By Krystal Smalley
ksmalley@wbcowqel.com
As 2016 comes to a close, so do the careers of Don Fox and Jerry Daiber with the city of Bucyrus. The two men, who total 68 years of combined service, gathered with fellow employees and city officials Wednesday for a retirement luncheon in their honor.
“They’re huge holes to fill. How do you do that?” Mayor Jeff Reser acknowledged. “They both ran departments that we didn’t have to worry about at all. We’ve been kind of planning for this day, but they’re such big shoes to fill – we tried to be creative in filling them.”
Fox, who helmed the Water Department, put in 45 years while Daiber ends his 23-year career with the city as the Utility Supervisor.
“We’ve come up with a good plan, but these guys will be missed,” Reser said. “Donnie’s worked here over 40 years; Jerry knows about everything about the city. How do you replace them? There just aren’t a lot of supervisors out there that, over the years, have been willing to step up and those are two guys who were willing to do that when the city needed them – and performed admirably.”
Reser said they have looked for ways to save the city money as it parts ways with Fox and Daiber. The duties for both positions have been divided up amongst current workers. Terry Spiegel, who is already in charge of Waste Water Treatment, will become supervisor of the new treatment plant while Chad Slagle will be the Operator of Record, acting as the city’s liaison with the EPA. Jeff Dunn will be taking over a number of Daiber’s duties.
“The good news is the city’s services won’t suffer and we’ll have some savings that we will be able to pass on to the taxpayers, too,” Reser said.
“It’s an adventure – something different every day,” Daiber said about his position as Utility Supervisor. “It’s a lot of unexpected stuff, you just deal with it as it comes.”
After putting in 23 years, Daiber said he does not have any definite plans as he enters retirement. There are a few things he would like to get checked off a list, however, including a 1949 Chevy pickup that was bought new by his great-uncle that same year. It has stayed in the family, but Daiber admitted it needs some major work.
“Now with a little more time maybe I can get on them,” Daiber said after discussing his 1927 Willys Whippet. “We’ll see what happens. It’s an expensive hobby.”
Daiber has been involved in a lot of major projects in Bucyrus and he will continue to be involved in some to smooth the transition. He will serve in a consultant role on various projects.
Fox, meanwhile, will say goodbye after nearly five decades. He started working with the city in the summer of 1971 after graduating high school.
“It’s finally going to be a relief,” Fox said about hanging up his hat. “There’s a lot of pressure with EPA and supplying water for about 13,000 people.”
Fox worked for 10 mayors and started working at the old water plant when it still had rotary dial telephones. Now, just as the new water treatment plant goes up – fully automated, Fox pointed out – he will step down for a changing of the guard.
“It’s been a challenge. I enjoyed coming in to work every day,” Fox said.
Fox plans on spending more time with his five grandchildren that live in opposite corners of the state.