[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 106 (Monday, July 26, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1654]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  RECOGNIZING THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF CASPIAN CITY MANAGER ROSALIE KING

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BART STUPAK

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, July 26, 1999

  Mr. STUPAK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a dedicated public 
servant who has served her small northern Michigan community of Caspian 
for almost a quarter of a century.
  A reception for Rosalie King tonight celebrates her many services to 
the residents of Caspian. Although I can't be at that event, I'd like 
to share some thoughts with you and House colleagues on her work.
  Let me first remark on the kind of community in which Rosalie has 
worked since 1978.
  Much of northern Michigan was settled in the late 1800s. Most of 
these towns in northern Michigan were part of an early boom in such 
industries as mining--both copper and iron mining--and timber. By the 
turn of the century, many of these settlements had become communities. 
In the next quarter century services, such as water and wastewater 
treatment and brick streets, were added to these many small towns.
  The problem faced by many of these towns is the aging of this basic 
infrastructure. Water pipes no longer provide pressure sufficient for 
adequate fire protection, and in some cases they sustain failures 
because of frost heaving or age-related problems that force continuous 
and expensive repairs.
  More important, with the boom years far behind, basic infrastructure 
does not permit the development of industrial parks or the 
rehabilitation of downtowns that can be the basis for economic 
redevelopment.
  It has been in the area of pursuing grants for this kind of community 
maintenance and redevelopment that Rosalie King has excelled. As the 
city manager of Caspian she has successfully won millions in grants and 
equally successfully administered them, making future grant acquisition 
more likely.
  I have had the pleasure of being able to work with the dynamic 
community leader who has fought so long and hard for the betterment of 
the citizens she serves. Rosalie personifies the best of what local 
leadership can be and she has demonstrated the best that programs like 
Rural Development can be in terms of helping small communities maintain 
a quality of life and an ability to maintain and even attract economic 
investment. Other northern Michigan communities look to Caspian as an 
inspiration and a model for community pride and leadership.
  But Rosalie King has been more to her community than a public 
official. She is one of those rare individuals who has been able to 
give complete dedication to all areas of her life, family, church and 
community. In addition, she has been interested and involved in 
recreation programs, especially hockey.
  I know Rosalie will continue to dedicate her many talents to the 
friends and neighbors that make up the Caspian community. I ask you, 
Mr. Speaker, to join me in this salute to Rosalie King, a dynamic city 
manager, as she brings to a close a long distinguished career.

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