New mayor and city council sworn in

Newly elected council gets sworn in.  From the left is Sean Cunningham, Brian Peterson, Kerry Carls, Larry Fortner.

Mayor Spencer said he became involved in city affairs 12 years ago by helping in the fight to keep a landfill from coming to the borders of Minonk.  He said he is
leaving office with the satisfaction of knowing that the proposed raceway north of Minonk will put away forever the possibility of a landfill being located near Minonk.

The only item on the agenda for the old council was to approve the awarding of a TIF expenditure to Herman's Body Shop for roof repair.  The council approved to pay 50% ($7,320.00) of the total expenditure ($14,640.00) payable over five years at $1,464.00 per year.

After the adjournment of the old council, the new council and Mayor elect Bill Koos were sworn in.  Council members Sean Cunningham, Kerry Carls, Larry Fortner, and Brian Peterson wer sworn in to replace outgoing council members Ron Redenius, Matt Fink, and Bill Koos.  Click here to view a picture of the new council.

The first order of business for Mayor Koos was to present an award to outoing mayor Mark Spencer.  The next order of business was to swear in Jim Liner as the new city clerk after he was nominated by Mayor Koos and approved by the council. The new mayor then named Jason Buchanan as mayor pro tem.

Jeri Sue Johnson of the Westside Park Pavilion Committee presented plans for a new gazebo in the park to the new council.  Johnson said that the committee has decided to purchase a white vinyl clad gazebo to match the trim on the new pavilion and also to provide a maintenance free structure.  The estimated cost of the new gazebo is $10,500. The gazebo is a kit that can be assembled by local volunteers.  Johnson asked the council if the city could pay for the concrete floor to help
fund the project since more money is needed to fund the project.  Mayor Koos asked her to bring a cost estimate for concrete to the next council meeting for the council to vote on it.  Pavilion Committee member Dean Barth said that the committee is still actively seeking donations to help fund the gazebo.  Plans are to have the gazebo in place by the July 4th celebration.

Mayor Koos said that all appointments of committee members and police would take place at the next council meeting on May 16.  Koos said that he is looking forward to serving the community.  He said he hopes to establish the infrastructure and procedures that will provide a solid future for Minonk so that the youth of today will want to live in Minonk tomorrow.

New City Clerk Jim Liner gets sworn in by outoing clerk Roberta Evans.