City Manager's Messages

Today is a somber day as we reflect on the tragic events of 9-11-2001. The loss of lives and destruction of our national sense of security was unimaginable before that fateful day, and I would be remiss not to acknowledge those who lost their lives as well as those who rushed into harm’s way to save those who could be saved. We will never forget the sacrifices of that day, and we will do our best to honor the memory of those who lost their lives and the brave men and women who took care of us in those darkest hours.

Rushing into harm’s way is something that our Police and Fire teams do every day. Making sure they have the best equipment and facilities is one way we honor them. I am so pleased that we were able to break ground on the new Wythe Fire Station last Friday. A project a long time in the making, we had several starts and stops as we tried to find the perfect site, but persistence always pays off and we have now begun construction on the facility which will, hopefully, be done by late 2024/early 2025. We have other facility and equipment enhancements in the pipeline for Police, Fire and other City Departments, all of which are critical to serving our residents.

Another way we honor our local heroes is by supporting them when they need us. With her permission, I have been asked to inform you about a fight one of our Master Medic Firefighters is currently enduring. Michele Chittum is stationed at the Willow Oaks Fire Station #7 and was recently diagnosed with stage 2 cancer. Her fellow firefighters and EMTs have rallied to support her and her family. One of the many things they have done is to organize a golf tournament to raise funds to support her and they would like as many of us as possible to participate to support Michele. I am attaching the flyers about the tournament for your review. Even if you do not play golf like me, you can show your support of one of our own by contributing to the day. I plan to be there as a cheerleader for Michele and all the teams who are supporting her. I want to thank Jaime Rastatter for making sure I knew about this beautiful example of coworkers rallying to support one of their own. People who care about each is other is one of the many reasons I love working here with you all. Thank you in advance for helping however you can, whether by participating in the tournament or just keeping Michele and her family in your thoughts.

On this somber day, let us all take a moment to honor those we have lost but also those who continue to serve us each and every day. Thank you!

-- Mary