(KAIR)--An Atchison City Commissioner, who currently serves as the City’s Mayor, is resigning.
That’s confirmed in a statement released Friday to MSC News by Shawn Rizza.
The statement begins with Rizza’s resignation announcement, saying that “coronavirus has changed the world, and with it my wife’s job.” Rizza’s wife, Pamela Rizza, is a physician.
Rizza, in the statement, said he plans to continue serving as Mayor as Atchison reopens from the COVID-19 pandemic, saying he feels “it is essential to have consistency during this time.”
Saying that he will formally resign at the final June City Commission meeting, Rizza said he has “complete faith” in his fellow Commissioner’s “ability to carry on.”
The Rizzas plan to move from Atchison, with the current Mayor saying “just a couple of weeks ago” he couldn’t “have imagined leaving,” adding that while it “breaks [his] heart to go,” Rizza said he is proud of what has been accomplished.
Adding that he “can’t help but feel like” he let down his friends and supporters, Rizza said that while small towns across Kansas are shrinking, he believes “Atchison has a real chance to beat that trend.”
Rizza was elected to a four-year term on the City Commission in 2017.
Following his resignation, the Commission will appoint a replacement to serve out the remainder of Rizza’s unexpired term.
© Many Signals Communications
MOST VIEWED STORIES
Holton man killed in Jackson Co crash
Morrill pair arrested on drug, child endangerment charges
Falls City man sentenced to Federal Prison
Ground Broken for new Sac and Fox Trad'n Post
Horton City Clerk's resignation accepted Monday
Local residents avoid injury in chain reaction crash
Jackson Co traffic stop leads to arrest
90 mph+ downburst winds blamed for Thursday damage
One held for past Atchison shooting
Effingham owner regains truck following theft, arrest
Cold case investigation leads to Holton warrant
Wamego man sentenced in second fentanyl-related death
Stolen trailer, 4-wheeler, recovered in Atchison
Mayetta pair arrested on meth, child endangerment charges
Early Thursday storms leave damage, outages, locally
Juveniles face charges following Atchison break-in
Atchison Co's Oswald named honorary bailiff for KS Court
LATEST STORIES
Effingham owner regains truck following theft, arrest
Cold case investigation leads to Holton warrant
Senator Slama on tax relief efforts
SE Nebraska March unemployment report
Falls City Career Academy to open during 24-25 school year
Denim Day declared for Nebraska state colleges
McLouth man injured in Monday wreck
Horton City Clerk's resignation accepted Monday