Loudon public works director ret

Loudon public works director retires

Jonathan Herrmann news-herald.net

After 34 years as an employee with the city of Loudon — 31 as public works director — Bill Fagg decided to retire.

“The first job, when I started, was in construction,” Fagg said. “We remodeled city hall. Then I hired in with public works and took over as public works director in ‘86.”

Fagg first contemplated retirement at age 62. Now nearly 70, he decided it was time to move forward with that choice.

“I gave them a couple of weeks, I made it kind of quick, but I just decided if I don’t make the decision and set a date then I’ll be around here until I’m too old,” he said.

Elected officials and employees of both the city and Loudon Utilities Board gathered Friday to send Fagg off with a retirement party at the Lions Club Pavilion at Loudon Municipal Park.

“I felt honored to be employed by the city of Loudon, but when you see you have friends that come and show their support of my retirement, I think it’s awesome,” he said.

Jim Greenway, Loudon mayor, believes Fagg will be a “tough one to replace.”

“He cares tremendously,” Greenway said. “He knows the people so well and they can call down there if they have an issue and Bill will address it and take care of it.

“... Bill addresses all kinds of issues with the city that a lot of folks never see,” he added. “The reason they never see them is he gets them fixed before they become a major problem. That’s where we’re fortunate to have him. He’s more proactive than he was reactive.”

Fagg said it may take some time to adjust to not coming in for work on Monday morning.

He hasn’t kept track of many of the large projects he had a hand in, referencing the fountain in downtown Loudon as one that does stick out.

“I don’t like to say that I’ve done this,” he said. “It’s the public works department. I give credit to all employees for making up the departments and accomplishing projects.”