In case you requested Invoice Thompson concerning the profession path that he’s adopted for greater than 4 a long time, he may take out a map of Painesville Township to make use of as a visible support.
In any case, Thompson has been working for the Painesville Township Service Division since August of 1979, which is nearly 46 years in the past.
Thompson mentioned he took a job with the division whereas he was on the lookout for work after highschool. He seen it as a approach to earn money till he found out what he needed to do as a profession.
Thompson ended up liking the job and staying.
“After you get via that first yr, then you definately discover out that each season has a distinct precedence for what the service division goes to do, and it was a pleasant selection and I loved it,” he mentioned.
He was promoted to a foreman in 2000 and named the division’s director in 2011.
After a long time of service, he’s now making ready to convey that profession to a detailed by retiring and passing the torch, The Information-Herald’s Bryson Durst reported.
Thompson has witnessed adjustments to the service division and township over the course of just about 46 years.
“We watched Mentor Avenue go from three lanes to 5 lanes,” he mentioned. “We now have three parks, we had none. The Protected Routes to College sidewalk program, the Hometown Heroes banner program, paint the plow, neighborhood occasions, curbside pickups. There’s been lots of optimistic change and I’m happy with that.”
Thompson mentioned the division confronted new duties with the creation of the township-maintained Crislip, Hadden and Cicconetti parks. He’s happy with the work the service division has carried out and believes the parks have turned out properly.
“What I’ve discovered about parks is they’re lots of work,” he mentioned. “They should look good, they should be protected, they should be maintained. Everyone needs to see the park trying good and rubbish needs to be emptied and it’s simply, parks take lots of time.”
The division has additionally elevated its storm sewer set up work and bought tools to patch its roads throughout Thompson’s profession. New housing developments have additionally introduced new roads for the township to keep up.
With these growing duties, he mentioned the division grew from six staff when he began to 11 at current. It additionally acquired a brand new residence early in his profession, shifting to its present headquarters at 558 Fairport Nursery Street in 1986.
Lately, Thompson mentioned he has labored with Assistant Service Director John Kotrlik to alter the liquids and know-how the township makes use of to maintain roads clear within the winter. Thompson is happy with the township’s degree of service throughout these months.
“That was type of John’s space the place he was actually good at it, and between the 2 of us, we got here up with a fairly good plan,” he mentioned.
Thompson has additionally confronted weather-related challenges all through his profession, together with heavy rain occasions that tax the township’s storm sewers. He doesn’t bear in mind these as usually from his earlier years.
Sure climate occasions stick out to Thompson. He mentioned the most important climate system he confronted with the division was the 2006 flood.
Memorable winter climate occasions embrace the Christmas blizzard of 1983 and a snowstorm in November 1996. He additionally described the snow occasion after Thanksgiving 2024 as “one of many prime 5 snowstorms” from his profession.
Thompson’s final day of labor will probably be June 30. Kotrlik will take over as service director the subsequent day. The 2 have been working carefully collectively for practically two years to make sure a clean transition.
Kotrlik began on the division in 2000. He mentioned he has labored in highway upkeep, tools operation and supervisory roles.
Thompson described Kotrlik as a individuals particular person and good pal and mentioned he’s excited for him to begin within the function.
“I feel it’s going to be a seamless transition, and due to John’s curiosity in know-how and new concepts, I feel he’s going to take the division to a better degree,” Thompson mentioned.
Township Trustee Gabe Cicconetti described Thompson as “a once-in-a-lifetime public servant” who loves the neighborhood.
Trustee Chuck Hillier added that he’s “a consummate skilled — trustworthy, integrity-driven and all the time accessible to handle considerations with a cheerful voice, guaranteeing points are resolved.”
Thompson mentioned that at his retirement occasion, the trustees additionally introduced plans to rename the service division facility the “William A. Thompson Service Middle.”
Whereas Thompson will probably be leaving the service division, he plans to remain in the neighborhood he has known as residence all through his life.
The Information-Herald applauds Thompson for all of his laborious work, in addition to the management he offered for the Painesville Township Service Division throughout his prolonged profession.
We additionally want him a contented retirement — he’s earned it.
