Milan council votes to move city elections from odd years to even years after public hearing

The Milan City Council on Oct. 21 approved a resolution to change city elections from the current odd-year schedule to even years, saying the shift could reduce election costs and increase voter turnout.

The council adopted Resolution 2025-14 on a motion by Councilmember Thompson, seconded by Councilmember Stafford. The roll call vote was Ayes — Kerkes, Kofflin, Thompson, Wayne and Mayor Kolar; Nay — Snyder. The motion carried.

City Clerk Lavonna Wenzel and Election Specialist Trudeau presented data comparing voter turnout and election expenses in odd- versus even-year cycles and cited Michigan Election Law MCL 168.642(4) as the statutory authority that allows local councils to vote by resolution to change their election schedule. The council opened a public hearing on the proposal at 7:05 p.m.; dozens of residents and other participants spoke during the hearing, including Laura Russeau, Rod Hill, Evelyn Corbin and others listed in the meeting record. The transcript records who spoke but does not provide full verbatim remarks in each case.

The resolution does not specify an effective date in the meeting transcript. The council did not record further implementation steps in the public minutes presented at the meeting; any timetable for the transition to even-year elections was not specified in the hearing record.

Next steps: the record shows the resolution passed; administrative follow-up and any scheduling adjustments will be handled by the city clerk and staff, who were directed to implement the council's decision as required by statute and local practice.