Parrott named director of planning as Bevelheimer says goodbye

QUINCY — There was one big ticket item on the Quincy City Council agenda for Monday night.

Mayor Mike Troup appointed and the City Council approved the appointment of Jason Parrott as the city’s new director of planning and development, effective Jan. 1.

As Muddy River News reported reported on Dec. 23, Chuck Bevelheimer retires today from that position which he has held, for the most part, since 1994.

Parrott, who came to the city with a background in journalism having spent years with WIUM Public Radio based out of Macomb, said years of covering government meetings made for an easy transition to working in the public sector.

“I have enjoyed it from the start when I moved into the department and been able to move up the ranks since I’ve been here these five years,” Parrott said. “It’s one of those jobs where you’re involved in a lot of different activities. I’ve always been somebody that tracked government even into my days of journalism. And so it’s something that especially learning from Chuck every day and watching him as a professional and seeing what is going on. So I’m looking forward to the opportunity.”

So working under Bevelheimer was essentially a graduate program in government for Parrott.

“My experience came in the lines of being able to communicate, being able to speak with people coming from the journalism background, following city government meetings forever, so many different meetings that I attended,” he said. “And then when you go in there and you work with Chuck, who’s just an encyclopedia of knowledge about this area, it’s one of those things we always joke you can you can learn how to do an ordinance. You can learn those things, you bring in communication, you bring in that ability and then you can tap into a resource like Chuck, and it really just helps make this job, work as well as it does.”

Troup said Parrott has been instrumental in working through the details of several new projects that have come to fruition during his nearly four years in office and was a logical choice to succeed Bevelheimer, who received recognition and multiple standing ovations at Monday’s meeting.

Troup praised Bevelheimer for walking a fine line to get things done for the city and presented him with a commemorative gemstone.

“I’ve watched this poor professional get beat up over the last three and a half years; developers asking, ‘How come you can’t get me more … do you really not want me in this community?’

“Then he comes in here and gets the opposite from (the aldermen). ‘How come you’re giving so much and why did you give that?’ So he’s been walking a fine line for over 28 years.”

Bevelheimer was emotional as he stood at the City Council podium for, presumably, the final time.

“How many jobs do you really have the opportunity to influence policy?” Bevelheimer said. “Obviously, I don’t make the decisions, but I had the chance to present (potential projects) to the council … I had a great staff …They’ve got a great sense of humor. I think that’s one of the key characteristics to be in planning … a sense of humor. We’ve taken on lots of projects. We worked really hard during the COVID years when we went after all sorts of grants … we stepped up.”

Troup also announced that the presentations from potential new commercial commuter airlines will take place the afternoon of Jan. 8 at Quincy Regional Airport, followed by the Aeronautics Committee meeting.

Also, Quincy Police Chief Adam Yates swore in QPD’s newest officer, Abin Cherian. Cherian was assisted by his daughter during the swearing in ceremony.

Aldermen Kelly Mays (R-3rd Ward), and Mike Farha (R-4th Ward) were absent from Monday’s meeting.