Wed, Dec 03 2008
|
|
Published September 28, 2008 09:38 pm - If you didn’t know him better, you probably could label Tom Shelley as a taciturn kind of guy. Tuesday is Shelley’s last day on the job as Carthage street commissioner, and I’m betting the talking will be getting even more difficult as he tries to say goodbye to his 18 employees, three of whom have been with him for 30 of the 35 years he has been with the Street Department. Jo Ellis: Commissioner to end career after 35 years If you didn’t know him better, you probably could label Tom Shelley as a taciturn kind of guy. Tuesday is Shelley’s last day on the job as Carthage street commissioner, and I’m betting the talking will be getting even more difficult as he tries to say goodbye to his 18 employees, three of whom have been with him for 30 of the 35 years he has been with the Street Department. Shelley and his crew are responsible for cleaning, seal-coating or graveling, and generally maintaining about 100 miles of city streets — and sometimes laying pavement for small projects. During his career, he says, working conditions have improved greatly, and the equipment he works with has progressed in terms of numbers and technology. He started with the Street Department in 1973 and was promoted to street commissioner in 1977. “When I came to work here, our annual budget was $87,000; this year it is $1,236,000. The city has grown,” he says. For years, Shelley’s department worked out of a Quonset hut, finally getting a new building in the early 1980s. He has a reputation for using the city’s money frugally, economizing and making do. “I am pretty tight,” Shelley acknowledges. “We try to get as much as we can with the money we have. We’ve always stayed within the budget. We may go over in certain accounts, but within our total budget, we have turned money back every year.” If Shelley says a street or culvert needs work, few question his assessment, and the work usually is completed in a timely manner, barring complications or weather. “He doesn’t say much,” says Mayor Jim Woestman, “but when he does, everybody listens.” Shelley served under nine mayors and was street commissioner under eight of them. The longevity of his career also is marked with the loyalty of his employees. Fifteen have worked with him for at least 10 years; eight of those have been with him more than 20 years; and, as noted before, three of the eight have worked with him for 30 years. “What does that tell you?” the mayor asks. Tim Hill, who joined the department in 1981 and was promoted to assistant street commissioner in 1994, will take over Shelley’s role after he retires. Two maintenance supervisors will work under Hill. Woestman said the Street Department will become a division of the Public Works Department (now directed by Chad Wampler), and the two will combine under one title. They already share the same building. Last week, the City Council honored Shelley with kudos, accolades and a retirement party. His employees are set to say their goodbyes Tuesday. “That’s going to be the toughest part, (on) Tuesday when I give my little spiel to them,” Shelley says. “A lot of these guys are like family.” Shelley plans to “get back into fishing. I used to go two times a week.” He prefers to cast his bait on farm ponds, rather than big-lake fishing. He won’t be entirely out of touch, however. His wife, Lynn, is a building codes official with the Public Works Department and can keep him apprised of what’s going on with his “family.” 
•
Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.
More from the Carthage, Jasper County section
Sheriff confirms inmate’s suicide; details unavailable |
Print this story
E-mail this story
Post to del.icio.us
Discuss this story
Identity of jail-suicide victim disclosed w/ report on jail suicide prevention
 |
 |
 |
||||||||
|
||||||||
 |
The Joplin Globe Publishing Company 117 East Fourth Street, Joplin, MO 64801 Using our site is your agreement to the terms and conditions. News: news@joplinglobe.com • (417)623-3480 Advertise with the Joplin Globe Copyright © 2006 The Joplin Globe, Joplin, MO All rights reserved. |
Popular Business directory links - Joplin Apartments | Joplin Attorneys | Joplin Auto Dealers | Joplin Auto Parts | Joplin Auto Repair | Joplin Beauty Salons | Joplin Car Rental | Joplin Dentists | Joplin Doctors | Joplin Flowers | Joplin Hotels | Joplin Insurance | Joplin Loans | Joplin Mortgages | Joplin Movers | Joplin Pizza | Joplin Realtors | Joplin Restaurants | Joplin Storage | Joplin Tax Preparation | Joplin Travel | Joplin Featured | More...
|
|
Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc. • CNHI Classified Advertising Network • CNHI News Service |