Raines steps down from city council seat

City begins search for sixth council member

Libby’s six-member city council on Monday fell to five after a recently appointed member bowed out of her seat.

Dejon Raines submitted her resignation on Monday to County Clerk and Recorder Robin Benson, effectively ending her tenure on the Libby City Council. A few weeks ago, Raines discovered she was pregnant and determined that the council would be better served if she stepped down now. On Wednesday, she said the baby is due in February.

“I just knew that when the time comes in February, I couldn’t give the time that I feel is needed for city council,” Raines said. “It’s more appropriate now to give more time for the appointed councilor so they can immerse themselves in it.”

With Raines’ resignation, the upcoming appointee in the city council would now pick up the remaining 15 months of her term, as opposed to a nine-month stint that would remain had she resigned in February 2017.

Raines was appointed with an unopposed bid in early 2015 to fill the remaining term left by Robin Benson, who took over as Lincoln County Clerk and Recorder during that time. Ironically, Benson received her successor’s resignation on Monday. Raines submitted her initial resignation letter to the Libby mayor and City Council on Aug. 1 before the most recent city council meeting. Her submission to Benson made the resignation final.

City Administrator Jim Hammons on Wednesday said the deadline for submitting a letter of interest and resume in regards to Raines’ city council seat is set for Aug. 19. About a week after the application deadline, the council will hold a meeting with the candidates, ask questions and determine the appointment.

On Wednesday, Hammons said the city is yet to receive any applications for the position.

Since taking the city council member role 20 months ago, Raines said she’s proud of what the city has accomplished.

“Since I’ve been here, and I wasn’t involved from the beginning, but the completion of the (Flower Creek) Dam has taken place. That was really the biggest and most memorable thing that’s happened in this term for me,” Raines said.

Along with the dam, which was officially dedicated in an event last month, Raines said she’s enjoyed exploring solutions to the city water and sewer policy.

“We received some input about problems that have occurred, so we tried to tailor and address those concerns,” she said. “I really enjoyed working on that project as well.”

In more recent months, Raines has been at the forefront of an effort to replace the blighted Libby Volunteer Fire Hall rooftop. After completing most of the legwork to initiate the project, Raines said the effort should be moving forward in the coming months.

“I was really hoping to get that accomplished and going for the fire hall guys, but those things take time and it is in the works of getting completed,” she said. “I feel like there have been a lot of the key components needed to get it moving forward. It’s definitely in the home stretch to where they can start working on the roof.”

Raines said it’s likely that one of the other two council members on the Libby Building Committee, Allen Olsen or Brian Zimmerman, would chair the committee and head the project after her departure.

While her tenure was limited, Raines said she’s enjoyed working for the city residents during her term.

“It’s been my pleasure to serve the community, it truly has, and I look forward to seeing what Libby will become here in the future,” she said.

Reporter Seaborn Larson may be reached at 758-4441 or by email at slarson@dailyinterlake.com.