The Ann Arbor Greenbelt Advisory Commission, at their March 10 meeting, passed a resolution of support for acquiring development rights to the Braun and Gould properties in Ann Arbor Township, despite higher appraisals. Also, the commission got an update on efforts to support small farms. [Full Story]
At their March 9 meeting, the Ann Arbor Public Art Commission selected an artist for a public art project in West Park – though they haven’t revealed his name publicly. They also discussed a partnership with the Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority to put a sculpture in Hanover Park, and worked to refine an online survey for the public. [Full Story]
Chronicle publisher Mary Morgan reflects on a box of Thin Mints, a recent local food summit, and the goal of spending 10% of her food budget on locally produced food. [Full Story]
At their March 4 working session, the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners got an update about statewide changes for the MSU Extension – which operates 4-H and other programs locally – as well as a briefing on plans for the county to join the Southeast Michigan Regional Energy Office. [Full Story]
During a relatively brief meeting on Feb. 3, the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners got an update from Census 2010 staff, heard a statement read by commissioner Conan Smith regarding disclosure of a potential conflict of interest, and were urged by a member of the public to support the use of rotating outdoor shelters for the homeless. [Full Story]
The Ann Arbor Public Market Advisory Commission heard from two market vendors at the March 2 meeting, who criticized proposed changes to the vendor application and inspection forms. The commission is holding an annual vendor meeting on March 8, in part to discuss those changes. [Full Story]
The Michigan Supreme Court has refused to reconsider its decision to deny an appeal from three local townships in a long-running legal battle with Washtenaw County over the cost of sheriff deputy patrols. The county now will seek a judgment ordering the townships of Ypsilanti, Salem and August to pay for services that were provided during the dispute. [Full Story]
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The Detroit Free Press reports that Ann Arbor attorney Douglas Mullkoff has been appointed to represent former Detroit city councilwoman Monica Conyers in an appeal of her recent prison sentence. Conyers wants to withdraw a guilty plea she had previously entered for her role in a bribery scheme involving the city of Detroit and Texas-based Synagro Technologies. [Source]
The Gov Monitor reports that Gov. Jennifer Granholm is in California meeting with Google executives to push for choosing a city in Michigan to test its high-speed fiber optic network. From the report: “Granholm is encouraging Michigan communities to submit applications for the trial network with several already in the works including, Ann Arbor, Grand Rapids, and Lansing/East Lansing.” The article quotes Granholm: “Google fiber is a perfect fit here as no state can match the exploding new technology investment in Michigan in recent years.” [Source]
A March 1 article on local candidates for state legislative races incorrectly stated that candidates file their petitions to be on the ballot with the Secretary of State. For state House Districts 52, 53 and 54 and Senate District 18, those filings are made at the Washtenaw County clerk’s office. Campaign finance reports for all state races are made with the Secretary of State. We note the error here, and have corrected it in the original article.