Council bids ‘adieu' to Chip Wells
Feb. 22 meeting was longtime councilman's last
At it’s Feb. 22 meeting, the Crestview City Council took time at the end of deliberations to say a fond “farewell” to their resigning colleague, Chip Wells, and to thank him for his many years of service to the city. The meeting was Wells’ last as a councilman. His resignation from the council is effective tomorrow.
“It’s very sad this evening,” said Mayor David Cadle as he and council President Bob Allen presented Wells with a plaque praising his dedication to Crestview.
Council members and city officials then took turns praising Wells. Tim Grandberry, currently one year into his first term on the council, said he looked forward to consulting with Wells and taking advantage of his experience.
“There is no Sunshine law between us!” he joked.
“I’ve certainly enjoyed working with Chip on the council,” said Councilwoman Linda Parker. “He will be sorely missed.”
“You were the guy who nominated me. Sir, I hope I will get to be half the council member you have been,” said Councilman Charles Baugh Jr. “You will be sorely missed, my brother.”
“I’ve really enjoyed working with you. I’ve learned a lot from you,” said City Clerk Janice Young, adding, to laughter, “Come by and see me sometime and I'll buy you a cup of city coffee.”
Allen recalled an incident during his own early days on the body when he encountered Wells at a function outside of the city council.
“I made some comment about a matter the council was discussing and he said, ‘I can’t talk to you about that. There’s a Sunshine law,’” Allen recalled. “I said, ‘My God, he takes this seriously.’”
Allen then earned a hearty round of laughter when he added, “I haven’t talked to him since.”
Wells was clearly moved by the kind words from his colleagues.
“I regret that the decision [to resign] had to be made, but it was made with the best interests of the city in mind,” Wells said. Citing the demands of his job and personal life, Wells said it was becoming harder to devote the time needed to research and study city business in order to make informed decisions as a council member.
“It was time,” Wells said. “I never want to sit here and make a decision that I’m uncomfortable making.
“For those that have shown support over the years, I’m very appreciative. Elected officials won’t take the city where it wants to go; the city will take the city where it needs to go,” he said.
But, Wells promised, he would remain in touch, and might even observe council proceedings from the audience perspective from time to time.
“Someday I’m going to pop in,” Wells promised. “Thank you, it’s with regret that I leave.”
Other business
In other business, the council:
• Approved 4-1 an ordinance establishing a Planned Unit Development Zoning District (PUD) for the 34-lot detached single family home development of Sandy Ridge Cottages off of Antioch Road, including accepting city responsibility for the developer’s infrastructure. Parker cast the sole “nay” vote.
• Set a workshop for March 22 to study establishing twice-monthly utility billing for city water and sewerage services.
• Unanimously passed an ordinance to accept a planning document from city contractor CH2MHILL for expanding the city’s wastewater treatment plant. The council had to pass the resolution in order to receive state revolving low-interest loans for the project.
• Unanimously approved the low bid of $12,190 made by the Donald Smith Company, Inc. to take the city’s two oldest wells offline now that the newest well is working.
• Received a report from Mayor Cadle that included confirmation from city attorney Ben Holley that the council must appoint Wells’ replacement for the remaining three years of his term.
The mayor also asked the council to approve sending local attorney and Chamber of Commerce executive Nathan Boyles as the city’s official representative to Crestview’s sister city, Noirmoutier, for their commemoration of the 65th anniversary of the end of World War II. Boyles will travel at his own expense, Cadle emphasized.
Cadle also requested that the council members and audience keep senior Fire Department Capt. Rick Brown in their thoughts and prayers as he recuperates from a serious motorcycle accident suffered last weekend.
