Senate Resolution No. 3769

BY: Senator JACOBS

COMMENDING Ken Swanekamp upon the occasion of his
retirement after almost 40 years of distinguished
service to Erie County

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize and
honor those distinguished citizens of this great Empire State who have
devoted themselves to faithfully serving the best interests of their
community and the needs of its residents; and

WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to
commend Ken Swanekamp upon the occasion of his retirement after almost
40 years of distinguished service to Erie County; and

WHEREAS, This auspicious occasion will be celebrated at a Retirement
Party held in his honor on Friday, February 23, 2018, at The Pearl
Street Grill & Brewery in Buffalo, New York; and

WHEREAS, In 1975, Ken Swanekamp earned his bachelor's degree in
environmental design from SUNY Buffalo; after graduating, he began his
distinguished career in public service as a toll collector for the New
York State Thruway Authority; and

WHEREAS, Three years later, Ken Swanekamp joined the Erie Niagara
Regional Planning Board as an Assistant Planner; he then moved on to the
Community Development Office in the Erie County Department of
Environment and Planning (DEP) in 1983; and

WHEREAS, In 1987, Ken Swanekamp furthered his education by obtaining
his master's degree in planning and design from his alma mater; and

WHEREAS, Ken Swanekamp was promoted to the title of Director of
Business Assistance in 1988, the position from which he officially
retired from January of 2018; and

WHEREAS, In this capacity, Ken Swanekamp worked on various projects
within every municipality in Erie County including Spaulding Fiber
Redevelopment, Riverview Solar Technology Park, North Youngman Commerce
Center, Commerce Green Industrial Park, Eastport Commerce Center, Eden
Industrial Park, Lancaster Industrial Commerce Center, North America
Center, Walden Commerce Exchange, Whiting Industrial Park, and New
Village Industrial Park, as well as Bethlehem Steel Redevelopment; and

WHEREAS, Ken Swanekamp has served his community in several
leadership roles such as Chairman of the Town of Tonawanda Planning
Board, and an Officer of New York Planning Federation; and

WHEREAS, This remarkable man has also been a member of the Board of
Directors of both Roycroft Campus in East Aurora and Naval and
Servicemen's Park in Buffalo, and is an Adjunct Professor at the SUNY
School of Architecture and Planning; and

WHEREAS, With him throughout have been his wife of 41 years, Linda;
their two children, Mathew and Ria; as well as two grandchildren, all of
whom have shown him love and support and rejoice in his many
achievements; and

WHEREAS, Throughout his career, Ken Swanekamp served the citizens of
Erie County with intelligence and caring dedication, continuously
striving to effectively fulfill the duties of his position; and

WHEREAS, Sincerely loved and greatly respected by all those with
whom he worked, Ken Swanekamp will be remembered for his honesty,
integrity, keen sense of duty and ability to show a unique grasp of
human problems in his official acts; and

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that those who
enhance the quality of life in their community and have shown a long and
sustained commitment to the maintenance of high standards in their
profession, certainly have earned the recognition and applause of all
the citizens of this great Empire State; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend Ken Swanekamp upon the occasion of his retirement after almost
40 years of distinguished service to Erie County, and to wish him
continued success in all his future endeavors; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to Ken Swanekamp.