CENTERVILLE, Minn. – (Dec. 15, 2016) – As the end of the year approaches several changes are coming to local city councils. With newly elected individuals taking their spots in January, some others are attending their final meetings as an elected official. In Centerville Mayor Tom Wilharber is retiring after 38 years of public service. The city staff and other members of the council planned a surprise recognition of Wilharber at this weeks council meeting.
“When you hear about people who give to the community and people who want to make a difference, who want to do good things, a lot of time that’s talk but there is a lot of action with you,” said Centerville City Council member Jeff Paar. Paar will take over as Mayor in January fondly remembers at time when Tom went above and beyond his duties as Mayor.
“I got hurt five years ago. The little things that Tom does he doesn’t want recognition for, but I couldn’t drive and my wife was working. He said I’ll come and pick you up. So here comes Tom, kind of a thing where I should be taking care of the older people in the community…he backs his truck up and loads my wheelchair in it and gets me to a council meeting,” said Paar.
Several others share kind thoughts and reflections about Wilharber’s service to the city. His last stint as Mayor lasted six years and took place after he had been away from the council for more than a decade.
“Coming back here as mayor in 2011, I knew that the council may not be willing to accept me. I found out that these four other council members may not agree all the time with one another, felt that the city’s interests are more important factor. I applaud them in their efforts to make Centerville a little bit better, each and every year,” said Wilharber.
Many in attendance at the meeting stood and applauded Wilharber for his service to Centerville which began all the way back in 1973.
