If you asked Bill Thompson about the career path that he’s followed for more than four decades, he might take out a map of Painesville Township to use as a visual aid.
After all, Thompson has been working for the Painesville Township Service Department since August of 1979, which is almost 46 years ago.
Thompson said he took a job with the department while he was looking for work after high school. He viewed it as a way to make money until he figured out what he wanted to do as a career.
Thompson ended up liking the job and staying.
“After you get through that first year, then you find out that every season has a different priority for what the service department is going to do, and it was a nice variety and I enjoyed it,” he said.
He was promoted to a foreman in 2000 and named the department’s director in 2011.
After decades of service, he is now preparing to bring that career to a close by retiring and passing the torch, The News-Herald’s Bryson Durst reported.
Thompson has witnessed changes to the service department and township over the course of almost 46 years.
“We watched Mentor Avenue go from three lanes to five lanes,” he said. “We now have three parks, we had none. The Safe Routes to School sidewalk program, the Hometown Heroes banner program, paint the plow, community events, curbside pickups. There’s been a lot of positive change and I’m proud of that.”
Thompson said the department faced new responsibilities with the creation of the township-maintained Crislip, Hadden and Cicconetti parks. He is proud of the work the service department has done and believes the parks have turned out well.
“What I have learned about parks is they are a lot of work,” he said. “They have to look nice, they have to be safe, they have to be maintained. Everybody wants to see the park looking good and garbage has to be emptied and it’s just, parks take a lot of time.”
The department has also increased its storm sewer installation work and purchased equipment to patch its roads during Thompson’s career. New housing developments have also brought new roads for the township to maintain.
With those increasing responsibilities, he said the department grew from six employees when he started to 11 at present. It also got a new home early in his career, moving to its current headquarters at 558 Fairport Nursery Road in 1986.
In recent years, Thompson said he has worked with Assistant Service Director John Kotrlik to change the liquids and technology the township uses to keep roads clear in the winter. Thompson is proud of the township’s level of service during those months.
“That was kind of John’s area where he was really good at it, and between the two of us, we came up with a pretty good plan,” he said.
Thompson has also faced weather-related challenges throughout his career, including heavy rain events that tax the township’s storm sewers. He does not remember those as often from his earlier years.
Certain weather events stick out to Thompson. He said the biggest weather system he faced with the department was the 2006 flood.
Memorable winter weather events include the Christmas blizzard of 1983 and a snowstorm in November 1996. He also described the snow event after Thanksgiving 2024 as “one of the top five snowstorms” from his career.
Thompson’s last day of work will be June 30. Kotrlik will take over as service director the next day. The two have been working closely together for nearly two years to ensure a smooth transition.
Kotrlik started at the department in 2000. He said he has worked in road maintenance, equipment operation and supervisory roles.
Thompson described Kotrlik as a people person and good friend and said he is excited for him to start in the role.
“I think it’s going to be a seamless transition, and because of John’s interest in technology and new ideas, I think he’s going to take the department to a higher level,” Thompson said.
Township Trustee Gabe Cicconetti described Thompson as “a once-in-a-lifetime public servant” who loves the community.
Trustee Chuck Hillier added that he is “a consummate professional — honest, integrity-driven and always available to address concerns with a cheerful voice, ensuring issues are resolved.”
Thompson said that at his retirement party, the trustees also announced plans to rename the service department facility the “William A. Thompson Service Center.”
While Thompson will be leaving the service department, he plans to stay in the community he has called home throughout his life.
The News-Herald applauds Thompson for all of his hard work, as well as the leadership he provided for the Painesville Township Service Department during his lengthy career.
We also wish him a happy retirement — he’s earned it.