City of Decatur municipal services manager Dan Mendenall poses for a portrait on his last day before retiring in the garage of the Municipal Service Center in Decatur on Monday.
DECATUR — Decatur will be hiring a new caretaker for the city’s streets.
Dan Mendenall, Decatur’s Municipal Services manager, celebrated two events on Monday; his 63rd birthday and his last day on the job.
“I’m going to do some traveling,” he said. “And I’m going to play a lot of golf.”
A car drives past the Municipal Service Center on North Jasper Street in Decatur on Monday.
The job of the Municipal Services manager includes several responsibilities, such as overseer of the city’s fleet of vehicles, streets and sewers, traffic and parking, land management and forestry. When the threat of a blizzard or heavy amounts of rain was in the forecast, Mendenall made sure the crews were prepared.
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“I was in charge of all snow removal,” he said.
Mendenall said the time was appropriate to retire. “We need younger blood in here,” he said. “We need new ideas.”
Mendenall started in an entry-level position as a laborer with the city in May 1980. He gradually moved up through the years. He advanced to the Municipal Services manager approximately seven years ago.
The current crew is made up of nearly 60 employees. They work out of the 35,000-square-foot Municipal Service Center located on North Jasper Street. The garage maintains all of the city’s vehicles, including everything from fire trucks and squad cars to lawn mowers.
Fleet supervisor Chris Bergschneider has worked with the crews and Mendenall for nearly 10 years.
“All aspects of my job really corresponds working with them,” he said.
According to Bergschneider, the city’s streets have been impacted by Mendenall’s career. “Everything the municipal services does in this building revolves around Dan Mendenall,” Bergschneider said. “He’ll be missed.”
Mendenall admits he will keep his routine, getting up at 4:30 a.m. every day.
“I do that all the time. Even on weekends, I’m up early,” he said. “I’ll just get up, sit on the porch and drink coffee 'til it’s time to go golfing.”
The crews and other supervisors know they can call Mendenall if they need advice or counseling, although his days of clearing snow for the city have passed.
“That ain’t going to happen,” he said.
Cruisin' Eldo through the years
Soy Capital Bank, Decatur's first new bank in more than 30 years, officially opened June 9 with a formal ribbon-cutting ceremony and 4,000 guests. The new bank, located at 1501 E. Eldorado St., has a drive-in window and a parking lot for 40 cars. Its cost is estimated at $110,000.
This is the recently-opened Sandy's Drive-In which occupies the east 120 frontage feet of a block-long renovation project of the south sid eof the 100 Block E. Eldorado St.
Eldorado, E 500 Block looking east from Broadway. The building at the right is the Fred Kipp grocery store.
Decatur, Eldorado, E, 1100 Block paving looking east. Dec, 24 1911
Work progresses on Eldorado, Mon Sept. 12, 1960
According to a caption with this undated photo, city planners suggested that residential commercial developments be kept in a center, such as Monroe and Eldorado. Business buildings were located on the sidewalk line and some of them are needing repair and paint. The Piggly Wiggly store in this center was ready for expansion.
Eldorado street, in this view looking west, is a sea of power lines, signs and light poles.
From a caption accompanying this photo: Eldorado street, from Van Dyke St. to Oakland Ave., was blocked off today as the Illinois Power Co. laid a gas main. Saturday workmen for G.S. Chastain construction were removing trees along the street which will be widened by Chastain from Oakland to Church street.
Elam's Root Beer Stand
Waving from the back of a pickup truck are, from left, Susie Waite, Christina Oglesby, Elizabeth McCoy and friends.
Randy, at left, and friends proudly display their beer in Decatur Area Vocational Center lot, 300 E. Eldorado St.
Youths gather in the parking lot across the street from Central United Methodist Church.
Cheryl Sanders and Randy Garrison don't mind the activity around them.
Youths gather in a parking lot near the Decatur Area Vocational Center in the 300 Block E. Eldorado St.
Jim Queen, left, talks with one of the crowd of cruisers at McDonald's.
Teens at the Harry Appelbaum Store parking lot take in the cars driving by on Eldorado Street
Cruisers on the 19th Street having just left McDonalds on E. Eldorado. They are preparing to turn left (west) and start cruise over.
Donnette
Beckett
Contact Donnette Beckett at (217) 421-6983. Follow her on Twitter: @donnettebHR
Donnette Beckett
"Together Decatur" Columnist and Food/Drink Reporter
“Together Decatur” columnist and food and drink reporter for Lee Enterprises Central Illinois.
