Tribute to Bill Nee from Bill Burns, City Manager A Tribute to Bill Nee
I was truly saddened Friday when I heard that Bill Nee
had died. He was not only one of my five Council bosses
for more than eight years, he was a friend and I
genuinely liked him and respected him. Since we spent
many hours together on many occasions I have many
memories of him. Here are some observations that I
would like to share.
Bill was truly interested in making Fridley a better
place to live. He was a broad thinker who saw the needs
of the whole community. And, he worked hard to make
them happen. A corporate office campus at the old
theater site was his dream and he stuck to it. He
dreamed of improving the properties along University
Avenue. He believed in protecting the City's interest in
our Mississippi River front property. He worked hard
to establish Riverview Park. He was a strong believer in
the City's housing rehabilitation programs, our rental
property inspection program and our annual program
to upgrade neighborhood streets. He worked hard to
rebuild Fridley after .the__1965 tornado....And,he was_a
founding father and protector of the Springbrook
Nature Center.
Bill was also a great communicator from both sides of
the communication process. He listened intently and
very patiently. And, when he spoke, he spoke the
people's language. He was down to earth and hated
pretense. His articles for our City Newsletter were
folksy and direct. His public presentations made a
direct connection with his audience on every occasion.
He had a great ability to differentiate between truth and
fiction. He spoke the truth and was quick to recognize
fiction.
Bill was a problem solver and team player. He respected
others roles and gave others, including me, wide latitude
to be themselves and to manage on their own terms. He
was tolerant of wide ranging points of view on the City
Council. He would sit back and listen before offering his
own thoughts. He also listened intently to City staff and
with the utmost patience to those who spoke at Council
meetings. In all of these relationships he kept his eye on
the issue or issues. While issue resolution sometimes
moved along at an excruciatingly slow pace, his focus
was always on issues and not on some personal agenda.
And, everyone who wanted to had an opportunity to
contribute.
Bill was also wise and knowledgeable. He read the
newspapers and knew what was going on. He listened to
a wide network of fiends and others involved in
government at all levels. He brought that knowledge to
our local decision making processes. He also brought
wisdom that goes with great intellect and experience.
On many occasions I was the beneficiary of that wisdom
whether it was traveling home from a Council meeting
in my car or visiting with him in his home.
And Bill maintained a strong spirit of cooperation with
others. His team playing went beyond the City. It
extended to the Anoka County Commissioners and to
the Fridley Board of Education. It extended to State
legislators and to Mayors in other cities. Bill was a great
citizen of the metropolitan area and because of his
leadership, Fridley has been a team player in
metropolitan wide affairs.
Like other great leaders, Bill will also be remembered
for his character. He was honest and truthful to a fault.
He gave unselfishly and never expected personal gain
from his involvement with the City. And while he was
politically astute, he expected that people be treated
equally and fairly. And there was consistency in his
words and actions. There was no guessingwhere Bill
stood on issues from day-to-day. He lead through his
ideals and not through his sense of personal need.
On a more personal level, Bill was fun. I enjoyed my
time spent with him and I learned a lot from him. I will
always remember my last real conversation with him
while watching the 1999 49er Day parade in front of
The Fridley Historical Society building. We spent at
least an hour together on that occasion. We talked
about the City as the bands and parade floats moved by.
Periodically, people would come up and join us and
then go on. He was smiling and gracious and thoroughly
enjoying watching his community go by. While I didn't
know this_was_my last real conversatiomwitkhim, I was_
aware that this was a special moment. I will always
remember that moment and the great person with
whom I shared it-.