Mayor, councilpersons say farewell to offices

Mayor of Saratoga, John Zeiger, said farewell to the mayoral office during a brief nine-minute town council meeting on Dec.16.

“I’ve enjoyed doing it,” Zeiger said addressing members of the council and the audience.“We’ve all rubbed elbows a couple times, but I enjoyed doing it.T hank you everyone.”

Zeiger was first elected mayor of Saratoga in 2004.

It was also the last meeting for councilman Steve Wilcoxson and councilman Mike McWain — both of who have served a combined eight years on the town council.

Councilwoman Judy Welton said she enjoyed working with the mayor throughout the years.

Ed Glode will join the Saratoga Town Council as mayor as Will Faust and Richard Raymer will take seats on the council. Welton and councilwoman Sue Howe remain on the council with two years left in each of their terms.

The exiting mayor and town of Saratoga staff have been working alongside the incoming council and mayor in order to make the transition of elected officials as smooth as possible.

Ordinance 829

A first draft of Ordinance 829 was presented to, but was not read by, the Saratoga Town Council at the last meeting.Zeiger said he would let the next council address the ordinance.

The ordinance involves adding the definition of a single-family residential unit to the ordinance adding the fees needed for the wastewater outfall project.

Under the ordinance, mobile homes, one-family, two family and multiple-family dwellings will be charged a base rate of $22.75.Buildings such as hotels, nursing homes and child-care centers will be billed under the commercial rate.

At the Dec.10 Carbon County/Saratoga Joint Powers Board (water and sewer board) meeting, members of the board were told that a resolution could not hold the definition of a dwelling. Instead, the definition would be implemented under a separate ordinance.

Glode said the resolution will still be in place to set the rates for the increased sewer fees.

The next Saratoga Town Council meeting will take place at 6 p.m. on Jan.6 at Saratoga Town Hall.