For Immediate Release | Official Press Release

PRESS RELEASE 
OFFICE OF THE MAYOR
 
36300 Warren Road | Westland, Michigan | 48185
Office 734.467.3200 | Fax 724.721.2310

WWW.CITYOFWESTLAND.COM

Westland City Council Confirms Two Appointments


Westland, MI -  On Monday, September 18 at the Westland City Council meeting, the council approved the Mayor William R. Wild's appointments of Michael Williams to the Planning commission and Nancy Leonard to the Tax Increment Finance Authority (TIFA).  

The Planning Commission is a nine-member board appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by City Council.   The Planning Commission reviews and recommends to City Council all applications for amendments to the Zoning Ordinance or zoning map, applications for special land uses, site plan approvals and planned unit developments.  Planning Commission meetings are scheduled for the first Tuesday of the month at 7:30 p.m. in City Council Chambers.

Westland resident Michael Williams is the President and CEO of Orchards Children's Services, Michigan's largest foster care and adoption agency.   WIlliams, the former Mayor of Albion, Michigan, has a extensive educational background including a Masters Degree in Guidance and Counseling, a program at Harvard University on strategic perspectives in non-profit management and a neighborhood builders program for leadership.  Williams is filling an unexpired term on the Planning Commission and his term will expire May 18, 2018.



The Tax Increment Finance Authority (TIFA)  is a nine-member board that is appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by City Council.  Under the supervision and control of the EDC this authority implements an infrastructure improvement plan within a specified district. Improvements to date include construction of the William P. Faust Public Library, new Wesltand City Hall and Fire Station #1.  Regularly scheduled board meetings take place the second Tuesday of every other month at 8:00 a.m. at City Hall.

Nancy Leonhard has lived in Westland for over 20 years and has been a Westland business owner since 2006.  Leonhard owns and operates Salon 210, located inside the Westland Shopping Center.  Salon 210 was voted "Best Hair Salon" by "Vote for the Best" in Metro Detroit.  Leonhard's has been appointed to TIFA for a four year term, set to expire September 18, 2021.  




"These new members bring with them a wealth of experience with business backgrounds along with a desire to serve the community in which they live," commented Mayor Wild.

For more information, contact Aubrey Berman, Administrative Secretary, at
734-467-3200
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Westland, Michigan is the state's 10th largest municipality, with a population of over 84,000 people who exhibit a great deal of pride in their All-American City.  Westland has a thriving business community along with beautiful residential areas.  The citizens enjoy a wide array of amenities and a quality of life that is second to none.

 
In 2014, Westland was rated as one of 24/7 Wall Street's America's Best 50 Cities to Live, offering residents and visitors an ideal blend of single-family affordable homes, apartments and condominiums, great schools, and access to numerous outdoor activities.  Public safety is delivered by full-service, professional law enforcement and firefighting personnel. Westland Police Department, whose motto is protect and serve, provides emergency dispatch services to four cities and over 100,000 residents; the Western Wayne Fire Association firefighters collaboratively serving the Cities of Wayne and Westland are licensed paramedics who responded to over 13,000 calls for service last year, about 85% being medical based.  They never forget their mission of preserving life and property.

 
Westland is well-known as the premier destination for shopping and dining in Wayne County with hundreds of shops and restaurants anchored by the Westland Shopping Center, one of the country's original four regional malls.

 
Infinite opportunities are available in Westland for the recreation aficionado including, more than 40 parks and 1,500 acres of trails, a 9-hole golf course, hockey arena, athletic fields, playscapes, a Farmers and Artisans Market and more.  One of Michigan's most environmentally friendly cities, Westland has a progressive curbside recycling program with one of the highest participation rates in the nation and the City is raising the bar for cultural experiences with the placement of public art throughout the City.

 
The City is served by two public school districts; Wayne-Westland Community Schools serving 12,000 youth was recently named one of the Best Schools in Michigan by WXYZ-TV and is the proud recipient of 14 Golden Apple and two Michigan Blue Ribbon Exemplary School Awards.  Livonia Public Schools, educating nearly 15,000 students, is proud of their MEAP/MME scores that exceed state averages and the District has also earned Golden Apple and Michigan Blue Ribbon Exemplary School Awards.

 
Westland's philosophy is that government should embrace good business principles.  Providing oversight over the City's operating budget of $60 million dollars, Westland is the only community in Wayne County with a 3-year balanced budget and an approximately 10 percent budget surplus.

 
The City provides competitive incentives for those who are interested in investing in Westland, making it one of the hottest investment markets in the region.  Our Fast-Track to Business Team, which consists of key decision makers who work diligently on a development plan will "cut the red tape" and expedite the approval process for new business development.

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