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Roanoke council honors 3 for service

John Stoeckley (left) and JoAnne Kirchner (right) hold plaques presented to them by Dave Tucker, president of the Roanoke Town Council, on behalf of the town in thanks for their years of service to the community. Stoeckley was a member of the town council for 27 years while Kirchner served at the town’s clerk-treasurer for 23 years.
John Stoeckley (left) and JoAnne Kirchner (right) hold plaques presented to them by Dave Tucker, president of the Roanoke Town Council, on behalf of the town in thanks for their years of service to the community. Stoeckley was a member of the town council for 27 years while Kirchner served at the town’s clerk-treasurer for 23 years. Photo by Steve Clark.

The Roanoke Town Council bid farewell to a pair of council members, as well as the town’s longtime clerk-treasurer at its meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 17.

Councilman John Stoeckley and Council President Dave Tucker participated in their final meeting, as did Clerk-Treasurer JoAnne Kirchner.
While Kirchner and Tucker fell short in re-election bids for their respective offices in the municipal election on Nov. 5, Stoeckley opted to not seek another term.

Stoeckley and Kirchner both received plaques from Tucker on behalf of the town for their years of service to the community. Stoeckley held a council seat for 27 years while Kirchner ran the clerk-treasurer’s office for 24.

“It’s been a pleasure serving the town,” said Stoeckley.

He noted that it was heartening seeing new leaders step forward to occupy seats on the council.

“That’s good,” he said, “because it hasn’t always been that way in town.”

Kirchner said she was grateful for the support she received during her time as clerk-treasurer, thanking her family and her deputy clerk, Kay Moore.

“Mostly I want to thank the residents,” she added.

Kirchner stated that the aspect of her job she would miss the most was working with town employees, such as Superintendent of Operations Phil Hibbert, Town Marshal Jim Wood and others.

As for the next chapter of her life, Kirchner shared that she had been accepted as a candidate to become a volunteer for CASA, which stands for Court Appointed Special Advocates, and would be working with children in foster care during court appearances.

Tucker, a two-term councilman, echoed Kirchner’s appreciation for the town’s residents.

“I also would like to thank the community for the support they’ve given me over the last eight years,” he said. “Had a good time with it. I’m sure I will find something else to fill my time.”

In other business, utility department employee Macy McClellan reported that two items needed to be replaced at the water treatment plant. One of those items, he said, was a gate valve, which no longer closes properly. Council voted to replace the valve, giving the utility department permission to spend a maximum of $5,500 on the part.

The second item, said McClellan, was a transfer switch.

“So, basically, right now if power goes out at the water plant, we have to manually go up there and put the water plant on generator power … it won’t automatically transfer,” he said.

McClellan noted that he was in the process of gathering quotes for the part.

Brandon Taylor, chief of the Roanoke Volunteer Fire Department, reported that he had been re-elected to a three-year term as the department’s chief. He added that Jeff Carsten would continue to serve as the assistant chief.