[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 107 (Tuesday, June 26, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Page S4400]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             50TH ANNIVERSARY OF STERLING HEIGHTS, MICHIGAN

 Mr. PETERS. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize the 50th 
anniversary of the city of Sterling Heights, MI. Sterling Heights is a 
community built on industry and entrepreneurship, and this celebration 
is a historic benchmark for the community.
  While it was the Clinton River that initially brought settlers to the 
area, it was a boom in manufacturing during the 1950s that brought a 
large amount of growth to what is now the city of Sterling Heights. 
Manufacturers like Ford Motor Company and Chrysler Corporation, along 
with their plant workers, began moving north and settled in what was 
then known as Sterling Township and their new state-of-the-art 
subdivisions.
  This sudden surge of new residents did not come without problems 
though. There was flooding due to lack of sufficient drainage systems 
and residents threatening to declare their neighborhoods their own 
separate community. In 1960, a portion of Sterling Township, Clinton 
Township, and Harrison Township all came together with a proposal to 
incorporate the three communities into the city of Moravian Hills. The 
proposal would be soundly defeated.
  In 1966, a charter commission was formed to draft a city charter to 
present to voters in 2 years. The commission faced many issues and 
tasks early on, one of which was what to name their newly proposed 
city. Due to the already existing village of Sterling in northern 
Michigan, the commission would eventually settle on Sterling Heights. 
In December of 1967, the proposed charter of a strong mayor government 
was voted down. The people of Sterling Township made their voices heard 
and installed a new commission chair, one who shared their vision of a 
city management form of government.
  On May 25, 1968, voters overwhelmingly passed a new city management 
charter and simultaneously elected seven new councilmennbers, defeating 
all previous township officials. The city's first council consisted of 
an elementary school teacher, four employed in the automotive industry, 
an education representative for school supplies, and an attorney. They 
faced incredibly challenging tasks and high expectations in their first 
days. Whether it was zoning restrictions, infrastructure, new projects, 
or public safety, the council came together and worked toward a common 
goal: a stronger future for their new city and her citizens. The 
council would hire Leonard Hendricks as city manager and Paul O'Reilly 
as city attorney, and together, they would help the council create a 
city that has continued to grow and prosper to this day.
  Upon that vote of approval in 1968, Sterling Heights became the 
second largest city in size in Michigan. Since then, it has only 
continued to grow and develop. Today, it is a prospering community 
covering over 36 square miles and has a population of over 130,000 
residents. The automotive and manufacturing industries have been and 
continue to be the cornerstone of Sterling Heights' local economy. The 
city is home to four OEM vehicle production plants, and the top 
employers are all automotive and manufacturing companies.
  The city of Sterling Heights has become an important and prosperous 
city in its relatively short time since being incorporated. The first 
mayor pro tem of Sterling Heights, F. James Dunlop, said it best, ``Her 
only heights will be how high we set our goals and how much, we, her 
citizens, are willing to give of ourselves to achieve them.''
  I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating the citizens, 
elected officials, and businesses of the city of Sterling Heights as 
they celebrate this milestone. I wish the city continued growth and 
prosperity in the years ahead.

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