With the election now complete, it seems like a good time to reflect. The new President Donald Trump was sworn in as our 45th president on Jan. 20.The first week after his election in November he began working on his cabinet appointments. These are the people who will work as his “team.”
Their approval now rests with both houses of our Congress. When the dust settles and his cabinet appointments are approved, he will go to work on evaluating all of the structures that make up our federal government. Department by department, President Trump and his Cabinet, will evaluate all of the “services” that our federal government offers.
When I think about the major undertaking of this process on a federal level, it seems like a good time to reflect on the “services” offered by the City of Rochelle. This is our “team.” and their services include:
Under the
General Fund
• Administration (city manager and staff)
• City clerk department
• Community development/planning/zoning/tourism
• Economic Development Department
• Engineering department
• Finance department

• Fire department
• Human relations department
• Police department
• Public relations department
• Street and cemetery department
Under the
RMU Fund
• Customer services and administration
• Communications department
• Electric department
• Water department
• Waste water department
Elected Officials
• Mayor
• City council members
As you can see, just on a local level, the list of service departments can be lengthy and detailed. On a federal level is has to be very complex to go through each department detail by detail.
The point is that for a community of just shy of 10,000 people, we are very blessed to have 120 plus dedicated employees committed to taking care of all the services that the citizens of Rochelle need. They keep us safe, lights on, water running, streets clean, and communications going. They do all of this in a very efficient manner.
I feel so grateful to live in a community like Rochelle that takes such good care of its citizens and puts our care as priority number one.
As mayor, working with the staff and citizens of Rochelle is on ongoing pleasure. Rochelle has always been and continues to be a community that works together for the common good and high quality of life that we all enjoy.
God Bless the City of Rochelle, its citizens, our city staff and our council members. May they continue to all work together to make this community a special place to live and raise a family.

Chet Olson is mayor of the City of Rochelle.