Government
Mayor's
Welcome
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Dear Residents and Visitors,
As we look forward to the coming year I would like to share a couple thoughts about the gift of Farmington.
First let me say 2011 was not an easy year. Tough discussions continued on our service levels; City staff sacrificed through cuts in compensation and benefits. Residents and businesses received tax bills reflecting a raised millage rate. If you are volunteers we probably asked you to do more. Many difficult decisions were made at all levels. We had some foreclosures, but thankfully our rate of foreclosures is among the lowest in Oakland County. What differentiates us and what will lead us to success is how we pull together through these challenges.
I have lived in Farmington for almost 40 years. When I came out of college I started a job in Dayton, Ohio and worked there for a couple years, but our state and Farmington called to me and I moved back to Farmington, on Oakland Street, and worked for GM in Ypsilanti. Then GM moved me to Warren, then Lake Orion and then to Pontiac. We could have moved to any of the cities around those plants, but we stayed in Farmington.
I look back and wonder why Karen and I did not move to Ann Arbor, or Auburn Hills or Rochester or Royal Oak. Here is why: it was always wonderful to cross that invisible line that is the Farmington city limit and be home. Something about arriving in our city makes you feel welcome, makes you feel safe, it invites you, and engages you.
To be able to share a cup of coffee with a friend at Plato’s or Mentobe Cafe, or Panera or Starbucks; to have a business meeting at Ginger’s or Cowley’s or Luigi’s; a beer at Page’s or Basement Burger Bar; to shop at Farmington Florist or Tres Sorelle or Olive Garden or a dozen other boutique stores who shape our retail environment is a gift.
To be able to sit in Riley Park watching kids dance or at Drake or Shiawassee Park where they play baseball or to join tree lighting hosted by our docents and the Jaycees at the beautiful Warner Mansion, these are gifts throughout the year. I did some recent research to see how many cities actually had Governor’s Mansions, preserved as active museums, where Michigan governor’s had lived in their community. The Governor Warner Mansion is one of only two in our state.
In the recent Channel 4 Vote for the Best competition in Metropolitan Detroit Riley Park won third as an outdoor concert venue competing with much larger venues like DTE Energy Music Theater. The Civic Theater was only behind two much larger theater venues. Three of our city's businesses won top place awards in their categories, Off The Beaten Path Books, Joe's Headquarter's and Basement Burger Bar.
The biggest award is that Farmington is a just great place to be! And you can be yourself here. No airs, no attitude, except be Welcome! Make yourself at home! More people experienced Farmington last year than ever before, at our festivals, in our restaurants, visiting our farmer’s market. We expect even more will come in 2012.
In the past I have talked about Farmington as one of the bright spots in southeast Michigan, as a literal oasis when you drive our main crossroads from east to west or south to north. The more comfortable we make our residents and visitors, the more engaging we are with our businesses, the more successful our businesses will be, the more jobs will be located here, the more our reputation will grow and our city will gain more strength.
To maintain and grow our strength as a city we all need to be recruiters. We all need to be a spokesperson for Farmington and share this special place with people looking for homes in good neighborhoods, a fresh location for owners of existing business and a great place for entrepreneurs starting businesses.
I know many of you share that feeling and you help create it. Let’s all make 2012 a Happy and Successful Year!
Tom Buck
Mayor
City of Farmington