Family calls for Florence City Manager… and more news

City Manager Bob Willoughby said it’s been his goal recently to get back to his roots.  He recently formally announced he would be leaving within the next 12 months.

Bob Willoughby – “January of 2013 was my target and as I get closer to that I’ve decided that sometime in the near future I would start looking for opportunities that would be of interest that are closer to where my wife and I have our roots and have our family.”

Willoughby’s announcement came as part of the council’s recent discussions about a long range financial plan for the city.

Bob Willoughby – “That transition plan was part of the long range plan and adopting that would be a vote of confidence or an indication that the council supported that transition plan. And their response was unanimous that they supported that transition plan.”

That plan included elevation of assistant city manager Jacque Betz to the top job in city hall, as well as other personnel shifts to reduce overall costs.  Final action on the entire plan is expected in October.

Florence Festival of Books:

There will be history, mystery, science fiction and romance; biography, how-to, poetry and children’s books at this weekend’s first ever Florence Festival of Books at the Florence Events Center.  For lovers of books it just could be a paradise between ten AM and four PM Saturday, as dozens of authors and a handful of publishers set up at the center.

Readers will be able to meet the writers, chat with them and find out what their motivation was says festival co-chair Judy Fleagle.  Aspiring authors can meet with the more experienced; as well as publishers.

Special Dunes City Council Meeting:

Dunes City Councilors will meet this evening and discuss the need for several standing committees and commissions that currently advise them.  A special meeting is planned for five pm at Dunes City Hall with two agenda items… First up:  discussion and action on the list of committees currently staffed by volunteers.

The second item, up for discussion only, is an ordinance to regulate enforcement of the city’s codes.