Winfield trustee steps down

A Winfield trustee who was appointed to the village board last summer has resigned.

Robert Mrugacz said "personal and family health issues" weren't allowing him to focus on the demands and time commitment of being a trustee. His last day on the village board was Thursday.

"My focus in the future must be centered on maintaining good health," Mrugacz wrote in a resignation letter to Village President Deborah Birutis.

Last June, Mrugacz was appointed by Birutis to fill one of two vacancies on the board.

The first vacancy was created when Birutis gave up her seat to become village president.

The second two-year seat was supposed to go to Daniel Conley, who ran uncontested during the April 2009 election, but he resigned for health reasons before taking office.

In his resignation letter, Mrugacz said he was thankful for the opportunity to serve the community as a trustee. The longtime Winfield resident has accepted an opening on the village's finance committee.

Mrugacz said residents can be assured the board and village staff members are working diligently to draft plans, prepare budgets and discuss options for continuing to make Winfield a better community.

"The board works well together and at the same time challenges each other to arrive at solutions that serve the residents while maintaining fiscal responsibility," Mrugacz wrote.

He said he believes Winfield is heading in the right direction. "I feel the village will maintain its positive momentum."

On Friday, Birutis returned the praise by calling Mrugacz a team player with "a great positive attitude" and strong work ethic.

"He definitely is going to be missed on the board," she said. "However, we're going to continue to benefit from his talents by being on the finance committee."

Mrugacz would have been up for re-election in April.

Birutis said she is planning to appoint someone to fill that vacancy on the board. She is giving residents interested in the position until Thursday, Sept. 9, to submit an application. Whoever she recommends will need village board approval.

She said there is enough time between now and election day to get a replacement trustee up to speed. "And if they plan on running in the new year," she said, "that's going to be their choice."