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OTTUMWA, IOWA -- Ottumwa residents gathered at City Hall today to say thank-you to two long-time public servants.

The city held the small party for outgoing Mayor Dale Uehling and outgoing council member Keith Caviness

KTVO spoke to Mayor Uehling at length last week, ton Wednesday we caught up with councilman Caviness.

He said he enjoyed his eight years on the council, and cited two accomplishments he is particularly pleased with.  

The first was work on the south side sewer separation. the second was downtown parking.

" Which allowed merchants and their employees to get their people off the street and give their customers a place to park," he said.

He also offered a word of caution to anyone interested in running for city office in the future.

"If you have the time to do it, its a good thing to volunteer to do. If you don't have the time to do the job after you are elected then I think you have made a mistake. You have cheated yourself and you have cheated your community."

Caviness says he will miss being on the council, but welcomes the opportunity to devote more time to his downtown Ottumwa camera shop.