16-44 Resolution No. 16-44
RESOLUTION
IN HONOR OF FORMER CITY MANAGER ROBERT L. BRUNTON
WHEREAS, Robert L. Brunton was the City Manager for the City of Elgin from 1962 to
1972; and
WHEREAS, during his years with the City of Elgin, Mr. Brunton was responsible for
supervising the City of Elgin Civic Center Project; and
WHEREAS,the City's Civic Center Project began in 1962 with the campaign for a successful
referendum to approve bond issues and was completed in 1969; and
WHEREAS,the Civic Center Project involved the razing of approximately fifty buildings on
a twenty-five acre site and resulted in the construction of five new buildings and the new Civic Plaza
including a new city hall, post office, library, appellate court building, and the Hemmens
Auditorium; and
WHEREAS,Mr.Brunton's exuberant leadership helped lead the City of Elgin through other
advancements and projects during Mr. Brunton's tenure including a new west side fire station,
facilities for the Bluff City Cemetery,the Spartan Meadows Golf Course,more adequate buildings
for the public works department, a band shell for Wing Park, additional tennis courts, a central
communications center for the fire and police departments, new parking lots, a children's zoo,
redevelopment of Fountain Square, commencement of bus operations, a computer system and
resurfacing of more than fifty miles of streets; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Brunton's accomplishments in his career also included serving as an
Assistant City Manager in Minot,North Dakota from 1949 to 1951; serving as the City Manager of
Milton Freewater, Oregon from 1951 to 1956; serving as an Assistant Director of the International
City Manager's Association from 1956 to 1961; serving as City Manager of Fort Collins, Colorado
from 1972 through 1977 and serving as Deputy City Manager for Phoenix, Arizona from 1977
through 1986; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Brunton also served his country in the military and was a veteran of the
Second World War; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Brunton was a civil engineer and had a master's degree in sociology and
psychology and had additional coursework in public administration; and
WHEREAS,Mr.Brunton was aptly nicknamed"Bob the Builder"and is further remembered
as a man of great intellect and integrity with a compassion for people and a devotion to the ideal of
honest and responsible city government; and
WHEREAS,Mr.Brunton enjoyed his retirement years in Arizona before passing away at the
age of 88 in 2012; and
WHEREAS, the City of Elgin wishes to express its sincere and warm appreciation and
esteem to the memory of former City Manager Robert L. Brunton who was a faithful and diligent
public servant and steward for the City of Elgin; and
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Elgin has determined that an appropriate
recognition and honor for Robert L. Brunton is to place a historical marker in the Civic Plaza
describing Mr.Brunton's accomplishments on behalf of the City and his indispensable leadership in
the construction of the Civic Center Project to honor Mr.Brunton's legacy of service and leadership
and to inform and remind future generations of Mr. Brunton's service.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
ELGIN,ILLINOIS,that the City of Elgin extends its sincere and warm appreciation and esteem to
the memory of former City Manager Robert L. Brunton and to his family for Mr. Brunton's
outstanding service to the City of Elgin as City Manager for the City of Elgin.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ELGIN,
ILLINOIS,that in recognition and in honor of former City Manager Robert L.Brunton's outstanding
service to the City of Elgin that the City of Elgin hereby designates and names a historical marker to
be placed in the Civic Plaza as the Robert L. Brunton Historical Marker.
s/David J. Kaptain
David J. Kaptain, Mayor
Presented: April 13, 2016
Adopted: April 13, 2016
Omnibus Vote: Yeas: 8 Nays: 0
Attest:
s/Kimberly Dewis
Kimberly Dewis, City Clerk
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