Longtime St. Charles City Councilman Tenders Resignation

Bob Kneemiller, city councilman for Ward 4, has announced his resignation. Kneemiller told Patch that he had made the decision because he had sold his home and moved out of the ward.

“Basically what happened is my mother died last year and we had to put my father-in-law in a nursing home,” Kneemiller said. “We’ve been keeping up two houses for two years. Financially it made more sense to sell mine and keep the one we’re living in now.”

Kneemiller sent a letter to friends on Wednesday, reprinted below. He explained his resignation and expressed gratitude for his time as councilman.

Bob Kneemiller's Message to Friends About His Resignation

Because you are a friend I wanted you to know about the decision I made to step down from public office. Nineteen years ago I offered myself as a candidate for City Council in St. Charles. In 1992, with the support of my wife Elaine, family, and the residents of Ward 3, I was elected to the City Council. 

After servicing one term, I did not seek re-election but continued public service with board and commission appointments. In 2000, Elaine and I decided it the time was right to again seek a seat on the City Council which I have held till today.

I especially want to thank the residents of Wards 3 and 4 for providing me with the opportunity to represent them for the last 10 years. I will always be grateful to the residents for bestowing on me the honor of representing them on the St. Charles City Council. 

It is with gratitude, regret and sadness that I have submitted my letter of resignation as Councilman for Ward 4. I have been honored to serve, after close to twenty consecutive years of public service, it is time to give personal and family matters a higher priority.  

Almost twenty years ago, in the winter of 1991, I began running for St. Charles City Council.  My campaign theme–Pride, Progress and Professionalism for St. Charles–was to move St. Charles forward. 
 
The vision was to move the city from one that had recently laid off employees and had no cash reserves to the progressive city we are today with the creation of 1000’s of new residential units, a strong business community, and vibrant tourism

Today, even in the face of the worst recession since the Great Depression, that vision has become reality. We are still growing with projects such as Streets of St. Charles, the Desco Redevelopment and New Town still going strong.  St. Charles will lead the metro area to an economic recovery 

There will always be more to do, but today, St. Charles is significantly stronger and better than ever before. I am grateful for the opportunity to have served our city and to have worked daily with the exceptionally talented and dedicated administration and staff. I appreciate all the support you have given me and will continue to support the vital work of this government.

Over the past years, but particularly the last couple years, I have attempted to balance many roles in my life. This will allow me to concentrate on the things that are most important–family.   

I’m 53 years old. I have been in the public sector or public service for most of the past 20 years.   
   
It is my family who has sacrificed the most especially my wife, Elaine, and my now adult kids, Catie and Ted. It is hard to find the proper balance where my family and the family business is concerned, and I have not made them the priority they should be.   

While this decision allows me to make my family a priority, it also allows me to focus on spending more time helping my sister care for my 87 year old father and more time to help the people of El Salvador in conjunction with the St. Cletus mission group.

I believe St. Charles is on the right path. In the future it is my desire to work with the administration on special projects especially the community center project.

With my association with the city, I have made some very good friends and for that I will be forever grateful.