[Press Release] : FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Finance Director John Blattel retiring, celebration planned for March 10

[Press Releases]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Sara Humm
Community Relations
573-874-7240

Finance Director John Blattel retiring, celebration planned for March 10

COLUMBIA, MO (March 9, 2016) - Finance Director John Blattel is retiring after eight years working for the City of Columbia.  Before starting with the City in 2008, Blattel worked for the Missouri State Auditor’s Office for 34 years.

“As an auditor you uncover problems and as the City’s finance director you fix problems. That’s the big thing I enjoy about being the director is being able to solve problems,” Blattel said.

Blattel was hired as an internal auditor for the City in 2008, then became the interim finance director before being named the director in February 2011.  

City Manager Mike Matthes said Blattel is dedicated to his job and is already at work when he arrives at 7:20 a.m. and he’s still working after the clock hits 5.  Matthes said Blattel’s hard work is a benefit to all Columbia citizens.

“John’s one of the hardest working guys I’ve ever met,” Matthes said.  “I think John has saved the city at least $20 million in refinanced bonds. He's always on the lookout for a cheaper rate and everyone in Columbia owes him thank you.”

Deputy City Manager John Glascock said Blattel would always shine in unexpected ways to help complete projects that weren’t necessarily planned for.

“There were projects that the City Council wanted done that weren’t budgeted but John found the money to get the project done,” Glascock said. “When I would ask about funding an unexpected project, the answer was always, ‘yes, let me think about it’ and he always came back with a solution and our projects got done.”

For the 20th consecutive year, the City of Columbia received the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award from the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada. It’s an honor that shows significant achievement and commitment to the budgeting process.

“There’s a lot of thought that goes into preparing the budget because it impacts people and operations,” Blattel said.

Deputy City Manager Tony St. Romaine said Blattel played a large role in the City’s COFERS project, a software project that’s being implemented across City departments to improve efficiencies, collaboration and customer service.  Blattel said the multiyear project is a huge undertaking and has been successful with very few problems.

"Replacing the City's outdated software which includes all of our financial programs has been a huge task. We have had to make many tough decisions, and I have enjoyed working with John as a member of our Executive Leadership Team and have great admiration for his leadership, knowledge and wisdom," St. Romaine said.

Another accomplishment for Blattel is the financial audit.

“The most recent audit had no findings, recommendations or suggestions for corrections,” Blattel said.  “There aren’t many entities our size that don’t have any recommended changes.”

Additionally, Blattel said changes to pension plans in 2012 were also an achievement worth noting.

“We had meetings with employees, brought in actuaries and had a citizen board to gather ideas on how to move forward. The nine month process was slow but methodical,” Blattel said.

Blattel said there are other smaller projects he’s proud of that have made operations better and easier including the cell phone policy, travel policy, implementing per diems, revising the system for employee purchase cards and others.

During retirement, Blattel said he plans to travel and spend more time with his three children and three grandchildren. Blattel isn’t wasting time, he has a Caribbean cruise planned for April.

“My wife likes cruises because there isn’t cell phone reception so that means I can’t work,” Blattel said with a laugh.

Blattel said he plans to spend more time at the Lake of the Ozarks boating and fishing.

“That’s why I’m retiring now, I don’t want to give up another summer,” he said.

While he’s looking forward to relaxing, he said he will miss his co-workers.

“There’s a lot of good people that work for the City of Columbia and I enjoy working with them as a team,” Blattel said.  “I will miss working with my staff every day.”

A retirement party is planned for Thursday, March 10 from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at City Hall, 701 E. Broadway. Remarks will be given in Council Chambers with refreshments in conference rooms 1A/1B. His last day is March 11.



This release has the following attachments:

http://www.gocolumbiamo.com/CMS/pressreleases/downloadfile.php?id=1143



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