Tesreau named regional director

Lori Hammelman
Posted 11/15/17

One of Rochelle’s own has been appointed as a regional director for the Illinois Public Works Mutual Aid Network.

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Tesreau named regional director

Posted

ROCHELLE — One of Rochelle’s own has been appointed as a regional director for the Illinois Public Works Mutual Aid Network.

Sam Tesreau, lifelong resident and engineer for the city of Rochelle, was named as Region Two Director, which covers 17 counties in northern Illinois. The announcement came from city manager Jeff Fiegenschuh during Monday’s Rochelle City Council meeting.

The purpose of the mutual aid network is to provide assistance to other public works agencies in their time of need when disasters strike. Tesreau’s duties for the two-year term will be to further the mission of the organization.

Currently over 250 agencies are in the network.

“The mission is within the spirit of intergovernmental cooperation, to develop and maintain a statewide network of public works related agencies whose principal purpose is to provide mutual aid response and recovery assistance to each other when confronted with natural or man-made emergencies and disasters,” Tesreau said.

As a member, the city of Rochelle was called to assist the Ogle County Highway Dept. following the April 2015 tornado. Subsequently the city requested additional resources as well, and in the days that followed over 20 public works vehicles from other participating agencies arrived in the area to help with restoration efforts.

Tesreau explained the benefits of being a member of the network, including the educational opportunities provided to prepare for disasters.

“Generally speaking membership gives local leaders added peace of mind knowing that your community has access to pubic works aid throughout Illinois during time of need, and when local resources are overwhelmed, through a vast network of members with available or more diverse resources,” Tesreau said.

Most recently the city of Rochelle sent personnel in two public works vehicles to assist following the tornado in Naplate, near Ottawa.

“Having had the opportunity to see the organization in action I count it an honor to be a part of IPWMAN in this capacity,” Tesreau said.

Fiegenschuh praised Tesreau for his leadership and representing the city of Rochelle in the organization.