After 18 years on Sturgeon County council, Jerry Kaup is calling it quits.
Kaup announced this week that he will not seek another term on council this fall, saying he has found his last term frustrating. He is worried about many of the steps the current council has taken.
Kaup, who served as a school trustee for six years before being elected to Sturgeon council, said he believes this term has been very expensive for the county.
"We have spent a lot on severance packages and a lot more on excursions to conferences that I can't quite justify on my own mind."
Coun. Don McGeachy said Kaup has done a long proud service to the community, but also acknowledged he often no longer sees eye-to-eye with the current council.
"Jerry has put in a lot of time and service to the county of Sturgeon," he said. "There is a time to go and there is a time to stay and Jerry has chosen the right path."
McGeachy said this council made the changes it did on administration in order to turn over a new leaf.
Kaup, who has served with four mayors or reeves of the county, said he also believe Mayor Don Rigney could have been more diplomatic in some of his dealings with the provincial government.
"Our mayor is well known for being outspoken and sometimes that can be good, but other times it can really set you back."
He said Rigney's attitude extends to his dealings with council, which has made dealing with the mayor difficult.
"Mr. Rigney is a very difficult guy. One day you could hug the guy and really appreciate him and the next day you could almost strangle him."
McGeachy also disagreed with Kaup on this point.
"Don Rigney as mayor is one of the best things to happen to the county in the last 50 years."
Changing times
Kaup said there are no specific events or issues that greatly stick out over the last 18 years, but he said he had enjoyed the opportunities to help people in small ways.
"I will miss helping the people. When you can help someone it feels good," he said.
He cites minor land use changes or extensions of water lines to certain areas as some of the ways he has been able to help people.
He said council today is moving at a much faster pace then when he first joined in the early 1990s and he hopes aspiring councillors are aware they will be taking on a full-time responsibility.
"Things have sped up so much over the last 18 years that it is getting pretty hectic and it is quite a job. If you are going to do it, you really have to have the time to commit to it."
