Eastpointe Showcased in Statewide Community Excellence Award Competition

LANSING, Michigan – The city of Eastpointe was among 27 communities showcased on April 9 at the 2013 Michigan Municipal League Community Excellence Award (CEA) competition during the League’s 2013 Capital Conference in Lansing. 

Eastpointe’s Service Line Affordable Protection Program (SLAPP) was among seven presentations at the League’s Region 1 Roundtable, which includes all communities in the southeastern portion of the lower peninsula. The winning Region 1 entry was the Shiawassee River Heritage Water Trail “Come Paddle With Us” joint submission by the communities of Fenton, Holly and Linden. The other Region 1 nominations were Grosse Pointe’s Wellness Center and Patient Facility; New Baltimore’s “Make New Baltimore Your Destination”, Plymouth’s Northville-Plymouth Fire Agreement, Rochester’s Main Street Makeover and Westland’s Core Shopping/Dining District.

Eastpointe’s SLAPP program is a type of an insurance program by Eastpointe residents for the residents. The program is to cover all of the costs of replacing both water and sewer laterals for the monthly low charge of $4. The community has more than 2,500 participants out of an eligible group of probably 8,000 potential users. The majority of Eastpointe homes (and their water and sewer connections to the city lines) are 50 to 90 years old. Replacement is the resident’s financial responsibility, which is often an unexpected cost many can't afford. This plan provides reliable contractors, covers all the costs of replacing the lateral connections for that small $4 monthly charge, plus reconstruction of city property as needed.

“This is a win-win for the city as sewer collapse often causes street collapse, and the resident no longer has a huge unexpected charge of replacing pipes that go under the streets, plus the repairs to the city property as needed,” said Eastpointe Mayor Suzanne Pixley.

The 27 communities participating in this year’s CEA competition are Region 1 (southeast Michigan): Eastpointe, Linden/Fenton/Holly; Grosse Pointe, New Baltimore, Plymouth, Rochester, and Westland; Region 2 (central and southwest Michigan): Albion, Baroda/Bridgman/Berrien Springs, South Haven and St. Joseph; Region 3 (central-west Michigan): Belding and Whitehall; Region 4 (mid-Michigan): DeWitt, Ithaca and Mt. Pleasant; Region 5 (the thumb): Harbor Beach, Imlay City and Lexington; Region 6 (northern portion of the lower peninsula): Rogers City; and Region 7 (upper peninsula): Ironwood, Ontonagon, and Sault Ste. Marie. The winners from each region will now go on to compete for the statewide CEA title during the League’s Annual Convention September 18-20 in Detroit. The seven regional winners are Linden/Fenton/Holly, St. Joseph, Belding, DeWitt, Imlay City, Rogers City, and Ironwood.

The CEA program, affectionately called “The Race for the Cup,” was started by the League in 2007 to recognize innovative solutions taking place in Michigan’s communities.

For additional details contact Matt Bach, director of media relations for the Michigan Municipal League, at (734) 669-6317 or mbach@mml.org.

The Michigan Municipal League advocates on behalf of its member communities in Lansing, Washington D.C., and the courts; provides educational opportunities for elected and appointed municipal officials; and assists municipal leaders in administering services to their communities through League programs and services.