MAC Board votes to shift Annual Conference to virtual sessions The 2020 MAC Annual Conference will be a virtual event stretching across several days in late August, the MAC Board of Directors decided during a meeting on Friday. “With counties and vendors alike still...
NEWS
Legislator Q&A: Sen. Jim Ananich
This article originally appeared in the April 2020 edition of Michigan Counties. Name: Sen. Jim Ananich District/counties: 27th/Genesee County Committees: Government Operations Term #: 2nd full term Previous public service: Michigan House of Representatives,...
Legislator Q&A: Rep. Sarah Lightner
This article originally appeared in the April 2020 edition of Michigan Counties. Name: Sarah Lightner District/counties: 65th/Parts of Jackson, Eaton and Lenawee counties Committees: Appropriations Committee; Appropriations Subcommittees on General Government...
If more voters shift to mail option, clerks will need funding, rule changes
By Barb Byrum/Ingham County Clerk This article originally appeared in the April 2020 edition of Michigan Counties. In March, Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson said her office would mail an application for an absent voter ballot to all qualified registered voters who...
Pending case may provide clarity to when personal email accounts are subject to FOIA
By Christian K. Mullett/firm of Cohl, Stoker & Toskey, P.C. This article originally appeared in the April 2020 edition of Michigan Counties. Does the Freedom of Information Act, MCL 15.231, et seq. (“FOIA”), apply to public officials’ use of non-governmental email...
Why active-active data centers fit the bill for local governments
By Wylie Wong In Michigan’s Muskegon County, some departments need 24/7 access to computers, applications and the IP-based phone system, including the Muskegon County Sheriff's Office, the Muskegon County Juvenile Transition Center and the Muskegon County Wastewater...
Legislative Update 5-29-20
MAC opens ‘Camp Counties’ for summer webinars With in-person gatherings still discouraged, but the need to share information and best practices never more acute, MAC has responded with a new educational series for summer 2020: Camp Counties. Replacing our traditional...
Camp Counties: MAC’s summer webinar series
With in-person gatherings still discouraged, but the need to share information and best practices never more acute, MAC has responded with a new educational series for summer 2020: Camp Counties. Replacing our traditional in-person Regional Summits, the webinars of...
Legislative Update 5-22-20
Court sides with governor on emergency powers in 1945 law Michigan’s Court of Claims turned aside a challenge to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s emergency powers under a 1945 state law in a ruling issued Thursday. Judge Cynthia Stephens rejected the challenge by House Speaker...
Legislative Update 5-15-20
Revenue meeting paints bleak outlook for Michigan into 2022 The state has a $3.2 billion hole in its current budgets, public finance experts testified today before the state’s Consensus Revenue Estimating Conference. The conference is used to set revenue targets for...