By BOB SHRALUKA
WZBD.com
City of Decatur employees are getting another pay raise and the fire department will be receiving a new fire truck … well, that was proposed, anyway, on Dec. 4 by Mayor-For-A-Day Thomas Zelt!
“He ordered a new fire truck and okayed pay raises,” a chuckling Mayor Dan Rickord told city council at its recent meeting.
Thomas, 5, a kindergarten student a St. Joseph School in Decatur, spent his day as mayor touring the police and fire departments, was part of a meeting of city department heads, had lunch at the American Legion post here, and even took part in a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
Thomas (shown with the mayor in photo) demonstrated excellent diplomacy. Asked which department, police or fire, he liked best, he said both.
“He was a great kid,” the mayor said at the meeting.
“I really enjoy any time I get to engage the youth in our community,” the mayor remarked in a post on the city’s Facebook page. “Thomas and I had a wonderful time today and I think he learned a great deal touring various departments. This is a day he will remember for a long time.
“I want to say thank you to St. Joseph School and his parents, Eric and Shelby, for allowing this day to happen. I also want to thank all the city employees who made this a special day for both myself and Thomas.”
The pairing came about when Mayor Rickord made the donation of a mayor-for-a-day to the St. Marys Fall Fest and Thomas’ folks won the special day in a silent auction.