With her term drawing to a close, Royal Council Member Arlene Wimmer has been reminiscing about past council achievements and memories as she prepares to hand over her chair at year's end.

Wimmer's decision to join the council came more than two decades ago when she was asked to run as a write-in candidate in 1999.

"I decided to give it a go and I won the seat, and I have served for 20 years," she recalled.

Throughout the years Wimmer has been on numerous council committees, including nuisances and street and alleys. She also served as Royal's solid waste representative.

Wimmer's tenure wasn't always easy – the council has had to make several difficult decisions during the past 20 years.

"The major improvements we have made over the years, such as new sewer lines, cost all of us more on our taxes, but we really needed to do that," she said. "It's never easy when we have to raise the rates for anything."

The Trees Forever project spearheaded by Mayor Josh Toft and Maintenance Superintendent Sherman Nielsen was one of Wimmer's favorite success stories in recent years.

"We now have a lot of new trees in our town at little to no cost to us and our citizens," she said.

Keeping Royal looking nice and running smoothly are two things Wimmer does not take lightly. She also had some clear-cut advice for new members.

"Being a council member is a job – you signed on for it, do it," she said. "I missed one meeting in my 20 years, and that was to attend my brother-in-law's Masonic funeral rites."

Wimmer will miss the camaraderie with her fellow council members and community when her term expires. Through the ups and downs, she has made and retained numerous friends.

Wimmer is looking forward to some much-deserved time off come January. She intends to spend time with her family and watch her three Chicago television shows that she will now "not have to record!"

She appreciated the support she received from Royal citizens throughout the years and is looking forward to the community's future.

"It has been an honor to serve under four mayors: Mike Elbert, Pam Virelli, Fluff Ihry and Josh Toft. Best of luck to the two new council members," she said.