Michigan Township Association

2018 Township Focus Archive

January

This month’s cover story: Weathering the storm with community resilience

Additional articles include:

  • Weaving and dodging in the hurricane (Local View)
  • Answering the call for help (Feature)
  • Township flags inspire local pride, sense of history (Feature)
  • Road improvement and maintenance (Hello, MTA…?)
  • Preparing W-2 forms (Financial Forum)

February

This month’s cover story: Surviving the ‘Silver Tsunami’

Additional articles include:

  • Legal Defense Fund puts township perspective in courts (Local View)
  • 2017 public acts impacting townships (Inside Lansing)
  • MTA’s Community Connection ‘2.0’: A new way to connect (Feature)
  • Medical Marijuana (Hello, MTA…?)
  • Taxing a company vehicle (Financial Forum)

March - aPRIL

This month’s cover story: The local role in the new economy

Additional articles in this issue include:

  • Whose roads are they? (Local View)
  • State Treasurer Nick Khouri talks Michigan’s economy, future (Around MTA)
  • ‘A message of township unity’ at MTA’s 2018 Capital Conference (Feature)
  • Care of cemeteries/Property owners/Charities soliciting in the street (Hello, MTA…?) 
  • Setting aside funds (Financial Forum)

May

This month’s cover story: Evaluate your township’s programs and services

Additional articles in this issue include:

  • ‘I did it, I was wrong. And I am sorry.’ (Local View)
  • We are all super heroes (Feature)
  • Cooperative efforts bring Barns Park history from past to present (Feature)
  • 425 Agreements (Hello, MTA…?)
  • Accounting methods for payment plan options (Financial Forum)

June

This month’s cover story: MTA responds to state assessing reform proposal

Additional articles in this issue include:

  • Meet 2018 MTA President Ken Gauthier (Conference Recap)
  • A look back at MTA’s 2018 Annual Conference (Conference Recap)
  • Spring Lake Township earns second ‘Township of Excellence’ honor (Conference Recap)
  • Assessing reform proposal (Local View)
  • Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and governmental immunity (Hello, MTA … ?)
  • Repurpose agreements (Financial Forum)

July

This month’s cover story: Coordinating emergency shelters during times of crisis

Additional articles in this issue include:

  • On assessing reform, MTA members have better ideas (Local View)
  • Talking township issues with the 2018 gubernatorial candidates (Feature)
  • Township comes together, sees opportunities during tough times (Feature)
  • Voting at board meetings (Hello, MTA … ?)
  • Retirement plans/Other post-employment benefits (Financial Forum)

aUGUST

This month’s cover story: Examining rural issues

Additional articles in this issue include:

  • Partnership for roads require communication and trust (Local View)
  • ‘Mountain biking mecca’ draws thousands to the U.P. (Feature)
  • Court rulings impacting townships (Legal Review)
  • Public retirement systems (Financial Forum)
  • Public meetings (Hello, MTA … ?)

September

This month’s cover story: Shaping your township’s future

Additional articles include:

  • Honing communication skills with lawmakers (Local View)
  • UP North Summit draws officials from around the state (Feature)
  • Breaking barriers: Female fire chiefs lead township departments (Feature)
  • Township employees (Hello, MTA…?)
  • Filing annual qualifying statements (Financial Forum)

October

This month’s cover story: Inside Election 2018

Additional articles include:

  • Gubernatorial candidates talk reforms impacting locals (Cover story)
  • Q&A with attorney general and secretary of state nominess (Cover story)
  • Three proposals make the statewide ballot (Cover story)
  • Elections hold elected officials accountable (Local View)
  • Rock the Mock’ inspires students, educates voters (TGA Best Practices)
  • Inspiring tomorrow’s local leaders (Feature)
  • Township bills and checks (Hello, MTA…?)
  • Legislature initiatives and straight parting voting (Inside Lansing)
  • New accounting standards (Financial Forum)
  • Inspiring tomorrow’s local leaders—MTA awards Robinson Scholarship (Feature

November

This month’s cover story: Taking financial oversight to a higher level

Additional articles include:

  • Four townships partner to secure funding for road construction (Feature)
  • Mid-term election—oath of office and transitioning to new board members (Hello, MTA…?)
  • Bank reconciliations—purpose and best practices (Financial Forum)

December

This month’s cover story: Breaking up is hard to do – but doesn’t have to be

Additional articles include:

  • Who is the fiduciary for your retirement plan? (Feature)
  • Deputy: who they are and what they do (Hello, MTA…?)
  • Retirement plans and PA 202 of 2017 (Financial Forum)