(Spencer)– The Spencer city council has voted to allow people outside of the SMU service territory to serve on their board of trustees.
At their meeting Tuesday evening, the city council was asked to consider the final reading of an ordinance that eliminates the residency requirement for the Spencer Municipal Utilities Board of Trustees. At issue is whether long-time SMU Board member Bruce Tamisea of Tech-ton Industries can continue to serve on the board when he moves to the Iowa Great Lakes.
Newly-elected councilman George Kruger voiced concern over the proposal to do away with the residency requirement, saying he doesn’t want the city to send the wrong message to new people interested in serving on a local board. He also expressed concern about people outside of the SMU service territory setting rates.
On the other side of the debate is councilman Randy Swanson. He brought up the fact that SMU serves other communities besides Spencer.
Swanson added he doesn’t see this as a personal issue with Tamisea, rather a position on the SMU Board of Trustees.
Councilman Kruger made a motion to send the issue back to committee for further discussion. That failed on a vote of two-to-four, with Kruger and councilman Steve Bomgaars the only two in favor. The council was then asked to vote on the original ordinance, eliminating the residency requirements for the SMU Board. That measure passed on a vote of four-to-two.
(Story from Danielle Hitchings of Y100, KUYY in Spencer).
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