City of Milan, Michigan Government

09/03/2026

On your ballot November 3, 2026:
City of Milan Fire Services Special Assessment Proposal

“Shall the City of Milan, Counties of Washtenaw and Monroe, Michigan, be authorized to establish a city-wide special assessment district pursuant to Act 33, Public Acts of Michigan, 1951, as amended, to raise money by special assessment for the purpose of paying certain costs and expenses of fire services, including maintenance and operations, fire motor vehicles, apparatus, equipment, and housing?”

Vote YES or NO.
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WHAT IS A SPECIAL ASSESSMENT?
Public Act 33 grants the city the legal authority to impose a special assessment on properties as an alternative to levying a property tax. While a special assessment shares some similarities with a tax, it is distinct in that it can only be applied to properties within the Special Assessment District (SAD) to cover the costs related to specific improvements or services within that district.

WHY DO WE NEED A SPECIAL ASSESSMENT?
When the MAFD was established, it included the City of Milan and the Townships of London, Milan, and York. The agreement stated that each jurisdiction would contribute a percentage of the budget determined by a formula that considered taxable value and the number of runs within each area. Historically, the City of Milan has contributed between 32% and 36% of the overall budget based on this calculation. Starting in June 2027, York Township will no longer participate as a partner in the MAFD, as they have chosen to join the Saline Area Fire Authority. As a result of their exit, the City of Milan anticipates a 10% to 15% increase in its share of the total budget. The purpose of the Special Assessment District is to mitigate these rising costs while ensuring that current staffing levels for the MAFD are maintained.

THE MAFD SERVES PEOPLE OUTSIDE OF THE CITY LIMITS. WHY AREN’T THEY BEING ASSESSED?
Each township/entity that is served by the MAFD is responsible for their share
of department costs. The proposed Special Assessment District would only fund the City of Milan’s share of the total cost, which estimated at approximately 46%.

WHAT ARE THE DISTRICT BOUNDARIES?
In this case, the proposed district would by bounded by the city limits as everyone in the city benefits from the services of the Milan Area Fire Department.

HOW LONG DOES IT LAST?
Once created, the Special Assessment District is maintained indefinitely, without a specified end date.

CAN THE MONEY BE SPENT ON THINGS OTHER THAN FIRE SAFETY?
The funds collected through this Special Assessment are strictly designated for purposes related to Milan Fire Department operations and fire department capital improvements. This money cannot be used for any entity other than the Milan Fire Department.

WILL THE ASSESSED AMOUNT REMAIN UNCHANGED EACH YEAR?
The Milan City Council will hold a annual public hearing to discuss the Milan Fire Department budget. The public is welcome and encouraged to participate in these discussions. After that meeting, Milan City Council will set the assessment amount for the following budget year. The total amount assessed cannot exceed the fire department budget for that fiscal year. Current budget: $423,000 or approx. 2 mills

HOW MUCH WILL IT COST ME?
The amount assessed is based on your individual property value. If your property is assessed at $300,000 then this assessment would increase your annual property taxes
by roughly $300 per year ($25/month) for every mill assessed.

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IMPACT OF SPECIAL ASSESSMENT

✔ Keeps two firefighters on duty during daytime hours so the station
can respond quickly to calls.

✔ Provides ongoing training to ensure firefighters are prepared for emergencies.

✔ Continues funding for equipment repairs, maintenance, and future replacement needs.

✔ Supports the ongoing process to upgrade the department’s medical license, enabling firefighters to administer a broader range of approved medications and utilize medical equipment during emergency situations.

✔ Helps to maintain the current level of fire and emergency medical services for City of Milan residents.

Milan Area Firefighters

08/24/2026

During the August 3rd Thursdays event, the City of Milan and the Milan Beautification Commission received checks from the Greater Milan Area Community Foundation - GMACF. These funds, sourced from the Milan Area Enrichment and Armitage Brainard funds, were designated for the purchase of a water tanker (seen in background).

Accepting on behalf of the City was council member Jesse Nie.
Accepting on behalf of the Beautification Commission was Kelsea Nie.

Representing the GMACF were Maxine Tewsley (GMACF Affiliate Director) and GMACF Fund Advisory members Cassie Prior, Kelly Faro, and David Snyder.

The flowers around town are looking beautiful thanks to this grant, the water tanker, the Milan Beautification Commission, and our amazing DPW crew.

08/24/2026

Disc golf returns to Wilson Park.

Disc Golf is back!

The basket has been relocated but the tees remain in the same locations. This has resulted in some changes in distances.

Hole A: Was 225 feet, now 229 feet
Hole B: Was 175 feet, now 130 feet
Hole C: Was 75 feet. now 71 feet
Hole D: 197 feet, distance unchanged

We hope to see you back out on the course.

08/24/2026

Important Notice: W. Main Street Closure
A section of W. Main Street will be closed on Thursday, August 27, 2026.

Detour Route:
Traffic will be redirected to Wabash, Redman, and Platt roads.

Reason for Closure:
A concentrated gas odorant will be injected into the newly installed steel gas main located beneath the railroad tracks on the south side of Main Street. This procedure is mandated by DTE Engineering prior to fully connecting the new steel to the system. During this injection, excess odorant will be burned off using a flare, which will be positioned in the middle of the street to maintain adequate distance from surrounding power lines and trees.

Daily readings will be conducted after the flare operation concludes. No traffic control / road closures will be necessary for these readings. However, once they are completed, a final flare will be required to eliminate any remaining odorant before integrating the new steel main into the system.

Estimated Date for Final Flare: September 3, 2026.

08/20/2026

Come downtown tonight for 3rd Thursdays. It's a beautiful day.

It's a beautiful day for 3rd Thursdays

LIVE MUSIC with STEALIN' COPPER
Let's turn up the volume. Stealin' Copper is a classic rock band with an unparalleled passion for music, along with a top-notch PA and lighting. They provide an unforgettable high-fidelity concert experience.

FOOD TRUCKS
•S'MAC & CHEESE: Gourmet, customizable mac and cheese.
•GHOST KITCHEN: From white coat to the streets. 25+ years of chef-driven flavor.
•D&MEEKS: Serving up bold, flavorful eats with a passion for great food and even better vibes.

DRINKS
•$5 HOUSE MARGARITAS: Pepper's Mexican Grill
•3rd THURSDAYS HAPPY HOUR: The Owl
•THE MOSA (MILAN OUTDOOR SOCIAL AREA): Peppers, Fenders, American Legion, The Owl
•DIRTY SODA STAND: Latham's Hardware

SPECIAL EVENTS, DEALS, & HAPPENINGS
•INK & DYE, JR: Temporary tattoos by Thad ($5-$10 each) and hair tinsel by Ashley ($10).
•THE ART BUS: The Art Bus is a life-size cardboard and up-cycled sculpture driven by your Milan neighbors. It is a perpetual work in progress so don't be afraid to stop by and leave your mark, doodle on it, or just take a look. Brought you by Milan Area Mutual Aid and the Milan Transportation Working Group as part of an ongoing conversation about what getting around Milan could look like for everyone.
•TOUCH-A-TRUCK presented by Milan Public Library: Sit in the driver's seat and meat the people who drive the vehicles that get the job done in our community. 5-6 PM: Quieter with no horns or sirens. 6-7 PM: You can honk horns and hear sirens.
•TWIST & SHOUT THE CLOWN and a BOUNCE HOUSE: Milan Baptist Church Activity Center on Tolan Street
•UNDER THE SEA ACTIVITY FOR KIDS: Milan Parks and Recreation will host a free activity for kids with an Under the Sea theme.
•THE STORYWALK: Take a stroll along the path encircling the playground in Wilson Park and discover the newly unveiled StoryWalk, an Eagle Scout project created by Lillian Gentry. The Milan Public Library will feature a different children's picture book refreshing the selections multiple times each year.
•MILAN FLYERS: The Milan Flyers is a group of hobbyists who enjoy building and flying Radio Controlled Aircraft. They will be flying over and landing/taking off from Ford Lake. Come witness their skill and learn more about how you can be part of the fun.
•GMACF CHECK PRESENTATION: 6 PM on Tolan Street behind Tolan Square: The GMACF will present the City of Milan and Milan Beautification Commission with a check for a grant they were awarded to purchase a water tanker.
•BACKSTREET CRUIZERS LAKESIDE CAR CRUIZE: The Backstreet Cruizers weekly car show is so much fun. Be sure to visit them in Wilson Park to see classic cars. Fun for all ages.
•CRAFT FOR KIDS presented by National Heritage Academies: National Heritage Academies will offer a free craft for kids. Visit them and join in the creativity in Wilson Park
•DIRTY SODAS & SIDEWALK SALE: Order a "dirty soda" from the stand in front of the hardware and shop the sidewalk clearance sale.

IN THE MARKET PLACE
•Apple & Thistle: Original and reproduction linocut prints
•The Bridge: Members of The Bridge Church will offer a fun activity
•Caballero Financial Advisors: Beverages, ice cream, balloons
•Cassidy Jenkins Art and The Grief Letters: Floral and abstract originals and prints and a monthly mail club subscription created for those who have experienced grief in any form.
•Cierra Cote Paintings: Original framed oil paintings and prints.
•Corn to be Wild: Fresh popped happiness: hand popped kettle corn in sweet and salty flavors
•Code Red Robotics: Meet the robot and learn about being part of FIRST Robotics Programs at Milan Area Schools.
•Committee to Re-elect Thomas Faro: Meet Milan Area School Board candidate Tom Faro who is seeking reelection.
•Earrings and More by Sue: Handcrafted jewelry
•Em's Craft Corner: Scrubbies and bookmarks
•H&E Creations: 3D printed items, hair glitter, Lego Croc charms
•Happy Yarn: Crocheted items MHS rising junior Laya Lusher. Be sure to check out the Community Member Spotlight in the most recent edition of The Connection to learn more about Laya.
•Hair Tinsel with Ava: Hair tinsel and feathers
•Kinzie's Curious Library: Bone art, book-themed art, polymer clay jewelry, and more.
•Loop & Love: Crochet plushies/stuffed animals and more.
•Little Free's Bees: Pure local honey, beeswax, season jams & jellies, lip balms, molded candles, reusable food wraps, and more.
•Milan Area Indivisible: Voter registration and voter guides
•Milan Baptist Church: Learn about and sign up for Awana
•Milan Mom Co.: The Milan chapter of Milan Mom Co. seeks to create a hospitable community for all moms.
•Milan Swim Club: Info about lessons, club level meets, and competitive USA Travel Teams.
•Moore Artwork & Funko: Artwork and Funko Pops
•Shannon Dare Wayne: Shannon Dare Wayne for State Representative

08/20/2026

Property taxes are due on August 31, 2026.

If you need a copy of your tax bill or have questions call City Hall at (734) 439.1501.

For more info about property taxes or to pay online visit: https://www.milanmi.gov/city_hall/departments/finance/property_taxes.php

08/19/2026

The City of Milan was awarded a $35K planning assistance grant from SEMCOG, Southeast Michigan Council of Governments for a Main Street corridor study.

Read More: https://cms7.revize.com/revize/milan/news_detail_T3_R106.php

08/17/2026

Did you see the Model T Fords in Wilson Park on Saturday?

It was part of the annual Michigan Jamboree, which has happened annually in Michigan since 1982.

We were excited to host them for a stop in Milan on this year's Jamboree.

08/12/2026

Recently multiple companies have begun work installing fiber internet in our community. For Milan residents, this means more options for high-speed fiber internet, but it also leads to many contractors working in areas already disturbed by other recent projects.

Public Act 48 of 2002—known as the METRO Act—was created to help expand telecommunications services across Michigan, while giving municipalities limited oversight. Telecommunications companies must obtain permits from local governments, and while cities can require certain protections, their authority is restricted.

While the City of Milan has minimal oversight, residents who encounter issues with contractors are encouraged to reach out to City Hall at 734.439.1501 or by using the online Citizen Request Form: https://www.milanmi.gov/contact_us/contact_us.php

We will do our utmost to relay your concerns to the appropriate parties.

For more details, please read the article available on our website and in the latest edition of The Connection by clicking on the following link: https://cms7.revize.com/revize/milan/news_detail_T3_R105.php

08/04/2026

Today is Election Day.

Polls are open from 7a-8p at the Riverbank Center (45 Neckel Court)

Absentee ballots must be submitted at City Hall (147 Wabash Street) by 8 PM on Election Day. You can either drop them off at the drop box at City Hall or deliver them in person.

It's not too late to register to vote. You can do so at City Hall up until 8 PM. You must present a photo ID and proof of residency.

Reminder that it is a straight ticket vote. You have to vote one party only on this ballot.