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Parking / Tickets

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1. Can I pay my City of Midland parking ticket online?

Yes, visit this site to pay by credit card online. A $3.95 convenience fee is charged for online payments. Payments may also be made in person (by cash, check or credit card) at the City Treasurer’s Office, or by mail (in check form only), or you can put your payment in our night deposit box which is located inside the main entrance doors at the address below. Payments can be mailed to: City Treasurer’s Office 333 W. Ellsworth St. Midland, MI 48640

2. Why did I receive a ticket for parking on a City street during the night?

Parking on City streets between the hours of 3 - 6 a.m. is prohibited, according to Chapter 24, Article II, Section 24-13, Sub-Section 8.28 of the City’s Code of Ordinances. The Midland Police Department is responsible for enforcing this ordinance.

3. Where do I find signs indicating parking on City streets between the hours of 3 - 6 a.m. is prohibited?

Signs are posted near the City limits at all the major entrances to the City.

4. Can I pay my City of Midland parking ticket online?

Yes, visit this site to pay by credit card online. A $3.95 convenience fee is charged for online payments. Payments may also be made in person (by cash, check or credit card) at the City Treasurer’s Office, or by mail (in check form only), or you can put your payment in our night deposit box which is located inside the main entrance doors at the address below. Payments can be mailed to: City Treasurer’s Office 333 W. Ellsworth St. Midland, MI 48640

5. What is the charge for a late parking ticket payment?

The fine for a City of Midland-issued parking ticket doubles if not paid within 7 calendar days of the issuance of the ticket.

6. What is the procedure for disputing a parking ticket?

You may file a parking ticket appeal if you want to deny responsibility for the ticket by visiting this site

7. May I obtain a parking pass to temporarily park 3am-6am on a city street?

Yes. Parking passes are available from the police department at the Law Enforcement Center (M-F, 8-5). These are temporary passes granted for limited amounts of time. For example: out of town guests, family funeral, driveway construction.

8. What is the criteria for a successful parking ticket appeal?

Successful:
Defective or inoperable parking meter
Improper or missing sign (Signs prohibiting parking 3am-6am on city streets are posted at all major City entrances. By state law signs are not required to be posted on each street MCL 257-606)
Stolen vehicle
Parking violation notice is erroneous or incomplete
Material facts not known at the time of the citation. Example: If you were notified by the city to park overnight on another street due to road construction
Unsuccessful:
There was no sign to prohibit 3-6am parking - State law does not require signs to be posted on each street MCF257.606
I was not aware of the ordinance
Failure to display parking permit
Car was parked downtown overnight contrary to the ordinance

9. Where is parking available to attend a Great Lakes Loons baseball game?

Information about parking for Great Lakes Loons games may be found online.

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Paying Your Tax Bill

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1. What are the payment options for City of Midland property taxes?

There are several payment options available. You can pay by:

• Check
• 
  
  • Make it payable to City of Midland
• Cash
• Money Order
• Auto-Pay automatic withdrawal of funds
• NO CREDIT CARDS ARE ACCEPTED FOR PROPERTY TAX PAYMENTS

Checks, cash, and/or money orders can be mailed to:

City of Midland

P.O. Box 1647

Midland, MI  48641-1647

They can also be paid in person at the:

Treasurer's Office

City Hall

333 W. Ellsworth St.

Midland, MI 48640

After-hours payments may be made at the night deposit box located inside Midland City Hall's main doors, which are between the Midland County Services Building and City Hall.

2. From year to year, when are taxes due?

Summer taxes are due and payable from July 1 - September 15 of each year without penalty. After September 15, a 4% penalty is added to the unpaid balance of your tax bill. Winter taxes are due and payable from December 1 of one year to February 14 of the following year without penalty. After February 14, a 4% penalty is added to the unpaid balance. More details on the tax collection process are available online.

3. Do you accept payments that are postmarked with the payment due date?

Yes, for property taxes and City of Midland parking ticket payments only. The postmark must be legible and dated by the due date. Postmarks are accepted for up to 7 calendar days after the due date.

4. Do you accept tax payments before July 1 or December 1, and/or can they be partial tax payments?

Payments cannot be made before July 1 for summer tax bills or December 1 for winter tax bills. If you would like to make a partial payment, these are acceptable only after July 1 for summer tax bills and after December 1 for winter bills.

5. What are the charges for late tax payments?

Summer taxes that are not paid or postmarked by September 15 are charged a 1-time 4% penalty on the unpaid balance. No additional penalties will accrue until March 1, when the delinquent real property taxes are turned over to Midland County. Winter taxes that are not paid or postmarked by February 14 are charged a 1-time 4% penalty on the unpaid balance.

On March 1, all delinquent real property taxes are turned over to the Midland County Treasurer. The City Treasurer’s Office continues to collect all delinquent personal property taxes and buildings on leased land taxes, and, beginning March 1, an additional 1% per month interest is charged on the unpaid base tax.

6. Where do I pay delinquent property taxes?

Real Property Taxes

• July 1 - February 28
• Current year taxes are paid at the City of Midland Treasurer's Office at Midland City Hall
• Beginning March 1 of each year, delinquent taxes are paid at the Midland County Treasurer's Office in the County Services Building

Personal Property Taxes and Buildings on Leased Land Taxes

• July 1 - February 28
• Payments for current and delinquent personal property taxes are paid to the City of Midland Treasurer's Office at Midland City Hall

7. What is the Auto-Pay automatic withdrawal program?

The City offers the Auto-Pay program, which allows you to have the amount of your taxes automatically withdrawn from the bank account of your choosing on the date they are due. This service ends the hassle of having to write a check, use your credit or debit card, and/or come to Midland City Hall to pay your tax bill. More information regarding the Auto-Pay Automatic Funds Withdrawal Program is available online.

8. Can I use Auto-Pay to automatically pay my winter taxes on December 31st?

No. Through the Auto-Pay program, funds are withdrawn from your bank account on the date taxes are due. For example, in the case of  2017 winter taxes, that date would have been February 14, 2017.

If you would like to make a full payment at any time after your bill is issued, you are welcome to do so at the Treasurer’s Office at Midland City Hall. If a full payment has been made and you are signed up for the Auto-Pay program, no funds will be drawn from your bank account on the tax payment due date.

9. What types of payments can be made online?

At this time, only water bill payments may be made online.

TAX BILLS CANNOT BE PAID ONLINE WITH A CREDIT CARD

10. I live in one of the townships surrounding Midland. Where do I pay my taxes?

Contact the Midland County Treasurer at 989-832-6850 to find out.

11. Where do I purchase dog licenses?

Contact the Midland County Treasurer’s Office at 989-832-6850.

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Water Division

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1. Who do I call to report a water main break or other potential water system-related emergency?

The City of Midland Water Treatment Plant responds to emergencies related to the City's water system (such as water main breaks) 24 hours a day. If you have a water system emergency, please call the Water Plant at 989-837-3515.

2. What if I have special health needs?

Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than the general population. Immuno-compromised persons, such as persons with cancer undergoing chemotherapy, persons who have undergone organ transplants, people with HIV / AIDS or other immune system disorders, some elderly and infants can be particularly at risk from infections. These people should seek advice about drinking water from their health care providers. Environmental Protection Agency / Centers for Disease Control guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by Cryptosporidium and other microbial contaminants are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline 800-426-4791 or by sending them an email.

3. What is the hardness level of Midland's water?

Midland’s drinking water is moderately hard with an average hardness of 104 (ppm as CaCO3). This level of hardness is approximately six grains per gallon.

4. What is the pH of Midland's water?

The average pH of water in Midland is 8.2.

5. Is it safe to drink water that contains chlorine?

Yes. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) have established that it is safe to drink water with chlorine at a level established to protect the water as it moves through the water mains and out the tap.

6. How much fluoride is in Midland's drinking water?

Approximately 0.7 ppm of fluoride is contained in Midland’s water.

7. What are the white particles coming from my tap?

The white particles are most likely either calcium carbonate deposits (scale) or the result of a deteriorating hot water heater plastic “dip tube”. Contact the Midland Water Treatment Plant at 989-837-3341 for more information.

8. Do I need to drink bottled water?

It is unnecessary for our customers to go to the extra expense of buying bottled water in order to have safe drinking water. Bottled water costs more than $1 a gallon, and water from a Midland tap costs less than a tenth of a cent per gallon. In addition, the public health standards for water from municipal water supplies are higher than those for bottled water.

9. How much sodium is in our water?

Water from the Midland Water Treatment Plant has an average of 5 milligrams of sodium per liter. Midland's water is very low in sodium. Individuals who use water softeners actually add sodium in the process to remove hard-water minerals.

10. What causes discolored water?

Discolored water is often the result of rusting galvanized pipe in home plumbing systems. Normally, the water clears after running a bit. Sometimes, water mains may become scoured from firefighting activities or a main break. Iron causes the discoloration; it is not a health risk.

11. Do I need to use a "treatment" device in my home or business?

The water we deliver to our customers is safe to drink as determined by EPA and MDEQ standards. In-home “treatment” systems may cost several hundred dollars plus the cost of frequent filter changes. The extra expense is unnecessary as a matter of safety. If our customers wish to install filtration equipment, it is a matter of personal preference.

We encourage those who choose to use on-site equipment to change the filter as often as the manufacturer recommends, because the filters are an excellent breeding ground for bacteria. People with specific health concerns may wish to seek advice about drinking water from their health care providers.

12. How much water does the average person use at home per day?

Estimates vary, but each person uses about 80-100 gallons of water per day. The largest use of household water is to flush the toilet. Taking showers and baths also accounts for a large percentage of household use of City water.

13. Does a little leak in my house really waste water?

It’s not the little leak that wastes water – it is the little leak that keeps on leaking that wastes water. And, the fact that the leak is so little means that maybe it is being ignored.

How can a little leak turn into a big waste? Many toilets have a constant leak – somewhere around 22 gallons per day. This translates into about 8,000 gallons per year of wasted water – water that could be saved. Or think of a leaky water line coming into your house. If it leaks 1 gallon of water every 10 minutes, that means that you are losing (and paying for) 144 gallons per day, or 52,560 gallons per year.

14. How do I check for and identify leaks?

Areas that might be using water continually because of a leak are as follows:

• toilets
• drippy faucets
• clothes washers
• dishwashers
• some humidifiers
• some disposals
• water evaporator-type air conditioners
• lawn sprinkling systems
• hoses left on and connected to the sill cock

To test toilets for leaks first remove tank-mounted cleaners and flush until all coloring is gone from inside the tank and bowl or basin of the toilet. Then add 40 to 50 drops of food coloring (blue, red or green) to a glass of warm water, and then carefully pour it into the tank, stirring it to mix the food coloring throughout the tank. Check the toilet bowl periodically over the next two hours. Food coloring in the bowl indicates a leak.


Another way to check for water leaks is to read the water meter in your home and write down the numbers, including the number to which the needle is pointing. After six to eight hours of not using any water in the house, read the water meter again and compare the numbers to the original reading from the beginning of the test. If the needle has moved or any of the readings have changed, that means that water has passed through the meter even though no water faucets were turned on or toilets flushed, etc., during that time. In this case, a change in the needle's position on the meter indicates a leak or open valve somewhere in the home.

15. The water is not flowing properly to my home. Who should I call at the Water Department to get help?

Contact Water Distribution at 989-837-6950 with any questions about the water flow to your home.

16. Why is there a black ring inside my toilet bowl?

There is no relation between the water being delivered to your household and the black ring that occasionally appears in your toilet bowl. This is actually mildew that forms due to room temperature, facility usage and lighting. It is suggested that you use a chlorine-based bowl cleaner plus more ventilation during showers to help reduce this problem.

17. Can I pay my water / sewer bill over the Internet?

Yes. Use the City's Online Water / Sewer Bill Payment website to pay using select credit or debit cards.

18. What other options are available for paying my water / sewer bill?

City water customers can pay by mail or in person at the Treasurer's Office or via the drop box if after business hours:
Midland City Hall
333 W. Ellsworth St.
1st Floor
Midland, MI 48640

Another payment option is through the Auto-Pay - Automatic Funds Withdrawal Program. This is a free electronic funds transfer program that provides a secure, reliable way to pay your water / sewer bill from the checking or savings account of your choosing.

You may also pay at any Midland Chemical Bank branch if paying by the due date.

19. Where does our water come from?

Midland has received its source water supply from Lake Huron since 1948. View the City's water page to find out more about where the City's water supply comes from.

20. What is the Saginaw-Midland Municipal Water Supply Corporation?

The Saginaw-Midland Municipal Water Supply Corporation is a cooperative venture between the cities of Saginaw and Midland that brings Lake Huron water to both communities via 65 miles of underground infrastructure.