Town Council says goodbye to Penn, Pedigo

12 23 lane penn retires
Mayor Shannon Collins presents Councilman Lane Penn with a framed copy of a resolution in his honor during Tuesday’s meeting of Town Council. (From left) Councilmen Tyler Clontz, Brooks Dawson, Penn, Collins, Michael Reis, Jamie Radcliffe and Greg East. (Mike Williams/The Patriot)

By MIKE WILLIAMS

The Patriot

Pulaski Town Council on Tuesday night formally said goodbye to one of its own as well as a key department head among town staff.

Council approved two resolutions honoring Councilman Lane Penn and Town Engineer Bill Pedigo upon their retirement.

12 23 Pedigo retires
Mayor Shannon Collins (left) presents a framed copy of the resolution honoring Bill Pedigo for his service to the town. (Mike Williams/The Patriot)

Penn let it be known several months ago that he would not seek another term on council when his term ends Dec. 31.

Pedigo’s retirement is effective Jan. 3, 2023.

Penn’s retirement brings to an end 24 total years of service on town council, which he was first elected to in 2004.

Penn also served the county as an employee with the Pulaski County Public School System from 1997 through 2005, and the Pulaski County Public Service Authority from 2006 through 2015.

Penn has served on many boards and committees for the Town of Pulaski, including the Pepper’s Ferry Regional Wastewater Treatment Authority, chairman on the Pulaski Redevelopment and Housing Authority, the Greater Pulaski Alliance and Pulaski County Emergency Communications Board.

“Town council extends its sincerest thanks and commendation to Councilman Lane Penn for his dedicated service to the citizens of the Town of Pulaski as a member of Pulaski Town Council,” his resolution states.

At the end of Tuesday’s meeting, Penn noted he had served with 24 different council members during his time along with five different town managers and five town attorneys.

His fellow council members spoke of the honor and privilege they had enjoyed in serving with Penn and how he and his “institutional knowledge” would be missed.

Pedigo began serving the Town of Pulaski as an engineer tech beginning December 6, 1988. In June 1989, he was promoted to project engineer, and was promoted again, this time as Assistant Town Engineer beginning August 30, 1993.

Pedigo began his role as Interim Town Engineer starting on May 20, 2002. He served as the Interim Building Official starting on January 17, 2017 and served as an alternate on the Pepper’s Ferry Regional Wastewater Treatment Authority from January 1, 2013. He will continue to serve in that capacity through December 31, 2025.

Pedigo became the Town of Pulaski’s Town Engineer on November 20, 2002.