Saying Goodbye to a Mayor, Leader, and Friend

On the last day of February, DeKalb County lost a true public servant with the passing of Collinsville Mayor Johnny Traffanstedt.

Johnny was more than a mayor for the Town of Collinsville. He contributed to his community in many ways, from organizations such as the athletic club to the Jaycees. He earned the trust of the citizens, who elected him to serve as their mayor for 17 years. He had the town’s best interests at heart, and Collinsville benefited from his leadership.

There was another side of Johnny that few people saw. For almost the entire time he served as mayor, he was also president of our DeKalb County Mayor’s Association. This group includes the mayor of every town and city in DeKalb, from the smallest to the largest. As you can imagine, the needs and concerns of these municipalities vary greatly. When issues arose affecting all the municipalities, Johnny helped us reach a consensus and speak with one voice.

As president of this eclectic group, Johnny led us with common sense, humor, understanding, and a forward-looking attitude. He encouraged us to share our common problems and solutions.

We all respected Johnny. We will miss his leadership, but most of all we will miss his friendship. Our prayers go out to his family and community.

You will soon see some changes taking place at the Moon Lake Campus. In the coming weeks, the trailer that sits behind the Moon Lake Library will be moved to make way for a new project. The Town of Mentone had an agreement with the DeSoto Rescue Squad for the past few years, allowing them to use the trailer at no charge to store equipment and related items. That agreement ended last year, and the rescue squad is making other arrangements for its storage needs.

I want to take this opportunity to thank the DeSoto Rescue Squad for the important work its members do in Mentone and the surrounding area. This is an exceptional organization, and we have been proud to support their work through the years. We encourage all citizens to consider supporting their efforts; contact Captain Michael Stone at captain@desotorescue.com to learn how.

When the space is cleared, it will make way for the new project I mentioned. You will read in the coming weeks about the groundbreaking for a new addition to the Moon Lake Campus, to be built in the area behind the library. The Moon Lake Arts Collective will be a large public access pottery and arts studio, designed for education, workshops, and community connection. A project of the Little River Arts Council, it will have a major impact on our community. It will provide many arts-based opportunities for our residents, while also giving visitors more reasons to come to Mentone and support our economy.

In other Moon Lake Campus news, the Town advertised for bids in February for renovation work on the main campus building. Through grants and local dollars, this project will improve access to the building, which houses shops and galleries. Improvements to wiring, plumbing, bathrooms, and other infrastructure will ensure the building remains open to the public for many years to come. It’s important that we preserve this historic structure while making it available for practical purposes today and well into the future.

As the deadline for this issue of The Groundhog neared, the Town Council was set to open bids from interested contractors. I hope to announce the winning bidder in next month’s issue, along with a potential schedule for the renovation.