City Manager

Responding to a report published by ELi, on Tuesday City Council discussed continuing to allow City employees to invest their own money in the East Lansing pension system through Council-approved purchases of “pension service credits.”

East Lansing has been notified by the Michigan Treasury Department that the City’s public employee pension plan "has triggered a preliminary review of underfunded status" by the State. ELi's Chris Root reports.

The attorney representing workers suing the City of East Lansing over alleged exposure to mercury and asbestos at the wastewater treatment plant says the City Manager has misrepresented key facts in the case. ELi's Alice Dreger reports.

City Council has begun digging into various tax options as it tries to manage East Lansing's financial problems. Citizens have been weighing in with their thoughts, too. ELi's Chris Root reports.

ELi finds that East Lansing has now spent $200,000 fighting a lawsuit brought by City workers alleging that they “were intentionally and unnecessarily exposed to mercury and asbestos” at the wastewater treatment plant. ELi's Alice Dreger reports.

At last night's meeting, City Council formally apologized for East Lansing's history of racist housing practices and resolved to start a community dialogue. It all started with one ELHS freshman. ELi's Jessy Gregg reports.

East Lansing's City Council will hold a public hearing on five draft tax proposals this Tuesday night. ELi's Chris Root explains why Council is considering these proposals, what the process will be, and how you can participate.

Given East Lansing's pension obligations, even if City Council authorizes major cuts in personnel and services, the City's fund balance will soon sink to levels “at which the State would be concerned.” ELi's Alice Dreger and Chris Root report.

City Manager George Lahanas told Council this week that he is having his staff produce weekly emailed newsletters. He said that there is otherwise little opportunity for citizens to get news about the City.

East Lansing's government now publicly admits violating federal conflict-of-interest rules in a matter involving the City Attorney. But it is still resisting releasing related government communications. ELi's Alice Dreger reports.

A special investigation by ELi suggests that, at best, recent City Council approvals of special pension credit purchases will add uncertainty to the City’s legacy debt. At worst, they may add to the City’s financial load. ELi's Alice Dreger reports.

Using the Freedom of Information Act, ELi finds that almost $700,000 in future local taxes from the Center City District project have been earmarked to pay the developer’s attorneys, the developer’s financial advisors, and the developer’s father’s company. What does Council say?

In the aftermath of settlement of a False Claims Act suit, the City of East Lansing is refusing to release official government communications requested under the Freedom of Information Act. We spoke to the Reporters’ Committee for Freedom of the Press about this.

What did citizens tell Council at the last public-input session on the City's financial problems? ELi's Chris Root reports, and explains how you can still weigh in.

With Marie Wicks leaving the City for a new job, Jennifer Schuster has been named the new City Clerk for East Lansing. ELi's Rosalind Arch reports.