Residents of Brighton, mark your calendars for the grand opening of a new municipal milestone. The Michael Woodruff Municipal Service Center at 503 Madison Street is set for a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Tuesday, Feb. 18, at 4 p.m., giving the community a chance to glimpse the future of city services. The city has extended an invitation to both the public and the media to join the occasion.

Spanning over 67,000 square feet, this modern facility consolidates several city departments that were previously spread across outdated buildings. The center will host fleets, parks and open space, public works, and utilities, and it will also include a police substation providing Brighton officers with a dedicated workspace on the city's north side. Operating out of separate, aging facilities were the departments that have now found a unified home.

The need for such a space was recognized by the late Michael Woodruff, Brighton's former Public Works Director, to whom the building is dedicated. According to the City of Brighton, Woodruff's pivotal role in the conception of the center has been honored by naming it after him. Woodruff bid farewell to his position in 2023 upon his retirement and passed away in October of the same year after fighting cancer valiantly.

Work on the service center began in June 2023, and even though he was grappling with illness, Woodruff witnessed the groundbreaking ceremony. Distinguished by a long career serving the local government, Michael Woodruff was driven by a dedication to the city that is now reflected in the facility's bricks and mortar. Carrying his legacy forward, the center will serve as a testament to Woodruff's commitment to the betterment of city infrastructure and community services for Brighton's future generations. Retiring in 2023, he was instrumental in the project, having served the City of Brighton with distinction before passing away.