The Michigan Municipal League will present East Lansing officials with a pair of awards today, recognizing them for excellence in governmental achievement.

East Lansing will receive the Superior Innovation Award for its Health Care Task Force. The task force helped control increasing healthcare costs among the city's work force.

"It is a very competitive award given by an association of all of the townships and municipalities in the state," said Jean Golden, the deputy city manager and task force facilitator.

From July 1999 to July 2000, the city's annual health costs rose from $1.4 million to $2.6 million. In response, the task force was established in October 2001 to help control costs. The 16-person task force includes representatives from 11 unions, three department directors and non-union employees from middle and upper management.

In its first year, recommendations made by the task force resulted in decreasing the city's total healthcare costs by $287,000. One recommendation urged employees to ask their doctors to prescribe generic drugs rather than more expensive brand-name medications.

Golden said that although city employees are satisfied with the task force's results, the battle against rising healthcare costs is an arduous one.

"Studies have shown that employers need to continually look at this issue," Golden said. "We are all committed to meet at a regular basis and keep chipping away at this problem."

East Lansing Mayor Mark Meadows will accept the award today at the 20th Annual Achievement Award Breakfast in Dearborn.

East Lansing City Attorney Dennis McGinty will receive the William L. Steude Ethics and Civility Award. The award is given to individuals for significant achievement in the field of local government ethics and civility.

McGinty has served as city attorney since 1969. He also has served as the city attorney for Mason since 1975.

McGinty's achievements include removing illegal billboards, restricting signs in the city and rental licensing of single-family homes.

This is the first year the award has been given to an attorney.

"He is defined as 'grace under pressure,'" said attorney Tom Hitch, McGinty's law partner of 26 years. "There is no more deserving of a person."

McGinty will be honored with the award at the Michigan Municipal League's Annual Conference tonight at the Marriott in Detroit's Renaissance Center.