Sand Lake Village President Mollie Doerr, right, and Councilman Kevin Wright are pictured at a meeting in January. — DN file photo
SAND LAKE — The majority of the Sand Lake Village Council and the Planning Commission resigned on Monday.
Tyler Kaiser resigned as finance director-treasurer last Thursday.
On Monday, Village President Mollie Doerr, council members Cherrie Camilleri, Jack Christensen, Kim Latham and Kevin Wright all submitted letters of resignation, as did Planning Commission members Zachary Doerr, Don Knotterus and Cathy VanderMeulen.
The abrupt resignations come as the village is set to be without a fire department in two weeks and as the village faces a disincorporation vote in May.
“Due to the ongoing contractual disagreement, the political climate surrounding this matter has become increasingly personal,” Mollie Doerr wrote in her resignation letter. “It is morally wrong when disagreements turn into personal attacks against individuals-their families, their businesses, the industries they work in, or attempts to have them removed from the homes they live in. This type of behavior has no place in constructive public discourse. After extended thought and careful consideration, I believe it is best I put in my resignation.”
“My initial goal was to support the council in ensuring that our fire department had the resources it needed, with fairness to all contributors,” Kaiser wrote in his resignation letter. “The potential disincorporation of the village is truly a shame and a development I could never have foreseen when I first took on the responsibilities of treasurer. It is difficult to see a community with such history and wonderful people face this outcome, and I deeply regret that circumstances have led us here.
“Although I wish circumstances had been different and that I could have continued serving this community longer, I remain proud of the work accomplished during my time in this position, it had been an honor to serve the residents of Sand Lake, and I sincerely hope that the next steps taken ultimately serve their best interests,” Kaiser wrote.
The other letters did not offer reasons for the various resignations.
The Sand Lake Village Council was set to meet tonight at 7 p.m. There is no longer any quorum, but the two remaining council members, Chris Stieg and Marcia Helton, are both expected to be present to update residents on the situation.
Village Clerk Michelle Lewis remains working in the village office as of Monday.
