At a recent and otherwise ordinary Garden City village trustees meeting, longtime village employee Robert Schoelle announced that he would be retiring in 2014.
Schoelle, who has been serving as village administrator and treasurer since replacing Earl P. Sandquist on Feb. 4, 1980, made this information known toward the end of the meeting on Thursday, Sept. 19, during the second half of his report to Mayor Watras. He made it clear that the mayor had been briefed earlier.
“Mayor Watras asked me to share a portion of a recent conversation that he and I had,” Schoelle recounted. “During a special time that I spent with my family on summer vacation this year, I made the decision that I would be retiring from my position as village administrator and treasurer during 2014, making my intentions known this evening so that the board of trustees can begin the process to select my successor.”
Schoelle spent 30 years working for the Village of Garden City. Given the fact there were no apparent hints that he might retire, his announcement was met with a stunned silence by the board and the citizens in attendance. And while Mayor Watras was in the know, he still sounded a bit sad as he declared, “That’s a lot of years and a phenomenal job. I don’t know what else to say. It’s great that you spent time with your family and moving forward, I’m sure you’ll help us. Congratulations on your decision and to your family.” The mayor also instigated a round of applause and standing ovation for Robert Schoelle, in a show of appreciation for his years of service.
Calls to the village administration and to Robert Schoelle regarding future plans were not returned by press time.
