Special recognition for outstanding service to the Village of Homewood was given to outgoing Public Works Department employees Dave Rubarth and Jim Tresouthick who retire on Dec. 31.
Homewood Mayor Richard Hofeld, right, wishes Dave Rubarth well as the board of trustees honored Rubarth for his service to the village. (Photos by Quincy Crump/H-F Chronicle)
The Homewood village board approved resolutions honoring the two at its Dec. 12 meeting. Afterward, both men received standing ovations from a room filled with their colleagues in Public Works.
Rubarth spent 23 years working for the village as a maintenance engineer and operator following in the footsteps of his father, Vinnie.
“I just want to say that I’ve been blessed and fortunate to work for the village of Homewood,” Rubarth said. “It’s been just an overwhelming experience. I’m just really appreciative and I’m sure my dad, Vinnie, is looking down on me.”
During his time with Homewood, Rubarth established a recycling program at the municipal service center. He worked in several different positions.
“Being such a dedicated employee, a lot of times when he knew it was going to snow Dave wouldn’t wait for the call. He would actually leave his house, be here and be ready for the calls,” Public Works Director John Schaefer said. “He went in early without being paid and just waited until the snow came and was there to plow the streets.”
Trustee Barbara Dawkins, right, thanks Jim Tresouthick for his nearly two decades of service to the village.
Tresouthick will leave Homewood at the end of the year after working for the village for 19 years, finishing as landscape maintenance supervisor.
Tesouthick is most known for his work with the village’s trees, pioneering the fight against the emerald ash borer beetle. He was recently named Forestry Professional of the Year by the Chicago Region Trees Initiative in recognition of that work.
“Jim has done a lot of hard work. He’s implemented some amazing programs that we’ve never had before,” Schaefer said. “He’s well known throughout the region. There are some villages that constantly call us and ask for Jim’s advice.”
Homewood is part of the Tree City USA program, the National Association of State Foresters, the USDA Forest Service and the US Conference of Mayors and National League of Cities because of Tresouthick.
“This is an incredible community,” Tresouthick said, noting Public Works is like a family to him. “I’ve been privileged to work with everyone in this room. It’s just been an honor, so thank you.”
