Council recognizes Krosschell, Webster at final meeting

MORRIS - The Morris City Council took a few minutes at their meeting Tuesday to recognize two city officials who are saying farewell to city government this month.

City Finance Director Gene Krosschell has had a nice symmetry in his 28 years with the city - he began work on July 30, 1984, and will retire on July 30, 2012.

Mayor Sheldon Giese presented a reluctant Krosschell with a plaque that read, in part, "Thank you for your 28 years of service to the city as Finance Director. Your professionalism and attention to detail are obvious in everything you do. You set an example for the type of fiscal responsibility and financial oversight every city should expect. You're an outstanding employee who will be greatly missed."

City Manager Blaine Hill also praised Krosschell's work for the city and as a mentor.

"I had the unique opportunity of working for Gene when I was a young accountant," said Hill. "I learned a lot of things from him, and not just about accounting - about how to work and how to do things the right way."

Council member Bill Storck also thanked Krosschell for his help when Storck worked for the city and praised him as a "straight shooter" in the accounting department.

Krosschell came to work for the city in 1984 after working in the private sector. In addition to serving as city finance director, Krosschell was also tapped to serve as interim city manager in 2007 after former city manager Ed Larson retired.

The city also recognized city council member Twig Webster, who submitted his resignation from the council in May. Webster has served on the council since 2007, and was most recently re-elected in 2010.

Giese also shared the inscription on Webster's plaque: "Thank you for your five-plus years of service to the city as a councilman. You always provided a very well thought-out, meaningful, and oftentimes humorous perspective on city issues. Your work as city council representative to the Morris Park Board and Morris Area Chamber of Commerce were especially important."

In his resignation letter, Webster told the council and he and his wife, Shaune, are planning to move to Florida in August.

"A move and change had long been planned for when I reached age 62, and my term would have concluded, but circumstances quite remarkably fell into place, and we feel we must ride the wave into the next phase of our lives," Webster wrote.