Sterling Heights: Michigan Municipal League Honors Councilwoman Barbara Ziarko with Sinclair Service Award
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~ Sterling Heights, MI- Former League Board of Trustees President and current Sterling Heights Councilmember Barbara Ziarko was honored with the prestigious Jim Sinclair Exceptional Service Award on September 10th. The award was presented to her during the League's Board of Trustees Dinner at the 2024 Convention on Mackinac Island.

The Jim Sinclair Exceptional Service Award was established in memory of Rogers City Councilmember Jim Sinclair, who was a strong advocate for local government and believed in the importance of education and training for elected officials. This award serves as a tribute to his legacy of dedication, passion, and commitment to the League and its mission.

Dan Gilmartin, Executive Director and CEO of the League, praised Ziarko for her outstanding service to her community and beyond. He stated, "Barb continues to exemplify what it means to be a public servant. We are grateful for her unwavering commitment to serving Michigan's communities and are honored to present her with this well-deserved recognition." Gilmartin also had the privilege of working closely with Ziarko during her time as League President. He commended her for leading by example and encouraging others to continue their learning through various training programs such as the League's Elected Officials Academy and Women's Elected Leadership Intensive.

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Ziarko has been a dedicated member of Sterling Heights City Council since 2001, where she has served in various capacities. She is a graduate of both the civilian police and fire academies and is an active member of the Sterling Heights Community Emergency Response Team (CERT). In addition, she volunteers for several organizations such as Friends of the Sterling Heights Public Library, The Heat and Warmth Fund (THAW), Pope Francis Center in Detroit, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, and serves as co-coordinator for Macomb County Rotating Emergency Shelter Team at St. Blasée Catholic Community. She is also a member of Michigan Women in Municipal Government and Michigan Black Caucus of Local Elected Officials.

Ziarko's involvement with the League dates back to 2000, and she has held various positions within the organization, including vice chair for the Legislative and Urban Affairs Committee, board member for the Elected Officials Academy, member of the Public Safety and Legislative Governance Committees, and chairperson for Region I. In 2019, she was elected to the League Board of Trustees for a three-year term and later served as League President from 2021-2023. She has been a strong advocate for important causes such as changes to revenue sharing, promoting pattern book home developments, and developing legislation for Ground Emergency Medical Transport (GEMT).

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As a firm believer in the council-manager form of government, Ziarko has been a vocal supporter of this model across the state. She has also championed professional development and training for all members of local government, including boards and commissions. Ziarko believes that collaboration is key to achieving prosperity and has led Sterling Heights in joining the National League of Cities to learn from other communities nationwide. She emphasizes the importance of working together with stakeholders at all levels, including federal, state, county, as well as leaders from public and private entities.

Expressing her gratitude for receiving this award, Ziarko stated, "Being recognized for something you love doing is an unexpected honor. Serving others brings great personal rewards as you learn and receive more than you ever give. Joining in the company of so many others who have received the Jim Sinclair Award is humbling. My plan for the future is to continue to assist wherever possible to enrich our communities."

The Jim Sinclair Exceptional Service Award was first presented in 2008 and has since been awarded to 17 individuals including Ziarko. More information about this award can be found on their website along with a list of previous recipients.

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