For Immediate Release | Official Press Release

PRESS RELEASE 
OFFICE OF THE MAYOR
 
36300 Warren Road | Westland, Michigan | 48185
Office 734.467.3200 | Fax 734.422.1230

WWW.CITYOFWESTLAND.COM

City of Westland To Honor Former Mayor McKinney with Dedication Ceremony


Westland, MI (May 15, 2019) -  Mayor William R. Wild will host the Grand Ballroom Dedication Ceremony on behalf of the City of Westland to honor former Mayor Gene McKinney on Friday, May 17.
 
Mayor McKinney served as the second mayor of the City of Westland from 1969 - 1975. He was born in Nankin Township on June 21, 1935. At the time of election, McKinney was the youngest mayor in the State of Michigan. He served on the Nankin Township Charter Commission, and worked alongside eight other individuals to write the Westland City Charter.
 
Through his collaboration with other community members, the Westland community received much needed enhancements and amenities including a Westland post office, development of the Westland Library through the formation of the Westland Library Board, and investments into public safety by building a new police station and two new fire stations. Mayor McKinney spent his career promoting diversity and inclusivity, fulfilling the Westland promise of being "An All American City." Having served on the City's 50th Anniversary Committee and volunteering to help with Norwayne's 75th Anniversary, Mayor McKinney continues his dedication to public service and the City of Westland.
 
Participants are asked to gather at Westland City Hall, located at 36300 Warren Rd., for the event. The Dedication Ceremony, which will begin at 10:00 a.m., will include remarks by Mayor Wild, City Council President James Godbout, and other special guests.
 
"I am honored to dedicate our ballroom on behalf of the City of Westland as the Mayor Gene McKinney Grand Ballroom," commented Mayor William R. Wild. "Our city owes our establishment to his tireless work on behalf of the community. Mayor McKinney's work on our city charter and helped make our beloved city a reality. We are thankful for the standards he has set for us to maintain in what it means to be an exemplary public servant."
 
What: Grand Ballroom Dedication Ceremony
When: Friday, May 17
Where: Westland City Hall at 36300 Warren Rd.
Time: 10:00 - 11:00 a.m.


For more information, please call the Mayor's Office at (734)467-3200

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 Westland Fire Department are licensed paramedics who responded to over 9,000 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 School 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.

 

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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