Rick Schontz

Richard Schontz announced at Thursday’s city council meeting that he will resign from council, effective July 29.

He is doing so because he is moving to a ranch home in Butler Township because his current home is on a steep hill, and a member of his family needs a one-floor house.

“We didn’t realize that there’s not a whole lot of ranches in the city and very few for sale when we started this journey,” Schontz said. “We did look in the city, but we couldn’t find what we needed.”

Schontz looked back favorably on his seven years on council.

“I’m just proud of having the ability to work with the other council members and mayors and all the workers at the appointed positions,” he said.

“Being able to work with them, I think we’ve done a lot with the infrastructure, the streets, storm sewers and so forth.”

He also is grateful for his fellow council members.

“I’m thankful that the mayor and council over my seven years have given me the ability to spend about a million and a half dollars on paving and street repairs,” he said. “That’s not something for me, it’s something for everybody because they could have very easily said ‘No, we’re tight financially,’ but they realized how much we needed that and how this makes a better community.”

All council members were complimentary of him, ranging from those who have known him for decades, such as Mayor Tom Donaldson, to those who recently began working with him, like Councilman Michael Walter.

Council member Kathy Kline said, “He brings a lot of common sense and integrity to the position that is very much appreciated.”

Council member Corey Roche spoke on Schontz’s influence on his career path.

“I’ve known Councilman Schontz since I was a young child,” he said. “He was my football coach, track coach, and I played football with his son.

“He first piqued my interest in local government in his local government class in junior high, and that’s one of the reasons why I’m here today.”

Upon Schontz’s departure July 29, the four council members will have 30 days to select a replacement. Anyone who is 18 years old and has been a resident of Butler for at least one year is eligible to submit a letter of interest.

Council members will review those letters and send candidates questions to answer. The top-three highest scorers will be made public and reviewed by the council.

Then council will vote on those three.