Mayor Don L. Weiss Jr. and the Dickson City Council honored City Administrator Rydell Wesson on his retirement after almost 32 years of service with the city.
Mr. Wesson was recognized with a proclamation from the mayor and an engraved plaque at the council’s meeting July 1, which was his last day on the job.
Mr. Wesson joined the City of Dickson as a Building Official in the Office of Planning and Zoning in September 1988. After two years he returned to his hometown of Savannah in Hardin County to become Codes Enforcement Officer. After Terry Franklin left the Dickson office for Belle Meade, Mr. Wesson returned to Dickson as Director of Planning and Zoning in October 1994.
In December 2008, Mayor Weiss. appointed Mr. Wesson as Director of the Public Works Department, supervising 25 employees in the Street, Sanitation and Maintenance departments.
During the illness of Tom Waychoff, Mayor Weiss designated Mr. Wesson as acting City Administrator in April 2011 and he assumed the position full-time a year later on April 2, 2012, following Mr. Waychoff’s passing after a battle with cancer. As City Administrator, he supervised the daily operation of the city with more than 200 employees and an annual budget over $30 million.
“Rydell’s been my right hand now for, golly, even a little before 2012 when Tom got sick and he kind of took over for Tom,” Mayor Weiss said in an emotional statement at the meeting. “He’s been a confidante. He’s kind of kept me, some of the things I’ve suggested that we might want to do in the city, he’s kind of kept me on the track and not let me get too far off the track. He’s dedicated 32 years to the city. He’s been a visionary for the city. And I’m going to miss him. I wish him well.”
Mayor Weiss read and presented a proclamation recognizing Mr. Wesson for serving the citizens “with faithfulness, integrity and loyalty” for 31 years 10 months and 17 days.
In addition, State Rep. Jody Barrett, 69th District, and State Rep. Mary Littleton, 78th District, presented Mr. Wesson with a proclamation from the Tennessee House of Representatives honoring his service to the City of Dickson.
“I’ve had a really good career here and I’ve worked with the best people,” Mr. Wesson said. “I’ve enjoyed all the staff, y’all have made the city successful. I’ve gotten to work with a lot of council members, past and present, and I want to thank all of you for your help over the years. I know every one of you personally. And I especially want to thank the Mayor for having the confidence in me and putting me up here.”
In announcing Wesson’s pending retirement at the June 3 City Council meeting, Mayor Weiss named Public Works Director David Travis as the acting City Administrator effective July 2 until he brings a nomination to the council.
Travis has been with the city since 1995, starting in the Parks and Recreation Department, then the Public Works Department where he has been director since 2017.
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