Community greets, thanks retiring Mayor Erb

By Thomas Nelson, tnelson@charlescitypress.com

Mayor James Erb filled the Charles City Council chambers once more — not for another meeting, but for his retirement party.

Erb has spent 22 years as mayor of Charles City and familiar faces from his time in office came to wish him well.

Former city engineer Dan Barrett said, “He’s gonna be missed.” Barrett was city engineer when Erb was first elected to the office of mayor in 1996.

“The city’s been fortunate to have had his services as long as it has,” said City Council member — and the current longest-serving elected city official — Jerry Joerger.

There were more than city officials there. County officials filled the chamber as well.

“His vision exceeded boundary lines,” said Floyd County Supervisor Mark Kuhn about Erb. The mayor brought together people from the city, county, state and region, Kuhn said.

Charles City Clerk Trudy O’Donnell has worked with Erb throughout her career in Charles City.

“Mayor Erb has been the most diplomatic person I think I have ever known,” O’Donnell said. “If two sides couldn’t agree, it seems like he was always able to find that middle ground,”

Erb had a penchant for compromise that he used throughout his time as mayor, O’Donnell said.

“That has always been the thing I’ve admired about him the most,”  O’Donnell said. “He doesn’t let things get bogged down.”