Poem: 'Ode to Chuck in River City'

 The recognized the death of former mayor at their meeting Nov. 1. A moment of silence was followed by comments from the council and audience. Members of Mertensotto's family were present for the recognition.

Council member Ultan Duggan read a poem he wrote in 2003 after Mertensotto retired from the council. The poem has been updated to reflect the former mayor's death.

ODE TO CHUCK IN RIVER CITY by Ultan Duggan

River City it's just fine,

Like an aging wine.

“Spacious and gracious," they say

How did it get that way?

Not so easy in River City

"Keep taxes low,” citizens holler,

Don't spend another dollar.

On spending Chuck held the line:

"Look it here, " not another dime.

Lawyerly and wise in pinstripes and ties,

Statutes he knew by heart,

And cited them to tear plans apart.

Come with facts if you're able, put them on the table.

Experts he'd grill till they'd had their fill.

Be ready to debate, for when Chuck deliberated

He used fact, not emotion,

To accept or reject your motion.

Power line meetings, airplane noise,

He conducted all with poise.

C.U.P.s and P.U.D.s, fences and variances,

He handled with ease.

2

On commissions, appointments, ball fields, and parks

Chuck gets high marks.

Street lighting ... that’s a no-no.

Tower advocates had their foe

in our mayor, Chuck Mertensotto.

He defended us and saved us plenty,

City coffers never ran empty.

River City is known throughout the state,

Chuck's vision made us first rate.

Building River City at a steady pace,

He accomplished it with grace.

3

When it came to nitty gritty

Right here in River City,

Mayor Chuck, our man,

He did it all with elan.

4

There’s lots more we could say

But we don’t have all day.

“Look-it! There’s no getting away from it”.

Chuck’s own words, The start of another writ

Reconciling city law and people’s rights

Can take the Council all night

Requiring tough stances: purse strings tied

Yet delivering first rate services city wide

5

Our City is a family place blessed with abundant open space

Parks and trails abound peaceful and safe all around

So much to admire Mendota Heights, Chuck’s city

His spirit permeates North, South, East, and West

All of us to these facts can attest

6

So to Chuck with gratitude we say farewell, adieu.

Today we've come to say

Not just farewell, not just adieu,

May your spirit live in River City,

Your Honor.

Charles Mertensotto, Mayor

—Ultan Duggan, January 19, 2003/ November 1, 2011