Electric City Mayor Sands resigns

Electric City Mayor Jerry Sands has submitted his resignation, effective at the end of February.

In a letter to the editor that appears in this week’s Star newspaper, Sands notes that he and his wife Connie would like to spend more time with family.

Sands has steered the city through a major annexation, the construction of the arsenic treatment plant, cleaned the city up through enforcement of the city’s ordinances, and tried to lift the city’s spirit by flags welcoming visitors and getting a holiday lighting program going, all during his administration.

Other issues, however, have been contentious over the last couple of years, including fighting over accessory buildings, disputes on the use of the city’s hotel/motel tax money, and a consolidation issue is on the horizon.

The city also struggled to get another year’s agreement on police coverage, despite the fact that voters turned down a special levy last November that would help pay for a police contract.

At its last meeting, Electric City’s council voted to lift the limits on the size of accessory buildings, going against the planning commission’s recommendation to limit the size to 1,728 square feet, a deal Sands thought had already been worked out with those who wanted a larger size.

Then in the same meeting, the council voted to end its hotel/motel reserve fund for a possible tourism related project and put all its funds in a single account. Sands said he could see the city putting the reserve funds into projects that are included in the North Dam Park master plan.

The council meetings have turned out to be contentious and seemed to cause the city to lose Sand’s systematic approach to solving the city’s problems.

Sands stated in his letter that he used to have time to play golf, take care of his various business interests, and just have time for family.

Sands became mayor in 2009 and filled out the final nine months of the late Ray Halsey’s term, then was elected mayor in November that year and again in 2013, leaving 34 months left in the current term.

John Nordine is mayor pro-tem. He was surprised to learn Tuesday of Sands’ resignation. Nordine declined to comment.

The city’s next council meeting is March 10.