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Evansville council member announces resignation

EVANSVILLE — Nine years is enough for Evansville council member Dennis Wessels.

Wessels has announced he will resign from the council effective Nov. 30.

“I’m just tired,” Wessels said.

He said it’s been a pleasure serving nine years as a District 4 alderman, but it’s time for him to step down.

He wanted to see through the end of the 2012 budget planning, but his resignation before Dec. 1 will allow the position to be placed on the April ballot.

Since he’s been on the council, he said, the city has held down taxes or allowed only slight increases, a fact he’s proud of. Wessels has never faced a challenger since his election.

His favorite part has been watching how the city developed yet kept its small-town feel.

He is a member of the public safety and historic preservation committees.

Wessels was re-elected in April, so his term expires in 2013. The remaining one-year term will be on the spring ballot, said Dan Wietecha, city administrator.

The city likely will wait to see how many residents take out nomination papers in December, he said. Depending on the number and quality of applicants, the council could appoint someone before the election, he said. Candidates would have to live in District 4, which is the southeast side of town.

A similar situation happened a year ago when former council member Janis Ringhand resigned in November 2010. Because only one resident—Cheryl Fuchs—applied to run in April, the council in January appointed her to the position.