Senate Resolution No. 152 BY: Senator GRIFFO HONORING John C. Urtz upon the occasion of his retirement after 51 years of distinguished service to the Town of Lee, New York WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to acknowledge the significant milestones in the distinguished careers of esteemed residents of this noble Empire State; and WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to honor John C. Urtz upon the occasion of his retirement after 51 years of distinguished service to the Town of Lee, New York; and WHEREAS, For the past 51 years, John C. Urtz rendered faithful, conscientious, and valuable service to the Town of Lee, earning the admiration, esteem, and affection of his colleagues; and WHEREAS, John C. Urtz grew up in the Town of Lee, New York, where he diligently worked on his family's farm which was passed down from his late father to him and his brothers; along with helping on the farm, John C. Urtz held a career at Revere Copper Products for an impressive 38 years; and WHEREAS, John C. Urtz learned appreciation for his community and the importance of public service from his father who was also an accomplished Town Supervisor of Lee; and WHEREAS, In 1974, John C. Urtz ran for the position of Town Supervisor for the first time; he won the election by just eight votes then, but solidified his reputation shortly thereafter as a hardworking, dependable, accomplished elected official, ultimately earning his reelection time and time again, amassing an impressive 51 years dedicated of service in this esteemed position from which he will retire; and WHEREAS, In his role as Town Supervisor, John C. Urtz advocated for and gained access to a portion of Oneida County sales tax revenues to help fund necessary expenses; these revenues, coupled with careful resource planning, supported 44 consecutive years of no town taxes; and WHEREAS, Further, John C. Urtz was pivotal in the construction of a new town hall on a reclaimed dumping site without taking on any debt from the project; he also enhanced Lee Town Park through numerous facilities improvements and youth programming; and WHEREAS, John C. Urtz also supported securing new equipment for the Town Highway and Volunteer Fire Departments; additionally, he established a New York State Police substation within the town, further demonstrating his commitment to enhancing the safety of the town's citizenry while enhancing the overall quality of life for everyone under his jurisdiction; and WHEREAS, In the spring of 2025, the Town of Lee, under John C. Urtz's able leadership, will implement improvements to the water system to ensure continued safe drinking water for 1,300 local households; and WHEREAS, In his capacity as Town Supervisor, John C. Urtz served with loyalty, honor and distinction, and was governed by a keen sense of duty and always showed a unique grasp of human problems in his official acts; and WHEREAS, With him throughout have been his beloved wife, Eileen, and their two cherished daughters, all of whom feel privileged to be a part of his fruitful life and rejoice in his numerous achievements; and WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that when individuals of such noble aims and accomplishments are brought to our attention, they should be celebrated and recognized by all the citizens of the great State of New York; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to honor John C. Urtz upon the occasion of his retirement after 51 years of distinguished service to the Town of Lee, New York; and be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to John C. Urtz.