A somber Ocala City Council appointed an interim city manager on Tuesday night but made sure to offer words of praise and prayers for the man who had held the post for five years but suddenly announced his retirement on Monday.
Deputy City Manager Sandra Wilson was elevated to the top post for the foreseeable future after John Zobler announced he was leaving the post as city manager. Zolber didn’t give a reason for his sudden retirement but city officials said he asked for prayers for him and his family. He originally had planned to make his retirement official on Jan. 14 but councilmembers honored his request to move it up to Dec. 31.
City Council President Jay Musleh choked up while talking about Zobler and everything he’s meant to the city.
“Yesterday was a very sad day for me,” he said. “John has become a good friend and I certainly am going to miss him up here. I want everybody to continue to have his family in your thoughts and prayers.”
Musleh added that Zobler brought “tremendous vision” to the role of city manager.
“He really got us kick-started,” Musleh said. “We were kind of sucking quicksand there for a while.”’
Musleh cited the city’s parking garage and numerous improvements in the downtown area as among Zobler’s many accomplishments.
“Now, every time I turn around, something new is being either built or rehabbed,” he said – sentiments that were echoed by Mayor Kent Guinn.
Council President Pro-Tem Justin Grabelle also agreed.
“I’m trying to think about it in a positive way and look back at the impact he’s made on our community and all the projects that he’s gotten started,” he said. “I’m really sad that he’s not going to be here to see them through fruition but I know that we all will.”
Grabelle added that he thinks it’s important to celebrate Zobler for everything he’s done for Ocala.
“As we go forward, if we can find a way to honor him and his service, I’d certainly appreciate that and I’m sure you guys would too,” he said.
Councilman Matthew Wardell echoed those sentiments and offered words of encouragement for Wilson and her staff as they move forward at such a difficult time.
“We’ve got a lot of good things to come and a lot of work to be done,” he said. “I know that everyone is capable of accomplishing all of those things that we’re on track to accomplish. I’m saddened and affected by this, but at the same time I know we’ve got the potential to do some great things coming up and I just encourage everybody to keep their eyes on the ball and keep moving forward.”
Grabelle said he has no doubts that Zobler’s visions for the city will come to fruition.
“For our community, nothing really changes,” he said. “It’s the next man up and Sandra has taken that place on an interim basis. Council hasn’t changed and we still have that same vision. We’re united and doing our best to make Ocala better.”
Wilson became Ocala’s deputy city manager in December 2014 – one month after Zobler was appointed city manager. She has been responsible for the operations of Human Resources/Risk Management, Electric Administration, Electric Delivery, Water Resources, Engineering and Fleet Management.
Wilson has more than 30 years of municipal government service, starting with the city in 2000 as its human resources director. She was promoted in December of 2008 to the position of human resources and risk management director.
Before coming to Ocala, Wilson worked for the cities of Eustis, Lady Lake and Lauderdale Lakes. She holds bachelor’s degrees in Business Administration and master’s degrees in Human Resources Development and Business Administration.