During the season of Thanksgiving, people stop and take the time to think about all they have to be thankful for in their lives. For most, the list usually contains many of the same things; family, friends, jobs, home and health are common.
Many people will also take the time to thank those who serve during this time. Police officers, firefighters, veterans, teachers, religious leaders, local volunteers and others all deserve community thanks and recognition.
A group of people who often go overlooked, however, are the ones working behind the scenes to ensure our cities and townships are run safely and smoothly. A group that is elected by the community to serve, those on our local city councils and township boards.
Most people have no idea what these elected officials do or how what they do affects their lives. I’m one who does know.
I cover a number of cities and townships through my work with the Citizen-Tribune. Every month sees me at numerous meetings with pen and paper, ready to take note of what’s happening to share with the community at large.
I also know because I grew up with an elected official. My dad, Don Weigand, has been the Wendell city clerk for most of my life. He’s finally decided it’s time to retire, and on Dec. 31 his 44 years of elected service will come to an end.
Is 44 continual years in an elected position a record? Probably not, but it’s got to come close.
Many people seem to believe being on the city council or township board means you come to a meeting once a month and make decisions. Nothing is further from the truth.
I remember my dad sitting at our kitchen table for hours each month with papers and ledgers spread around him as he worked on the city books. Everything was entered by hand. The end of the year was especially stressful and time-consuming.
This continued for years until computer systems became available. This saved some time, but my dad had to first spend a lot more just learning how to use them.
Along with keeping the books, each month he also handled payroll for the city employees, read the water meters and sent out the bills. He’s never had an office, he always worked from home.
In the 44 years he served, Wendell completely rebuilt their infrastructure, including the streets, sewer, lagoons, water mains and new water tower and water treatment plant. When he was first elected to the council the city didn’t even have a sewer system, each building had its own septic.
A new fire hall and an addition to the community center were built, and housing projects and rehab projects improved a number of the houses in town during his tenure.
Each of these projects involved a long process that took a great deal of time with things like grant writing and meeting with government officials. Wendell was able to secure funding for half the recent water tower and treatment plant projects, which meant residents were only assessed for half the total cost.
When I was growing up our phone never seemed to quit ringing no matter the day or what time it was. People were always looking for my dad with questions, problems or concerns. Today his cell phone never seems to quit ringing. I can’t imagine how long it will take for people to stop coming to him with all their issues after he retires next month.
Wendell is a city of just over 150 people. Imagine the work that goes into most cities.
Being a city or township official isn’t a glamorous job and it’s definitely not a well-paying job. It’s most often a thankless job. People like to complain but they don’t usually remember to show appreciation.
Take the time to thank your local officials, they deserve it. Start coming to the monthly meetings to see for yourself what’s being done. Consider the possibility of running for your city council or township board yourself. It may be a thankless job but it can also bring great personal satisfaction. Just ask my dad.
