City consolidates superintendent positions

The City of Niles recognized six employees who are all retiring from positions within the city’s utilities departments.

Those retiring are: Sam Moore, water distribution maintenance worker; Cathy Stafford, head building clerk; Johnnie Hall, water superintendent; Tom Daus, water distribution maintenance worker; Bruce Mitchell, water distribution maintenance worker; and Randy Stevens, electrical superintendent.

All totaled, the retirees combined for more than 130 years of community service.

“They were all really dedicated city workers who wanted the absolute best for their infrastructure,” said Ric Huff, city administrator. “They were always available when we needed them on weekends, nights, holidays — whenever. They were always ready to go to work.”

Huff said the city was not surprised by the retirements, adding that all retirees are about the same age.

“Most have been talking about it for a couple years so we knew it was coming,” he said. “We lost a lot of in-house knowledge all in one shot, but there are a lot of people still here that hopefully learned a lot from their predecessors. I think we are in pretty good shape.”

The city has consolidated the water and electric superintendent positions into one job called the service center superintendent. Gregg Watson has been hired to fill that role. He previously worked as a journeyman lineman for the city’s electric division.

Hall will stay on part-time to help with the transition.

Huff said the city made offers Friday to fill the maintenance positions.

Moore had worked for the city 37 years, while Hall was there 25 years, Stafford 20 years, Daus 20 years, Mitchell 18 years and Stevens 11 years.