Will cities ask citizens for input on spending billions in federal funds? Many are unsure.
Updated 11:09 AM;
Today 11:09 AM
Hand sanitizer sits on a table next to the public comment microphone during the Portage Public Schools Board of Education work session at Portage Northern High School Auditorium in Portage, Michigan on Monday, Oct. 12, 2020. (Joel Bissel | MLive.com)Joel Bissell | MLive.com
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Sometimes it’s the way government made a decision, not the decision itself, that frustrates constituents, said Jackson Mayor Derek Dobies.
That’s why when he heard his city was slated to receive an estimated $32 million from the federal government, he assured residents early on the city wanted to hear how they think those dollars should be spent.
Grand Rapids Business Journal
Courtesy city of Grand Rapids
Grand Rapids City Manager Mark Washington was appointed to the Michigan Municipal League Board of Trustees, League Board President William Wild announced.
Washington will join a diverse group of community leaders representing communities of all shapes and sizes, said Wild, who also serves as mayor of Westland. He was appointed to fill a vacancy on the 19-member board with his term expiring in fall 2022.
With Washington’s appointment, the league board will now have 10 elected officials serving alongside nine municipal managers.
“We are extremely pleased to have Mark join us as we work to help our communities recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and reform our state’s broken system for funding its municipalities,” Wild said. “With Mark’s appointment, our board will continue to have representatives from some of our state’s largest cities working side-by-side with officials from some of our smallest communities.
Public-private coalition working on emergency homeless shelter in Heartside
and last updated 2020-12-15 20:04:10-05
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. â A coalition of community, nonprofit and business leaders is working to provide safe emergency shelter for residents of the Heartside neighborhood who are experiencing homelessness.
The group, led by Mel Trotter Ministries and Guiding Light and including the City of Grand Rapids and Kris Elliott of Evergreen Companies, has leased space at 250 Ionia Ave. SW, a news release said Tuesday.
Experts say as many as 100 adults could be looking for housing every night in the coming winter months.
Work has begun to transform the space into a warming center and overnight shelter for those experiencing homelessness, many of whom are currently staying in tents in Heartside Park and other locations around the city.