Commissioners Glover, Johns recognized as terms expire

NEBRASKA CITY – Mayor Bryan Bequette recognized outgoing city commissioners at Monday’s meeting.

Finance Commissioner Gloria Glover filled in after the resignation of finance commissioner Mindy Briley. Briley had served as interim mayor after the resignation of Jack Hobbie and served as finance commissioner for nine months.

Mayor Bequette said it was difficult to find someone who would accept appointment to the role.

Bequette: “I tell you when you put the words finance and treasury together people like, just jump away from it and say maybe other places … I’ll help you out in the city, but probably not there, so I was just seeking and seeking and seeking. At council meetings saying if you know someone and I was lucky that Mrs. Jackie and Duane Smith come up to me and they said you need to talk to Gloria.”

Bequette: “When we sat down and I went through her background and experience, I said oh my gosh, someone with her qualifications interested in the job? “

She joined the city commission shortly after Bequette, the commissioner of public safety, in 2015.

Bequette: “I’ve said the two most important things are taking care of the people’s money and taking care of the people’s information and Gloria has done both of those in fine order. She has served well.”

Glover said she enjoyed the opportunity to put her skills to work the past seven years.

Glover: “There’s still more to be done, but we tried to make a dent in it. I can say I enjoyed the seven years. It did give me the opportunity to put my skills into play.  I did enjoy that and I would like to thank everybody for all their help and assistance and support throughout this time.”

 

Mayor Bequette also described the difficult time when Nebraska City learned the Fourth Corso viaduct had to be closed for repairs when there was a potential for an $8 million repair and no plan for construction or to raise the funds.

He said Street Commissioner Vic Johns recognized the economic consequences, but put safety first.

Bequette: “It was many years of things, but I learned from that point forward everything with the roads Vic was person forward. He thought about every person driving a public road. Every person walking a public property.”

During Johns’ term, not only did the new viaduct open, but the south overpass was complete, and south 11^th Street was given a new turning lane and north 11^th was improved to North Table Creek.

Johns: “I just have the greatest people to work with. Marty (Stovall) Lonnie Horstmann and Gary Bassinger. They are just tremendous people.”

In the November general election, Joe Chaney was elected to street commissioner and Cole Sharp elected to finance commissioner.