I would like to take time now to adjourn in memory of Russ Wells, who was a beloved member of not only the Santa Clarita community, but also a cherished member of our City Hall family.
Russ was a building inspector in our Building and Safety Department who was known for his compassion, dedication, friendliness and sense of humor.
He worked hand in hand with residents in Santa Clarita to help them through their construction projects.
He earned the reputation of being someone who went beyond the call of duty to assist people with their projects, during what can be extremely hectic times.
He not only made a lasting impression on residents – he was also highly respected by the contractors he worked with.
One contractor texted Russ following a project, saying “You’ve been a confidant and an accomplished inspector that I truly respect and appreciate. I consider you a friend to my son and I.”
You can tell a lot about a person by the way they treat others, and Russ came to be the favorite building inspector of the City’s interns and staff, according to his colleagues.
This was because he took the time to connect with people on a personal level and was always willing to stop what he was doing to offer help to his colleagues – including supervisors, senior inspectors and office staff.
Russ was also known to volunteer for extra shifts to help out the department interns.
He enjoyed sharing his knowledge and helping interns prepare for their future careers.
When he was not at work, Russ enjoyed spending time outdoors.
In addition to being a building inspector, he was also a landscape architect.
One of his favorite pastimes was playing indoor volleyball with his wife, Karen.
He was extremely proud of his kids and would say one of the best moments in his life was being able to walk his daughter Lauren down the aisle on her wedding day.
Russ was not only a valued City employee, but his peers considered him a great friend.
His presence and friendship will be dearly missed.
We are saddened by the passing of Russ Wells and our thoughts are with his wife Karen, family and friends during this difficult time.