Michigan goes for the national title in men's basketball tonight and there will be a major watch party at Crisler Center. Ann Arbor City Council will consider buying back the old YMCA lot while the Ann Arbor Public Schools wants input on the future of the district. Those are just some of the topics In this week's edition of 'Civic Matters.'
Mary Morgan brings a wealth of experience to the airwaves. While heading up the CivCity Initiative now, Mary was previously co-founder and publisher of the Ann Arbor Chronicle. Prior to that, she served as a reporter and editor for the Ann Arbor News when it was a daily, print-edition newspaper.
RESOURCES FOR TODAY"S TOPICS:
• Michigan is limiting its watch party at Crisler Center for Monday night's NCAA championship game to university students and men's basketball season ticket holders. Season ticket holders may claim four tickets and must print their tickets out in advance from their online season ticket holder account. Seating will be on a first-come, first-served basis. The university says doors of the arena on the Ann Arbor campus will open at 8 p.m., with the game between Michigan and Villanova is scheduled to begin about 9:20 p.m.
• Washtenaw County is seeking input on how to invest revenues from a new tax to support mental health services. You can give feedback in person at a forum on Tuesday, April 3 from 8:30-9:30 a.m. at Scio Township Hall, 827 N. Zeeb Road. The session is hosted by the Washtenaw County Community Mental Health Advisory Committee, a group formed last year to help guide investments from the new tax, which also funds public safety services. Other forums are in the works. Click here for details.
•The county is also looking for someone to fill a partial term on the Washtenaw County Veterans Affairs Committee, which advises the county's Department of Veterans Affairs. The deadline to apply is Friday, April 6. Applicants must live in Washtenaw County and have served honorably on active duty in the United States armed forces. Click here for details.
• Ann Arbor Public Schools Superintendent Jeanice Swift is holding a series of forums to get input from residents about the future of AAPS. The next one is on Wednesday, April 4 starting at 6 p.m. at Carpenter Elementary, 4250 Central Blvd. Click here for more info. On a related note, April 4 is also the day when the Seattle School Board is expected to hire a new superintendent – and Swift is one of three finalists for that job.
• This week's public meetings include tonight's Ann Arbor City Council. It's a fairly light agenda, but there's one item of note: Authorizing the city to buy back the former Y lot for $4.2 million. Dennis Dahlmann, who bought this site in 2014, sued the city earlier this year in hopes of holding on to the property.
• It's time for spring cleaning! Today marks the start of curbside composting pickup in Ann Arbor. And April 7 is the start of Washtenaw County's Saturday Home Toxic Collection. Drop-offs of paint, oil, cleaning products and other toxic items are accepted from 9 a.m. til noon at 705 N. Zeeb Road. Click here for details.
• Finally, a reminder that the deadline to register to vote in the May 8 election is just a week away, on Monday, April 9. Click here to check your registration status. Check out AnnArborVotes.org for more info.
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— David Fair is the WEMU News Director and host of Morning Edition on WEMU. You can contact David at734.487.3363, on twitter @DavidFairWEMU, or email him at dfair@emich.edu
