MSU Extension Government

Resources

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  Planning & Zoning for Solar Energy Systems: A Guide for Michigan Local Governments

  Published on January 16, 2025
  The purpose of this guide is to help Michigan communities meet the challenge of becoming solar-ready by addressing solar energy systems (SES) within their planning policies and zoning regulations.

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  Selected Planning and Zoning Decisions: 2024 (August 2023-August 2024)

  Published on December 17, 2024
  This public policy brief summarizes the important state and federal court cases, and Attorney General Opinions issues between August 1, 2023, and August 1, 2024.

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  First Impressions Tourism Assessment: City of Wayland Summary of Results

  Published on December 12, 2024
  FIT is a comprehensive community assessment conducted by unannounced visitors in a host community.

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  Investigating the Condition and Investment Needs of Michigan's Drinking Water Infrastructure: Policy and Financing Ramifications

  Published on December 5, 2024
  This project compiles water infrastructure finance data for Flint and 249 other cities across Michigan.

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  Summary Report for the Lansing Charter Commission: Literature Review on the Forms and Efficiency of Municipal Government

  Published on October 18, 2024
  This report provides a summary of research on municipal forms of government to assist the Lansing City Charter Review Commission in crafting the new charter.

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  Land Use Planning & Zoning Certificate Courses Brochure

  Published on August 2, 2024
  MSU Extension offers a variety of land use certificate courses in various formats.

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  Planning and Zoning*A*Syst. #4: Community Planning & Zoning Audit, The Zoning Ordinance

  Published on July 11, 2024
  A performance audit on the The Zoning Ordinance (E-3054) reviews the process of zoning ordinance and zoning amendment adoption (to make sure that it was done properly) and what needs to be in the file to document that the proper steps were taken.

• Michigan County Government Survey: Services Provided to Local Government Summary Report

  Published on March 15, 2024
  This resource is a collaboration between the Michigan Association of Counties and MSU Extension's Center for Local Government, Finance and Policy.

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  Van Buren County Annual Report 2022

  Published on November 30, 2023
  Based on MSU Extension annual reporting and evaluation feedback, 2022 proved to be another good year leveraging resources provided by Van Buren County to help us do our work in the community.

• Wellbeing and Employee Retention

  Published on November 10, 2023
  Midland County Administrator/Controller Bridgette Gransden discusses Midland County's efforts to support employee well-being and the impact of those efforts on county staff.