Nick Andreau had obviously made an impact on people over the course of his 21-year career with the City of Charlotte DPW Dept. So much so, that many community members are coming together to honor his memory and service by righting what he considered a terrible wrong.
Andreau passed away Oct. 20 following a six-year battle with cancer.
DPW Director Amy Gilson, who got to know Andreau well over the course of her 11 years as director, likened him to a watchdog, always keeping an eye out for his community. That may be why it bothered him so to see one of Santa’s elves go missing from the Courthouse Square lawn a few years back.
“Nick had talked to us often about how frustrated he was at that missing elf,” Gilson said.
Courthouse Square director Julie Kimmer and board member Christi Dutcher came up with the idea to replace the missing elf this year in Nick’s memory.
“He was still talking about the elf and his foot,” Kimmer said of a recent conversation with Andreau. “I think that’s what got us thinking about replacing it in his memory.”
The elf in question first went missing in 2007. It was recovered and returned to its rightful place — next to Santa Claus and two other elves that visit Courthouse Square each holiday season. Upon its return, Nick and his DPW crew attached the figures to large metal plates that would make them much harder to steal. Someone, however, decided the elf was worth the effort.
The perpetrator had to break the elf away from the metal plate, leaving only its foot.
“He was really angry when he found out he was missing again,” said Sally Starkweather, who works in the DPW office at City Hall. “They’re not cheap. That’s why we haven’t replaced him.”
It’s been a couple years since Charlotte’s Santa has had all three elves at his side. Courthouse Square, along with the DPW Department, however is determined to replace the missing elf in time for the holidays this year. They are trying to raise the $1,200 to purchase the exact elf from Bronner’s Christmas Wonderland in Frankenmuth. They are asking for the community’s support.
Donations can be made to Courthouse Square, PO Box 411, Charlotte, MI 48813.
“Nick did a lot of work for the city off hours that people didn’t know about,” Gilson said. “He was always out making sure the lights were on, checking on the Christmas lights or checking for illegal hunting blinds out in the industrial park.”
Kimmer said the new elf will have “Little Nick” painted on his shirt and discussions are ongoing as how to fully dedicate the elf in Nick’s memory.
