McKinney City Council member Bill Vitz resigns from council due to health reasons

Council to set District 3 special election date at Nov. 18 meeting

Created at 12:58 p.m. on Nov. 11, 2008

Updated at 8 p.m. on Nov. 12, 2008

City of McKinney District 3 Councilman Bill Vitz has announced his resignation effective immediately, citing family health reasons. Vitz was elected to the McKinney City Council in 2004, finishing out an open term vacated by the death of then Council member Gabe Nesbitt. Vitz was re-elected to council in 2006.

Vitz, who is 67, was in a local hospital on Wednesday, Nov. 12 recovering from pneumonia. He will be released on Nov. 13.

Former council member Bill Vitz

During the last four years on council he has enjoyed serving the community and working with the city staff on various projects, he said on Nov. 12.

"I've enjoyed working with the city staff while I was on council. They've been really easy to work with and I've got along with all of them, such as CoCo Good and Ty Lake," Vitz said. Good is the city's marketing director and Lake is the program director for the McKinney Main Street Department.

He also thanked all of the residents in his district and said he enjoyed serving McKinney.

Vitz added that serving on council was fun, but he did not like hearing a lot of people talk just so they could hear themselves talk, Vitz said.

The council will set the special election date during its regular bi-monthly council meeting that begins at 6:30 p.m. on Nov. 18 in the council chambers of City Hall, 222. N. Tennessee St. A special election must be held within 120 days of a resignation to fill the vacated seat.

Cities that have three-year terms like McKinney are not allowed to fill vacancies by appointment, so a special election must be held. The winner of the District 3 special election can also run for re-election for District 3 in the May 2009 election for the three year term that will become effective June 2009 to May 2012.

The special election will be held specifically to fill the unexpired term for the District 3 vacancy and no other council terms.

Vitz did not attend the Oct. 28 special work session meeting, the Nov. 3 council work session and the Nov. 4 regular bi-monthly council meeting due to health reasons. During Vitz's time on council he was able to vote on the McKinney Dr Pepper StarCenter, attended the groundbreaking ceremony for the Westin Hotel and convention center that will be built at the northeast corner of US 75 and Spur 399.

He also was the lone council member who recently voted against an ordinance that allowed alcohol to be served in an enclosed area outside of the McKinney Performing Arts Center for McKinney's first Oktoberfest held on Sept. 27. He thought the alcoholic beverages should be served indoors and not around the MPAC, he said on Wednesday.

Vitz also voted against the smoking ordinance that became fully effective on Sept. 4 of this year. He voted against the smoking ordinance because he thought the decision to allow people to smoke in businesses and restaurants should have been left to the business owners to decide and not a council decision, he said on Nov. 12.

Vitz also served as a voting member on the McKinney Community Development Corporation for two-and-a-half years, prior to Oct. 1 of this year after the council opted to now allow council members serve as voting members on the MCDC board.

He also served as the liaison to the McKinney Economic Development Corp. and the McKinney Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Vitz also helped to create the city's Veterans Memorial Committee and recruited the committee members.

:"The Veterans Memorial is an important thing for McKinney," Vitz said on Nov. 12.

That committee has gone on to be come the McKinney Armed Services Memorial Board.. Vitz also took great pride in handing out the Blue Star Flags to McKinney families who have family members currently serving overseas in the United States Armed Services. Vitz works as a lawyer in McKinney.

Council member at-large Pete Huff said that Vitz is one of the most community minded council members that he has had the pleasure of serving with.
"He has been dedicated to do what is best for all of McKinney on every decision. Bill has become a good friend and supporter, and we will miss him. He has been a big supporter of historic McKinney and was the driving force in the establishment of several incentives to restore and maintain our historic homes. I wish Bill the best and hope his medical issues get resolved quickly," Huff said.

Council member at-large Bill Cox said that the city of McKinney has been fortunate to have Vitz's leadership and experience on city council.

"I have enjoyed serving with him and I wish him well," Cox said.

City manager Frank Ragan said that McKinney was fortunate to have had Vitz serving on council for the last four years.

“From his deep commitment to the city’s historic district to his contributions to quality of life and economic development initiatives citywide, Mr. Vitz provided valuable direction which has helped to shape McKinney during a period of incredibly rapid growth. He will be greatly missed," Ragan said.

Filing for candidates for the special election will be determined at the Nov. 18 meeting, after the council calls the election, said City Secretary Sandy Hart. After news spread about Vitz's resignation on Tuesday one person had already inquired about picking up a candidate packet for the special election at City Hall, Hart said.

For more information about the council meeting or special election, call the City Secretary's Office at 972-547-7500.

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