Former City Manager thanks employees for team effort

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Neighbors | Submitted .Former Canfield City Manager Chuck Tieche retired Friday after 34 years of service to the city of Canfield.

By GRACE WYLER

gwyler@vindy.com

Former City Manager Chuck Tieche finally said goodbye to the City Administration Building on Friday, concluding 34 years of dedicated service to the city of Canfield.

Tieche, who has sat through more than 400 City Council meetings, has retired after serving as City Manager for 18 years.

Tieche, who moved to Canfield at the age of 2, plans to remain in Canfield with his wife Bonnie. The couple plans to do some camping and play golf. They also hope to travel, perhaps to warmer climes, Tieche said, as well as visit their three children who live in other parts of the state.

He added that there is a list of things he has to do around his house that he will now be able to get around to doing.

Tieche began working for the city as a summer employee for the public works department in 1965.

He worked for the city in various capacities, including finance director and zoning inspector, until 1981. After spending a decade as city manager in Sebring, Tieche returned to Canfield as city manager in 1991.

Tieche praised the accomplishments of the city’s employees, and thanked them for the teamwork that goes into making the city run smoothly.

“There really is a team-type effort between all of our employees — from the office staff to the police department,” he said. “The slogan of Canfield is ‘The City That Cares’ and I hope that we continue to see that demonstrated in the employees that serve [the city.]”

Canfield Mayor Willam Kay and city council members thanked Tieche for his service at their meeting Jan. 20.

“I want to thank Chuck for his dedication and his hardwork,” Kay said. “His heart is with the city of Canfield.”

During Tieche’s tenure as manager, the city has grown by 25 percent, he said. As a result, the city has added about 40 new streets due to new development.

Tieche has overseen a number of improvements to Canfield’s infrastructure, including the implementation of a 10-year street paving cycle, improvement in storm and sanitation services, and the addition of ornamental lighting and runners around the village Green.

Tieche announced his plans to retire in 2007, but stayed on until a replacement was found. He was replaced by Joseph Warino, a former Mahoning County sanitation engineer, on Dec. 1. He has acted as assistant city manager since then in order to ease the transition.

Tieche is not considering a return to local politics, but he has not ruled out a comeback.

“I never say never and I never say always,” he said. “But the plan right now is to take some time off and not do a lot of anything.”