INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — Longtime Community Development Director Bob Keating was recognized at Tuesday’s Indian River County Board of Commissioners meeting for more than 30 years of service as he prepares to retire in December.
All five commissioners praised Keating for his talent, dedication and accomplishments, which include creating the county’s zoning map, developing traffic impact fee protocols to fund road projects, instituting the Jungle Trail Management Plan and Historic Properties Survey, creating the 1990 Comprehensive Plan and a series of Long-Range Transportation Plans along with the State Road 60 Corridor Plan, Wabasso Corridor Plan, Gifford and Roseland Neighborhood Plans and Manatee Protection Plan.
“There is not an election cycle that goes by that people do not talk about the wonderful quality of life in Indian River County,” said Commissioner Wesley Davis. “For the past 30 years, single-handedly, no one has played a bigger role in creating and maintaining that quality of life than Bob Keating.”
“Most people do not realize that Bob is here working seven days a week when he is in town,” said County Administrator Joe Baird. “If you think of honesty, integrity and hard work, that is Bob Keating.”
Keating thanked his staff, current and former commissions and county administrators for their support over the years and endured several bad jokes from the commissioners, having to do with obtaining the proper permits for retirement and other upcoming activities, before receiving a prolonged standing ovation from a large crowd on hand to honor him.
Keating went to work for the county on March 7, 1983 during Ronald Reagan’s first term in office.
“I started as planning and zoning manager, essentially the assistant to the top person, but I got the job I have now six months later,” Keating said during a break. “I am most proud of the 1990 Comprehensive Plan. There was a new growth management law passed that required comprehensive plans to be much more detailed. It was a long, complex, difficult process developing the plan and we ended up with a good product.”
Keating, who combined visionary long-range leadership with nitty-gritty daily management ability in his role as head of community development, said his official retirement date is Dec. 31 but that his last day on the job will actually be Dec. 6.
He said he is not going to take another job but plans to devote more time to running, lifting weights and pursuing other activities he enjoys.
“I will probably spend more time in New England [where he has family], but I am still going to live here.”
Stan Boling, Keating’s long-time planning chief, will take over as Community Development Director when Keating leaves.
“I never imagined the county without you at the helm,” Commission Chairman Joe Flescher told Keating, “but I am glad that Stan is here to carry on.”