DEARBORN, Michigan - There were many awards, honors and accolades given during the 2010 Michigan Municipal League Convention in Dearborn, Sept. 21-24, and the top honors went to Grand Blanc Mayor Michael Matheny and the City of Grand Haven.

The City of Grand Haven won the League’s most prestigious community award taking home the coveted Community Excellence Award Cup. Grand Blanc Mayor and former League President Michael Matheny received the Honorary Life Membership Award; Hastings Mayor Robert L. May received the Jim Sinclair Exceptional Service Award; and Sault Ste. Marie Mayor Anthony “Tony” Bosbous was awarded the Michael A. Guido Leadership and Public Service Award.

Legislator of the Year Awards went to Rep. Ed Clemente, D-Lincoln Park; Rep. Doug Geiss, D-Taylor; and Rep. Joe Haveman, R-Holland.

Special Awards of Merit were given to Kenneth V. Cockrel Jr., Detroit councilmember; Gary Heidel, interim executive director for the Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA); and Clara Shepherd; Muskegon city commissioner.

The League also recognized graduates of our Elected Officials Academy. Level 1 graduates were Joseph Greene, Caro councilmember; Kathleen Ling, Mt. Pleasant commissioner; Rusty Showalter, West Branch councilmember; Eileen Steadman, Berkley councilmember; Nathan Triplett, East Lansing councilmember; and Joel VanSlambrouck, Portland councilmember. Level 2 graduates were Joshua Meringa, Grandville councilmember; and Nathan Triplett, East Lansing councilmember. Level 3 graduates were Susan Baldwin, Battle Creek mayor; William Lasher, Ovid Village president; David Lossing, Linden mayor; and Gary McDowell, Adrian mayor. In addition, the Michigan Association of Municipal Attorneys (MAMA) awarded three people the Distinguished Municipal Attorney Award. The recipients were Thomas R. 

To learn more about the League and what we do go to mml.org. For additional posts about Convention go here and for additional photos from the 2010 Convention go here.

Matt Bach is director of communications for the Michigan Municial League. He can be reached at mbach@mml.org or 734-669-6317.

In the photo below: Grand Blanc Mayor Michael Matheny (left) accepts the 2010 Honorary Life Time Membershp Award from MML President Jeff Jenks.

DEARBORN, Michigan - Attorneys from Novi, Ann Arbor and Grand Rapids have received the 2010 Distinguished Municipal Attorney Awards by the Michigan Association of Municipal Attorneys (MAMA) for their outstanding contributions to the practice of municipal law.

The award recipients are Thomas R. Schultz, city attorney for Novi and other communities; Sue A. Jeffers, associate general counsel for the Michigan Municipal League and former Mt. Pleasant city attorney; and Jeffrey V.H. Sluggett, attorney for the municipalities of Cedar Springs, Walker, Saugatuck, Lakeview Village and Alpine Township.

The awards were given during a MAMA luncheon that took place as part of the 2010 Michigan Municipal League Convention in Dearborn, Sept. 21, 2010.

For details about the League go to mml.org. Speaking during the recent MAMA gather were Dan Kildee of the Center for Community Progress; and Phil Power, founder andpresident of the Center for Michigan. Formore information about MAMA go to http://www.mama-online.org/.

(Note: Stayed tuned for a more detailed news release on these award winners here). 

Matt Bach is director of communications for the Michigan Municipal League. He can be reached at mbach@mml.org or 734-669-6317.

In the photo below (from left) are 2010 Distinguished Municipal Attorney Award Recipients Jeffrey V.H. Sluggett, Sue. A Jeffers, and Thomas R. Schultz. View more photos from this event here.

DEARBORN, Michigan - East Lansing City Manager Ted Staton was honored recently with a statewide award named for his most prominent predecessor.

Staton is the first active city manager to win the John M. Patriarche Distinguished Service Award, given annually by the Michigan Local Government Management Association.

The MLGMA organization cited East Lansing’s growth and economic development during Staton’s 15 years as city manager. Read a Lansing State Journal article about the honor.

The award was given during the 2010 Michigan Municipal League Convention Sept. 21-24 in Dearborn. The Convention focused on the eight assets that make for vibrant communities – physical design and walkability, green initiatives, cultural economic development, entrepreneurship, multiculturalism, messaging and technology, transit and education. The League had speakers throughout the nation talk about various aspects of these assets and why they are so important to Michigan’s Future.

For more about the League and what we do go to mml.org. For details about MLGMA go to http://www.mlgma.org/. View more photos of Staton getting his award here.

Matt Bach is director of communications for the Michigan Municipal League. He can be reached at mbach@mml.org and 734-669-6317.