Garfield fills council positions
GARFIELD — Three people were approved to fill vacancies within the city at the regular City Council meeting Tuesday, Sept. 12.
After a brief interview, Barry Kitterman was approved by council members Terry Warren and Katherine Shook. Alderman Jim Teeselink was absent. Mayor Gary Blackburn told the council members his presence constituted a quorum.
“You two will have to agree. I don’t have a vote,” Blackburn said. “The aldermen really run the town. They tell me how they want it run.”
The council accepted the resignation of Susie Morrison who moved out of state, then interviewed Kitterman, the only applicant.
Kitterman said he has a vested interest in the city and looks forward to being an advocate for the people. Married for 27 years, he has five children and works for Walmart, he said.
The mayor also presented Debbie Rambo and Jeffrey Dodson as candidates for the Planning
Commission. Both were approved.
Rambo is the executive director at the Samaritan Center in Rogers. She said she wants to give back to the community.
The mayor then recessed the council meeting at 6:24 p.m. saying it would reconvene Thursday in order to allow Kitterman to read the ordinances and city business to be considered by the council.
On Thursday, aldermen Teeselink, Warren and Shook were present.
Jeffrey E. Dodson was sworn in as a new Planning Commission member.
In other business, the council:
• Approved the ordinance establishing the Garfield Planning area;
• Approved appointment of Blackburn as representative to the Beaver Water District board of directors;
• Approved annexation requested by landowner with the emergency clause.