Bob Sprinkle settled comfortably into his chair at the Feb. 13 Willow Springs Village Board meeting.
Sprinkle, 81, was sworn in as the village’s newest trustee.
“It’s really unbelievable. I’ve been in this village over 45 years and I’ve seen how it’s grown,” Sprinkle said after the meeting. “I’m very happy to participate.”
He replaced Ernie Moon, who died in December.
“Sorry to say I am replacing a good friend of mine of almost 50 years. I’ll follow his footsteps and try to do my best,” Sprinkle said.
Sprinkle has served on the village’s planning and zoning commission. For the past five years, he’s been on the police commission.
His final act in that role came moments before he was sworn in as village trustee when he read the oath of office to police officer Matthew Engel who was promoted to corporal.
Engel, 31, has been with the police department for seven years. As corporal, he will be in charge of the night shift.
Sprinkle, confident Engle will flourish in his new job, said he’s seen plenty of changes in the village over the past 45 years.
“This current administration has been unbelievable. We’ve come a long way,” he said. “The beautification committee they set up. Everything. You can’t ask for a better village.”
Two years remain on Moon’s term.
“He lived in my neighborhood. I became very friendly with his family and had lunch with him every week. There’s a group of us who’ve been in the (corrugated box) business for many years and we still meet every week.”
He still works part-time.
“We miss Ernie dearly. He was such a great man. For people who needed help, he was always there,” Sprinkle said.
Sprinkle recalled accompanying Moon on trips to bring food to a homeless man in the village, a small act that reflected his late friend’s generous spirit.
“Yes, yes. He did a lot of things. When I lost my sister-in-law, he came over to the house and brought bags of food. That’s the kind of person he was,” Sprinkle said.
Looking ahead, Sprinkle will serve on the licensing committee “and help wherever they need help.”
Sprinkle got a kick out of the surprise on his name plate. The words “Bingo Bob” were taped on the side facing his chair, a nod to his calling bingo in town.
Before he was sworn in by Mayor Melissa Neddermeyer, she spoke highly of Sprinkle, noting he’s been “extremely active” in the village.
“We are fortunate he’s willing to step into this role and confident he will do an outstanding job with the government of Willow Springs,” she said.
After his appointment as trustee was unanimously approved by the trustees, the village board meeting room was filled with applause.
He is seated in Moon’s former chair between trustees Fred Posch and Terrance Carr.
Sprinkle’s first official motion as a trustee? To adjourn the meeting—prompting laughter from board members and the audience.
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