HR0339 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0339 LRB102 18622 LAW 26974 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives wish to congratulate Mark William Eckert on the occasion of his retirement as mayor of the City of Belleville; and

WHEREAS, Mark Eckert served as alderman for Ward 5 of the City of Belleville from 1997 to 2004; and

WHEREAS, Mark Eckert was appointed mayor of the City of Belleville on December 20, 2004; he was elected to serve a four-year term in April 2005; he was reelected to a second term in April 2009, a third term in April 2013, and a fourth term in April 2017; and

WHEREAS, Mark Eckert was instrumental in the improvement of several city buildings, including the Belleville Firehouse #4 in 2009, the Sanitation Department in 2009, the Parks and Recreation building in 2009, the Wastewater Treatment Plant expansion in 2013, the Belleville Public Library renovation in 2015, the new Belleville Police Department dedicated in 2016, and the Belleville City Hall renovations, including ADA and security improvements, in 2017; and

WHEREAS, Mark Eckert led 30 delegates from the City of Belleville to compete for the National Civic League's All-America City Award in Kansas City in 2011, where Belleville was one of the ten finalists; and

WHEREAS, Mark Eckert served on a number of local committees and organizations during his tenure, including the Belle-Scott Committee as honorary chairman, the Belleville Sister Cities Organization as honorary chairman, the Board of Directors of the Greater Belleville Chamber of Commerce, the Lindenwood University Board of Directors, the Belleville Cultural Enrichment Organization as president, the Southwestern Illinois Law Enforcement Commission, the Belleville Exchange Club, Racial Harmony, the Homeless Backbone Committee, and the Leadership Council Military Affairs Committee; he also served on the Belleville 200th Committee in 2014, where he worked tirelessly with staff and countless volunteers to organize the Bicentennial Weekend Celebration; and

WHEREAS, Mark Eckert served in leadership roles in several organizations; he belonged to the Board of Directors of the East-West Gateway Council of Governments from 2013 to 2017; he served on the Illinois Municipal League Board of Directors from 2013 to 2021, where he served as president from 2017 until 2018; he served on the Southwestern Illinois Council of Mayors, where he was president from 2015 to 2017; and

WHEREAS, Mark Eckert earned many awards in the course of his mayoral career, including the Belleville Jaycees Distinguished Service Award, the Belleville News-Democrat SIUE Carol Kimmel Community Service Award, the Catholic Social Service Award, the Scoutmaster Award of Merit, the George Meany Award, the Belleville Sister Cities Herman Award, the Racial Harmony Outstanding Community Service Award, the NAACP Metro East Branch Partners Justice Award, and the SILEC George A. Lanxon Award; he was also inducted into the BTHS West Hall of Fame in 2009 and honored by the Metro Area Professional Organization in 2012; and

WHEREAS, Mark Eckert married Rita on April 5, 1986; together, they have four children, Matthew Joseph (Carly Miller), Kate Ann (Jacob Kotler), Luke Joseph (Erika), and Lucy Ann; they also have three grandsons, Jackson, Patrick, and Noah; and

WHEREAS, Mark Eckert is known for his unconditional love for his family, his strong character, his devout leadership, and his volunteerism; he is a true public servant who built relationships and promoted the vision and growth of the City of Belleville; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Mark William Eckert on the occasion of his retirement as the mayor of the City of Belleville, recognize his commitment to the citizens of Belleville, and wish him many more happy, productive years; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Mark Eckert as an expression of our esteem and respect.