78°F
weather icon Clear

Parting is such sweet sorrow

Shakespeare was the man when it came to comedy and tragedy. His ability to make people feel the intense emotions of the characters is still imitated today. The past few months have been filled with a bit of excited anticipation at City Hall as several longtime and high-level employees have found new roles in other acts. I’m here to borrow some Shakespearean lines, the first being from Ophelia, “We know what we are, but know not what we may be.” (Hamlet)

The first of the departures were the city planner and the parks and recreation director. They both had decades of experience in Boulder City, and retired to do all the wonderful things retirees do – and without an alarm clock waking them each day! “I feel within me a peace above all earthly dignities, a still and quiet conscience.” (Henry VIII)

We should always strive for better. When the city’s public works director recently announced his resignation, I thanked him for his service and wished him well. He accepted an offer from a private firm, calling it an offer he couldn’t refuse. As Hamlet said, “This above all: to thine own self be true.”

The biggest departure comes from the top. City Manager Taylour Tedder accepted a job in a beautiful beach community on the East Coast. Taylour was hired at the end of the pandemic, moving from his home state of Kansas to a city that he had seen one other time. He worked hard to become a part of the community. Watching him leave next week will be difficult, as he has been such a great leader during a unique time of transition. “Be not afraid of greatness. Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them.” (Twelfth Night)

When I started working as a young man, many of the older people that worked around me had held the same job for years – even decades. Change is constant, and much has changed over the years. I think about the upper-level management team in Boulder City over the past 20 years. I see hard-working, dedicated staff looking to keep our community a great place to live, work, play and retire. I also have noticed over the years as directors and managers have moved on or retired, there is little to no impact on city services. Why?

The sure sign of a good manager is that when he or she leaves an organization, no one notices.

Things continue to run smoothly. That’s because good leaders train their staff to lead. They give them the tools they need for success. They constantly grow the next generation of supervisors.

“All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players. They have their exits and their entrances; and one man in his time plays many parts.” (As You Like It) Here in Boulder City, the entrances and exits are a part of running government effectively and efficiently. I believe in the staff in City Hall, and I have every confidence that they will continue to provide the excellent service we’ve come to know.

THE LATEST
Ensuring fire safety at Lake Mead

At Lake Mead National Recreation Area, our mission extends beyond preserving the natural beauty and recreational opportunities.

Independence Day in Boulder City

I was elected to the Boulder City council long ago. Believe me, there were more exciting events that occurred during city council meetings in the mid-to-late 1980s than there are at present. We had Skokie Lennon who arrived in the council meetings while standing at the back of the room. When he had something to say he would erupt with the statement “can you hear me?” Of course we could since he was the loudest person in the room. He would say what he had to say and then leave.

Nothing to fear

A June 13 letter by Norma Vally claimed Pride Month in Boulder City is an example of identity politics that will cause divisiveness in our safe, kind, and welcoming town. I cannot disagree more.

Save me some confetti eggs

In last week’s edition, I wrote a preview of the upcoming July 4 celebration and described Boulder City’s biggest day of the year as if a Norman Rockwell painting had come alive and jumped off the canvas. I had a few people praise me for that description, saying it’s the perfect way to do so.

Stuff I learned from my dad

It is that time of year in Newspaper World when we are going back through issues from the past year trying to decide what, if anything, is worth submitting for the annual Nevada Press Foundation Awards.

State veterans’ memorial still in f lux

Last month I wrote about a possible move of the veterans’ memorial from its long-time location adjacent to the Grant Sawyer building to the veterans’ cemetery in Boulder City.

Not on my turf

In early April, the City Council heard a presentation by Lage Design about staff’s recommended option to remove 35% of the turf at the Boulder City Municipal Golf Course.

I-11 is NOT the Autobahn

When the I-11 highway opened almost six years ago, it alleviated much of the heavy traffic congestion through Boulder City. But this beautiful expanse of open road brought with it a sense that “opening up” and putting the pedal to the metal is OK. It’s not.

New law shapes golf course design

I like golf. While I was in college, I decided to take a class in golf – you could call it a “golf course” course. I figured it would be a great way to relax, enjoy nature, and (maybe) boost my grade point average at the same time! For a semester, I learned the basics: how to drive, chip, putt. It was enjoyable. Many of my classmates that semester had been golfing for years. They were better than me, but I was determined to get a good grade out of the class.