Liberty Lake has opening on council

The city of Liberty Lake is now accepting applications for a City Council seat vacated by Susan Schuler on Tuesday.

“We are moving to New Zealand,” Schuler said of her resignation. Her husband, Ruedi, is from New Zealand, and the couple decided to move there after a monthlong visit over the holidays. “We’re just not overly happy with how things are going here in the States,” she said. “We just figure we’ll sell our businesses, cut our losses and live the simple life.”

Schuler said the City Council and mayor have been aware of her decision since January, but she wanted to stay on the council to give her input on issues such as the city administrator, prayer at council meetings and a civic center.

“Mayor (Steve) Peterson had asked me to stick around for a while,” she said.

Schuler has served on the council for four and a half years. She and her husband own the Newman Lake Resort and Marina, Pleasant View Self Storage in Post Falls and a fencing company called Equestrian Developments.

Residents interested in serving on the council have until 4 p.m. May 31 to submit an application for Schuler’s seat.

Applications are available online at www.libertylakewa.gov or at City Hall, 22710 E. Country Vista Drive, and should be delivered or mailed to City Hall. Call interim city administrator Mike Cecka at (509) 755-6728 for more information.