City Council Meeting 2025-11-21: Retirement Tribute to Rich Bus
Public Comments & Testimony
- Mayor Steve Tumblin-Munney: Expressed profound gratitude for Rich's 26+ years of service, noting his role in managing the parks department alongside recreation and facilities during the Great Depression-era staff reductions. He highlighted Rich's leadership in managing a $26 million parks bond, which resulted in the city having the "best park system in the state of Georgia." He emphasized Rich's willingness to take on a second job (parks and recreation) and later merge facilities without increasing positions, saving the city $900,000 in the first year.
- Mayor Dunaway: Thanked Rich for his detail-oriented approach to facility management and his dedication to finishing projects, specifically the parks bond initiatives. He recounted how Rich provided critical data to convince the council of Marietta's under-park status, leading to the successful passage of the 2009 parks bond referendum. He praised Rich's infectious good mood and his ability to mentor staff, noting that Rich was willing to take on significant stress to ensure projects like Tumlin Park and the Custer Sports Complex were completed.
- Councilman John I (Ward 3): Expressed that the city would not be the same without Rich, describing him as a "superman" in Marietta who provided significant assistance to the council during his tenure as head of parks.
- Councilwoman Cheryl Richardson (Ward 1): Expressed gratitude on behalf of Ward 1, specifically crediting Rich with turning the former West Dixie Park (now Seminski Park) from a standing water hazard into a functional space with a walking track and new play structure.
- Councilman Andre Sims (Ward 6): Expressed thanks from Ward 6 constituents who appreciated Rich's excitement about parks and recreation during town halls. He acknowledged the leadership Rich provided to him as a rookie council member.
- Councilman Carl Al Ken (Ward 5): Expressed gratitude but noted an unfinished item: the re-sanding of the sand traps at the Marietta City Club golf course, jokingly suggesting Rich needed to "stay" or the city needs more "splash money" to complete the work.
- Councilman (unnamed, Ward 4/General): Commended Rich for transforming Tumlin Park from a swamp into a "real jewel" and acknowledged his attention to small details like signage.
- Former Mayor (unnamed): Reflected on the 25 billion dollars in infrastructure and the successful passage of the parks bond referendum, crediting Rich for producing the metrics that proved the city was grossly under-parked, which was necessary to secure the four council votes required for the referendum.
- Former Council Member Philip Goldstein (Ward 7): Representing himself and current Councilman Joseph Goldstein, he thanked Rich for his role in developing the city's trail systems and noted the phenomenal leadership he provided to his department.
- Community Representative (Cobb NAACP/Jereen Bonner Willis): Expressed pride in working with Rich and stated hope to dance with him at Glover Park in the future.
- Former Director (unnamed, worked in Knoxville/San Antonio): Shared that he worked for Rich in Marietta for 10 years, credited Rich with the confidence to return to the city after his own 2021 retirement, and thanked Rich for his belief and opportunities.
Discussion Items
- Retirement Speech by Rich Bus: Rich reflected on his 30+ year career, starting in 1993. He recounted personal memories of relocating to Marietta, the 1996 Olympics guest accommodations, and the 175th city anniversary. He detailed the expansion of the department to include facility management (HVAC, plumbing, electrical, 27 buildings) and cemetery maintenance in 2003. He listed major achievements including the construction of five new parks (16+ acres), the renovation of Tumlin Park and Custer Park, the creation of Elizabeth Porter Park, and the renovation of Henry Park and West Dixie Park (Seminski Park). He thanked over 40 department heads, various vendors, and community organizations including the Downtown Marietta Development Authority, Marietta Arts Council, and local universities. He expressed regret for not spending more time with professional organizations but noted his intention to join the Georgia Recreation and Parks Association retirees' section.
Key Outcomes
- Proclamation: Friday, November 21, 2025, was officially designated as "Rich Bus Day" in Marietta, Georgia.
- Honors Awarded: Rich Bus received the Key to the City, a plaque commemorating over 30 years of service, a favorite photograph, and a signed original picture of Glover Park.
- Project Status Update: It was confirmed that the vast majority of the $26 million parks bond projects have been completed, with the renovation of Seminski Park identified as the final major park project.
- Fiscal Impact Acknowledged: The meeting highlighted a successful cost-saving initiative where merging Parks, Recreation, and Facilities reduced positions without layoffs, saving $900,000 in the first year while maintaining service levels.
- Departmental Legacy: Rich Bus will retire after overseeing 42 parks, 389 acres, the management of 27 city buildings, and the oversight of over $31 million in park-related expenditures funded by bonds and grants.
Meeting Transcript
It has been a pleasure to work with Rich for the entire time I've been here, 26 years. And he has just been a stalwart person in everything that he does. He cares so much about this community and cares about all of us. He's taking care of all of us, takes care of all our buildings, all our facilities, all our parks, and uh we're just so lucky to have him. I'm gonna make some other comments in a few minutes, but uh, we are very lucky to have our mayor here today because he has a schedule that you can't believe. Um he has already been to like five schools, I think, this morning, uh, delivering uh some awards, and uh he has to go do it again uh in just a little bit. So we are very happy that he was able to make this work today. So I want to introduce Steve Thunder Tumblin. This is a thrill. Thank y'all for sharing Rich with us all these years. Uh we want to keep you around, Rich. I mean, this I mean I've come on the mayor. Dunway will you come stand with me? You you help out of this, man. You well, Dunabay's the only one in the room that went to the 1947 Texas Georgia game years ago. So he was chair there, but but I do want to say when I came on board, we it was right when we had a Great Depression, so to speak, and everybody in the city staff went from one job to two. Rich was already an outstanding parks man, and then he took on parts of recreation. Dunaway burdened with the uh the privilege of having a parks bond, which is a whole nother apartment. Uh it's fun to spend 26 million dollars, but there were a lot of hours in that, a lot of meetings, and uh we have probably the bit because of that, and Rich, it was you, and I just want to thank y'all for what y'all did. We had the best park system in the state of Georgia, and yet he was still doing two other jobs, and I think still being a dad and a husband, and just uh just a great man. And this is it's just a privilege to have worked with you. And we just uh just very, very excited. In fact, your resume is dead that is it's typed in real small print, so I'm gonna be here about five minutes. But but but if you bear with me, this is worth remembering just the service that this man has given this city and especially through parks. Whereas Rich A. Bus will be honored by colleagues, relatives, friends, and the mayor committee on the occasion of his retirement after more than 30 years of dedicated service to the city of Marietta. Whereas Rich has served with distinction as the director of parks, recreation, and facilities, overseeing 42 parks, 389 acres, ensuring the generation of residents and visitors have enjoyed welcoming and well-maintained public spaces and well used. Whereas Rich played an edible role in development of several of the city's most treasured amenities, including Elizabeth Porter Park, and Spray Ground, and the Franklin Gateway Sports Complex, along with numerous other parks and recreational assets to continue to enrich the quality of life in Marietta. Whereas throughout his career, Rich also guided the successful renovation and revitalization of many parks, including Wildwood Park, and provided steadfast care for the city's gym, historic Glover Park, ensuring ensuring it remained a vibrant centerpiece of our community, and it it has been and it is well used. Whereas, in addition to his leadership over parks and recreation, Rich managed the city's facilities with diligence and professionalism, ensuring that essential buildings and community spaces remain open and well maintained for city operations and public use. Whereas Rich's long and productive career exemplifies dedication, service, and pride in his community, and his contributions have been a lasting impact on the city of Marietta and all who enjoy its parks, facilities, and public spaces. Whereas, in recognition of his impactful and lasting contribution to the city of Marietta, Rich Bush is represented with a key to the city as a symbol of deep appreciation for his extraordinary service. Now, therefore, I Steve Tumman on behalf of the city council and former mayors, alumni mayors, uh do hereby proclaim Friday, November 21st as Rich Bus Day in Marietta, Georgia. We'd like to keep the cleaner city. And also got a little medical. Great. Thank you. Appreciate it. Thank you very much. Thank you, Mayor. Appreciate it. Thank you, Mayor. We appreciate that. We don't give away many keys to the city. So that's that's that's pretty good. Um would also like to recognize some people that are very special that are with us today. We have a lot of special people here today. You're gonna hear from some of them in a little bit. Uh but we have a lot of family members uh that are with us today, which is great. Uh, we have his wife Jacqueline, who's here.
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