Public Input

Voters in Ann Arbor will render a final decision on two ballot proposals on August 5th. Proposals A and B would approve the sale of city owned land for a new downtown library. Opponents say the city is reneging on its promise to turn the land into an urban park and civic commons called the “Center of the City.” And now, a lawsuit accuses the City of “perpetrating a fraud upon the electorate” through misleading ballot language. WEMU’s Caroline MacGregor explores what has become a contentious issue in an off-year summer election.

Over 60 community leaders and service agencies got together Monday to talk about racial disparities and how federal budget cuts could affect Washtenaw County. WEMU’s Kevin Meerschaert reports.

The Ann Arbor City approved a resolution Monday night with its recommendations for the Comprehensive Land Use Plan. But what was billed as a fair compromise didn’t appease either faction. WEMU’s Kevin Meerschaert reports.

The City of Saline is considering whether to rehabilitate, replace, or remove the historic Saline River Dam. Dam removal offers long-term ecological benefits but raises concerns about aesthetics, recreation, and economic impact. A final decision on the matter is coming in October. In the meantime, the city has been taking public input and reaching out to neighboring communities for discussion. WEMU's David Fair talked with Saline Mayor Brian Marl about what has been learned so far and what comes next in the process.

Under the current bylaws of the Ann Arbor Planning Commission, there is no limit on how long the public comment period can last during its meetings. Commissioners are considering some changes to that. WEMU’s Kevin Meerschaert reports.

Some Democratic state lawmakers discussed what the new federal budget could mean for Michigan at a town hall in Southeast Michigan Monday night. Colin Jackson has more.

The Michigan Department of Transportation is holding a pair of open houses on Tuesday to discuss a draft noise report associated with the US-23 improvement plan. WEMU’s Kevin Meerschaert has this report.

Current Ypsilanti Police Chief Tim Anderson took the reins from former Chief Kirk Moore who retired earlier this year after just two years in the role. WEMU’s Caroline MacGregor recently sat down with Anderson to talk about his goals for the community moving forward, as well as police morale after several years of upheaval in the department.

The Ann Arbor Farmers Market is resuming its regular season with its first Wednesday market of the year, alongside some new changes this season. WEMU’s Ana Longoria has more.

The Ann Arbor School Board met for a retreat on Sunday to talk about how to better communicate and the various issues facing the district. WEMU’s Kevin Meerschaert reports.