Rowan to stay mayor of Plains

Dan Rowan was sworn in for his second term as mayor last Thursday, even though he had been scheduled to be sworn in as the county's newest commissioner the same day, which he had postponed because he was having second thoughts on leaving as mayor, something he had wrestled with for weeks.

Rowan was pleased when appointed the temporary position on November 23, but some Plains residents were unhappy that he was leaving his post, especially after he had just won the election for the second term, and while the issue of the new sewer lagoon had not been settled. 

"It was a real Catch-22 because I had a lot of people expressing to me not to leave and there were others saying to take the position," said Rowan, who added that it was a bittersweet decision, but he didn't want to leave any loose ends in Plains, particularly the lagoon, which could impact every town resident. On Friday, Rowan gave the Sanders County Commissioners official notice of his decision to remain as town mayor instead of taking the appointed job as interim commissioner, a position that opened when Carol Brooker retired. He had decided weeks ago not to take the job, but he said Commissioners Tony Cox and Glen Magera had told him just let them know by the end of the year.

"It is somewhat of a relief for the decision to be behind me. That relief is tempered though by the knowledge that there are many that will be disappointed that I won't be taking the appointment," said the 55-year-old Rowan, who said he struggled with the situation since getting negative feedback from residents, some who "expressed concern and outright displeasure at the prospect of me leaving my current position as newly re-elected mayor of Plains," even though some of them supported his being a future commissioner. "In their opinion, such a move, at this time, would be considered a breach of trust and no solution offered could restore that trust once broken," he said in his letter to the commissioners Friday.

Rowan said, however, that he plans to compete for the commissioner job in the November election after the lagoon issue is settled. The commissioners had told him that he could have taken the commissioner job and still help his replacement in Plains, but there was no assurance that the replacement would continue with the plans for the lagoon. In addition, he said in his letter to the commissioners that helping with the project was "not acceptable to those who have serious concerns about a change in leadership at this juncture."

Cox said that he was disappointed that Rowan turned down the position. "It's his decision and he needs to do what he thinks is best for him," said Cox, who felt Rowan's "qualifications were great." The commissioners will start the interview process over, advertising the position for two weeks before scheduling interviews with candidates. 

Rowan said the lagoon project has been the most challenging since becoming mayor or during his five years as a council member. He also felt he owed it to the voters to see the project through. "I cannot in good conscience break the trust they have placed in me," he wrote in the letter to the commissioners.