De Soto Mayor Clayton Henry has resigned after serving five and a half years on the De Soto City Council, including the last six months as the city’s mayor.
Henry, 64, announced his resignation at the Sept. 19 City Council meeting, explaining that he has moved a mile outside the city limits, which disqualified him from being a member of the council.
“That’s the only reason I left. Otherwise, I’d still be on there,” he said. “I enjoyed it. I enjoyed the time, I enjoyed the progress that the town’s making, and I wish them the best.”
Henry said he’s proud of many actions and improvements that have occurred during his tenure, including tax increases to help the De Soto Police Department, the city’s parks and to address stormwater issues; building a water park; demolishing derelict homes; addressing homelessness; and working on plans to get a new Amtrak station built in the city.
“We’ve accomplished a lot in five years. I’m proud of that. The people of the town have really come together.”
Henry said he also is happy with the revitalization that has been occurring along De Soto Main Street, including renovations to buildings and new businesses moving in.
In De Soto, the five-member City Council picks one of its members to serve as mayor.
Due to Henry’s resignation, the board appointed chairperson pro tem Kathy Smith to serve as the mayor until the April election, at which time the City Council will name her or another member to the office.
Councilwoman Autumn Blanchard was appointed the new chairperson pro tem, so she will serve as the mayor’s backup, and in the case of a mayoral resignation, she would be appointed the new mayor.
De Soto City Manager Todd Melkus said Tuesday, Sept. 27, that the remaining four council members had not decided whether to appoint someone to fill the vacant seat on the board.
“They’re still figuring out if there’s anyone they want to appoint or if they’re going to let it roll until the next election (in April),” he said.
The other two council members are Jim Akers and Rich McCane.
Melkus praised Henry’s service on the board and as mayor.
“It has been a pleasure to work for and alongside Mayor Henry for the last four years,” Melkus said. “He is what you like to have in a councilperson, not someone who has an agenda but someone who wants to do what’s best for the residents of this city. It’s always tough when you lose a good councilperson like him, but I wish him the best and know he will still be heavily involved in the community as he always has been.”