City manager to retire in May
Rogers City engineer/manager Rob Fairbanks officially announced he?ll be retiring May 1. The 25-year employee, who was hired first as city engineer in February 1978 and accepted the duties of city manager in 1994, is ready to step down.
?There are too many meetings in the week, and too many times getting home at seven or eight o?clock,? said Fairbanks. ?So, rather than wait another two or three years, I think it?s time.? Fairbanks, in his letter to mayor Beach Hall and council members, recommended assistant city manager John Bruning for the post.
?I know (Bruning) can step in as city manager and recommend his appointment, as was planned at the time he was hired,? Fairbanks stated. While Fairbanks? retirement date is May 1, his last day of work will be April 14.
FAIRBANKS TOOK on the role of interim city manager in June 1994, after the resignation of Terry Ross. After going through the process of sifting through more than 40 applications, city council decided to offer Fairbanks the job. ?It?s real simple,? he said, after Monday?s short (17 minutes), and rather uneventful, council meeting. ?I have 25 years in March and that means I?m fully invested in the retirement program, and I?m going to be 60 years old in July…?
It leaves council in a position to fill two jobs if that?s the direction they want to head in: city engineer and city manager, or if Bruning is hired, assistant city manager and engineer. Hall said any decisions on the available positions will be made in the near future. The mayor has a lot of respect for the outgoing city manager.
?BOTH IN my capacity as chair of Harbor Advisory Committee, as chair of the Community Development Authority, and as mayor, I have found Rob extremely knowledgeable and competent,? said Hall. ?(He?s been) excellent to work with. I?ve appreciated his services and knowledge very much.? Fairbanks has worked with five mayors, 15 different council members, four city managers, three city clerks, three police chiefs, two DPW superintendents, two water superintendents, one wastewater superintendent and five fire chiefs. ?I think what is impressive about the above list is how little turnover there has been in the city?s elected officials and its supervisory staff,? he stated.
?WHICH INDICATES Rogers City is and will continue to be a wonderful place to live, to serve, and to work.? Fairbanks said he has a number of interests and hobbies which will keep him busy in retirement. ?I think it?s time to do other things…and my wife has been bugging me,? he said. The current council and city staff are more than prepared to carry out the current projects as well as the new ones down the road, he stated. ?One lesson that I have learned during my tenure as city manager, is that our employees have and continue to accept the challenge of promotion and will serve the city well,? Fairbanks? letter stated. ?It has been a pleasure to serve the city during the past 25 years.?
IN OTHER business:
? Following an executive session, council passed a motion to extend the current contract with the Rogers City Police Officers Association, of the Police Officers Labor Council, for one year. There were no changes in the current contract, meaning officers will receive a three percent raise under the current contra
? A second motion was approved following the closed session to direct staff to select a firm to perform a personal property audit on Michigan Limestone Operations Inc. as a part of the ongoing tax tribunal dispute between the city and MLO.
? Charter Communications, the city?s cable television franchise, informed council that there will not be an increase in the rate of its broadcast video service, even though the company continues to experience cost increases in operations and core cable programming. Charter stated in its letter to the city that the increases will be for installation and equipment prices.
That includes new installation, which will be hiked from $42.52 to $46.09, and the reconnect fees, up nearly $4 to $29.47. The new prices go into effect in March.
