HAVING served the Kalgoorlie-Boulder community as a city councillor for almost 10 years, Nola Wolski is looking forward to spending some “quality time” with her husband Ziggy.
Cr Wolski told last Monday's City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder Council meeting she was resigning from council and would finish at the December 8 final meeting for the year.
“After nearly 10 years (as a councillor) I'm feeling a bit jaded,” she said later.
“If I'm not not at a meeting, I'm going to one or I'm thinking about one. People don't realise just how much of your time council business can take up,” she said.
Cr Wolski said the economic down-turn had also played a part in her decision to resign. She and her husband run a drilling company.
“Because of our jobs we are often unable to spend a lot of time with each other, but with mining the way it is we are well aware that it is going to be quiet for the next six months – I've even got my sewing machine out recently.
“I had already decided I wasn't going to stand in October (when her current term expires) and I just thought it was an opportunity to spend some quality time with my husband.”
Cr Wolski, a registered nurse who came to Kalgoorlie in 1977 and was first elected to council in 1999, said she and husband had visited the Middle East for the past few years and would probably return there for another visit after she retired from council.
She said the role of councillor had become more complex in 10 years.
“The bureaucracy and the red tape involved (in decisions) has become a little more involved.
“The due process is getting more and more complex.
“Our job as councillor is to represent the ratepayers and they expect an outcome.
“If they don't get one they tend to lose faith in you a bit,” she said.
However, Cr Wolski stressed she was only taking a break from council and planned to stand for election in the future.
“I'll be back,” she said.
■ Council chief executive officer, Don Burnett, said he would put a report to council at the January 19 first meeting of the new year outlining the options relating to the vacancy caused by Cr Wolski's resignation.
Mr Burnett said the council could seek approval to operate with the mayor and 11, instead of 12 councillors, until the annual elections next October which would save the cost of holding a by-election.