Hope City Manager Catherine Cook, with Director Reginald Easter (left) and Mayor Don Still (right) looking on, speaks at the Tuesday June 7 City Board meeting after her retirement was announced.

After all the agenda items had been addressed during the Hope City Board of Directors tonight and an adjournment by the board to a 20-minute executive session, Mayor Don Still told the audience of Cook's decision.

"It's been an honor to work for the city and an honor to work for all of you, and most especially it's been an honor to work for the people of Hope and to continue to work for them every day that I'm here and to work with all the great people that I've worked with on staff over these years. It has been all the relationships that I've formed, but it's just been more than half my life now to work for the City of Hope. And I'm very proud to be able to be here and I want to work every day till I walk out the door because I don't know anything different."

A round of applause followed.

Before Cook spoke, Mayor Don Still brought the board from executive session saying, "It's sad, but happy that Catherine's decided to retire at the end of the year. After 32 years of service, I want to thank Catherine for everything she's done. What a great leader. I've been on the board longer than anyone else. I think Catherine's always been fair. With Catherine, you didn't have to worry if there was any money in the bank. She was good about keeping the budget and keeping it solvent, even during the pandemic. She did it very well. Like I say, we go back a long way. Thank you very much for everything you do."

"I appreciate everything she's done as well," City Director Reginald Easter said.

Director Kiffinea Talley agreed with the mayor, too, adding, "I'm definitely going to miss her. This is an opportunity for her. We just have to be happy with that. We just thank you for your service to the city. You've done a wonderful job."

"I've always found the older I get, the more of the passing of the torch to the next person. And Catherine has definitely set the bar high for the next person. The city will continue on and Catherine has agreed to help us out and stay with us even after the first of the year if we some help on some things, so I appreciate that."

Cook has worked for the city for 32 years, having been the Administrative Assistant to the City Manager, Public Works Director and Assistant City Manager until being appointed City Manager by Hope City Board of Directors in 1996.

The rest of the meeting, which included approvals for City Hall building maintenance, a request for help for a youth event, an easement granted at the Hope Public Schools' solar array and an aspiring Eagle Scout's request to fund a project near the Colliseum will be described in a story to be posted tomorrow.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4qBRDutu5q0