Dow to step down, City Council replacement sought

City Councilman Rick Dow will step down April 15.

Dow is moving to Minnesota because his wife, Dr. Margaret Dow, has accepted a position at the Mayo Clinic. The councilman announced earlier he would resign, but left the date open.

Dow, a Republican from Ward 3, has been a vocal opponent of big government, especially the city's law banning use of cellphones while driving and its support for Vibrant Futures, an organization he suspected of being involved in government-mandated, United Nations-inspired environmental controls.

Mayor Tim Solomon said the city will now advertise the vacant position. City Council will decide who fills the vacant seat.

Solomon said he doesn't see the appointment process creating any political friction because local issues rarely are along partisan lines.

Presently there are four Republican and four Democratic councilmen, while Democrat Solomon casts the deciding vote.

Solomon said anyone interested in the post can contact any council member.

In other business at Monday night's council meeting:

• Council approved water rate increases. The service charge, which includes up to 3,000 gallons of water, will go from $2.25 to $2.29 per thousand gallons of water.
• Boy Scouts attended the meeting as one of their projects. Scoutmaster Bill Lanier asked councilmembers if one of them could attend a meeting tonight to talk to Scouts about their job.

The Scouts began chanting "Wood-y, Wood-y ... ."

Councilman Allen "Woody" Woodwick agreed to attend the meeting.