[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 108 (Monday, August 8, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: August 8, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                      TRIBUTE TO THOMAS R. ETLING

                                 ______


                          HON. JAMES M. TALENT

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, August 8, 1994

  Mr. TALENT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Thomas R. 
Etling, a constituent of mine who has served the people as an Alderman 
on the Town and Country Board of Aldermen for nearly 9 years.
  Perhaps the best way to pay tribute to Tom Etling is to read his 
farewell statement to the Board of Aldermen at its meeting on April 11, 
1994. This is what he said:

       This is my final board meeting after eight and one-half 
     years of service (actually eight years and eight months), 
     which I believe is longer than any other Alderman has served. 
     Five of those years, I served as President of the Board and 
     all that time as Chairman of the Public Works and Stormwater 
     Commission.
       During that period, the city changed dramatically. As your 
     Alderman, I was able to initiate many of the changes and 
     participate in all of them. During my term:
       Through annexation, the city grew in population by almost 
     fifty percent; the land area increased by almost twenty-five 
     percent;
       The city never raised taxes on private citizens. In fact, 
     the only change was a tax cut.
       New stormwater ordinances were drafted and implemented to 
     protect the citizens. These ordinances helped contribute to 
     Town and Country's reputation as the most protective 
     community in the county, a title we all wear with pride.
       Several million dollars were spent on streets and 
     stormwater control. A great deal of this money came as grants 
     from other government entities. We received this money 
     because we had done an excellent job of advance planning.
       The city became and is currently one of the most fiscally 
     sound in the country.
       A new municipal center and fire station were built.
       Plans were approved and soon construction will begin on a 
     Mormon Temple which may become the architectural focus of the 
     city and will give the name Town and Country world-wide 
     recognition.
       A city administrator was added and staff was increased to 
     improve the service to our citizens.
       A Chamber of Commerce was founded and is now a vibrant and 
     thriving part of the community.
       The Town and Country Cable Education Fund, Inc. was 
     founded. This is a non-profit corporation through which all 
     the schools in Town and Country benefit financially from the 
     franchise fees collected from the cable TV companies.
       As a minor item I chaired the group that selected the new 
     city logo. I also gave this building the name of Municipal 
     Center, a name I suggested and which was accepted when nobody 
     offered an alternative.
       I also sent a record that I expect will never be broken. In 
     the mayor's absence I chaired a regularly scheduled Board 
     meeting. The meeting lasted thirteen minutes.
       In summary, I feel very pleased and proud with my 
     contributions to the city and the accomplishments of the city 
     in the almost nine years that I was privileged to serve.
       Many times there were very difficult decisions to be made 
     and it was necessary to rise above parochial interests to do 
     what was best for the city as a whole. I feel comfortable 
     that the right decisions were made. Further, I feel confident 
     in the future of the city because I leave it in a very solid 
     and secure position much better than it has ever been.
       I urge the current Board members and those soon to take 
     office that they strive in all they do to be able to make 
     that same statement when their terms of service are complete.
       It has been a pleasure serving. For that I thank the four 
     Mayors under whom I served; my fellow Board members; the 
     members of the Public Works and Stormwater Commission, who 
     labor long and hard and are generally unsung; the city staff; 
     the citizens of Ward I who on five occasions selected me to 
     represent them in Town and Country, which I believe is the 
     premier city in St. Louis County; and especially my family 
     and my wonderful wife, Helen, who supported me all that time 
     and who now says, `I have my husband back'.

  Mr. Speaker, Alderman Etling's presence on the Board of Town and 
Country will be missed. We all owe him a great debt of gratitude and 
wish him well in the years to come.

                          ____________________