RIPON – Garry Krebbs and Charlie Gay proudly made their exit from the Ripon City Council on Tuesday.

“This isn’t my last day,” said Krebbs. “It’s just my last day on this job.”

He and Gay were defeated recently in their bid for re-election. They’ll be replaced by retired Ripon Unified superintendent Leo Zuber and local businessman Jake Parks.

Krebbs and Gay were the first to congratulate the two newcomers.

“I’d also like to thank the citizens for the opportunity to work for my city these past 23 years, four years on this council,” Krebbs said.

Gay was proud of being part of a fiscally-responsible council.

“When I came here in 2008, we had $4 million in reserve (funding) and looking at a deficit of $500,000 in the hole,” he said. “But we made some tough cuts, major cuts.”

Gone were the Fourth of July and celebrations of the other holidays. Salaries were reduced and some employees were laid off.

It wasn’t too long ago that salaries were finally reinstated and celebrations such as the Fourth of July were brought back.

“We now have $3.8 million in reserves,” Gay said.

As their last act on the council, he and Krebbs voted in favor of certifying the Nov. 6 election.

“It was a very clean, smooth-running election,” said Mayor Elden ‘Red’ Nutt, who was the only one of the three incumbents to win back his seat.

Councilman Chuck Winn was absent because of a family emergency. Council, in turn, held off on any reorganization plans while also tabling Winn’s request for the new council to consider sacrificing their perk of health insurance.

Meanwhile, Dean Uecker, who is next in line for mayor under the council’s new rotational format, made his formal farewells to Krebbs and Gay.

“It was an honor working with you two,” he said.”We didn’t always agree. But together we worked very hard and diligently.”

Krebbs and Gay will still look to help out when needed.

“This doesn’t mean I’m going away, I can guarantee you that. I love this city and I’ll (continue) working for it one way or another,” said Krebbs.