Patricia Capek, mayor pro tem on the Cedar Springs City Council, received a special award of merit from the Michigan Municipal League at their annual convention last week.

The award recognizes outstanding leadership and service to the League and municipal government.

Capek has been a resident of Cedar Springs since 1975. She is currently serving her 4th term on the Cedar Springs City Council, where she held the position of Mayor Pro-Tem on two separate occasions. She currently serves on the Cedar Springs Public Library Construction Committee and serves on the MML Elected Officials Academy Board and is a past president of MML Region III.

According to the MML, Pat has been a tireless supporter of the League since 1995. It was noted in the awards program that “She not only received the highest Elected Officials Academy award, the Level III Governance Award, but she also served as EOA board president in 2007-08. She has been and continues to be a vocal cheerleader for continuing education and the EOA program.”

City Manager Christine Burns was pleased to see her honored. “If people ask her to serve on a committee, she does. And she gives 110 percent. She’s very visible, everyone knows her. It’s a pretty cool thing.”

Capek was humble about it. “Anytime anyone gets recognized, it’s a reflection on the community, and I am privileged to be part of it,” she said.