues

Legislature approves Saturday tax collection fix.....Jan./Feb., pg. 4

Leadership positions determined for 95^th Legislature.....Jan./Feb., pg. 4

MTA Resolutions to be considered at 2009 Annual Meeting.....Jan./Feb., pg. 33

Revenue sharing spared in budget proposal fraught with cuts.....March, p. 4

State misses PILT payment deadline-again.....March, p. 4

2009 MTA Policy Platform adopted at Annual Meeting.....March, p. 34

Legislation moves on post-employment benefits.....April, p. 4

House approves cable bill that lacks fairness for locals.....April, p. 4

Finance disclosure bill heads to House.....April, p. 4

Townships could be impacted by extended unemployment benefits.....May, p. 4

House reform package include financial disclosure bill.....May, p. 4

Recall reform: A new approach.....May, p. 12

No-reason absentee voting bills move to House floor.....June, p. 4

Recreational authorities legislation closer to passage.....June, p. 4

Resolutions being accepted for MTA's 2010 Annual Meeting.....June, p. 5

Lansing decisions impact locals on revenue sharing, cable complaints.....June, p. 14

House committee reports ‘patch' bill for property tax issue.....July, p. 6

Transportation funding plan introduced in House.....July, p. 6

State budget process: A whirlwind.....Aug., p. 4

House moves forward on election legislation.....Aug., p. 12

Revenue sharing a sticking point in ongoing budget talks.....Sept., p. 4

Amended livestock bills approved by House committee.....Sept., p. 4

Bill allows local inspections for rented mobile homes.....Sept., p. 4

New state transportation funding plan to address loss of federal funds.....Sept., p. 14

Local government funding remains a budget issue.....Oct., p. 4

Legislation would exempt ag-tourism buildings from code.....Oct., p. 4

Speaker's health care proposal leaves questions unanswered.....Oct., p. 10

Budget battles continue.....Nov., p. 4

Extended hours for liquor sales?.....Nov., p. 4

The makings of a state budget.....Nov., p. 10

State Assessors Board eliminated.....Dec., p. 4

Final budget leaves revenue sharing cuts intact.....Dec., p. 4

Legislature looking at election bills.....Dec., p. 4

An inefficient exercise: A look at the Legislative Commission on Government Efficiency.....Dec., p. 12

Legislative Profiles

Senate Majority Leader Mike Bishop (R-Rochester.....March, p. 12

House Speaker Andy Dillon (D-Redford Chtr. Twp.)..... March, p. 13

House Minority Leader Kevin Elsenheimer (R-Bellaire).....April, p. 15

Rep. Marie Donigan (D-Royal Oak).....May, p. 14

Rep. Pete Lund (R-Shelby Chtr. Twp.....May, p. 15

Sen. Bruce Patterson (R-Canton Chtr. Twp.).....June, p. 16

Sen. Dennis Olshove (D-Warren)......June, p. 17

Rep. Pam Byrnes (D-Lyndon Twp.).....July, p. 14

Rep. Paul Opsommer (R-DeWitt).....July, p. 15

Sen. Cameron Brown (R-Fawn River Twp.).....Sept., p. 13

Rep. Kate Ebli (D-Monroe).....Oct., p. 12

Rep. Brian Calley (R-Portland).....Oct., p. 13

Sen. Tom George (R-Texas Chtr. Twp.).....Nov., p. 12

Sen. Gretchen Whitmer (D-East Lansing).....Nov., p. 13

Rep. Sharon Tyler (R-Niles).....Dec., p. 14

Michigan Townships Association

Annual Conference

2009 Conference urges attendees to ‘Work Together for a Better Michigan'.....March, p. 14

2009 Parade of Flags kicks off Conference on an inspiring note.....March, p. 23

How champions deal with change.....Dec., p. 31

Board of Directors

A conversation with MTA's new president, Colleen Schwartz.....March, p. 18

Introducing MTA's 2009 Board of Directors.....March, p. 20

Zurawski named to SEMCOG committee.....April, p. 8

MTA Board hosts reception for Lansing leadership.....June, p. 28

MTA Board endorses transportation funding package.....Oct., p. 5

Remembering Bess Jordan-Boruszewski, 1990 MTA president.....Dec., p. 7

Communications

MTA honored with Diamond Award for campaign against HB 4780.....Jan./Feb., pg. 7

Help build MTA's online community.....Jan./Feb., pg. 28
MTA updates Web resources.....July, p. 8, Sept., p.8

MTA's enhanced ‘Community Connection' networking site debuts.....Sept., p. 24

Legal Defense Fund

MTA Legal Defense win: Local health departments can regulate smoking in the workplace.....Sept., p. 4

Court issue rulings in MTA Legal Defense cases.....Nov., p. 30

National Association of Towns and Townships

NATaT to get say in federal environmental decision-making.....Jan./Feb., pg. 5

Michigan takes on Washington, D.C. as NATaT's ‘Featured State'.....June, p. 6

Let your voice be heard at ‘America's Town Meeting'.....July, p. 26

Township officials network, showcase Michigan
at ‘America's Town Meeting'.....Nov., p. 28

Recognition Program

Spring Lake Township receives certificate for ‘township excellence'.....June, p. 7

Union Charter Township receives ‘Certificate of Excellence' for best practices.....Sept., p. 5

Robert R. Robinson Memorial Scholarship

MTA's Robinson Scholarship available to students in your township.....March, p. 6

Student ‘aspiring to leadership roles' receives Robinson Scholarship.....Sept., p. 7

Staff

Retirement reception at Conference to honor Evelyn David.....Jan./Feb., pg. 7

David honored for ‘remarkable dedication and commitment'..... March, p. 17

MTA bids ‘so long' to a long-time legend.....April, p. 28

MTA welcomes new communications coordinator.....Sept., p. 7

MTA staff recognized for excellence in association leadership.....Nov., p. 6

MTA attorney celebrates 60 years of legal practice.....Dec., p. 7

Summer Legislative Conference

Summer Legislative Conference addresses key issues.....Oct., p. 22

Survey

Survey says: Michiganians prefer rural living.....April, p. 16

Vox Populi: A report card on Michigan's local governments.....April, p. 18

How well do local governments serve Michigan?.....April, p. 20

Does Michigan have too much local democracy?.....April, p. 23

Township Governance Academy

TGA Scholarship deadline is March 1.....Jan./Feb., pg. 25

TGA ‘Class of 2009' honored.....March, p. 24

Building cooperation, trust with neighboring communities.....Aug., p. 28

Reports, Surveys and Papers

CRC report: More ways for locals to collaborate.....April, p. 5

National study: Local officials working to control health costs.....Nov., p. 4

Townships: Adapting to variances in Michigan's challenging economic climate.....Dec., p. 22

Budget woes cause MDOT snowplowing policy change..... Jan./Feb., pg. 5

Election 2008: Implications for towns and townships..... Jan./Feb., pg. 27

Townships served by Consumers Energy invited to participate
in MPSC challenge..... March, p. 4

Federal stimulus package includes access to resources for local governments.....March, p. 30

Access to federal stimulus dollars requires further action.....April, p. 4

Michigan ranks 17^th in ‘New Economy'.....April, p. 5

Agri-business: A bright spot in Michigan economy.....April, p. 5

Michigan tops nation in seat belt use.....April, p. 6

Magazine ranks Michigan third in corporate locations, expansions.....May, p. 4

National ad campaign boosts tourism interest in Michigan.....July, p. 6

Looking for bright spots in today's stormy economy.....July, p. 12

Michigan-and the nation's-roads are in rough shape.....Aug., p. 5

Michigan recognized for efforts to attract new business.....Sept., p. 4

Tax Collection

Hello, MTA ... ? (summer tax collections.....June, p. 10

Financial Forum (delinquent property tax).....Sept., p. 12

Attention treasurers: Reminder for tax collection office hours.....Dec., p. 5

Township Administration & Management

General law townships with taxable value of $74 million or more
required to publish minutes.....Jan./Feb., pg. 5

Urge residents to remove dead and dying trees.....Jan./Feb., pg. 6

Hello, MTA ... ? (township laws).....Jan./Feb., pg. 10

Township Top 10: Responsibilities and duties all officials must know.....Jan./Feb., pg. 12

Township Top 10: Tips to be effective at board meetings.....Jan./Feb., pg. 15

Hello, MTA ... ?  (tax collection, record retention.....March, p. 10

MDOT can help townships asked for billboard permits.....April, p. 7

Hello, MTA ... ? (meeting notices.....April, p. 12

Townships are responsible for issuing fireworks permits.....May, p. 6

Hello, MTA ... ? (charges for FOIA requests).....May, p. 10

Hello, MTA ... ? (off-road vehicles).....July, p. 10

Hello, MTA ... ? (liens).....Aug., p. 10

Hello, MTA ... ? (competitive bidding).....Sept., p. 10

Hello, MTA ... ? (going-out-of-business sales).....Oct., p. 8

New records retention schedule released for treasurers......Nov., p. 5

Hello, MTA ... ? (filling vacancies, oath of office)......Nov., p. 8

Hello, MTA ... ? (lawful expenditures)..... Dec., p. 10

Five townships recognized by governor for promoting active communities..... March, p. 6

Local government collaborative projects receive state funding......April, p. 8

Supervisors appointed to state assessors, wind energy boards.....April, p. 9

What are your township's assets?.....May, p. 22

Kalamazoo Charter Township fire chief named state fire marshal.....June, p. 6

Townships reap rewards of community policing stimulus dollars.....Sept., p. 6

Grosse Ile Township is a ‘Best Place to Live'.....Sept., p. 26

World's largest cupcake baked in Hamburg Township.....Oct., p. 6

Orion Charter Township leads successful battle to keep GM plant.....Dec., p. 34