For some time now, a group of local officials in the Grand Valley Area
have been meeting regularly to promote cooperation between and among local
units of government, especially in the area of land use and land transfers.
This group, established by GVMC as
the City-Township Cooperation Committee, was given the initial task of
seeking local solutions to the problems of annexation. The group examined
a variety of issues dealing with this problem and, as a result, published
a set of "Cooperation Principles."
These principles were adopted by GVMC as official policy in December of
1996 and continue to serve as a guideline for local government cooperation.
During 1998 the Committee took additional
time to further examine the issues of annexation and detachment, as well
as other forms of land transfers, and concluded that a model set of standards
and methodologies should be adopted. The Committee adopted and published
another set of principles, entitled "Land
Transfers: Recommended Procedures for Local Units." This document
was also adopted by GVMC as official policy in January, 1999. The creation
and adoption of these policy statements speaks well of the high level
of cooperation among local officials in the Grand Valley area. Not only
will these policies guide local decision makers in this area but should
serve as models for officials across the State of Michigan.
In 2004 the City-Township Cooperation name was change to Regional Cooperation Committee.
