By By JOHN EBY / Dowagiac Daily News
It is, pronounced Mayor Donald D. Lyons, the end of a 10-year, two-month era.
A visibly "overwhelmed" City Manager William H. Nelson Jr. attended his last Dowagiac council meeting.
Lyons called it "especially appropriate" that the Fire Department named Nelson an honorary fireman "because Bill's been putting out fires for 10 years."
"The contributions he has made to this community will live well, well beyond him," Lyons said. "Ten years and two months from now, people will still be looking back and saying, 'Thanks to Bill that got done and we're enjoying the benefits of it today.' Bill, you've been a great friend and I wish you all the best."
Nelson, who received a standing ovation, said, "Tonight really was a microcosm of what's great about this community. I'm so honored by what happened with the Fire Department, to see what's happened with the drug team and the tree ordinance. People working together is the secret. That's been the constant since I've seen here."
"I have been absolutely overwhelmed by this community since I've announced my resignation. It's been an honor and a pleasure to work in this community for the last 10 years. That opportunity has been made even better by the fact I worked with some wonderful people.
"As city manager, there are three things you look for: a progressive and stable group of elected officials, a high-quality staff and a community that provides an outstanding place to live and raise a family. Dowagiac has all of those three in excess. That's why I have every confidence this community will continue to succeed.
"While it's difficult for me to know I won't be seeing you on a regular basis, it's reassuring to know I have great friends on this council, on the staff and within this community that I count on keeping in touch with and seeing as often as I can. I'm also very much looking forward to following the community as it continues to move forward in a positive way.
"This community is and always will be very important to me," Nelson said. "I believe I've grown as both a city manager and as a person in the last 10 years and I attribute that to the associations with people in this room and in this community," Nelson concluded.
The city's senior department head, Finance Director David Pilot, addressed the council about Nelson.
"Bottom line," Pilot said, "Bill's been a really good city manager for this town. Miamisburg (Ohio) is truly a fortunate community. They don't have a clue how much they're going to change. I had the benefit of going down to Columbus this past week with Bill to some electric business, and we toured the community where he's going to be located. It's a very fast-paced town in part, but the old part looks just like Dowagiac. There's a one-way street in and a one-way street out, but off the bypass it literally has six-lane highways and skyscrapers. Bill, speaking on behalf of the department heads, we're extremely happy for you. It's a good fit.
"We've had the honor of working with one of the best," Pilot continued. "I've worked with four or five city managers now and we've had some good ones in the past, but Bill's several strata above that.
"Bill's instilled in me and the other department heads here some really important things that we'll keep for the rest of our lives. The importance of honesty, integrity and ethics is unmatched. I was telling our auditor that when Bill first came to work for the city, we didn't know him, he didn't know us. All of you (council members) and the departments really put him to the test. Is this guy really as honest as he appears? … He was.
"Bill will always be a friend, a mentor and one which we can always use as a benchmark in terms of what to be looking for and what we strive to be," Pilot said. "The next person's going to have huge shoes to fill. I'm sure he or she is out there somewhere. I just hope we can find" him or her.
"Ten years with Bell Nelson has been an absolute dream," Mayor Pro Tem Wayne Comstock commented. "I don't think many people realize the efforts he puts in to this job of city manager in Dowagiac, not including his involvement with other committees he's been a part of."
"I admire your Christian principles and that you're putting your family first," Second Ward Councilman Bob Schuur said.
"Bill, I've learned a lot from you, but I've also learned a lot about you," First Ward Councilman Darron Murray observed. "One of the things I've noticed about you is that you really take care of your people. Nobody wants to go to work every day for years working for someone they can't stand. It's the opposite here. The same people who were department heads here when I started eight years ago I believe are still here, except Gary (Carlile), and he works part-time. That says a lot about your leadership."
"I've only been here two years," added First Ward Councilwoman Donna O'Konski, "and it's amazing to me the number of community members who have approached me in the last month or so and they're just devastated that you're leaving. I didn't think there were that many people in the community who really paid that much attention to our council meetings because we don't have much attendance normally. A lot of community members respect you and value everything you've done for the city, and I do also."
Howard Hall, who wants the city to sanction a lock-in dance with live music at Lincoln Community Center spring break, acknowledged his "adversarial relationship," but wished Nelson luck.
The council approved additional compensation of $2,000 per month for Rose Scherr during the interim she is acting city manager beginning at 5 p.m. Jan. 26.