Washington honors outgoing mayor and officials; police chief praises staffing gains

The Washington City Council honored outgoing Mayor Gary Meniere and five other departing officials during its May 5 meeting, presenting commemorative art and formal acknowledgements of years of public service.

Catherine Coyle, district director for U.S. Rep. Darren LaHood, delivered a congressional record recognizing Meniere's 24 years as mayor and listing projects completed during his tenure, including a community center, a new city hall and improvements to the sewer system. "It is my pleasure to congratulate him on his retirement and wish him and his family the very best," Coyle said while reading the proclamation.

Police Chief Mike McCoy, who the council also honored, thanked the council for support during his eight years as chief and noted the department is fully staffed despite regional recruitment pressures. "As other departments in the area are offering quite some large sums of money to recruit officers, we now stand fully staffed with a waiting list of seven people on it," McCoy said.

City staff presented a watercolor of the city square by Amy Werner as a token honoring officials who together represent 64 years of service. The council passed two ceremonial proclamations—National Police Week and National Public Works Week—both by unanimous voice votes.

The meeting included brief farewell remarks from departing councilmembers and a presentation of gifts. The council adjourned its outgoing session and reconvened for swearing-in of newly elected officials.