Longtime village clerk resigns Walnut Creek post
By Anessa Myers
Published in News on July 26, 2007 1:45 PM
WALNUT CREEK -- The village of Walnut Creek council will now have to look for a new village clerk and finance director.
Sandra Allen gave her letter of resignation to Walnut Creek Mayor Ken Ritt before Wednesday's village council meeting.
Ms. Allen offered a Dec. 31, 2007, "last day", but offered to resign earlier if council members saw a need.
Immediately after reading her letter, Ritt rejected the suggestion.
Village administrator Lou Cook had an even better idea.
"You know you have a pen there, so you could change that 7 to a 9 if you wanted to," said Cook to Ritt.
"Or a 19," Councilman Danny Jackson said.
Ms. Allen said she wanted to thank everyone she worked with, saying that it was a pleasure to be their city clerk.
Councilwoman Kathy Daniels said she would be missed.
After everyone wished Ms. Allen well, the meeting continued, but when Mrs. Daniels' turn came to make any announcements or comments, she just said, "I am too sad to say anything."
"That's the first time you haven't had anything to say in six months," Ritt replied.
Ms. Allen has served the village for 11 years, during most of which she worked from her home.
About eight years ago, Walnut Creek had one ranger and one clerk to do everything the village required. The two of them worked in a small red building, and Ms. Allen worked from her home to conserve space.
When Hurricane Floyd hit, Walnut Creek residents realized the need for more leadership in the village, and shortly after, hired a town administrator and established a police department. This March, the new town hall was completed.
In other business, council members:
*Decided to increase security on the lake, to jumpstart dam repairs, to repair roads and to provide more buoys in the shallow areas of the lakes.
*Heard an update on the progress of well repairs. The village recently had to repair a well that had been on the village grounds for about 20 years. The money was already allotted in the budget. Instead of digging a new well, the budget money was used to repair the broken one. Cook said that the repairs will take a few more weeks to get the well working again.
*Reminded residents of the Jan. 1, 2008, deadline to switch any irrigation systems using public water to lake water.