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Also regarded for
their outstanding service were two city employees who were
responsible for keeping the city running on a day-to-day basis.
Taking advantage of early retirement incentives were City Clerk
Juanita Josserand (32 years with the city) and former Streets
Superintendent Donnie Osborne (28 years, three months). The honorees
graciously received their awards and spoke appreciatively about
their experiences over the years.
Mitchell said that
his eight years went so fast. He wished the best of luck to the
current council at the difficult chores that they are facing.
Melton was
instrumental in coordinating the upgrade for the current wastewater
treatment plant. He worked with consulting and engineering companies
and the IEPA to secure low financing for the $10-million-dollar
project. A move out of city limits precipitated his retirement.
[to top of second column in this
article]
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 Josserand and Osborne
expressed like sentiments at how much they appreciated their public
servant jobs here. Josserand brought chuckles when she complimented
the good job her successor, Melanie Riggs, is doing, saying, "She
had a good trainer."
Osborne attributed
his job success to great current and past administrations. In
particular he said he had good aldermen and mayors to work under. He
paused and added with a serious note that some of them are no longer
around. And he credited the man who trained him and whose place he
took as superintendent when the man died: Ray White.
Everyone appeared to enjoy the time of
reflection, recollections of working with one another and
appreciation for the fine city of Lincoln.
[Jan
Youngquist]
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