Russ Farnum will be missed.

After 14 years of service in DeKalb, Community Development Director Russ Farnum is resigning. He said he has been offered the same position in Algonquin and he couldn’t pass it up.

In an emotional speech to the City Council, Farnum expressed his appreciation for the City of DeKalb and all that has been done over his career in the city.

“I’m very proud of what we’ve accomplished here,” Farnum said. “I say ‘we’ because if it weren’t for the council, our wonderful plan commission, the city managers, department heads and the very talented community development staff, I wouldn’t be as successful as I was.”

Farnum was hired as city planner in July 1994. He then became principal planner in October 1997 and then acting community development director in February 2005. He was appointed as community development director in August 2005.

Farnum said he will be staying in DeKalb and continue to be involved in the community.

“I’ve been on the school facility planning committee,” Farnum said. “I want to stay involved in that. There’s some other volunteer efforts I’ve been tossing around the idea of pursuing here as well. The staff I work with and the department heads have been great to work with, and that’s what I’m going to miss the most.”

Fourth Ward Alderman Donna Gorski said Farnum will be missed, but she joked that this is not the last City Council has seen of him.

“Russ, we’re going to miss you, but chances are one of these upcoming City Council meetings we’ll see you at the podium under citizen comments and we’ll look forward to that,” Gorski said at Monday night’s City Council meeting. “I want to thank you for your help and your talents all these many years.”

DeKalb City Manager Mark Biernacki said Farnum has had a great impact on the community throughout his 14-year career.

“I can’t say enough about Russ Farnum’s contribution,” Biernacki said at the meeting. “It initially started with admiration by those in the office at that time with his deep dimples and short haircut. Soon that changed into an admiration for his command of the facts, his knowledge of planning and zoning and I believe also to this day his stamp, or his signature if you will, on pretty much every project that you see around DeKalb.”

Refilling Farnum’s position is projected to be a three to four month process with the new director starting in January 2009. City Council will add a resolution to the next meeting’s agenda to enter in agreement with Baxter and Woodman to assist the Community Development Department until the position is filled.