Du Quoin Administrator Shares His Hope for City: Brad Myers and Indian Football Co-Captain Shayne Baxter Guests of Du Quoin Chamber

Eight days into his new role as Du Quoin city administrator, Brad Myers can turn off his truck. He's staying.

He still needs it for the hour and 10 minute commute to and from Freeburg every day until he sells the family's home in Colorado and moves here.

But, otherwise he's happy and the council that hired him is happy.

Myers told the 25 in attendance at Wednes-day's meeting of the Du Quoin Chamber of Commerce, "I am very pleased at what I see. I hope to make you proud that you chose me."

It was a meeting that included welcoming a Du Quoin High School student guest--senior football co-captain Shayne Baxter -- to the meeting, a chamber concessions report that pointed to a disappointing fundraising year , but some hope for a spring home and garden show and some new bookkeeping initiatives.

Myers said his message to the city was clear during a first staff meeting on Monday. "I demand honesty and I give it. I don't want you to sugar coat anything. I am fair. And, if something is in black and white I don't owe allegiance to anyone."

That's one benefit of coming into a community cold.

But, there is also some warming going on. He said there is a good feeling at seeing faces and hearing the names of people he is coming to know. He said his drive out to the Elks Club for the meeting included a trip down Main Street where he saw the town's distinctive lighting and he can only imagine how great it will look during the holidays.

He said he told department heads at the meeting, "You are leaders. We are a team that supports each other."

He said he won't micro-manage departments unless there is a need to settle an issue or get something "back on track."

Myers' background in the military in inescapable , but is tempered by a longing to return to a small town setting after 26 years in the military. Myers is a Belleville-area native who grew up in Lebanon, Ill. before turning to the military as a way to advance his education.

At the outset, he has identified staffing and knowing the city's employees, will have the city's Web site made current or find a new web administrator to take care of it, has received permission to buy a new computer and software and said in the future customers of the city can look forward to online water bill payments and some other conveniences.

Finance commissioner Rex Duncan introduced Myers and said the decision "got down to one word--leadership."

During Dr. Kelly's remarks, he said he was proud of the way Shayne Baxter interceded in a late game confrontation between Bismarck team members and Du Quoin last Saturday. Baxter said the Du Quoin Indians over the years have set the standard for sportsmanship. "I love playing football in Du Quoin and I love playing for coach Martin," he said.

Baxter is a role model and said he hopes guidance and physical education are in his future.

Baxter is a running back for the Indians.

In other business, outgoing chamber president Fred Huff returns to the Board of Directors. Realtor Norm Tilley joins the board, as well.

It was reported by concessions director Chuck Novak that this was the worst year for that program in years because of various event rainouts at the Du Quoin State Fair. He reported that the chamber netted about $6,000 out of about $21,000 in sales.

Novak has chaired the work for many years and asked chamber president Sheila Haggard to consider hiring a professional concessionaire to manage the work in the future. A committee will begin looking at that option.

The chamber will reduce the number of directors to 15 and eliminate six year term limits for those directors.

The chamber was reminded of Monday's downtown Du Quoin Veterans Day parade beginning at 10 a.m. Retired Air Force Lt. Col. Ace Keller will be the grand marshal.

The membership approved the purchase of a Quick Books accounting program for the office and noted that economic development director Jeff Ashauer and members of the Carbondale Chamber will be upcoming guest speakers.

The chamber also welcomed the return of Dan Breslin, owner of Red Hawk golf course, as a member. Breslin hopes to establish a strong working relationship between the Du Quoin and Pinckneyville chambers in the coming months.