After a total of 24 years on the Minoa Village Board, Ronald L. Cronk sat in the front of the boardroom for the last time Monday, March 19.
Though it was a bittersweet moment in his political career, Cronk lightened the mood with a jab at a fellow board member.
“Eight years ago, when you ran for the board,” he told Trustee Eric Christensen, “you wrote a letter saying you weren’t going to be a ‘yes man’ like the other trustees. Then, all you did was say yes … 773 times you voted in the affirmative.”
He also presented a photo taken by his son of the last fighter jet fly-by over Minoa during the Memorial Day Parade in 2010. The photo will hang in village hall.
He cautioned the board to take a closer look at hydrofracking, which he fears will end up polluting the ground water.
“There are definitely more cons than pros [with hydrofracking,]” Cronk said. “Remember there is no substitute for clean water.”
He also urged the board to look into establishing a code of ethics. “I still believe we need an ethics committee.”
He said he enjoyed his tenure at the village, and the people he worked for, reminding the board to “keep every resident in mind.”
He closed his farewell speech with the catchphrase, “Thanks for the memories.”
Minoa Mayor Richard J. Donovan presented Cronk with his nameplate from the meeting and thanked him for his service, as did the other trustees at the meeting.
