After nine years of service, Krugerville Mayor Jeff Parrent tendered his resignation on Aug. 1, which was accepted by the council on Tuesday evening.
Parrent made the announcement Aug. 1, coming in for the special council meeting that convened after the budget workshop had concluded.
'No. 4, city council comments,' Parrent said. 'If you're OK with this, I'd like to switch this around for just a minute, and I would like to go to mayoral comments.'
Parrent then read his resignation letter to the council and gallery, which referred to several of the signs of growth that have occurred in Krugerville during Parrent's tenure on the council and as mayor.
'The reason for my resignation is simple,' he read. 'Kristen Kromer is ready to lead our city. Instead of completing my term, because I have decided not to run again in May, I have chosen to step back and give this council an opportunity to work together during the budget and tax rate process with a different voice, and to finish out the current fiscal year and then begin a new year on Oct. 1. This is what is best for the city, otherwise, there is very limited time for a new leader to step into a new role.'
After reading the letter, Parrent went around the room and gave his goodbyes before leaving the meeting.
Parrent served on the council beginning in 2011 and became mayor in May of 2016.
'Once I took office [as mayor], then I began the process of looking at the city of Krugerville like a business,' he said on Wednesday. 'Revenue in, expenses out. Do we have anything in reserves? Do we have any kind of savings? Do we have any assets?'
The city went from not having any reserves to having a healthy fund balance.
It also went from being seven years behind on financial audits to not only current but also having the financial position of the city explained at each regular council meeting by the city's accounting firm.
He also spoke Wednesday of the development, both commercial and residential, that has happened during his tenure as mayor.
He also spoke of the challenges the city has faced, including navigating the Northeast Police Department 'divorce that took place,' noting with pride that the city did not go into debt to re-establish the Krugerville Police Department.
He also spoke about the agreement between the city, the city of Aubrey and Mustang Special Utility District to provide sewer to the seven acres east of Edgar's for future commercial growth.
'Even though it's a volunteer position, I took it serious as a job,' Parrent said. 'I spent 20-plus hours or more a week, and I treated it like a job. We all did. We've had good council members, … and together we just stayed unified.'
He also said he was not leaving because of any ill feelings.
'There's nothing that I'm mad about; I'm not leaving because I'm mad,' Parrent said. 'I'm not being pushed out or any of those things.'
He feels he's leaving the city in good standing and in capable hands with Kromer, the city's mayor pro tem.
'We can stand on our own two feet, and we can be proud of who we are,' Parrent said. '… It's just time for a new voice as I said in my resignation letter, and I just think there's no better time than now.'
The resignation came mid budget season and after one of three lengthy closed session discussions regarding the state of the Krugerville Police Department.
On Tuesday, the executive session agenda included a settlement agreement with longtime Chief James Edland and the naming of an interim chief, but the council still took no action on either item.
The council has met for a total of more than 10 hours in closed session over the course of three council meetings with no vote cast yet on the outcome of those sessions, during which police officers and Edland were called back one by one.
Until and unless action is taken, Edland remains chief.
He gave no comment about the situation.
Also in the Aug. 1 meeting, the council approved a proposed tax rate of $0.422571 per $100 valuation to advertise to the public.
'We have bigger needs,' Kromer said about selecting the highest rate the council was considering of three options. 'It's still less than what we have this year. We're still reducing our tax rate.'
At the Aug. 5 meeting, in addition to accepting Parrent's resignation, the council also discussed the construction projects ongoing at the community center and police department.
'It went from a small [project]; it's pretty elaborate,' Cagle said. 'It's beautiful and it's almost done.'
Council member Shane Kading asked if it was close to budget, to which Cagle said no.
One more addition on the list is installing a shower at the police station at the department's request.
