by Staff
Departing Downtown Development Authority director Paul Krutko told Jacksonville farewell last week and gave his successor an A-plus for the future.
Krutko was feted with a goodbye party Thursday night at the Snyder Memorial and then honored at Friday’s Downtown Council meeting.
“There is a lot of momentum in Jacksonville,” said Krutko, who’s accepting a job in San Jose. “The future is strong for downtown, but it’s up to everyone — particularly this Council — to let government know that it’s important that the momentum be maintained.”
He said the DDA’s new director, Al Battle, “is an exceptional person, a man of character who has come up through the ranks and knows this city.” Krutko added, “He has been my right-hand man, and we couldn’t have been successful without him.”
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Over 75 attended the Council meeting at the River City Brewing Company and the group included all four officers of the Northwest Council.
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The Council’s annual “Hard Hat Tour” of downtown buildings under construction is scheduled for April 20. Downtown Enhancement Committee chair Doug Wilder said about seven properties will be on this year’s tour.
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The meeting’s speaker was acting coroner Margarita Arruza, who reviewed the work of the medical examiner’s office here.
While autopsies don’t produce many laughs, she and Council vice president Travis Rigdon of Hardage-Giddens Funeral Homes got one when she said that 90 percent of natural deaths are from heart attacks.
“Enjoy the sausage gravy,” said Rigdon, referring to the morning’s featured buffet item.
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Bailey Publishing came out the big winner at the meeting. In door prize drawings, Editorial Director Fred Seely won a $1,000 office chair donated by Kimball Office Furniture and sales executive Deborah Metzig took home $31 in the “50-50” drawing.
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The next meeting is Feb. 1 with Vestcor’s John Rood as the main speaker.