For the week of May 29 - June 4, 2002

Jaquet toasted and roasted at farewell

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By GREG STAHL
Express Staff Writer

About 100 friends and colleagues gathered at the Roosevelt Tavern Thursday evening to bid Ketchum City Administrator Jim Jaquet a healthy and happy retirement.

"It’s special, and it’s special to have all of you here to give me my farewell," Jaquet said. "I can’t think of a better place to live or a better place to work."

Jaquet left city hall for the last time as city administrator Tuesday, ending a 25-year tenure in Ketchum. He said he plans to volunteer at Atkinson Park this summer to coach Little League.

"The park is gaining a great Little League coach," Ketchum City Clerk Sandy Cady mused while giving Jaquet a gift on behalf of city employees.

Friends and family shared both tears and laughs as they reminisced about Jaquet’s 25 years in Ketchum.

Ketchum Planning Administrator Lisa Horowitz ribbed Jaquet about his antiquated office furniture. She stated the city was donating the "municipal furniture representative of the Jaquet era" to the historical society.

She said Jaquet was the best boss she’s had, offering good leadership and the freedom to learn from her mistakes.

Ketchum Mayor Ed Simon presented Jaquet with a hotline telephone "that only takes calls from the city" in case of emergencies.

But as Jaquet said more than once, his family, and particularly his wife, Wendy, gave him the support he needed to pursue his career and become the man that he is.

Jaquet’s son, Brian, returned the compliment.

"He’s someone I aspire to be a lot more like sometime in the future," he said. "Not right now, though."

For the former city administrator, however, it’s time to focus on baseball.

"One of the reasons I’m excited to be down at the park is, during the off hours, I’ll be able to get in the batting cage, so I’ll be able to do a little better in the men’s hard ball league in Hailey," he said last week.

And, he added, "I’ve always wanted to be a park rat."

 

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