By Blake Haas

BLOOMINGTON – The Bloomington City Council remembers a former Deputy City Manager through a proclamation, bench dedication, and the renaming of their new conference room.

Back in 1993, Barb Adkins became the city Community Relations Coordinator, where she would later work in various roles, including the Deputy City Manager for eight years.

Bloomington City Manager Tim Gleason said Adkins would be remembered as a one-of-a-kind.

“I met her once, (and I) was very impressed with her, but she is someone in the community that is thought very highly of…She’s just one of those very unique employees that had such an impact at the community.”

After a proclamation was read at the Bloomington City Council meeting on Monday by Mayor Mboka Mwilambwe, Adkins’ sister spoke about her passion and love for the community.

“That’s something that is very obvious about her when you hear stories about her,” Gleason told WJBC’s Scott Miller.

Adkins’ various roles also included serving as a Housing Commissioner for the City of Bloomington Housing Authority as well as an officer of the Central Illinois Chapter – The Links.

In addition, Adkins worked for the city of Bloomington for 32 years, initially working as a part-time police dispatcher.

In honor of Adkins, the city is dedicating a bench in her name on Saturday at 2 p.m. Dec. 18, outside the McLean County Museum of History.

Adkins passed away on Nov. 7, 2020, at age 61.

Blake Haas can be reached at [email protected].