Turner, Coleman honored at final board meeting

SILOAM SPRINGS — Mayor John Turner and City Director Bob Coleman were honored by city staff and state officials during their final city board meeting on Tuesday.

During the meeting Robin Lundstrum’s husband, Tom Lundstrum, acted as his wife’s proxy because she was in Little Rock on state business, he said. Tom Lundstrum first recognized Coleman for eight years of service as a city director and as Santa Claus.

Lundstrum also presented a check for a donation in Coleman’s name to The Gideons International, an organization that distributes Bibles and copies of the New Testament according to gideons.org. The Gideons are often recognized for their work with hotels, the website states.

Lundstrum then turned his attention to Turner, who has served since 2006. Turner served the first six years as a city director before becoming mayor in 2012.

Following the recognition, Lundstrum presented a check for a donation in Turner’s name to Siloam Springs’ Christmas decorating contest Deck the House. Robin Lundstrum’s donation helped raise the amount the winners will receive.

The new prize amounts are $150 for first place; $125 for second place; and $100 for third place, according to Communications Manager Holland Hayden.

During his administrator’s report, City Administrator Phillip Patterson recognized both Coleman and Turner.

Patterson remembered one of the first things Coleman directed staff to do when Patterson became city administrator in 2015 was to dig a big hole, which led to the groundbreaking of the new library.

Patterson said not long after Coleman made the comment, the city director was out there with his own shovel.

“And the best part of that day wasn’t necessarily seeing you with that shovel, it was seeing the kids who came out with their own shovels who wanted to help with that groundbreaking ceremony and get that new library started,” Patterson said about Coleman.

Patterson then focused on the mayor. The city administrator likened Turner to the Skipper on the 1960s television program “Gilligan’s Island.” He said Turner was the skipper of the city board for the last eight years.

“And when the weather’s been rough and the city’s tiny ship was tossed, your courage and leadership prevented the city and the board of directors from being lost,” Patterson said.

The city administrator also said when he spoke to people about the mayor they viewed him as Sampson, although Patterson joked that he wasn’t sure if it was the mayor’s superhuman strength or his hair.

Hayden joked about how the mayor routinely went off script during ribbon cuttings, park dedications.

Hayden also said it was an honor to write scripts for the mayor.

Turner said as mayor he doesn’t believe there is a better form of government for a city the size of Siloam Springs than the city administrator form of government. He joked that the hard part about being mayor was trying to stay out of the way as staff did their jobs.

He went on to praise city staff for being willing to help each other out by sharing equipment and staff.

Turner said he believed it was because they loved their city.

Turner said he believes his success and the success of the current city board was that they love Siloam Springs. He also issued a challenge to the board when they campaign: To rely less on campaign signs and spend more time knocking on the doors of residents.

(Courtesy Photo) Wearing a Christmas themed jacket presented by City Director Marla Sappington, retiring Mayor John Mark Turner stands with the awards he received during his last city board meeting last week. Turner received a plaque from the Arkansas House of Representatives, a proclamation from Arkansas Municipal League Executive Director Mark Hayes and a letter from 3rd District Rep. Steve Womack, R-Rogers.

( NWA Democrat- Gazette/ Janelle Jessen) Outgoing City Director Bob Coleman holds a citation from the Arkansas House of Representatives recognizing him for his service to the community of Siloam Springs.