The ManeaterColumbia, Missouri

Bi-Weekly Newspaper (online and in print)-Nichole Ballard

Mar. 82011

Council bids farewell to Bill WatkinsAfter five years as city manager, Bill Watkins will officially retire March 11.By Nichole Ballard

Published March 8, 2011

City Manager Bill Watkins was honored for his 22 years of service in Columbia during the Columbia City Council meeting Monday night. Watkins will officially retire Friday.

As city manager, Watkins was responsible for all city operations and implementing policies and programs. The city manager is an all-encompassing authority on officer and employee appointments for the city of Columbia, according to the city's website.

In addition, Watkins served as an unofficial adviser to council members. His experience and knowledge weighed heavily with council decisions from proposing a budget to approving allocations of funds.

An MU alumnus, Watkins utilized a master's degree in public administration to serve the public in various city government agencies. He has held two city manager positions, one in Illinois and another in Ohio, in addition to his five-year stint in Columbia, according to the city's website.

"It meant a lot to me to come into the government of a city with a steady hand," Mayor Bob McDavid said.

Department of Economic Development Director David Kerr recognized Watkins' contribution of helping establish the first certified site for economic development in the state. Missouri has recognized Columbia for providing consistent standards regarding the availability and development of potential areas of the city. Kerr said Columbia is unique in having two sites of economic development.

"It's quite an accomplishment to have a certified site," Kerr said. "We have officially announced today that Columbia now has a second site. Not only are they the first, but they are the only metropolitan area or city to have two certified sites."

Watkins has four children with his wife Kathy, who passed away Feb. 22, succumbing to an eight-year battle with breast cancer, the website stated.

During his last council meeting Monday night, Watkins advised council members to help with the burden of homeowners on maintaining sewage system. He urged them to assist homeowners with money to meet the standards of sewer drains causing sewage to back up into people's homes.

"That's a pretty good hardship," Watkins said. "The idea that we would help pay for or defer payments at a reasonable interest rate, I think, would have a positive impact on people."

Plans for the Avenue of the Columns, which have been in the works since 1992, were also approved. The project is a streetscape plan regarding remodeling Eighth Street from the columns downtown and connecting them in a similar style to the columns on campus.