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Staff writer

East Bethel City Councilmember Anne Klein will be resigning from the council at the end of the year.

Klein is resigning before her first term is complete because her family is moving out of East Bethel to the lakefront home they purchased in December 2006 in Pine City.

“My time spent as a member of the city council has been rewarding and fulfilling,” Klein said, reading a prepared statement at the end of the Oct. 21 council meeting.

“Through this association, I have met and enjoyed the company of many new friends, not the least of them being my peers on the city council. I hope that my contributions as a member have been well received in the spirit of cooperation and congeniality.”

“I wish to thank the residents of East Bethel that have entrusted me to be your representative. It was my plan to fulfill my term.

“However, a series of life events have caused us to be moving out of East Bethel.”

Councilmembers Bill Boyer and Kathy Paavola reluctantly accepted the resignation. Mayor Greg Hunter and Councilmember Steve Voss were unable to attend the council meeting.

“I think the community is losing a valuable voice and I thank you for service,” Boyer said.

“Thanks for being here and serving with us. We’re going to miss you,” Paavola said.

Klein, 47, has lived in East Bethel since 1994. She is presently the human resources director at Fairview Lakes Medical Center in Wyoming.

Klein received her bachelor of arts degree in economics and business administration from Augsburg College and her master of business administration from the University of Minnesota Carlson School of Management. She is a certified management accountant.

She likes being a part of local politics because it is nonpartisan and she likes to do good things for the community, according to Klein.

The council’s commitment to roads, police and fire is what Klein is most proud of from her time as an elected official, she said.

What disappoints her is not being able to see the Highway 65 corridor begin to redevelop once city sewer and water comes in, Klein said.

Her political career may not be at an end though. She may run for a Pine County Board of Commissioners seat in the 2010 election, according to Klein.

Replacing Klein

According to City Administrator Douglas Sell, a replacement council member would complete Klein’s term set to expire at the end of 2010.

The seat would be up for election in November 2010 as originally scheduled.

Sell said interested residents must contact city hall first, so an instructional letter can be mailed to them.

City hall is accepting applications from East Bethel residents until Wednesday, Nov. 25, the day before Thanksgiving.

The council is tentatively scheduled to review the applications at its Dec. 2 council meeting and then interview its top candidates at a special Wednesday, Dec. 9 council meeting at 5:30 p.m. The new council member will be selected at the Dec. 16 council meeting.

The replacement would begin serving on the council at the Jan. 6, 2010 meeting.

For more information, contact city hall at 763-367-7840.

Eric Hagen is at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it