Wasatch County Council’s Chair announced his resignation from the council yesterday.
Wasatch County Chair Danny Goode announced his resignation from the Wasatch County Council on Wednesday near the start of the council meeting.
“This community has welcomed us politically and professionally,” Goode said. “I did not intend to run for the County Council again last year and I shouldn’t have. I certainly shouldn’t have run as a Republican. For those of you who have liked the job that I've done, you got one extra year out of me. For those of you who have not liked the job that I’ve done, you don’t have three more years of me. So, thank you and you’re welcome. I think I've done all I can for Wasatch County as a council member for now and I need to find another means to be a force for good in our community. I don't yet know what that is.”
As part of his resignation the county needed to name a replacement for their Governor appointed seat on the Military Instillation Development Authority board or MIDA. MIDA is the development authority overseeing the Extell Development and other development in they Mayflower area. Goode nominated fellow council member Steve Farrell to the board.
“Steve Farrell was on the council at nearly the very beginning of MIDA,” Goode continued. “In my opinion Steve knows the most about water which is going to be very important in MIDA. He knows the most about property valuations and taxations in my opinion. Steve made the motion that we passed last year for the new resolution and the agreement. I think Steve is the least likely of any of us to be misinformed and manipulated or sabotaged. So, my motion is that we recommend Steve Farrell to the governor for the MIDA board.”
The council voted 6-1 to confirm Farrell’s appointment to the board with Council Member Mark Nelson voting no. He explained his vote later in the meeting.
“I share completely Danny's opinion as to councilmember Farrell's qualifications,” Nelson explained. “I absolutely 2nd that. What I don't share with councilmember Goode is his concerns and perhaps even pessimism about the danger of being on the MIDA board. I may be overly optimistic, but I think that pessimism is misguided and that's why I voted no.”
Nelson will take over as interim council chair until a council election to appoint a new chair. Nelson also made it clear that he was sad and disappointed that Goode was resigning from the council.
“I think that you've been a great benefit and that the council will be weaker without you here,” Nelson said. “I'm saddened for that and I wish you were staying, and I just wanted that to go on the public record.”
Goode added his own respect for his fellow council members.
“This is a good council,” Goode continued. “I respect and admire each and every one of you. Even when I think you're wrong on an issue, I've respected that you think you're doing what's right. It has been a great honor to serve as an elected member of the Wasatch County Council, thank you.”
Once Goode officially submits a resignation letter an interim council member will be appointed afterwards an election will be held for the seat, likely to occur in 2020.
