The 03/17/2021 Appleton Common Council meeting was the last Council meeting before the election. Alderpersons Patti Coenen and Corey Otis are not seeking reelection, so they gave a joint invocation as a way of saying goodbye.
Mayor Woodford: Tonight’s invocation will be delivered by Alderpersons Otis and Coenen.
Patti Coenen (District 11): Thank you, Your Honor. So my time serving on City Council is coming near an end after nine years, and during that time I have learned so much about the city and our surrounding communities. The most important thing that I have learned is that my voice and my vote are not just about my constituents; it’s about the greater good of the city and all of its residents. I have learned from city staff that compromise is so important in trying to keep everyone happy. Most often the ideas of compromise come from staff in an effort to help keep the peace. The dedication of the city’s directors, health officer, police and fire chiefs, and their entire staffs is truly incredible. We can see this especially, lately in Health Officer Kurt Eggebrecht who postponed his retirement to help the city and the community get through a pandemic. Kurt’s years of experience and knowledge are invaluable and have played a crucial role in our fight against Covid. Kurt, I think, I can speak for everyone on the Council, um, as I thank you from the bottom of my heart. It’s truly and incredible and selfless gift you have given–not only to the city but the entire surrounding community. It has been a very humbling experience for me to serve on City Council, so to the remaining Council members and those that will be elected, I ask you to remember: serving is not about your personal agenda, it’s about the greater good of the city. It’s okay to disagree, but be respectful of other viewpoints. And use compromise when you need to. Corey?
Corey Otis (District 15): Thank you, Patti. One year ago today, many of the things we took for granted were taken away. We lost work, business, school, parties, parades, concerts, events, festivals, and gatherings with family and friends. We lost track of time all together and we lost all time together. We lost more than half a million American citizens including 63 residents from Appleton. At my darkest moment in this Covid tunnel, I relied upon the wise words of philosopher Aristotle, I mean, Aaron Rodgers, and he said quote “When things happen they just happen. They weren’t happening to me. They were just things that were happening, and what I can control is my reactions and my own emotions.” This pandemic happened. It just happened. It happened to you. It happened to me. It happened to the entire world. This is a once in a lifetime event. We hope. And all we can really control is how we respond. I’m very proud of how the city responded to what has happened. The mayors office and city directors and staff and employees never lost sight of their purpose–their responsibility and their duty to this city. Council made and supported tough and sometimes unpopular decisions. We all worked together–apart–with a common resolve: to serve the greater good. And that’s leadership. There’s now light at the end of the tunnel, but make no mistake. We’re still in the tunnel. So let me paraphrase Pericles, a Green Bay, oh wait, a Greek statesman, and let us remind us of what we lost, why we serve, and why we’re trying to get to the end of that tunnel. Feed your eyes on our city until love of her fills your heart. Thank you.
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