Retiring public works director’s impact will be felt for generations

Though he officially retired this past week, few deny that former Public Works Director Bill Shoemaker’s legacy will live on through the many large and not-so-large projects he helped bring about in the City of Sumner.

From simple things like sidewalks and crosswalks to big-ticket projects such as the wastewater treatment facility and the 24th Street Interchange off state Route 167, Shoemaker’s fingerprints are all over the city.

Downtown Association Director Shelly Schlumpf told a story recently of one of the little ways Shoemaker’s influence and sense of humor left a mark on Sumner. As the city and the DTA worked to develop names for each of the parking lots downtown, they selected the names from different types of daffodils. It was Shoemaker’s suggestion that the lot with the public restroom be named “Cheerfulness.”

After all, he reasoned, if you had to use the restroom, you’d certainly be cheerful to get to that lot.

But after 13 years in Sumner and 55 years on the job, Shoemaker has made his exit from the city stage, leaving behind a pack of well-wishers who took their opportunity during the June 16 council meeting to swap Shoemaker stories.

“What an absolute magician as a public works director,” City Administrator John Doan said. Doan was the community development director when Shoemaker was hired in 1995.

Doan, among others, credited Shoemaker with the ability to see the big picture, but not to the exclusion of citizens.

“Ultimately, it was about relationships,” Doan said of Shoemaker’s style, calling him a “great engineer and a great visionary.”

Former mayor Barbara Skinner agreed, adding that Shoemaker could “talk to people in English so they understood what we’re proposing.”

Among the big projects in whose development Shoemaker had a role is the city’s wastewater treatment plant, which Mayor Dave Enslow said was a highlight because you don’t hear about problems or concerns with the plant.

The mayor also cited the interchange and Shoemaker’s role in bringing low impact development to Sumner, including the gradual elimination of the city’s retention ponds to hold stormwater.

Doan agreed, adding that much of the city’s drive toward low-impact development “projects Bill conceptualized in his head.”

But Enslow also cited small things that have made a difference in the city, such as the blinking crosswalk near Daffodil Valley Elementary.

Shoemaker was also responsible for adding sidewalks to many parts of the city, something several councilmembers and Doan thanked him for.

“He understand entirely the impact of sidewalks to a community like this,” Doan said.

“It wouldn’t have happened without you,” added Councilman Matt Richardson.

But aside from the projects, city staff and former staff alike sang Shoemaker’s praises as not only an engineer, but as a good guy with a great sense of humor – “wicked,” by some accounts.

“His mark is on Sumner, but I don’t care about that,” said former Councilman Mark Evers. “He’s a great, great person.”

“You’re just a brilliant engineer and a wise man and the kind of guy I’d like to take my son fishing,” agreed Councilman Steve Allsop.

Councilman Leroy Goff, who served on the council for all of Shoemaker’s time in the city called him a “good team player” while Councilman Randy Hynek thanked him for showing him all of the city-owned land throughout the valley as possible locations for the city garden, as well as a place to plant a new grove of trees.

“Thanks for taking the time,” Hynek said. “You didn’t have to do it, but you did.”

As Shoemaker ends his time with the city, most who know him agree the loss to the city is great, but the most who know him and what he did will never be able to see Sumner without thinking of the work he did for its citizens.

“The city was very fortunate to have him for the time we did and he has left his mark all over this town,” Enslow said.

At his last city council meeting as public works director, Shoemaker was presented with a plaque honoring his time with the city and gave credit to the city staff, especially those in public works and at the treatment plant.

“They always make you look good,” he said with a broad smile. “They’ve probably made me look a lot better than I was.”

“It’s been a most enjoyable time here in Sumner,” he said.

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