Sargeant announces resignation
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POLSON — Karen Sargeant, Parks and Recreation Director for the City of Polson, announced her resignation at the City Commission meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 17.
Sargeant thanked many people and was appreciative of Polson’s “passion and love of parks” and for the city “always stepping up and making a difference.”
“The people in Polson are amazing,” Sargeant said. “I have a lot of good friends here and am lucky to have worked with a good City Commission and City Manager.”
Mayor Heather Knutson spoke directly to Sargeant on behalf of the City Commission.
“We will certainly miss (Karen) and all the contributions (Karen) has made to the city of Polson,” Knutson said. “That is some serious dedication.”
Sargeant will be continuing her work for the outdoors by working as Parks and Recreation and Community Service Director for the city of Chelan, Washington. Sargeant mentioned what she will miss most by living in the Flathead Valley.
“This will be my 11th year working for this city,” Sargeant said. “I am going to miss living in Western Montana because of how beautiful it is here.”
Friday, March 18 will be Sargeant’s last day as Parks Director. City Manager Mark Shrives will be starting the hiring process as soon as possible.
“We will be going over and making needed changes to the job description, and then go from there,” Shrives said.
In other business, Shrives addressed the commissioners on the first reading of ordinance Public Safety.
“(This) is giving us the authority to deal with nuisances,” Shrives said. “This ordinance gives us a process to deal with problems, for example, abandoned vehicles.”
Because Polson community member Elsa Duford is having an issue with neighbors who are Tribal, she asked if Tribal members will fall under this ordinance.
“We have a neighbor with a rickety snow fence who has six pit bulls, a Great Dane, and a pug,” Duford said. “Now I have plants near that fence and cannot go near them due to the fear of those dogs.”
Duford said she was told the city could not do anything about it.
The Polson City Commission told Duford that they have been working with the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes.
In other business, the commission said the Polson Golf course will be opening around April.
The next Polson City Commission meeting is Monday, Feb. 29 at 7 p.m. at the City Hall.
