Crestwood’s outgoing elected officials expressed gratitude for the city’s employees at last week’s Board of Aldermen meeting.

Ward 4 Alderman Deborah Beezley, who served one term and did not file for re-election, said it was an honor to serve Crestwood and its “dedicated staff.”

“To the new board, my hope is they can always make the thoughtful decisions that will have to be made relative to our mall to allow our community to have the opportunity to flourish,” Beezley said, “and our staff can hopefully, finally, be rewarded for their loyal and heartfelt service.”

Ward 2 Alderman Chris Pickel, who has served for six years, said his time on the board has been “a good experience.”

“Certainly, there were frustrations,” he said, “but I appreciate having had the opportunity to serve the city … As I reflect on the accomplishments of recent years, I’m reminded our progress, frankly, has been in spite of this board, not because of it.”

Pickel referenced the city’s past achievements, including “maintaining fiscal responsibility, diligent expense control … (and a) sustained level of exceptional public safety.”

“All of these, I think, are the accomplishments, not so much of this board or any previous board, but rather of our employees,” he said. “And these are the same employees, by the way, who continue to work without pay increases…”

Mayor Jeff Schlink said it has been a pleasure serving with Pickel, Beezley and Ward 2 Alderman Steve Knarr, who was elected to a three-year term April 2007, but resigned for personal reasons, and then was appointed to Schlink’s vacated Ward 2 seat last June.

The board’s new aldermen, Dan Tennessen of Ward 4 and Robert Deutschmann of Ward 2, and current aldermen Paul Duchild of Ward 3 and Darryl Wallach of Ward 1, who both ran unopposed in the April 3 election, also took the oath of office last week.

Newly elected Ward 2 Alderman Tim Trueblood, who served as an alderman from 1993 to 2006, was excused due to a prior commitment, according to Schlink.

The new board voted to postpone selecting a board president until all aldermen are present.

Resident Ron Herring approached the board during a public comment period about extending Proposition S, a 20-cent tax-rate increase designed to eliminate $2 million in debt and a $1.5 million line of credit, both from Southwest Bank.

Prop S was approved in 2006 and has the option of being extended for one year without voter approval.

Herring, who campaigned for and voted for Prop S, opposes extending the proposition.

“My objection, right now, is a continuance of Prop S because we voted for, campaigned for, to solve a financial problem, which it did. We all agree to that, don’t we?” Herring asked the board. “So, let it go. Get it over with. If we need more money, let’s go forth. We know how to do it.”

Schlink told the board the Ways and Means Committee, which last met April 17, will continue to monitor fund balances.

“We’ve decided not to take any knee-jerk reactions to either positive announcements or anything negative,” Schlink said. “We continue to monitor information that’s being provided to us through the normal channels, in addition to information that’s been requested by the Ways and Means committee…”

In other business, the board held approval of annual reports for the Crestwood Point and Crestwood Market community improvement districts due to Ward 3 Alderman Jerry Miguel’s concern that incorrect numbers — budget numbers, rather than actual numbers — may have been used in the reports.

The reports are not created by the city’s finance officer, but a company called Development Dynamics, according to Schlink.

The board also approved the following items:

• A conditional use permit for Culver’s at 10200 Big Bend Blvd.

• A proclamation for Municipal Clerk’s Week.

• Resolutions honoring the outgoing aldermen.