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Gaylord’s City Council is short one member.

Sue Jacobson appeared to surprise fellow council members and Mayor Doug Quast Wednesday when she announced that she is resigning from her City Council post.

A difference of opinion on the direction Gaylord is heading appears to be the primary reason Jacobson has opted to leave the council.

“I’ve talked this over with family and friends. Since I don’t agree with the way the City is going, I am resigning from City Council,” Jacobson said.

Jacobson, who has served on the council since 2005, said she feels the City’s spending is “out of control.”

The most recent difference of opinion between Jacobson and fellow council members involved the City Hall/library swap. According to Jacobson, the City will be spending a lot of money on an old building. The City has committed up to $471,910 (matching a Department of Education grant) to remodel City Hall into a library. Council members have yet to determine if City Hall would move to the library building on a temporary or permanent basis. Estimated construction costs to convert the library into city administration offices ranged from $242,000 to $350,000.

Jacobson’s resignation is effective immediately.

The City Council will now have the task of filling that position by appointment. The City Charter provides that the position will be filled until the next municipal election which is scheduled for November, 2008.

Mayor Doug Quast said he hopes the City Council can fill the position as soon as possible. He said council members have already discussed some possible candidates.