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Tuesday, 07 July 2009 |
By MATT NICHOLS
Staff Writer
Two weeks after being named Wapakoneta’s new Safety Service Director, William Rains was introduced to those he will work with day after day.
Still a week away from taking over as Wapakoneta’s Safety Service Director, Rains got a head start on the job Monday during a meet and great session at the Wapakoneta Area Chamber of Commerce, and an official introduction at Monday’s city council meeting.
The two-hour meet and greet, put on by Mayor Rodney Metz, proviced Rains with a chance to meet with council and economic development group members — many of whom he’ll work with daily.
“I just wanted everyone to get a chance to come by to meet with Bill and talk with him and get to know him,” Metz said. “I thought it was important that everyone got together.”
Metz announced Rains as Rex Katterheinrich’s replacement two weeks ago, citing Rains as the perfect man for the job. After getting to know him during those weeks, Metz said his assessment and opinion of the future safety service director have only strengthened.
On Monday, Metz labeled Rains as “open minded and willing to try anything.”
“He’s going to be a fantastic fit to the community,” Metz said. “He’s very easy to talk to and he’s very open and eager to get started. He thinks the economic development in the city is in the right spot at the right time.”
Rains had worked as assistant safety director for Fostoria’s Roppe Corp. during the last year, and had served as Fostoria’s Safety Service Director from June 2005 to June 2008. He was tapped for the job after Metz and a council selection committee chose him from a field of 18 applicants.
The University of Toledo graduate will officially take the job on Monday, replacing Katterheinrich, who had announced his retirement in 2006, but still worked on limited contracts. Katterheinrich will begin working with Rains next week to aid in the transition period
Rains said he is already working with council and various department heads to gain traction with their ideas and wish lists. He said he is eager to get going, but knows there’s still a lot of networking ahead of him.
“You want to hit the ground running, but I don’t want to be running in the wrong direction,” Rains said.
Right now, the Sylvania native is banking all the information he can on the city, its projects and its people, who he said have all welcomed him with open arms.
“It’s been an excellent reception,” Rains said. “Everyone — the citizens, the staff, fellow employees — everyone has been very positive.”
After touring the city, Rains said he is impressed at Wapakoneta’s resilience during this economic downturn. The city, he said, is a minority in Ohio.
“There’s a feel here that this town isn’t on that economic edge,” Rains said. “You look at the neighborhoods, the new pool, the new football field project — there’s a lot of positive things happening here.
“It’s just good to be able to work with a mayor, council and a community that’s all heading in the same direction,” he said. “I’m excited to be a part of that.”
During Monday’s meeting, council passed a motion to allow the streets included in the annual Run to the Moon to be closed off to traffic on the morning of July 18.
Council also approved a recommendation by Metz to move Paul Eisert from his post on the Board of Zoning appeals into the unexpired term of Larry Marker. Metz’s recommendation to appoint Ned Dammeyer to Eisert’s post was also approved by council.
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 08 July 2009 )
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