Farmington Hills City Engineer Jim Cubera retires after 48 years

Before there were computers or cell phones at Farmington Hills City Hall, there was Jim Cubera.

Cubera began his career as a city engineer with Farmington Hills in May 1977. He retired in late August, the longest serving employee in the city’s history.

Farmington Hills became a city less than four years before he began his employment, which spanned the city’s transformation from farmland to modern municipality.

The City Council recognized Cubera on Aug. 11 with a proclamation to thank him for his years of service.

Cubera started working for the city a few days before he graduated from the University of Detroit with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering. He later earned a master’s degree in business administration.

He earned several awards for excellence in civil engineering and pub