The city of Austin officially bid farewell to five retiring employees earlier this week and praised them for their contributions to the community.

Earlier this week, the city council recognized the retirements of Tim Brady of the Engineering Department, the Street Department’s Jim Waltz, librarian Gayle Heimer, police officer Travis Heickley and the Sewer Maintenance Department’s RJ Bergstrom.

Heieckley was a school resource officer, a detective and worked for Southeast Minnesota Narcotics Taskforce.

“T.J. is missed. He had a lot experience from those 28 years,” Police Chief Brian Krueger said.

Public Works Director Steven Lang praised Bergstrom, Brady and Waltz for their work in Austin Public Works.

“All three have been long term employees with the city and it’s been difficult to replace them,” Lang said.

“We appreciate all those years of services that we’ve received from them,” he added.

Austin Public Library Director Ann Hokanson noted Heimer hopes to focus on performing music in retirement.

Heimer was responsible for the automation system at the library, which Hokanson described as “the blood and guts” of the library’s automation to check-in books, manage patrons and check materials. She also handled many other duties and was replaced with two full-time employees.