Article by Emily Wang, White River Now
Retirement plans were announced by a long-serving city official at Tuesday’s Batesville City Council meeting.
Batesville Mayor Rick Elumbaugh read a letter to the council from Police Chief Alan Cockrill, announcing that after 38 years of dedicated service in law enforcement, Cockrill planned to retire on April 1. The mayor said Cockrill expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve the community.
The mayor and council members shared their appreciation for Cockrill’s years of service and will initiate the process of finding a suitable replacement.
Elumbaugh opened the meeting by warmly welcoming special guests, including the Lady Pioneer 5A State Championship bowling team and the Batesville 5A State Championship swim team.
The mayor took a moment to acknowledge the dedication of the bowling team and coaches (pictured above), emphasizing the commitment required to obtain this achievement.
“It takes a lot of practice and time,” Elumbaugh said. “You don’t become state champions by sitting at home. This is a great lifetime sport.”
Head Coach Samantha Hogan expressed pride in the team’s achievements.
“We have to have six, and this year, we had six girls,” she said. “There were days illnesses were going around, and we were worried, but they pushed through it and worked hard. I am so proud of them.”
The accolades continued as the Batesville Pioneer swim team (pictured below), having secured the 5A state championship for the third consecutive year, was also honored.
Coach Alfredo Aleman spoke about the dedication and sacrifice that contributed to their success, highlighting the countless hours spent in the pool, even during holidays.
“They were in the pool when everyone was at home, in the early morning and afternoon,” Aleman said. “We spent a lot of time. That’s what you get when you work hard — hard work pays off.”
In city news, Batesville City Engineer Damon Johnson addressed ongoing road repairs on Broad Street, noting an end to the work was near. Johnson also said progress was being made on the water treatment plant upgrades and park renovations.
Regarding the plans to renovate Riverside Park, Johnson said the parks team met Tuesday to review the budget for each part of the project.
“We are fine-tuning input from community and engagement meetings, and the design team went over how that will impact the project,” he said. “We have a set amount of dollars. We will make adjustments in some places and are going to build it out the best we can with the dollars we have.”
Significant work on the project is expected to begin this fall.
The council also unanimously approved three resolutions, including a resolution authorizing the mayor to enter into an administrative agreement with the White River Planning and Development District to apply for a grant for the Batesville School District and a resolution authorizing the city to enter into a contract with Bullard Construction, LLC for the repair of the soccer restroom and concession building that were damaged in a storm.
The council adjourned, with the next meeting scheduled for March 26.
Photos by Emily Wang, White River Now
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