2019/06/17 - Mayor's Column: Welcoming Our Newest Volunteers
“An Open Door to O’Fallon”
A Weekly Note from Mayor Herb Roach
Last weekend, we held a training retreat for the City Council. Dr. John Nalbandian, retired professor of public administration from the University of Kansas and former Mayor of Lawrence Kansas, facilitated the discussions. The focus of the training were the qualities of a high performing governing body and the priorities of the City Council. I hope to share the details of this meeting with you in the near future.
This training was part of the strategy to bring the new members of the City Council quickly up to speed. It is also a good training for our veteran Council members, as well. It is important that our elected officials are informed and prepared in order to successfully represent the Citizens of this great community.
In addition to the new council members, we also have a couple new members of the O’Fallon Planning Commission. O’Fallon residents Bob Kueker, Casey Scharven and Randy Ellis were all appointed, and Bob Dunn was reappointed to sit on the Planning Commission at the last City Council Meeting. These appointments increase the total number of members and make sure that all the areas of O’Fallon are properly represented.
The Planning Commission is not an elected body. Instead, it is a grouping of appointed O’Fallon residents that prepare and recommend to the City Council a comprehensive plan for the present and future development or redevelopment of the city. Their recommendations are advisory and created to provide for the health, safety, comfort and convenience of the residents of O’Fallon.
We also have a new member of the Board of Police and Fire Commissioners. O’Fallon resident Calvin Brown was sworn in as the newest commissioner. Calvin Brown, who is currently a Lieutenant for the Illinois State Police has a long history of law enforcement and will bring great value to the commission.
Lt. Brown is an experienced twenty-plus year Law Enforcement professional with a demonstrated history of working in state and local level government entities. He holds a master’s degree and is the current commander of investigations for the Illinois State Police Zone Six.
It is tremendous that the City of O’Fallon is able to attract so many residents that are willing to give up their personal time in order to be involved with the community. In many communities, leadership is hard to find. Not in O’Fallon!
As residents of O’Fallon, you should always be able to reach out to your elected officials and ask questions about what is happening in O’Fallon. Having open communications is important to me and something I care very deeply about. Thank you for reading, and please remember, my door is always open!