[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 18]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 24678]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




          RECOGNIZING THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF LINDEN, MICHIGAN

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DALE E. KILDEE

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 10, 2008

  Mr. KILDEE. Madam Speaker, I ask the House of Representatives to join 
me in congratulating the City of Linden, Michigan, on their 20th 
Anniversary. A celebration will be held at Linden City Hall on Friday, 
December 12th.
  Linden is located in southern Genesee County on the headwaters of the 
Shiawassee River. Consider Warner and Eben Harris built a sawmill on 
the river in 1840 and the village of Linden grew up around the mill. 
During the 1980s the residents of Linden decided to become a city and 
in 1988 the City of Linden was incorporated. The Charter Commission was 
comprised of Keith Wenger, chairperson; Judy Pieczynski, Secretary; 
Harvey C. Charbonneau; Robert Nellett; Doug Morgan; Marjorie Kimble; 
Craig Newberry; and Farrand Ward. Their goals were to provide better 
representation, better infrastructure, have a professional 
administration and still maintain the historic integrity of the town. 
To this end they decided on a council/manager form of government.
  Over the past 20 years the City of Linden has worked to provide 
quality service to its residents. The city has completed 25 projects to 
enhance the infrastructure by paving streets and sidewalks, installing 
water and sewer lines, building a streetscape, facade projects, a water 
treatment plant, a playground and a boardwalk. The City also maintains 
a full-time police department, a 22-member fire department and a 
department of public works.
  The City Council, Planning Commission and Historic District 
Commission work closely to preserve the historic nature of the city. 
They draw upon the resources of their local historian, Claude Cranston, 
for advice on the character of the early Linden area. In 2007 a fire 
destroyed a landmark historic building in the downtown area but the 
community pulled together to work around this loss.
  Madam Speaker, please join me in applauding the City of Linden, 
Michigan, as the community comes together to celebrate its 20th 
anniversary. I congratulate the elected officials, the staff and 
inhabitants of this wonderful city. City Hall is centered on providing 
quality assistance to the residents. They have created a family 
friendly community rooted in the past but looking toward the future. I 
wish them continued success in the years ahead.

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