HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-013,' ~a ,i~'t.''f~ . 'y. r ~I
,i.
BOAfRC.~ OF ~l1P~RV I~~R~
t~rtll~ITY 4F' ~l,,,~TTii:~, ~'F'.ATE 4F GALIF'4~ /~~j
Resolution No. os-o13
RESOLUTION IN APPRECIATION OF BOB THOMAS
UPON HIS RETIREMENT FROM THE
GRIDLEY-BIGGS CEMETERY DISTRICT
WHEREAS, Bob Thomas was born and raised in Gridley, California; and
WHEREAS, Bob was hired as a laborer by the Gridley-Biggs Cemetery District on
September 16, 1968. At the age of 23, he was promoted to Superintendent on August 22, 1969;
and
WHEREAS, Bob was involved in purchasing additional land for the cemetery, and in
1979 he established an Endowment Care Fund; and
WHEREAS, he improved the methods of operation in many ways, including: purchasing
a backhoe to eliminate the hand-digging of graves, installing an in-ground automated sprinkler
system, and being instrumental in establishing the first benefit package for the employees; and
WHEREAS, Bob established the Avenue of Flags for the Memorial Day Program at the
cemetery, and was directly involved in the development of the Military Veterans Court of Honor.
Attendance at last year's Memorial Day celebration was in excess of 600 people; and
WHEREAS, in 1993, his challenge of the state's tax shift calculations resulted in a
significant savings to public cemeteries throughout the State of California; and
WHEREAS, that same year, due to his desire to work together with other public
cemeteries, the Public Cemetery Alliance was formed with approximately 10 cemetery districts.
Today, the Alliance has a membership of 100 public cemeteries throughout California and
provides many benefits for cemetery personnel and trustees; and
WHEREAS, in 1994, Bob formed the first Landscape & Lighting Assessment District
for a cemetery. The assessment district has provided funds for future development and replaced
revenue for maintenance that was lost during the tax shift and other property tax losses; and
WHEREAS, in 2001, he began contracting with the County of Butte to maintain the
Thompson Flat Cemetery out of his concern for this historic cemetery when other districts
showed no interest in doing so; and
WHEREAS, more than 36 years later, Bob Thomas retired on December 30, 2004.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Board, on its own behalf and on
behalf of the residents of the County of Butte, would like to express its deep appreciation to Bob
Thomas for his support and contributions to the citizens of this county, and further wishes him
well on his retirement.
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Butte County Board of Supervisors this 2.5`h day of
January 200.5 by the following vote:
AYES: Supervisors Connelly, Dolan, Houx, Josiassen and Chair Yamaguchi
NOES: None
ABSENT: None ~`"~
NOT VOTING: None
I
KIM K. YAMAGUCHI, Chair
ATTEST:
PAUL MCINTOSH, Chief Administrative Officer
And Clerk of the Board of Supervisors
B}~: