Press Release | Office of the Mayor | Westland to Honor City's Second Mayor

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

Westland to Honor City's Second Mayor

Westland, MI (April 3, 2019) - On Monday, April 1, the Westland City Council adopted a resolution honoring Mayor Gene Mckinney for his service to the City of Westland and its residents by dedicating the Grande Ballroom inside Westland City Hall in his name.

Mayor Gene McKinney was born in Nankin Township, which later became the City of Westland, on June 21, 1935. When elected as Westland's second Mayor at the age of 33, he was the youngest Mayor in the State of Michigan.

McKinney served the City of Westland in the years 1969-1975 and as a member of the Nankin Township Charter Commission, which aimed to transition the community from a township to a city. He worked alongside eight other individuals to write the City Charter, and together, their work helped lay the framework for the policies still used to manage Westland today.

While serving the community, Mckinney worked with other community members and government officials to integrate many enhancements into the Westland community, including:

Laying the groundwork for Westland's own post office
Establishment of the Historical Commission
Creation of the Housing Commission
Forming the Westland Library Board to begin planning for a library
Worked to rename the Wayne School District to include Westland
Succeeded in development of the Westland Golf Course
Bringing the Michigan Humane Society to Westland
Launching a Police Cadet Program for young residents interested in public safety
Built a new police station and two fire stations

Throughout his distinguished career, Mayor Gene McKinney was committed to promoting diversity, inclusivity, and ensuring the satisfaction and well-being of all Westland residents.

McKinney has been proud to call Westland home and he still remains active and involved in the community, having served on the City's 50th Anniversary Committee and volunteering his time and effort for Norwayne's 75th Anniversary.

"Mayor McKinney was a dedicated public servant and remains passionate about making Westland a great place to live," commented Mayor Wild. "We are proud to have his name associated with our Grande Ballroom and look forward to a dedication ceremony in the near future."

For more information, please call the Mayors 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.