PRESS RELEASE
Mayor Michael P. Armitage has announced that he will seek re-election this year. “I’m really excited about all of the progress currently being made and the positive momentum we have established moving this community forward,” he said.
Mayor Armitage points out several successes that have taken place over the last sixteen months that he seeks to build upon. “We have applied for and been awarded nearly a million dollars in grant funds over the last year for projects that range from park improvements to local road repairs.” These grants have improved the accessibility of Nature Park, repaired the South Platt Road bridge, planted trees in neighborhoods, and added an expired prescription drug drop box at the police station. Grants have also been awarded and will assist the community this year with the building of the Wilson Park Pavilion, reconstruction of North Street, installation of new flower planters, benches and trash receptacles downtown, and the rebuilding of the South Platt/Redman Road intersection. Additional funding has been approved for the reconstruction of Lewis Avenue in 2017. Some of these grants are not conventional. “We are one of only a small handful of cities that have received some of these grants and I will continue searching and fighting for future opportunities to take advantage of everything we can to improve Milan,” Mayor Armitage said.
Under the mayor’s leadership, the city has also facilitated economic development activity, including working with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation to administer state funds for 50 new manufacturing jobs in the city. The city is also administering state funding for the Downtown Redevelopment Project. “Bringing business and jobs to the city is a top priority,” according to Mayor Armitage. In addition to these programs, Mayor Armitage introduced the Main Street Program that has been adopted and embraced. “There are a lot of things currently in motion to support our current businesses and attract new investments. Last year alone, we welcomed eleven new businesses into the city and I see that trend continuing.” Communication efforts have also increased, including the embrace of social media, emergency alerts through Nixle, and open communication with the press.
There is still work to be done and Mayor Armitage is prepared to continue this effort during his second term. “We have to keep in mind that the former Ford plant was our largest employer, tax payer, and water user and it now sits vacant .” Mayor Armitage personally meets regularly with Ford Motor Company who currently owns the property and hopes to see it re-developed or re-purposed in the future. “The status of that plant, coupled with the effects of the national economy, dealt us a significant blow.” There has been a lot of hard work that has gone into putting the city in the better financial condition that it is in today. “I’m very happy that we were just able to ‘refinance’ our wastewater treatment plant debt, which will result in $1 million in savings over the next ten years.”
Mayor Armitage wants to build on the positive momentum. “I feel like we are just getting started. There is a lot to learn in this position, but I feel a lot of positive changes have occurred.” He wants to focus his second term on attracting business, improving future visioning and budgeting, as well as maintaining costs of services. “The foundation is being laid through current efforts that will yield positive results.” Mayor Armitage believes that the momentum is building, and looks forward to its continuation in a second term. “We are seeing a lot of great things happening in Milan.”
Mayor Armitage feels a deep personal connection to the city. “I want to continue giving back to a city that has given so much to me and my family.” Family life is important to Mayor Armitage. He was married to Colleen in 2009 and has two children, a 3 year old son, Landon and a 1 year old daughter, Reagan. “I love this community and it is an honor and lifelong dream to serve as Mayor,” he said.
Mayor Armitage, a lifelong resident, took office as mayor in January 2014. Before being elected mayor, he served the city as an elected official for six and a half years on the City Council. Prior to that Michael Armitage was a city employee and Vice Chairman of the Planning Commission. He has earned a Graduate Certificate in Public Management and a Bachelor of Public Safety Administration from Eastern Michigan University. He is also a graduate of the prestigious Michigan Political Leadership Program at Michigan State University.
Michael Armitage is very active in the community and serves on the Executive Board of the Greater Milan Area Community Foundation, the Downtown Development Authority, and the 911 Wellness Foundation. He is Treasurer of Moving Milan Forward, and is active in the Immaculate Conception Church in Milan. He also serves as Chair of the Milan Area Fire Department Executive Board and is Secretary/Treasurer of the Washtenaw Area Transportation Study where he represents the City of Milan.