Renee Donovan announced Monday she’s planning to leave the Oxford Village Council in May to pursue drag racing and a new home in Lapeer County.
‘Our family has chosen to relocate,? said the village present during a special meeting. ‘We chose as a family to go back into drag racing.?
During Tuesday’s regular meeting, she read and submitted a formal letter stating May 9 will be her last council meeting and May 10 her ‘official date of resignation.?
Donovan announced her family purchased a 9?-acre parcel on M-24 in Lapeer County. They closed on the deal late last week.
‘We fell into it,? she said.
The property, which contains a large home, pole barn, three-car detached garage, two-car attached garage and 300 feet of frontage on M-24, will give Donovan’s family the space needed to pursue their hobby of drag racing. ‘We now own and race a ‘nostalgic? pro stock car designed for ?-mile drag racing,? she wrote in the letter.
Donovan wrote that ‘my husband and I were very much involved? in drag racing prior to their sons? births. Now that they’ve graduated from high school and are in college, ‘as a family we are once again pursuing? the hobby.
The new property in Lapeer County is apparently better suited to this hobby than Donovan’s current home in Oxford Lakes.
‘I wouldn’t be going any place if we hadn’t stumbled across this piece of property,? she said. ‘It suits our needs tremendously and my family has to take some precedence.?
‘It was a very, very difficult decision and we weighed it back and forth,? said Donovan, who’s served on council since 2001. ‘We finally chose to move forward.?
‘It’s not going to be an immediate pack up tomorrow and move because there are some things we have to (do to) get ready,? she explained. ‘We have to build an office for Tracy’s company.?
Donovan’s husband, Tracy Miller, Sr., owns Next Generation Computers.
‘We haven’t even put the (Oxford) house up for sale,? Donovan told council.
With regard to the four applicants who were not selected to fill the council seat vacated by Steve Allen, Donovan said she ‘would hope? that ‘they would come forth again? to apply for her seat.
‘Hopefully, those that are still interested would just attend (meetings),? she said. ‘Budget hearings are open. Council meetings are open.?
The village will post the opening on council and solicit applications for it just as it did for Allen’s seat.
Councilman Dave Bailey wished it noted that council would be seeking someone to fill Donovan’s seat, not the village presidency.
Village president is a position elected by and among sitting the council members.