Unless Chadron is hit by an emergency of some type in the next 9 days, Monday night was the final city council meeting for City Manager Greg Yanker. 

      An engineer by training, Yanker is returning to that career in the private sector at the end of the month, so the council gave him a parting gift at Monday’s meeting.

       Mayor Mark Werner explained that Yanker had been a rodeo competitor in his younger days and today nearly always wears a championship belt buckle he won as a team roper.

       Tying the two together, Werner presented Yanker with a paving stone engraved with the design of his belt buckle.

       The council members also praised Yanker for his nearly 3-½ years as city manager. Miles Bannan said he couldn’t say enough about what Yanker has done for the city.

       Keith Crofutt said Yanker did an admirable job after being “thrown into a pool of quicksand” when the city’s budget situation proved more dire than previously realized.

       Cheryl Welch, who joined the council after Yanker had been city manager for about 18 months, thanked him for his professionalism and his help in her learning the ropes of city government. 

       Welch also praised Yanker for the courage to walk away from a job he liked to return to a career that he loved.

       In return, Yanker thanked the council for its support over the years, but gave his greatest praise and thanks to his staff and all the city employees.

      He said they were truly a family – disagreeing at times but always open to giving and receiving advice and asking and answering questions.