Last council meeting

Tuesday was my last Council meeting as mayor.  For the last eight years I've attended council meetings on Tuesday nights, usually a couple of times a month. I've only missed one meeting in all those years. 

I still remember my first meeting in January of 2003.  I didn't know what to expect.  I remember I was surprised at how little effort was made to get the new council member ready for the meeting.  In fact, the only council member to reach out to me following the November 2002 election was Sherry Butcher.  Sherry and I went on to have plenty of disagreements over our years on the council but that always held true; she was always a class act.

My youngest son Riley was born that first year on the council; he's now 7.  He and his brothers have seen a lot of change in Eden Prairie over those years. I tried to bring them to as many events in the city as I could.  They are especially fond of the Lion corn feed and the summer events at the senior center.

Eden Prairie is a great city. I am thankful for having had the opportunity to serve on the council.  It was harder than I thought to walk out of the council chambers for that last time.  I'm going to miss it.